Dodecanese
Leros
Art Deco architecture, warm locals, and a depth of character most islands can't match.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
Flight or ferry
In pictures
Leros
Leros doesn't let you forget its history, and that is part of what makes it so interesting. The Italians occupied the island in 1912 and built Lakki — a planned modernist town of Art Deco and Rationalist architecture that sits improbably among Greek island scenery, as if a piece of 1930s Rome had been disassembled and shipped to the Aegean. The circular town hall, the market arcade, the waterfront buildings: all designed by Italian architects with a rigour and civic ambition that has never quite been matched on the island since. A WWII military history museum and a castle above the village of Platanos add further historical weight. Beyond the architecture, there are excellent beaches, a warmly welcoming local character, and the particular satisfaction of being somewhere interesting rather than merely pretty. It is harder to reach than it deserves to be.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Has a complicated history (WWII battles, a large psychiatric institution that was controversial) that colours its character — not for everyone.
Hidden gem
The Italian-built Lakki waterfront — Art Deco buildings nobody photographs, frozen in 1935.
Where it sits
Dodecanese, Greece
Leros — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Leros? +
- The best months to visit Leros are May to October. It's calm and uncrowded most of the year, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Leros from Athens? +
- Leros has an airport, so you can fly direct from Athens in under an hour or take the ferry.
- Is Leros good for couples? +
- Leros is a charming pick for couples, especially shoulder season.
- Is Leros good for families with kids? +
- Leros is a great choice for families — calm swims, walkable towns, and short transfers.
- Is Leros expensive? +
- Leros is affordable by Greek-island standards.
- Do you need a car on Leros? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Leros. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Leros? +
- Has a complicated history (WWII battles, a large psychiatric institution that was controversial) that colours its character — not for everyone.