One of the most tranquil of all the Greek Islands, Lemnos is probably one of the few islands with its own airport that is still relatively undiscovered. It boasts beautiful beaches, delightful restaurants that cost a fraction of some of its better known neighbours and islanders that are warm in hospitality and friendly in nature. Here everything is laid back and unhurried.

The island is lies between Turkey to the East and Mount Athos on the Greek mainland to its West and on a clear day it is possible to see Athos. It’s mainly rural inland but its coastline has some stunning beaches that are virtually untouched by tourists so it’s a great idea to hire a car for a few days and tootle around the island exploring some of its coves and bays.

The main town is Myrina, its capital, and it boasts lovely authentic Greek restaurants that are on a par with some of Kalkan’s finest, but also a lot less expensive. In fact it reminds us of Greek version of Kalkan but without the sloping streets leading to the harbour. Here everything is thankfully flat. Fresh fish is also commonplace in most restaurants and is excellent value for money.

The town is virtually surrounded by sea and has beaches that any Greek island would be proud of. Plus  it’s only a 25 minute walk from our chosen hotel, the Afroditi Villa in Plati.