Mytilini is built around the harbor, you'll be tendered to it. Duty-free available.

Printable map to take along.

Cruise Schedule.

Watch a destination video.

Perched on a steep hill north of the city, the extensive ruins of Mitilini's castle are fun to explore and offer fine views of city and sea from the ramparts. The kastro was founded by Justinian in the 6th century A.D., and was restored and enlarged in 1737 by the Genoese.

The Turks also renovated and built extensive additions to the castle during their occupation. In several places you can see fragments of marble columns embedded in the castle walls -- these are blocks taken from a 7th-century-B.C. Temple of Apollo by the Genoese.

Look for the underground cistern at the north end of the castle precinct: This echoing chamber is a beautiful place, with domed vaults reflected in the pool below. In summer, the castle is sometimes used as a performing-arts center.

The best thing in town is the fortress which looms over the harbor and is about a 15 minute walk (uphill, but not steeply) from where the tenders land. Very extensive ruins with very good descriptions on signs throughout. Entrance fee is a few Euros.

Local buses run all around the main roads and run from the port.

You can buy tickets at local coffee shops or small Deli shops over the counter. The major bus stop and information station is located at Mitilini (Major city).

Taxis are cheap and most use the meter. They do drive like crazy though. Taxis based in Mitilini are yellow and most are turbo Opels. Taxis not based in Mitilini are grey-coloured and rarely use the meter. The latter taxis use mostly fixed fares for trips connecting various locations outside Mitilini, with a cost of around 1 Euro per Km.

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Shopping hours are a somewhat complicated matter in Greece as they vary according to the type of business. The list below covers the main areas but bear in mind that this is subject to sudden arbitrary and often incomprehensible changes in the law.

Generally the hours between 2.00pm and 5.30pm are dedicated to lunch and the sacred afternoon siesta, especially in the hot summer.

Tourist shops may stay open, so do many kiosks, all the supermarkets, main post-offices and telephone offices.

Apart from kiosks, sweet shops, florists and many tourist shops everything is closed on Sundays. Supermarkets Open at 8.00 am and close at 8.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end of October. Saturday they close at 6.00 pm and are closed on Sundays and holidays.

All shops (with the exception of the ones listed separately) Shops open around 9.00 am and close around 1.30 or 2.00 pm Monday to Saturday. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday they are also open from around 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Always closed on Sundays and holidays.

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