Link to Leros in Google Maps here.
Leros belongs to the Dodekanisiske Øer and is located north of Kalymnos and south of Leros and Patmos. The easiest way to access Leros is by flight to Kos and then the fairy from there. Leros hasn’t got any airport. The island has an area about 56 km2 and has roughly 8500 citizens.
There is quite a lot of boats to and from the islands located around Leros, such as Patmos, Kalymnos, Lipsi, Samos, Kos, Rhodos, Symi and Nisyros. There are also boat connections to Piræus.
The bigger boats docks in Lakki. From Agia Marina there is a connection to, among others, Kalymnos and Kos with a quicker boat and a little boat connects the southern city Xerokampos with Myrties on Kalymnos.
Platanos is the main city, which has grown into Agia Marina and the fisher town Pandeli. Located highly above these cities is the old castle. Originally people lived closer to the castle, so you had the chance of seeking refugee, but as time passed the towns moved down the mountain and became Platanos.
“The locals meet up here and get a chat or play a game of Backgammon on the café’s”
Even further down by the water lies Agia Marina on one side and Pandeli on the other. Platanos contains a lot of old houses, a cosy square and narrow streets. There is a lot of level differences and a lot of steep streets and stairs. Our opinion is that Platanos is the coziest place on the island. In the center of the city lies a square. The locals meet up here and get a chat or play a game of Backgammon on the café’s”
“We definitely like the area at Platanos and Pandeli the most”
In Agia Marina and Platanos you can find a large supply of taverns, restaurants, café’s, shops and ATM’s. It is easy to travel the island in a rented car or by bike. There is a road about all the way around the island along the coastline. Some places it can be a little disturbing having the roads just behind the small beaches.
It is possible to experience the authentic Greece on Leros and we definitely like the area at Platanos and Pandeli the best, which is quite cozy. Yet apparently a lot share this opinion so there can be plenty of tourists in the middle of the summer. But what you prefer is different and if you one day think it’s a little too crowded, you can always take a trip north to the less touristy city Lipsi.
Video about Leros here.