Lipsi

Lipsi is a small gem of serenity set in the blue of the southern Aegean.

It is a tiny island, only 8 kilometres long, and sparsely populated: it has only 800 residents, all concentrated in a single village, that of the port of arrival. Few cars are in circulation: the island is to be got around on foot, or at most you take a water taxi to the most beautiful beaches.

Lipsi should be experienced at a slow pace, without a list in mind of things to see and do. Days here pass peacefully, admiring rugged hills and enchanting bays washed by a blue sea, sunbathing on lonely beaches, wandering aimlessly through the village’s cobbled streets. In the evening, everyone gathers on the waterfront for a fish dinner and a glass of ouzo, perhaps the kind made by the local ouzeria.

Making friends with the locals or the foreigners who have moved to live here is easy, as is falling madly in love with the island and understanding why Ulysses for years did not rebel against the nymph Calypso who kept him prisoner here. Or so the Homeric myth tells us.

The reality is a large number of visitors concentrated in the two summer months, but tourist development has not been tumultuous and devastating as on other islands. The island’s beauty has been preserved thanks to a far-sighted master plan that prevents the construction of buildings more than two storeys high. No mega-hotels and resorts, not even huge cruise ships.

Since there is little to do other than walk, dive and dive, there is plenty of time to indulge in the pleasures of the table. Don’t miss Lipsi’s typical specialities: myzithra cheese, made from goat’s milk and sea water, and thyme honey.

Lipsi Beaches

The beaches of Lipsi are all free and unequipped; at most you will find the typical beach taverns, great for a drink and a bite to eat right by the sea and leave sandwiches and drinks at home, which add to the weight of bags and backpacks.

The island is so small that if you like walking, you won’t need to take the car out to reach wild and lonely beaches. Those who don’t want to struggle can easily reach them by moped.

Despite being small, Lipsi has a good number of different beaches, and is therefore able to please both lovers of sandy beaches and those who prefer rocky and pebbly ones.

The most beautiful sandy beaches of Lipsi are Katsadia, Kampos, Tourkonima, Platys Gialos and Lientou. If you like more pebble or rocky beaches, the ones not to be missed are Hohlakoura, Xerokampos, Papantria and Monodendri.

Of them all, the three most famous beaches are Liendou, Platy Gialos and Monodendri. The first is a pretty town beach, located a short distance from the village marina. It is by no means the most beautiful beach on the island, but it is perfect for a bit of relaxation without having to go far.

Platys Gialos is more atmospheric, but the most spectacular by far is undoubtedly Monodendri, a tongue of pebbles set between low promontories of flat rocks on top of which grows a solitary pine tree that gives the beach its name (Monodendri means ‘lone tree’). At this spot, the sea, in magnificent shades of blue, is particularly clear, which makes Monodendri an ideal beach for snorkelling enthusiasts.

We also recommend Eleni beach, which is especially recommended for naturists: here it is possible to sunbathe fully protected from prying eyes.

Things to do in Lipsi

The small island of Lipsi offers no cultural attractions: the things to see are its beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sunsets.

The village of Lipsi is a quiet fishing village with a nice little harbour around which are the inevitable traditional taverns and a small number of small shops. The whole village can be easily circumnavigated in just 15 minutes, without any anxiety or hurry: it is a destination where you can abandon the hustle and bustle of modern life and rediscover a taste for the simple things.

Those who like to walk can follow a paved pedestrian street that leads from the Kimisi tis Theotoku church to the temple of Ano Kimisi or reach the Aravis mill at the highest point of the Chora (the historic centre of the village). The views of the Aegean from this vantage point are spectacular.

At the highest point of the island are the remains of a castle and the ancient acropolis. It is a very picturesque place, perfect for those seeking a moment of solitude and serenity.

Where to stay in Lipsi

It is not difficult to choose where to stay on Lipsi because there is only one town, which is also the only tourist resort on the island.

The accommodation facilities are simple but comfortable and well maintained; there are few hotels, the majority of tourist accommodations are flats and studios. Prices are very cheap, far below those of the more popular islands. On the other hand, there is less choice of accommodation: if you are travelling in July and August, it is a good idea to book in advance so as not to risk a sell-out.

For those who like luxury, Lipsi is not the ideal choice: the best you can find is a 3-star hotel and a couple of charming villas with sea views. No spas, designer furnishings and other luxuries that you would now expect to find in the chicest establishments.

Recommended hotels in Lipsi

We offer a selection of hotels at Lipsi to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Lipsi, sorted by number of reviews.

Apartments and vacation homes in Lipsi

If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Lipsi. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Lipsi are in high demand.

How to get to Lipsi

Lipsi does not have an airport, so to get there you need to travel to one of the neighbouring islands and from there continue by ferry.

The easiest and usually cheapest way to get to Lipsi is to take a flight to Kos and from there a ferry or hydrofoil. The latter is faster (the sea crossing only takes 3 hours), but the cost is slightly higher.

Alternatively, you can take a flight to Samos or Rhodes. The latter island is probably the one that offers the most cheap flights to/from major European cities, but it is also the furthest from Lipsi: ferries are less frequent and the sea journey takes longer.

If you can’t find cheap flights to Kos, Samos or Rhodes (many are seasonal flights and sell out quickly) consider flying to Athens and taking a ferry from the port of Piraeus: it only runs once a week so this should be organised very carefully in terms of timetables. Calculate a whole night at sea to reach your destination.

Lipsi Weather