Towns and villages of Leros

Getting around Leros the visitor will find villages and towns with their special character and architecture. One of the most typical is Panteli a fishing village with small fish taverns and cafes, which has kept its traditional character, away from mass tourism. It is one of the most picturesque places on the island.

Vromolithos has a long sandy and in some places pebble beach. Nearby are small hotels, rooms to let and fish taverns by the sea. Opposite is the islet of Agia Kyriaki with a small church on the slope of its small hill.

Agia Marina, a picturesque, traditional, island settlement overlooking the entrance of a large bay and natural harbor, is built amphitheatrically and goes up to Patelos or Agia Paraskevi passing by Brouzi and from there to the surrounding hills

Panteli

Panteli is a small picturesque bay and fishing village with true island character, which is to the east of the island, below Platanos. Because of continual expansion, it is heading towards joining with Platanos.

Most of its houses are old traditional houses. The caiques and fishing boats and its background of clear blue sea complete the idyllic picture of the village.

Panteli has developed into the cosmopolitan centre that it is today, with the yachts, which moor next to the little fishing boats, the restaurants and the night life at the discos, bars and pubs

Agia Marina

One of the two harbours of the island is Agia Marina. Once a small seaside settlement it spread with time and joined with Platanos, the oldest settlement on the island and once the capital.

It is now the administrative and commercial centre of the island. From a distance it looks like a small town which extends amphitheatrically between two the sides of two mountains. Its small white houses spread from the beach up until the foot of the hill on which the castle stands.

Platanos

As the visitor approaches the town it reveals its fascinating sights, one by one. At Platanos many traditional two storied houses have been preserved, and amongst them are many distinguished houses, which have been built very close to each other and so have created picturesque small narrow streets. These entice the visitor to walk through them, and experience the nostalgic atmosphere of the old town, the old windmill or the “Avlaki” with its taps bringing pure water from the springs of Paliaskloupi.

Lakki

Only four kilometers south west of Platanos is Lakki, the main harbour of Leros.

The harbour is protected and safe. It is the biggest natural harbour in the Mediterranean sea. It has modern harbouring facilities and a yacht servicing team.

Lakki has a character totally different to the rest of the island, both unusual and extremely impressive. With its imposing buildings stretching along the coast and built in a peculiar architectural style, Lakki is one of a kind.

The roads are wide and there are trees and parks, all planned and created by the Italians in the inter – war years. The Lerians have preserved these historic buildings, which are today considered as architectural masterpieces of the early twentieth century, unique in the whole of Europe and draw the interest of all the visitors to the island.

A little way out of the town is the temple of Agios Giannis o Theologos. This temple has been standing there from 1000 A.D. and is one of the most noteworthy Byzantine churches, with wonderful mosaics from the eleventh century. Lakki is particularly tourist developed, with modern shops, hotel complexes, restaurants and bars and clubs.

Gourna

In the east of the island stretches another of Leros’ open bays, Gourna, with greeny/black sand and shallow waters, which continue for quite some distance into the sea. There, there are groups of country tavernas, beautiful houses and orchards full of citrus fruit trees which complete the landscape.

Xirokampos

Xirokampos is a small settlement and an old seaside village. It is situated in the southern most area of the island, just 7 kilometres from Agia Marina. In front of Xirokampos, its bay opens out with the tiny islands (the Glaronisia), protecting the entrance to the bay. Opposite, at a distance of one nautical mile, is Kalymnos another Dodecanese island. The houses of Xirokampos are spread out in a small valley full of olive trees, cypress trees, almond trees and many flowers.

Vourlidia

Vourlidia is a sight of rare beauty on the island with its sandy beaches amongst rocks, crystal clear sea for swimming and fishing, paths for calm walks, all in combination with remnants from the second World war on the hill.

Krithoni

Between Alinta and Agia Marina lies Krithoni, which stretches from the sea up on to the hill. It is very green with beautiful houses, lots of little churches, old Lerian houses, luxury hotels, guest houses, rooms for rent, bars and clubs, restaurants and swimming pools. The Patriarheio is an old neoclassical house of distinction and in its courtyard it has the small church of Agios Sofronios. Here the patriarch of Alexandria, Sofronios, who loved and helped in the development of Leros, used to stay from time to time.

Agios Isidoros

In the area of Kamara, a little to the north of Gourna on a rocky hill over the sea there are steps that lead to a small beach. A little further along amongst the rocks is the small picturesque church of Agios Isidoros with its balconies and its stone seats, by the little harbour created through subsidence. It is definitely worth visiting.

Partheni

At the north most tip of Leros lies Partheni and the bay with the same name which has the island of Archangellos at its mouth. This small fishing village spreads out before you like a painting between a large, fruitful valley and the sea. It is a historical and well known from antiquity. It is here that it is said that the ancient sanctuary of Parthenios Artemis was built and it is from this that the place took its name.

Plefouti

Plefouti is situated in yet another of the wonderful bays in the north of Leros, near Partheni. Mplefoutis is a small settlement, in a very green area, with beautiful sea and small tavernas. It is an ideal place for a relaxing and peaceful holiday.

Alinda

Alinda can be found in the center of the Agia Marina bay and consists of the most tourist developed area of the island today with the most modern tourist facilities.

The area is very rich in vegetation with pine trees and olive trees and a huge sandy beach with crystal waters.

The tower of Belenis here is a smart, carefully renovated house of distinction, which houses the Folklore and History Museum. Also in the summer, and mainly at the start of August, great cultural events are organized in its courtyard. In the surrounding area there are the two churches Agios Sofronios and Agioi Saranta. Very close by to Alinta is Krifos, a small idyllic sandy beach hidden amongst the rocks. Above Krifo, Kleidi stretches upwards.