DODECANESE

Lipsi

Size: 100km x 50km
Martian Risk: minimal

A green, undulating island where you can just sit at a taverna in the pretty village square, enjoy the view of the harbour and watch the locals....well, undulating round you. The square is the centre of local life and the acacia trees along one side provide an attractive backdrop for taverna tables. The village shops are all within a few seconds’ walk and the narrow streets are virtually traffic-free, except for delivery tricycles and the inevitable scooter.

There is a nice town beach of good sand, separated from the harbour by a peninsula and therefore clean. A minibus serves the two other most popular beaches: one at Platys Yalos in the north is set in an encircling arm protecting it from the Meltemi and with a highly regarded taverna overlooking it. The other is a series of sandy bays at Katsadia, also with the obligatory taverna, with lovely views south to Leros and Kalymnos.

The flatter, eastern, half of the island offers good walking and deserted sandy beaches; the NW of the island invites more challenging walking. Caiques provide day trips, with swimming stops, to seven islets round Lipsi as well as across to Patmos. Hydrofoils and ferries make it possible to visit Leros, Agathonisi and Fourni, but check the schedules!

Lipsi: the village from the harbour

Lipsi: Platys Yalos beach

Lipsi: town beach with  Rizos Studios (top R)

Lipsi: view over Katsadia cove to Leros

Lipsi: the Katsadia taverna

Lipsi: the beach and taverna at Platys Gialos

Lipsi: if you think Lipsi's not friendly, you've another think coming