Hotels and Accommodation on Lesbos (Lesvos)

Villa La Skala stands in Skala Eressos in the west of Lesbos, set in one of the island's most beautiful bays with a gorgeous beach (part of it naturist) and a car-free beachfront. It is a single house of three large apartments, each with at least two bedrooms and a cosy veranda, fully equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV and a complete kitchen; run by the helpful Nikolaos, it is excellent value and sleeps up to five.

On the quiet, unspoilt shores of the Gulf of Gera, among olive groves off the beaten track, Gera's Olive Grove is a traditional guesthouse with three self-catering lodges that combine rustic charm with modern comforts. It has its own working farm and animals, fresh produce cooked by local housewives, herb gardens and a private fishing boat, and organises tours of Gera and Lesvos - a lovely, safe base for families, with free parking.

Madonna Studios and Apartments sit 150 metres from Vatera beach at its central junction, a two-minute walk from the sand and five from the shops and tavernas along the esplanade. This family-run complex, open since 1990, offers cheap studios and apartments with hotel-style extras - a reception, breakfast room, licensed bar and internet - and helpful English-speaking owners.

The Aphrodite Hotel is one of the most modern hotels on Lesvos, built right on the seafront of Vatera, the island's most majestic beach at over 10 kilometers long. Its well-furnished rooms have air conditioning and sea or mountain views, the restaurant serves traditional cuisine, and there is a delightful outdoor taverna on the seafront.

This charming, family-run complex sits centrally on the main street of Anaxos in the north of Lesvos, a 10-minute walk from a Blue Flag sandy beach that is the best in the area. Tavernas, cafes and supermarkets are close by and the bus stop is 50 metres away for trips to Petra, Molyvos and Eftalou; Anaxos is an unspoilt, low-key place made for rest.

Nassos Guest House stands in the middle of picturesque Molyvos (Mithymna), halfway down from the castle, with stunning views across the village rooftops and the bay. Built around 1900 and once the first guesthouse in the north of the island, it is a small-scale alternative to the bigger hotels, with eight rooms, open all year, and can take groups of up to eighteen.

This family-run pension in the heart of Mithymna is named after Stratis Myrivilis's popular novel and was once the home of its heroine, his lover Stella. At the top of Mithymna's cobbled main street, it gives magnificent panoramic views of the Aegean, Molivos Bay and the port from the balcony, close to the town's lively market.

Imerti Resort Hotel enjoys a peaceful setting in Kalloni amid beautiful gardens, with spacious rooms that have a fully equipped kitchenette and a private balcony. There is a large outdoor pool, a buffet breakfast, arcade games, scuba-diving lessons and a massage service, and Kalloni's market and one of Lesvos's most important nature reserves are close by.

Set among the olive groves of Thermi near the ancient thermal baths and St Raphael's convent, the Lesvos Inn offers comfortable, well-presented rooms with sea or grove views and free WiFi. Guests can swim in the pool or unwind in the spa, with its jacuzzi, sauna and massage; the port of Mytilene is 5 minutes away and the airport 15, with a free transfer to town.

Sellados Villas are three luxurious new stone villas with a swimming pool near the cosmopolitan beach of Agios Isidoros, surrounded by olive trees with splendid views over the Aegean. Each combines traditional style with modern comfort - a fully equipped kitchen-dining room, a living room with fireplace, two bedrooms on different floors and three bathrooms - with breakfast on the pergola-shaded verandas and parking on site.

Ikies Small Elegant Houses sit on the coastline of Neapoly near Mytilene airport, a complex of standard rooms, villas with a jacuzzi and a suite with a private outdoor pool. All have plasma TVs and a balcony overlooking the pool, the village and the sea; breakfast is served in the rooms, and there is free WiFi and parking.

Toula Apartments enjoy fantastic sea views and sunsets in the enchanting town of Petra, close to the centre, with modern facilities and a family atmosphere. A swimming pool lies 50 metres away, the friendly staff are on hand 24 hours a day, and Petra is one of the most beautiful towns of Lesvos, famous for its long sandy beach.

Kyparisis Beach Houses stand right on the white-pebble beach at magical Skala Mystegna, so you step straight from the door onto the sand, with crystal-blue Aegean water and views across the straits to Asia Minor. Two stylish two-storey villa-apartments, tastefully decorated in simple Hellenic style, each have an open-plan living area opening onto the beach, a fireplace, air conditioning and two en-suite bedrooms.