Leros Hotels & Villas: Where to Stay

Leros has fewer hotels than the larger neighbouring islands of Samos and Kos, so its accommodation is spread among the villages rather than gathered in one resort. Alinda in the north-east is the largest resort and holds the widest choice, Platanos and Agia Marina put you in the traditional main town, and Pandeli and Vromolithos suit a quieter base by the sea. This guide covers the places Hans visited, led by the Archontiko Angelou that he rates the best on the island. Hire a car to explore Leros at your own pace, covered in our Leros car hire guide.

Widest choice

Alinda

In the main town

Platanos

By the fishing village

Pandeli

Quiet base

Vromolithos

Archontiko Angelou, Alinda

The Archontiko Angelou is a hotel set in a restored, luxuriously styled Italian villa in the village of Alinda, and Hans rates it the best on the island. Some people who live on Leros call it the most romantic spot on the island, where you have breakfast in the flower garden. The owner, Marianna, calls it her guesthouse, but it looks more like a small Italian palazzo. It is a relaxed, quiet and tastefully decorated place, with seats and tables on each terrace and in the garden. The staff serve a special home-made breakfast each morning, with home-made jam, pancakes, fresh fruit salad, orange juice, coffee, cakes and fresh bread. It costs a little more than the average hotel, but for a few days of being pampered it is worth it, and the service and the ambiance make it stand out.

Hotel Elefteria, Platanos

Hotel Elefteria stands in Platanos, the main town of Leros, between Agia Marina and Pandeli, within walking distance of the island's most beautiful beaches, shops and restaurants. It has a large outdoor pool and a roof garden with a fine view of the Castle of Pandeli, where guests relax with a drink. The rooms are basic, each with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a private bathroom and a balcony. A full-service restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, and the hotel hosts Greek nights with dancing and barbecues.

Panteli Beach Hotel, Pandeli

The Panteli Beach Hotel is a newly built set of studios and apartments at Pandeli beach, with wooden rooftops and white-washed walls, a 5-minute walk from Platanos, the island's capital. The spacious, fully equipped studios and apartments each have a kitchen and a living room, air conditioning, a safe and a TV. The hotel is about 4 km from the airport and 4 km from the main port of Lakki. Cars, scooters and bicycles can be hired at the hotel, which also has a snack bar serving breakfast.

Altazia Apartments, Alinda

The Altazia Apartments sit on the seafront in the area of Alinda, with kitchen facilities and sea views, and free sun beds and umbrellas on Koulouri beach in front of the building. The air-conditioned apartments are traditionally furnished, with stone walls, wooden floors, a dining area and a living room with a TV and a fireplace, and each has two private balconies looking over the Aegean and the castle of Leros. Agia Marina, the capital and port, is 2.5 km away. Altazia offers a free two-way transfer to Leros airport, 4 km away, along with free Wi-Fi and free on-site parking.

Villas & where to stay

Beyond the hotels, Leros has villas and self-catering apartments scattered around its bays, and where you base yourself shapes the holiday. The areas below set out the choices, from the resort of Alinda to the quiet bay of Krithoni, where small traditional white houses and a few luxury villas stand among the trees.

Alinda & Krithoni

Alinda is the largest resort on Leros and holds the widest choice of self-catering rooms, apartments and studios, on and behind its long sandy beach with watersports, tavernas, bars, mini-markets and car rentals. Just along the coast, the quiet bay of Krithoni keeps small traditional white houses and a few luxury villas among eucalyptus and tamarisk trees, a calmer alternative a short drive from the resort. This is the most convenient corner of the island for a beach holiday, and the beach is described in the Leros beaches guide.

Platanos & Agia Marina

Platanos and its harbour Agia Marina form the traditional main town of Leros, on the east coast below the Castle of Pandeli. Staying here puts you among white houses, narrow lanes, shops, travel agencies, tavernas and bars, with the ferry quay of Agia Marina on your doorstep. It suits travellers who want the everyday life of the island rather than a beach resort, within an easy walk of the harbour and a short drive from the beaches.

Pandeli & Vromolithos

Pandeli and Vromolithos, in the bay just below the capital, make a quieter base by the sea. Pandeli is the old fishing village with fish tavernas on the shore, and neighbouring Vromolithos has hotels, apartments, restaurants, mini-markets and bars along a sandy beach that is said to be the best on Leros for the sunrise. Both put you a short walk from the water and about 2 km from Platanos.