Lesvos & Mytilene: the welcoming large island
Third largest island of Greece, Lesvos offers a genuine year-round daily life. Mytilene, its capital-port, concentrates services, a university, museums and sea and air connections to Athens and Thessaloniki. ✈️
- Atmosphere: stone villages, Byzantine castles, tranquil beaches.
- Practical: active local life off-season, bus network and adequate roads.
- Real Estate: village houses, neoclassical residences, small guesthouses to convert.
Molyvos & Petra: village life by the water
Perched below its castle, Molyvos charms with its cobbled lanes, terrace cafés and sunsets. Petra unfolds a long beach and a lively square around its church on a rock. 🌅
- Ideal for: pedestrian life, gentle holiday rentals, small businesses.
- To check: winter accessibility, parking, proximity to medical services.
Thermal springs, olive groves, hiking
Lesvos is known for its hot springs (Eftalou, Therma), its olive groves and a well-marked network of trails. Between baths, local olive oil and views over Anatolia, daily life has a simple, wholesome taste. 🌿
- Active life: associations, festivals, artisan workshops.
- Buying tip: test several villages off-season, observe exposure to the wind and sunlight.
Chios & mastic villages
South of Chios stretches the country of mastiha, that precious resin which shapes the economy and the landscapes. Here, the architecture is unique, with its black-and-white geometric facades.
- Atmosphere: lively traditions, local produce, unassuming beaches.
- Practical: airport and ferries to the mainland, shops concentrated in town.
- Real Estate: stone houses in the villages, apartments near the ports.
Pyrgi & Mesta: geometric patterns
Pyrgi and Mesta are true open-air museums, famous for their xysta (carved patterns). Their labyrinthine lanes offer coolness in summer and a village life paced by the seasons. 🎨
- Ideal for: lovers of authenticity, guesthouse projects.
- To check: car access, interior brightness, heritage constraints on facades.
Beaches & fishing ports
From Komi to Emporios, the beaches alternate between dark pebbles and translucent waters. Small ports sell fish at auction and enliven summer evenings. 🐟
- Landmarks: family tavernas, coastal paths, mastic workshops to visit.
- Buying tip: measure real distances (slow roads), anticipate parking in high season.
Samos & Ikaria: sun and « slow life »
Samos, mountainous and green, lives to the rhythm of vineyards and coves facing full sun. Ikaria cultivates the slow life, the conviviality of its festivals (panygiria) and a relaxed relationship with time. ☀️
- Practical: airports in Samos and Ikaria, inter-island ferry links.
- Atmosphere: Samos more lively and accessible; Ikaria wilder and more contemplative.
- Real Estate: village houses, sea-view villas, sloping plots to be serviced.
To give a sense of budgets, and according to Green Acres, the average of properties requested on Samos is around 550
000 € for large properties (with an average reported area close to 190 m
2). These benchmarks help to calibrate a project between a second home and year-round relocation.
Pythagoreio & Kokkari (Samos)
Pythagoreio blends ancient heritage and a friendly marina; Kokkari lines up cafes and pebble beaches, appreciated by wind lovers. 🏛️
Based on published requests, average characteristics vary greatly by area: in Pythagoreio, requested properties show a high average in total price (e.g. large-surface properties). In Kokkari, the average offer is on more modest sizes with a price level suited to buyers looking for proximity to the beaches: Kokkari.
- Ideal for: teleworking with services nearby, boating, cafe life.
- To check: exposure to the meltemi, summer noise, quality of the internet network.
Armenistis & Evdilos (Ikaria)
In the northwest, Armenistis overlooks light-sand beaches; Evdilos, one of the island’s ports, concentrates shops and connections. Here, one slows down, walks, and shares. 🧘
- Ideal for: nature seekers, simple projects, integration into local life.
- To check: terrain and access, wind exposure, energy and water self-sufficiency.
Good to know before moving :
- Try life off-season before buying; spend at least one winter on site.
- Obtain a Greek tax number (AFM) and surround yourself with a notary and local advisors.
- Anticipate inspections, land registry and additional costs (purchase fees, renovation, heating).
- Consider logistics: ferries, domestic flights, medical care, internet connection.
- From the data consulted, no « main foreign buyer » profile was identified for the department — information useful for evaluating competition on the local market.
