Petra, Lesvos - What's It Like? | The Mediterranean Traveller

Thinking of booking a trip to Petra on Lesvos? Here’s what to expect from this relaxed beach resort.

Where is it?

Petra is on the north coast of Lesvos, between Molyvos and Anaxos.

What’s the vibe like?

Petra is a proper seasonal seaside resort, unlike nearby Molyvos, a harbour town with a small beach. Together with Molyvos and adjacent Petra, it makes up the main tourist area on the island and is also the centre of package holiday tourism.

But mass tourism hasn’t taken over, and the appeal of Petra is its simple and old-school Greek vibe. It has plenty of beachfront tavernas and a small but charming old town.

Most of the tavernas have sunloungers which are free to customers – even in August. You won’t find loud music blaring except at a few of the more modern vibey beach bars but these are at the north end of the beach.

The main part of Petra is long and narrow and runs parallel to its beach. The old town is in the middle and here you’ll find a few buzzing streets lined with bars and restaurants, shady alleyways covered in wisteria, quiet backstreets with old mansions, and a photogenic rock topped with a church that gives its name to the town (Petra means rock).

It attracts a mix of Greek and European tourists looking for simple low-budget self-catering accommodation, mainly older couples and young families. Many have been returning here for years. You’ll also find plenty of locals here, especially in the beach bars at the weekends.

Steep steps leading up to Petra's hilltop church. — Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Glykophilousa.

What’s the beach like?

Petra’s generous Blue-Flag-rated beach is 3km long and wide enough for several rows sun loungers.

It’s a mix of dark course sand and shingle. The pebbly bit is where the sea meets the sand, and it shelves quite quickly. The sea bed is a mix of rocks and sand. Those with younger children might find the beach at Anaxos more suitable. I didn’t find the shingle too sharp but there are plenty of shops to buy sea shoes if you disagree.

There are many organised sections with sun loungers belonging to the adjoining cafes and restaurants, but also plenty of free areas if you want to bring your own. It doesn’t feel too packed.

You’ll find numerous showers and changing cabins along the beach, and the beach is lined with lovely tamarisk trees providing shade (there’s a particularly nice unorganised area just north of the tavernas).

The sea is clean (although sometimes there is sediment and seagrass disturbed by the waves). Unfortunately, when I visited there seemed to be a fair amount of plastic litter on the beach.

Perhaps this washed up with winds and weather, but there didn’t seem to be much of an effort to tidy it up. The bay is partially sheltered but has fairly consistent winds in the summer – bliss for temperatures but means the water is rarely completely clear and calm.

There are no water sports on Petra (at least at the time of writing), but you can find them next door in Anaxos.

Activities and amenities

There are a few activities and excursions aimed at tourists in Petra but overall it’s a small place best suited to those capable of entertaining themselves.

The Vareltzidaina Mansion is a traditional Ottoman mansion preserved as a museum and it’s well worth popping in on your way to visit the hilltop church, the Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Glykophilousa (make sure to cover your shoulders and knees and be prepared for a steep but short set of stairs).

Look out for the local ouzo Kouroumixali (you might even be able to pop in to the distillery if you can find it!) and don’t miss a meal at the well-regarded Petra Women’s Cooperative.

There’s a small port at the north end of Petra which is used by the coastguard, fishing boats, and for a few tourist boats which do pickups/dropoffs in Petra as well as Molyvos. It’s beyond Nissos Beach Bar at the far end, those with limited mobility should be aware it’s a bit of a walk.

The main boat excursions go to the uninhabited Rabbit Island (which you can see from Petra) or further along the coast to Skala Sikamineas or a bay for snorkelling.

Skala Sikamaneas Daytime
Skala Sikamineas Starlight Cruise
BBQ Boat Trip
Rabbit Island
Rabbit Island Sunset Cruise

It’s a small boat with 2 decks (the upper deck has sun loungers), if you’re visiting in peak summer you should consider booking in advance. Above I’ve linked the trips you can book online through Musement which is the Jet2 experience marketplace, or you can book through a local travel agency or directly with the Mercury Express.

I took 2 trips on the Mercury and can highly recommend. For more info read my Review of Molyvos Boat Trips.

If you like hiking you’ll find information boards with details on the trails in the hills behind the bay.

There are a few bus excursions available, although note that these are usually in Dutch and probably a bit boring for kids.

Petra has basic tourist amenities such as a pharmacy, rental agencies, a fitness centre, and plenty of mini-markets for food and toys. Molyvos has a more sophisticated range of restaurants and bars and better shopping, it’s common to go in for the evening by taxi.

Transport and accessibility

Public bus service KTEL Lesvos links Petra with Molyvos and Anaxos as well as across the island to Kalloni and Mytilini. Timetables are set up for locals and aren’t hugely frequent, so you’re likely to end up using taxis too. Molyvos is a 10-minute drive and is €8-10 by taxi.

The road between Petra and Molyvos has a sidewalk for the whole length (sometimes a rarity in Greece!) and takes around 1 hour. You’ll find the taxis in Petra on the seafront near the small jetty or you can book in advance with Lesvos Taxiservice.

There’s a tourist train that travels between Molyvos, Petra and Anaxos several times a day. You can either buy a one-way ticket (€6) or an unlimited day ticket (€9) – check the website for more information.

I think an e-bike would be perfect for this area. You can rent them from Kosmos in Molyvos which is near the bus station.

There’s a large free car park in the middle of Petra.

From the airport:

It takes around 1 hour to drive to Molyvos from Mytilini International Airport (or Mytilini port).

It’s worth noting that if you’re taking an included bus transfer (for example with Jet2) then expect it to take a bit longer as they stop at Kalloni and Anaxos first.

Public transport:

There is a bus to Petra from the KTEL bus station in Mytilini, it takes 1.5 hours. You can find bus times on the KTEL Lesvos website.

For more information see Getting Around Lesvos By Bus.

Accessibility:

Unlike Molyvos, Petra is almost entirely flat. Pavements are not always ideal for wheelchairs or mobility aids though as they tend to sprout obstacles.

The main car park is just over the road from the beach. No steps are required to access the beach (except from some of the taverna platforms) and there’s a Sea Access ramp although I advice checking beforehand to see if it’s in use.

Prices

Accommodation and food/drink prices in Petra are on the cheaper side compared to most other islands with international tourism, some of which have seen huge rises in the past 2 years. Even better when you factor in the free sun loungers.

Where to stay

Most of the accommodation in Petra is in traditional Greek studios or small hotels. Petra is flat and spacious so there are plenty of properties with pools and greenery.

Hotels are simple and often a bit dated inside but you’ll rarely be far from the sea. The south end of the seafront is more residential and doesn’t have a beach, just rocks and a road.

Flights to the island and taxis to Molyvos are pricey so it’s worth checking out package deals with Jet2 (although some hotels have an extra charge for A/C if you book through a tour operator so it’s worth checking and factoring this into price comparisons).

Villa Vicky Studios has a loyal crowd of returners and a lush landscaped garden with a pool and sea views. Next door, Nikis Suites is a complex of modern adults-only apartments.

If you’re after a villa with a view then look at Little Bird Lesvos and Eleia Seafront Villas which are located on the headland between Petra and Anaxos (although nearer to Anaxos). 3-star Clara Resort is on the same hill but a bit nearer, overlooking Perra.

How to Get Around Lesvos By Bus

A Quick Guide to Anaxos

A Quick Guide to Skala Eressos

A Quick Guide to Molyvos

Boat Trips from Molyvos – Review + Photos

How to Take a Day Trip to Turkey from Lesvos