Myrina is the capital of Lemnos and combines traces of early settlement with a castle on rocky terrain. If you would like to include the town’s history and coastline in your plans, there are two specific beach destinations to consider: Romeikos Gialos and Riha Nera are Myrina’s closest beaches, and both are within walking distance. The castle and other archaeological sites add a distinct historical dimension to the coastal setting.

Settlement, Founding and Castle

Antiquities found in Myrina indicate that the site was settled before the Bronze Age. The founding of Myrina is dated to the 12th or 13th century BC. Settlement and the date of founding refer to different historical points: the finds point to early human presence, while the date refers to the town’s founding. The present-day Castle of Myrina was built in 1186 by Andronikos I Komnenos. It covers 144 stremmata. The castle was considered the strongest fortress on Lemnos; for this reason, from the late Byzantine period until 1955, the town was called Kastro.

Castle and Archaeological Sites

The castle is one of the largest in the Aegean and rises on a rocky, steep peninsula of volcanic origin. Outside its walls, a pottery workshop and sections of wall are among the remains of a Neolithic settlement. The settlement remains and the fortress point to different historical periods: early settlement and the later history of the fortress. Myrina’s sights also include the Dapia on Tsas Hill and the Venetian castle with its deer.

Archaeological Museum of Lemnos

The Archaeological Museum of Lemnos is housed in a two-storey 19th-century building that initially served as a Turkish administrative building. Its new permanent exhibition opened in August 2025. It displays finds from Poliochni, Myrina, Koukonisi, Kaveirio and Ouriakos, as well as private donations and a remarkable collection of sculptures. The museum thus connects the history of its building with archaeological finds from several places on Lemnos.

Limnos in Broader Perspective

On Limnos, the view extends beyond Myrina’s history to nature, tradition and regional products. Thousands of migratory birds use Lemnos every spring and autumn as a stopover on their long journeys between Europe, Asia and Africa. Inland, near Katalakkos, lies Ammothines, a 70-stremmata area of sand dunes; Falakra has volcanic formations attributed to the meeting of lava and sea. Traditional horse races are held in Kalliopi every year for the feast of Saint George. Another historical landmark is the Treaty of Moudros: it was signed in 1918 in Moudros between Turkey and the Allies. Kalathaki and Melichloro are well-known cheeses on Lemnos, made from sheep’s and goat’s milk. Red wine is also produced, including Limnio, also known as Kalambaki, as well as Muscat of Alexandria.

Discover more destinations: Limnos, Kontias, Város, Kaminia, Moudros, Kalliopi, Kaspakas, Angariones.

Return to the main travel overview: Limnos.