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Choose Chios for a shorter trip built around culture: the mastic villages, the Byzantine monastery of Nea Moni and an easy hop to Çeşme, most of them within about 35 km of the port. Choose Lesvos for a longer stay with a car: it is about twice the size, with stone villages, long Blue Flag beaches, ouzo and the Petrified Forest, but many of its highlights lie 55 to 90 km from the ferry. Both islands are reached from the Turkish coast north of İzmir, Lesvos from Ayvalık and Chios from Çeşme.
Short answer
- Size: Lesvos is about 1,630 km², Chios about 842 km². On Lesvos, Molyvos is about 59 km and Sigri about 88 km from Mytilene; on Chios, Pyrgi is about 24 km and Mesta about 35 km from the port.
- From Turkey: Ayvalık to Mytilene takes 45 to 75 minutes, €35 one way on the sea bus plus a port fee. Çeşme to Chios takes roughly 20 to 45 minutes on the fast boat, €38–40 one way (fares as of October 2026).
- Car: almost essential on Lesvos beyond Mytilene. On Chios you can manage a short stay without one, but village buses are infrequent.
- Day trip to Turkey: realistic from Chios on days with a morning boat, as on most days until 31 October 2026. From Lesvos it is rarely possible, because the regular boats leave Mytilene only in the late afternoon.
- Flights: we found no UK nonstop to Chios; Jet2 had Lesvos in its summer 2026 programme. Flying to İzmir and taking the ferry works for both.
- Clocks: Greece goes back to winter time on 25 October 2026; from then on, Turkey is one hour ahead.
Lesvos and Chios at a glance
| Lesvos | Chios | |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing from Turkey | Ayvalık all year; Dikili 22 April – end of September 2026 | Çeşme all year |
| Crossing time | About 45 min (sea bus), 75 min (car ferry) | About 20–45 min (fast boat), longer by car ferry |
| Typical adult fare (Oct 2026) | €35 one way, €45 return, plus Ayvalık port fee | €38–40 one way, €50 return (Ertürk) |
| Taking a car | Yes, all year on Turyol’s Fokaia | Yes; in November 2026 on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, in December Turyol’s Chios on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 3 January 2027 and Ertürk’s Apostolos S. on Fridays to Sundays until 31 January 2027 |
| Season | Daily in summer; three to five days a week from late October | Several sailings a day in summer; in November a fast boat Wednesday to Sunday plus weekend car ferries, in December Ertürk’s fast boat mostly Friday to Sunday up to 10 January, Ertürk’s car ferry on Fridays to Sundays to 31 January and Turyol all winter |
| Size | About 1,630 km² | About 842 km² |
| Beaches | Five listed Blue Flag beaches including Vatera (just over 8 km) and Petra | Karfas (sand), Mavra Volia (dark volcanic pebbles) |
| Sights | Molyvos, Petrified Forest at Sigri, Mytilene castle, Agiasos, Plomari ouzo | Pyrgi, Mesta, Mastic Museum, Nea Moni (UNESCO), Anavatos, Kambos |
| Nightlife or quiet | Mytilene lively all year; Skala Eresou a lively beach; Petra quiet | Chios Town waterfront; Karfas busiest in summer; villages and Kambos very quiet |
| Without a car | Mytilene only; few buses, none on most routes on Sundays in mid-October 2026 | Town, Karfas and Kambos by taxi or city bus; one village a day by KTEL |
| Day trip to Turkey | Rarely; plan one or two nights in Ayvalık | On some days, mainly summer and until 31 October |
| Best for | Longer stays, drivers, nature, birdwatching, beach villages | Short stays, culture, a day in Çeşme |
Getting there from Turkey
Ayvalık or Dikili to Lesvos
Jalem Tur and Turyol sail Ayvalık to Mytilene all year, arriving in the town centre. Both operators published the same fares on 15 October 2026: on the sea bus or catamaran, adults pay €35 one way and €45 return; on the car-carrying ferry €30 one way and €40 return, and a car €75 one way or €110 return. On top comes the Ayvalık port fee of 300 TL per passenger and 750 TL per car, paid at the port. From late October the boats sail on three to five days a week. İDO’s Dikili route, about 40 minutes and foot passengers only, ran from 22 April 2026 and has no published winter service. Details: Ayvalık to Lesvos ferry and Dikili to Lesvos ferry.
Çeşme to Chios
Ertürk Lines sails from Ulusoy Port in Çeşme to Chios Town all year, with a fast boat and the car ferries Apostolos S. and Ertürk-1; Tilos Travel’s Sea Star Makri sails to 24 October 2026. Ertürk’s website, updated in September 2026, lists €38–40 one way and €50 return for adults, and €90–100 one way for a car. In November the fast boat sails Wednesday to Sunday (Çeşme 09:00, Chios 16:30) and Apostolos S. on Fridays to Sundays; in December the fast boat sails mostly Friday to Sunday, and in 2027 up to 30 September (daily from 30 April) with a break from 11 January to 11 February (checked 29 October 2026); Apostolos S. is also listed on Fridays to Sundays in December and January, to 31 January 2027 (checked 30 October 2026). Turyol sails in December, mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Sundays, carrying cars on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 3 January 2027 (Turyol checked 24 October 2026). In December and January the only morning boat from Chios is Apostolos S. on Fridays and Saturdays (08:00). Ertürk asks you to check in at its desk 1.5 hours before departure. Details: Çeşme to Chios ferry.
Flights
Neither island is easy to reach directly from the UK. Jet2 included Lesvos in its summer 2026 programme, but we could not confirm the UK departure airports. For Chios we found no UK nonstop in any airline source. Both islands have domestic links via Athens; for the short hop from Chios airport into town, see Chios airport transfers.
The other route is İzmir. easyJet listed London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester to İzmir in October 2026, and SunExpress flew 19 times a week from Manchester in summer 2026. From İzmir you continue by road to Çeşme or Ayvalık; see İzmir airport transfers and our flights guide.
In winter, note that Mytilene airport has announced runway works on Tuesdays from 17 November 2026 to 23 March 2027, with flights suspended on those days except some exempt dates.
Beaches
Lesvos has the bigger beaches. Discover Greece lists Petra, Molyvos, Anaxos, Vatera and Skala Eresou as Blue Flag beaches. Vatera, in the south-east, is the longest on the island at just over 8 km; Petra’s flat sandy beach with a village behind it suits families. Flags are renewed yearly.
Chios has fewer long sandy beaches. Karfas, about 7–10 km south of town depending on the source, is the main resort beach. Mavra Volia near Emporios, a dark volcanic beach, is the island’s best known; sources call it both sand and pebbles, so bring water shoes. Lithi on the west coast is sandy.
Sights and character
Chios packs a lot into a small radius. Pyrgi, the largest of the 24 mastic villages, is known for the black-and-white patterns scratched into its house fronts. Mesta’s stone houses form a fortress with a single gateway. UNESCO has listed the know-how of cultivating mastic on Chios as intangible heritage since 2014, and the Chios Mastic Museum near Pyrgi explains it; as of October 2026 Discover Greece lists entry at €8, while another source describes it as free, so check piop.gr. Nea Moni, an 11th-century monastery about 11 km from town, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. Nearby stands the abandoned village of Anavatos, and just south of town lie the walled citrus estates of Kambos.
Lesvos is about landscapes and villages. Mytilene has one of the largest castles in the Mediterranean, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture. Molyvos is a protected hillside village of stone houses below a castle. Agiasos, about 24 km from Mytilene, is an easy bus trip on weekdays, and Plomari is the ouzo town. In the far west, the Petrified Forest around Sigri is part of the Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark; as of October 2026 a €10 ticket covers the museum and the forest parks. Migrating birds, including flamingos, stop at the Kalloni wetlands in spring and autumn.
Getting around: car or no car
On Lesvos, KTEL buses link Mytilene with the main villages, but in mid-October 2026 most routes had no Sunday service and returns left early. The weekday bus to Molyvos took 1 h 30 min and cost €8.30. For Sigri, Skala Eresou or several places in one day, hire a car.
Car hire: Lesvos
DiscoverCars compares offers from several rental companies in one search. Check the pick-up point, deposit and insurance terms before you book.
On Chios, city buses cover the town area and KTEL serves the mastic villages, Anavatos and the north, but many lines run only once or twice a day and we could not find an online timetable. Pick one up at the port ticket office. A car for one or two days covers the south and Nea Moni comfortably.
Combining with the Turkish coast
Lesvos and Ayvalık
Ayvalık, directly opposite, has a stone-built old town with former Greek Orthodox churches, the island of Cunda and the Şeytan Sofrası viewpoint. Because the boats are based in Turkey, it is easier to start there and cross in the morning. See the Ayvalık travel guide.
Chios and Çeşme
Çeşme has a castle with an archaeology museum, a caravanserai and an old town close together, with minibuses to Alaçatı and Ilıca beach. The short crossing makes it easy to split a week between the two. See the Çeşme travel guide.
GOV.UK says British passports must be valid for at least 150 days after arrival in Turkey. German citizens can also use a national ID card.
Day trips to Turkey
| From Lesvos to Ayvalık | From Chios to Çeşme | |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing | 45–75 min | About 20–45 min, longer by car ferry |
| October 2026 | Regular boats leave Mytilene only at 16:30–17:45, so a same-day return needs an occasional extra morning sailing | Apostolos S. leaves Chios 08:00, back from Çeşme 18:00, most days until 31 October (not 18 or 26 October) |
| Summer 2026 | No confirmed morning sailings from Mytilene on operator pages | Tilos Travel: Chios 09:15, back from Çeşme 17:30 (25 May – 11 September) |
| November and December | Only on 4 and 5 November (Uğur Jale Lines: Mytilene 09:00, back from Ayvalık 18:00, checked 22 October 2026); otherwise stay overnight | Fridays and Saturdays in November and December (not 25 December): Apostolos S. leaves Chios 08:00, back from Çeşme 18:00 (also in January, checked 30 October 2026). Other days only Çeşme 09:00 and Chios 16:30, so stay overnight |
| Recommended | One or two nights in Ayvalık | Day trip when the timetable fits |
Full plans: Lesvos to Ayvalık day trip, Chios to Çeşme day trip and, for entry rules by nationality, day trips to Turkey from the Greek islands.
When to go
- June to September: best for swimming on both islands; Plomari holds an ouzo festival in June.
- July to early October: the mastic harvest in southern Chios.
- Spring and autumn: birdwatching around Kalloni on Lesvos.
- Winter: Mytilene stays lively and Chios Town hotels generally stay open, but many hotels in Molyvos, Petra and Skala Eresou may close, and Chios has car sailings on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in November and, in December and January, on Turyol’s Chios until 3 January 2027 and Ertürk’s Apostolos S. on Fridays to Sundays until 31 January 2027. See the ferry season calendar.
Where to stay
For a short stay, sleep near the harbour: Mytilene on Lesvos, Chios Town on Chios. For a beach holiday, Petra or Molyvos on Lesvos (about 55–60 km from the port) or Karfas on Chios (about 7 km). Compare areas in where to stay in Lesvos and where to stay in Chios.
Blue Sea Hotel
Mytilene town3★
- Ferry port: Overlooks the main port; listed about 300 m from the port
- Best for: One night before or after the ferry, sea views
If Lesvos wins: a Mytilene base facing the main port, where the Ayvalık boats dock.
Chios Chandris
Chios Town
- Ferry port: on the harbour front (Prokymea)
- Best for: couples / families / first-timers
If Chios wins: a pool hotel on the Chios Town waterfront, near the boats from Çeşme.
Aegean Dream Hotel
Karfas
- Ferry port: about 7 km from the port
- Best for: families / beach
If Chios wins and you want a beach: apartments about 200 m from Karfas beach.
Organised tours
For two or more people, a hire car is usually cheaper and more flexible; tours suit a short stay without one.
Chios: Mastiha shore excursion
Pickup in Chios Town and a loop to Mesta, Pyrgi and the Mastic Museum, with the museum ticket listed as included.
Check price & availabilityLesvos: 5-Hour Religious Shore Excursion
Guided trip from Mytilene port to the Monastery of Saint Raphael, the Taxiarchis Monastery at Mantamados and Panagia Gorgona; shoulders and knees must be covered.
Check price & availability
Sea, Sun and Swimming Cruise from Mytilene
A boat trip from Mytilene with swim stops, snorkelling equipment and pickup included; useful if you are staying in town without a car.
Check price & availabilityWhich should you choose?
Choose Chios if:
- you have three or four days and want to see a lot without long drives
- mastic villages, Byzantine mosaics and medieval architecture interest you more than beaches
- you want a real day trip to Turkey, or to split your week with Çeşme
- you are travelling with children and want a beach resort close to the port
Choose Lesvos if:
- you have a week or more and will hire a car
- you want long sandy beaches and quiet villages such as Petra and Molyvos
- geology, birdwatching or ouzo are on your list
- you want to bring your own car from Turkey outside summer
Still undecided? See which Greek island or compare the islands further south in Kos or Rhodes.
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FAQ
Is Lesvos or Chios bigger?
Lesvos, at about 1,630 km² against about 842 km² for Chios.
Which island is better without a car?
Chios, for a short stay. Chios Town, Karfas and Kambos are close together, and KTEL reaches the mastic villages, though not often. On Lesvos, buses are infrequent and most routes had no Sunday service in mid-October 2026.
Can I take my car to Lesvos or Chios?
Yes to Lesvos all year on Turyol’s Fokaia. To Chios on Ertürk’s Apostolos S. (Fridays to Sundays from November 2026 to 31 January 2027, checked 30 October 2026) or Turyol’s Chios (Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, until 3 January 2027, as checked on 24 October 2026). For Ertürk’s fast boat, ask Ertürk: its fare page lists vehicle fares but its timetable marks those sailings “No Car”. You need Green Card insurance that covers Greece. See taking a car to the Greek islands.
Can I visit Turkey for the day from either island?
From Chios on days with a morning boat, mainly in summer and until 31 October 2026. From Lesvos rarely, because regular boats leave Mytilene in the late afternoon; plan a night or two in Ayvalık.
Which is better for families?
For a short trip, Chios, with Karfas about 7 km from the port. For a beach week with a car, Petra on Lesvos has a flat sandy beach. See Greek islands with kids from Turkey.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- European Geoparks Network: Lesvos Geopark (accessed Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia: Chios (island area) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Jalem Tur: fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Jalem Tur: sailing times (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turyol: Ayvalık–Mytilene fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Feribotseferleri.com.tr: Ayvalık–Mytilene sailings 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Uğur Jale Lines: timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- Capital: İDO 2026 Aegean season (March 2026, Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines: Çeşme–Chios timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines: Çeşme–Chios fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk Lines: FAQ (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel: 2026 Aegean islands sailing plan (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Çeşme to Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- Jet2: Greece programme for Summer 26 (Feb 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- easyJet: Flights to İzmir (accessed Oct 2026)
- SunExpress: Night flights from Manchester to Dalaman (11 Feb 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Fraport Greece: Mytilene Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- Discover Greece: 12 best beaches on Lesvos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Discover Greece: Lesvos villages and distances from Mytilene (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek Ministry of Culture (All of Greece One Culture): Castle of Mytilene (accessed Oct 2026)
- Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest: visiting the museum (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Lesvou: Mytilene–Petra–Molyvos timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Lesvou: ticket prices (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka: Chios villages and distances (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka: Chios beaches (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece: Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- UNESCO: Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- UNESCO: Know-how of cultivating mastic on the island of Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- Discover Greece: mastic traditions on Chios (accessed Oct 2026)
- ERIH: Chios Mastic Museum (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Chios (intercity buses) (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Turkey entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- Auswärtiges Amt: Türkei, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (German) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times: clocks go back on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Chios, Mastiha shore excursion (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Lesvos, 5-Hour Religious Shore Excursion (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Sea, Sun and Swimming Cruise from Mytilene (accessed Oct 2026)
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