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Tavari Beach

sand

About this Beach

Tavari is a fishing port on the Gulf of Kalloni, south-facing and sheltered, where a beach of mixed sand and pebbles stretches between the harbour and the open gulf. The village is known above all for its psarotavernas — fish restaurants that draw customers from across the island. One of them regularly appears on lists of the best fish restaurants on Lesvos, serving whatever came off the boats that morning with a distinctive local wine that resembles a light sherry. Tavari is a destination for eating, not sunbathing, and the beach is simply the pleasant bonus that comes with spending an afternoon in one of the island's finest culinary villages.

Before you go

What to expect

The harbour sets the mood — fishing boats sit moored a few steps from tables where plates of just-caught fish arrive alongside a glass of the village's own wine, which carries an unusual, sherry-like quality. The mixed sand-and-pebble beach is a pleasant place to sit after lunch, looking out across the sheltered Gulf of Kalloni. Most visitors come to eat, and the psarotavernas here are the reason.

Best time to visit

May through October for the fish tavernas; May, June, and September offer the most pleasant conditions without the intense August heat.

How to get there

From Mytilene, head west toward Kalloni and then follow the road south around the Gulf of Kalloni toward Tavari — the drive is roughly 50 to 60 kilometres and takes about an hour.