Distances: 182 miles from Piraeus . It is situated north of Leros, 11 miles from Agia Marina harbor and east, 12 miles from Scala harbor Patmos .

Lipsi - another name for the island - for 566 years, from the period of the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos. It was completely owned by the Monastery of Patmos, which even today retains property rights here. The Nikiforion Ecclesiastical Folk Museum of Lipsos houses antichristian exhibits.

At the highest point of the island there is the Madonna of Charos chapel (named after the person who built it). On the 23th of August every year, festive day of the church, it is said that all dried flowers in the church come alive again.

Neighbouring Patmos and Leros is the island of Lipsi or Lipsos. It forms part of a group of small islands including Aspronissi, Macronissi, Frago, Plavi, Calapodia etc. All these small islands can be visited with daily excursions leaving from Patmos or Leros.

GEOGRAPHY

The surface of the island of Lipsi is 16 square kilometers with the length of the coast being 35 kilometers. Because the island is so small it is easy to go around it by foot. However, there are taxi and bus services to take you to the beach if walking is not preferred, or you can rent a scooter or bike.

On Lipsi there are beautiful sandy beaches, like Platis Gialos with its crystal green waters.

On the small natural port is the capital, with its white houses and its beautiful square, where there can be found numerous taverns, cafeterias and restaurants.

On the island moreover the churches of the Catopanaghia constructed in the 770 d.c. deserve a visit, and the church of Panopanaghia 1500 d.c.

BEACHES

Elsewhere, a half-hour walk along spectacular coastline leads to Platis Gialos, a shallow, sandy bay. Another picturesque sandy beach called Toyrkomknima is a 10-minute walk north of Hohklakoura. Lipsi is lucky it has those. Because it has no islands directly north of it, except Samos 50 miles away, Lipsi is susceptible to the Aegean winds that wash rocks from the sea onto the beach. The plus side is the wind ensures the island is never uncomfortably hot.

The other plus is the beaches are just rough enough to keep away the cruise ships that stop at Patmos twice a week.

GETTING AROUND: One bus leaves from the harbor on the hour every hour and traverses the few roads on the island. You can find the two taxis parked near the harbor with the drivers not far away.

WHEN TO GO: May, June and September are ideal.

GETTING THERE:

They are available ferries from Piraeus , and ferry boats and hydrofoils from Patmos, Leros, Kalimnos, Kos and all the islands of the Dodecanese .

There are also connections from the islands of the East Aegean Samos, and Ikaria.