Mytilene – Karlovassi
Ferries to Samos
Mytilene – Karlovassi
Ferries to Samos
The Mytilene Karlovassi ferry route connects Lesbos with Samos. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Blue Star Ferries. The crossing operates up to 2 times each week with sailing durations from around 6 hours 22 minutes.
Mytilene Karlovassi sailing durations and frequency may vary from season to season so we’d advise doing a live check to get the most up to date information.
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Mytilene is situated on the south east coast of the island of Lesbos, and is the capital of the North Aegean Region. There are many ferry routes departing from the port, most of them crossing to neighbouring Greek Islands. Mytilene is the epitome of a port city; tourists and passengers hurry around the vibrant area surrounding the harbour, taking in the fresh sea air whilst browsing the souvenir shops. The port is somewhat of a focal point in the city, hosting several effortlessly cool bars and restaurants that attract a crowd from the first thing in the morning till nightfall. However, unlike many other port cities, life doesn’t stop at the harbour – Mytilene is famous for its thriving nightlife, offering tourists the chance to drink some local wine and dance till the early hours. For anyone looking for nonstop action then Mytilene is the place to go. Whilst Mytilene may have gained a reputation as a party city, there is a lot more on offer than the abundance of nightclubs. The city centre is rich in cultural landmarks, the most impressive being the stunning Gateluzzi Castle, an ancient castle that is surrounded by green hillside. For an extensive day of sightseeing, also make sure to witness the Church of Agios Therapon with its unique structure, and afterwards head to the Statue of Liberty which is conveniently located next to the port. Luckily for visitors travelling via ferry, there are two bus stations located at the harbour, one at the northern tip which runs to the urban areas and one in the southwest corner that runs into the city centre. Alternatively, there are taxis readily available and a couple of rental car companies operating around the city.
Found on the glittering ultramarine coast that kisses the north-western edge of Samos, a roughly oval-shaped island deep in the Greek stretch of the North Aegean Sea, is the charming port-town of Karlovasi. Built in a wedge between a landscape of steep hills, the town is picture-perfect in its guise as an idyllic Mediterranean community. Traditional white-walled apartment blocks rise in anarchic tiers upon slopes coloured deep-green with Mediterranean pines, while a web of narrow lanes snake idly through the suburbs. The waterfront is lined by a sweeping promenade studded with alfresco restaurants and bars and canvas stalls selling local wares. Beyond them, in the warm shallows of the Aegean Sea, yachts and sailboats bob gently on their moorings. The port in Karlovasi is found at the north-eastern edge of town. It is a small site featuring a handful of piers that jut into a section of the sea sheltered by an arcing breakwater. Incoming ferries dock along the edge of the largest pier where facilities are limited to just a check-in booth and a short stay car-park. Travelling to and from the harbour can prove difficult. The island is hewn from rugged mountains that are split by just a few “main” roads, while most of the villages, Karlovasi included, are designed around a cramped network of streets more suited to pedestrians than cars. A few public buses travel between the towns and villages found nestled in the niches between the hills. Most services travel to the synonymous capital of Samos; this quaint, bay-side town sitting at the end of the number 62 highway which curves away from the heart of Karlovasi and traces the island’s rocky northern coastline east. A number of routes currently operate from the port in Karlovasi throughout the week. Services hosted by Hellenic Seaways sail to several of the islands that speckle the Aegean Sea; including Chios, Limnos and the port-city of Mytilene on the isle of Lesbos to the north; and Mykonos, Syros and the town of Evdilos on Ikaria in the west. A couple of other routes head to the city district of Piraeus and the town of Kavala further away on the Greek mainland.
