What is ouzo and where is the best place to drink it?

Ouzo is the anise-flavored Greek spirit distilled primarily on Lesvos, which produces 70% of Greek ouzo. Plomari in the south of the island is the ouzo capital — visit the Ouzo of Plomari distillery for a tour.

Teleporio™ — Greek Island Travel Intelligence

Lesvos Travel Guide

Plan your Lesvos trip. Northeast Aegean island, birthplace of Sappho, ouzo capital, ferry from Piraeus and regional airport.

Reviewed by Georgios — Teleporio™ route intelligence guide — Updated 2026-07-24

Why Lesvos Is Worth Understanding

Lesvos is the third-largest island in Greece — a place of genuine scale and variety, closer to Turkey (9 kilometres at the nearest point) than to most of mainland Greece. The island has a different character from the Cyclades or Dodecanese: a large, self-sufficient agricultural economy based on olive oil production (the island has an estimated 11 million olive trees), a working capital city (Mytilini) with museums, neoclassical architecture, and a university, and a distinct cultural identity shaped by proximity to Anatolia. The Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis was born on Lesvos. Sappho, one of the greatest lyric poets of ancient Greece, was born here around 630 BC, and the word "lesbian" derives from the island's ancient name.

The petrified forest of Lesvos — the western part of the island — is one of the most important geological sites in the Mediterranean: a forest of trees petrified by volcanic ash approximately 20 million years ago, now the largest in the world. Trunks three to seven metres in circumference, perfectly preserved in silica, rise from the volcanic landscape near Sigri. The Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest in Sigri is one of the finest geology museums in Greece. The island also produces the finest ouzo in Greece — the ouzo from Plomari (particularly Barbayiannis and Varvayiannis brands) sets the standard against which all other Greek ouzo is measured.

History and Heritage

Lesvos in antiquity was a centre of literary and intellectual culture that rivalled Athens. Sappho led a circle of women poets whose work, though largely lost, profoundly influenced Western lyric poetry. Alcaeus, another major archaic Greek poet, was also from Lesvos. Aristotle spent significant time on the island studying marine biology — his observations of Lesvos's marine life are foundational texts in the history of natural history. The island came under Ottoman control in 1462 and remained under Ottoman rule until 1912 — longer than most Aegean islands, which explains the significant Anatolian cultural influence in the island's architecture, cuisine, and social fabric. Mytilini was a major Ottoman port city.

What Lesvos Is Famous For

Olive oil — 11 million olive trees, one of the world's great olive oil producing islands
Plomari ouzo — the standard-setting Greek ouzo, produced in Plomari village
Sappho — ancient lyric poet, one of the greatest figures in Greek literature
Petrified Forest — the world's largest, 20 million years old, near Sigri
Mytilini — working capital city with museums and neoclassical architecture
Molyvos (Mithymna) — medieval castle town on the north coast

Local Specialities

Lesvos olive oil is among the finest in Greece — the island's Kolovi and Adramyttini varieties produce oil of exceptional quality. Plomari ouzo is the island's most famous export — distilled from grape-derived alcohol with anise, it sets the quality benchmark for Greek ouzo. Fresh sardines from the island's fishing boats. Lesvos cheese (particularly ladotyri — cheese preserved in olive oil). Ouzo mezedes — the small dishes traditionally served with ouzo on the island.

Best Time to Visit

May through October. Lesvos is a large island and requires more time than a small Cyclades island — 5-7 days to properly explore the different areas (Mytilini, Molyvos, Sigri, Plomari). The island has its own airport (MJT) with direct Athens flights and some European summer connections. Ferry from Piraeus takes 10-12 hours. The island is less affected by the Meltemi than the open Aegean — the northern coast can be exposed in summer but the Mytilini port is sheltered.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Lesvos? Mytilini Airport (MJT) has direct Athens flights and some European summer charters. Ferry from Piraeus takes 10-12 hours (overnight). How large is Lesvos? 1,633 square kilometres — the third-largest Greek island. Requires a vehicle or extensive bus network to explore properly. Is the ouzo from Lesvos really the best? Plomari ouzo is widely considered the finest Greek ouzo — visit the Varvayiannis distillery in Plomari for the full experience. What is Molyvos like? A remarkably well-preserved medieval castle town on a hill above a harbour — one of the finest in the Aegean. Significantly different in character from Mytilini.