Leros (Λὲρος) is a fairly low island of 53 km2 and 8,000 inhabitants. It has many beautiful beaches and unspoiled villages and a wildly serrated coastline. Poor Leros, she has been downgraded for centuries. First, the name which means "dirty" and "malodorous." Then, the large psychiatric hospitals, then the terrible legacy of the very destructive Battle of Leros during the WW II when she was bombarded for over 50 days and finally invaded by the Germans in a dramatic landing. During the days of the junta Leros was a place of exile and torture housing the infamous prison of Partheni. Finally, in more recent times it has received some very bad press concerning conditions in the remaining psychiatric hospital.

The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The first inhabitants were most likely Pelasgians, Lelekes, and Karians. They were followed by the Dorians who were succeeded by the Ionians from Miletus. Homer mentions Leros, together with Kalymnos, as the "Kalydian islands" and included them in his Catalogue of Ships in the Iliad.

Leros was the sacred island of Artemis. According to the Mythology, after the death of the hero Meleager (the killer of the Calydonian Boar), Artemis took pity on the sorrow of his sisters and turned them into guinea fowl and put them in her temple at Partheni.
Lunchtime in Pandeli, Leros

Leros was occupied by the Persians who departed after their defeat in Salamis. During the Peloponnesian War, Leros sided with Sparta. In the Roman times, Leros and the surrounding islands were dominated by pirates. During the Byzantine times the island was part of the Samos prefecture. In 1316 AD Leros was taken by the Knights of St. John and was governed by the Duke of Naxos. From 1455 until 1527 the island was ravaged by pirates until finally it was occupied in 1527 by the Ottomans. In 1821, Leros took part in the War of Independence and became part of the new Greek state. In 1912, along with the rest of the Dodecanese, Leros fell under the Italians who held it until 1943. During this period the Italians built the town of Lakki. They were succeeded by the allied forces, mostly British. The island was then invaded by a large force of German paratroopers and many buildings were destroyed during the Battle of Leros (November 12-16, 1943). The Germans held Leros until the end of World War II, when it was united with the rest of Greece in 1948. During the terrible years of the Greek junta (1967-74) the military camp in Partheni was used as a concentration camp for political prisoners.

Music making is a long tradition in Leros. Even today one can encounter live music here with traditional instruments such as: santouri (dulcimer), tsanbouna (bagpipes), lagouto (lute), and thelyra (a small violin-like instrument). The traditional songs and dances are: the Issos Lerikos, the Sousta, the Stavrotos, the Passoumaki, and the Dance of the Broom.

For cruising yachts, the island’s principal attraction is the sheltered natural harbour of Lakki, with its two marinas and excellent anchorage off the town. There are other good anchorages around the island at Pandéli, Vromolithos, Xerocambos, Partheni, Alindas, Blafouti and the island of Archangelos just north of Leros (the latter two in settled weather only).
Contents
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* 1 Leros
* 2 Charts
* 3 Radio Nets
* 4 Weather
* 5 Approach and Navigation
* 6 Check-in facilities
* 7 Ports and Popular Stops
o 7.1 Ports
+ 7.1.1 Lakki
# 7.1.1.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.1.2 Pandéli
# 7.1.2.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
o 7.2 Anchorages
+ 7.2.1 Xerocambos
# 7.2.1.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.2.2 Vromolithos
# 7.2.2.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.2.3 Alindas
# 7.2.3.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.2.4 Blefouti
# 7.2.4.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.2.5 Partheni
# 7.2.5.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.2.6 N Cove
# 7.2.6.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
+ 7.2.7 NW Cove
# 7.2.7.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
* 8 Marinas & Yacht Clubs
* 9 Yacht Services and Repairs
o 9.1 Marine Stores
o 9.2 Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards
+ 9.2.1 Agmar Shipyard
+ 9.2.2 Evros Boatyard
o 9.3 Fuel, Water, & Electricity
* 10 Offshore Islands
o 10.1 Archangelos
+ 10.1.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
* 11 Tourism and Things to do Ashore
o 11.1 Tourism
o 11.2 Grocery & Supply Stores
o 11.3 Eateries
o 11.4 Internet/WiFi
o 11.5 Laundry
o 11.6 Motorbike & Car Rentals
o 11.7 Garbage Disposal
o 11.8 Transportation
* 12 Routes/Passages To/From
* 13 Cruiser's Friends
* 14 Forum Discussions
* 15 External Links
* 16 References & Publications
* 17 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
* 18 Personal Notes
* 19 Cruising Wiki Navigation


Charts
Satellite View of Leros
Click for larger view

BA
2682 Kolpos Patalion to Nisos Nisiros
3926 Lero island and approaches
Imray-Tetra
G34 Southern Cyclades
NIMA
54400 Samos to Rodhos
Greek
451 Leros to Rhodos

Radio Nets

Also see Cruiser's Nets

* Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
* Olympia Radio - channel 23 at the W of the island; no good signal on the S and E sides

Weather

See Aegean Sea.
Approach and Navigation

The approaches to Leros are straightforward, most of the offshore islets being steep-to. If approaching the main harbour of Lakki from the north, however, be sure to avoid the group of above-water rocks extending about half a mile offshore just NW of the entrance.

Danger: With a strong meltemi there are violent gusts when entering the bays of Lakki and Alindas. Also, with strong southerlies there are gusts and large swells in the bay of Lakki.
Check-in facilities

See Marinas & Yacht Clubs below.
Ports and Popular Stops
Ports
Lakki
Chart of Lakki Harbor - Chartlet
Leros has many very picturesque and attractive villages lying on its beautiful coasts. Most of those villages have fine examples of the traditional architecture of the island. Their beauty is increased by the fact that they have kept their authentic and traditional colours. Accommodations and taverns are available in all the villages of the sland and various other touristy facilities can be found in the touristy resorts and in the lovely capital. Discover: Agia Marina, Alinda, Pandeli and others...

:: The beaches

The 60 kilometres long coastline of Leros is full of large bays and secluded coves, nestling large or small, picturesque beaches with golden or dark sand and crystalline waters. Some of those beaches are touristy beach resorts, others are fully-organised and others are calm, almost deserted, coil up in tiny coves and offering their serene beauty.
Some of them are Blefountis, Dioliskaria, Ksirokampos and more...

:: The Nightlife

The calm island of Leros in Greece does not have a very intense and lively nightlife. However, a few clubs and bars are available in the harbour of Agia Marina (one of the three settlement forming the capital of the island) and in the touristy beach resort of Alinda. All bars and clubs are open until dawn and propose various kinds of music.

image:World_icon.png 37°07.5′N, 26°51.1′E
This is the main harbor of the island. It is located on the W side of the island. Lakki (Λακκί) is a deep inlet and it is the largest harbor of the Dodecanese, affording all-round protection. On the NW side of the harbor there is small marina operated by Agmar see below.

On the E side there is the Evros shipyard and marina, See Marinas & Yacht Clubs below.

It is possible for a few yachts to anchor moor in front of the prominent old customs building, about 100 metres east of the Agmar Marina berths and clear of the alongside coastguard berth. Shelter is excellent here from the prevailing winds.

Finally, it is possible to anchor off in front of the town in depths of 5.0 – 6.0 metres. There may be some uncomfortable swell but with northerlies it is safe. The bottom is mud and provides good holding.

Lakki is an unusual town, not at all what one would expect from a Greek island capital. No narrow, cobbled streets and dazzlingly white buildings here, but rather broad, sweeping boulevards lined with monumental architecture from the days when Lakki was an Italian-owned showpiece from the Mussolini era. It’s a style of architecture that doesn’t appeal to everyone today, although one hopes its day will come before the remaining unrestored buildings are allowed to crumble into dust. Meanwhile, it reminds one of a De Chirico painting.