🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where they are
Lipsi lies in the northern Dodecanese, between Patmos and Leros. From Piraeus the ferries take 8 to 10 hours, via Patmos, but most visitors come from the neighbouring islands: from Patmos the boat takes about half an hour, and from Leros a little less. Leros has a small airport with flights from Athens.
📍 Where Lipsi is
Lipsi lies in the northern Dodecanese, between Patmos and Leros, close to the Turkish coast. The island is shown in red, and Piraeus, Patmos and Leros, where the boats come from, in green.
🗺️ The map of the island
Lipsi is small and low, with many bays and headlands. The only village, also called Lipsi, spreads around the harbour on the south side. Small roads lead from there to the beaches, and nothing is more than a few kilometres away. Around the island there are many uninhabited islets, such as the Aspronisia.
🗺️ Map of Lipsi
Lipsi is small, with many bays. The village and the harbour are in the middle of the south coast, with Lientou and Kampos next to them. To the northwest are Platis Gialos and the small monastery of Kimisi, to the south Katsadia and Papandria, and to the east Chochlakoura, Tourkomnima and the Aspronisia. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: Cristoforo Buondelmonti (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Lipsi is for people who want calm, shallow water and a friendly village. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- A quiet, friendly island, ideal for resting.
- Beaches with shallow turquoise water, good for children.
- Everything is close, and much of it can be reached on foot.
- An easy trip from Patmos and Leros.
- Good fish and local wine.
👎 The cons
- Few sights apart from the beaches.
- A very long trip from Piraeus.
- Little shade on most beaches.
- Few ferries in winter.
🏘️ The village and the harbour
The village of Lipsi spreads around the harbour, with white houses, cafés and tavernas on the waterfront. Above the houses rises the church of Agios Ioannis Theologos, with its blue domes, a reminder that for centuries the island belonged to the monastery of Patmos. Next to it is a small Ecclesiastical Museum.
At the edge of the village, the small church of Panagia tou Charou has a rare icon in which the Virgin holds the crucified Christ. Tradition says that on its feast day, 23 August, the dried lilies left by the faithful in spring bloom again. It is said that Lipsi is Ogygia, the island where the nymph Calypso kept Odysseus.
All around the harbour.
Boats in front of the village.
The church above the boats.
Arriving on the island.
Calm water.
The island’s fishermen.
A game by the sea.
Palm trees and shade.
The boat’s passenger.
White and stone.
Photos: KF (Public domain), Sarantis Karydas (CC BY-SA 4.0), Robert Powell (CC BY-SA 3.0), EntaXoyas (CC BY-SA 3.0), Nikolaos Kotopoulis (CC BY-SA 4.0), Mnkta (CC BY-SA 4.0), Art Grafix (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🏖️ The beaches
Lipsi’s beaches have shallow, calm water, ideal for children. In the village is the sandy beach of Lientou, and a little further out Kampos. To the northwest, Platis Gialos is the best-known beach, with turquoise water that stays waist-deep for dozens of metres, and a taverna. To the south, Katsadia and Papandria are sandy beaches with a taverna, while to the east Chochlakoura has pebbles and Tourkomnima is quieter.
- Lientou: a sandy beach in the village, shallow water.
- Platis Gialos: turquoise, shallow water and a taverna.
- Katsadia and Papandria: sandy beaches in the south.
- Chochlakoura: large pebbles, close to the village.
- Tourkomnima: a quiet beach on the east coast.
Shallow turquoise water.
The chapel on the shore.
By the waves.
Down to the beach.
Food by the sand.
Reeds over the sand.
A taverna at Katsadia.
Islets on the horizon.
Clear to the bottom.
Caves on the islets.
Photos: Evangelos Papacharalampous (CC BY-SA 4.0), Robert Powell (CC BY-SA 3.0), Bouke ten Cate (CC BY 4.0), Marmaridis N (CC BY-SA 4.0), Petraman1 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
In summer small boats leave the harbour for the Aspronisia and the other islets around Lipsi, stopping for swims at empty beaches. Take water and a hat, and ask at the harbour about the day’s programme.
🍇 Nature and vineyards
The interior of the island has low hills, bushes, chapels and vineyards. Lipsi is known for its wine, a sweet red from a local grape variety, which was once also sent to the monastery of Patmos for Holy Communion. Footpaths link the village with the beaches and chapels, and at night, with no lights, the sky fills with stars.
Hills and bays.
The wine of Lipsi.
Vines in the valley.
The Milky Way over the island.
A tree on the shore.
Alone on the rock.
Golden light on the sand.
A pink sky.
Photos: Robert Powell (CC BY-SA 3.0), Nikolaos Kotopoulis (CC BY-SA 4.0), Marmaridis N (CC BY-SA 4.0), George.laz21 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Vakina Samiou (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🍽️ What to eat
In the tavernas at the harbour you will find fresh fish, grilled octopus and ouzo. Try the local cheeses, such as mizithra, and the local wine. In the cafés, ask for a meze with your ouzo, as the locals do.
📅 When to go
June and September are the best months, with warm sea and few people. In August the big festivals take place, that of Panagia tou Charou and the wine festival, and the island fills up. May is quiet and green, but the sea is still cool.
✈️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry from Piraeus | About 8 to 10 hours | Piraeus | Few sailings, usually via Patmos. |
| Plane and ferry | About 1 hour to Leros, plus 20 minutes by boat | Athens airport | Fly to Leros and take a boat from Agia Marina. |
From Ioulianou 50, Piraeus is about 40 minutes by metro and the airport an hour on Line 3. Check the timetables in advance, because ferries change often. On the island a small bus goes to the beaches in summer, and scooters can be rented. Lipsi is easy to combine with Patmos: see also our guide to Patmos.
🗓️ Three days on Lipsi
The village and Lientou
Walk along the waterfront and the lanes of the village, up to the church of Agios Ioannis. Swim at Lientou, in the village, and in the evening have fish and ouzo at the harbour.
Platis Gialos and Kimisi
Take the bus or walk to Platis Gialos, for shallow turquoise water and lunch at the taverna. On the way back, stop at the small monastery of Kimisi, by the sea.
The south and the islets
A morning swim at Katsadia and Papandria, and a visit to Panagia tou Charou. In the afternoon take a small boat to the Aspronisia and the other islets around Lipsi.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Lipsi as a day trip from Patmos?
Yes, easily. The morning boat drops you at the harbour, and by the afternoon you have time for the village and a beach, such as Platis Gialos. There are also organised boat trips.
Where should I stay on Lipsi?
In the village, to be close to the harbour, the tavernas and Lientou. Around Kampos or Katsadia, for more peace by the sea.
Is Lipsi good for families?
Yes, one of the best. The beaches have shallow, calm water, distances are short and the island is quiet and safe.
How many days do I need?
Three to four days are enough for the village, the beaches and a boat trip. A week if you only want to rest.
— Kathy
