Eftalou Hot Springs (Bathhouse)

What to expect

Eftalou is the hot spring most visitors to Lesbos see, because it sits on the coast about 4 km (2.5 miles) east of Molyvos (Mithymna), the island’s most visited village. The bathhouse is small and whitewashed, standing almost on the beach at the end of a short paved path. Inside the old part is a single vaulted chamber under a dome, with a stone pool in the floor fed straight from the spring. It is steamy and very hot.

Reports put the spring at about 109-115°F43-46°C. At that temperature most people manage only a few seconds on the first try. A long-time visitor’s tip is to hold a toe in for about 30 seconds as a test. The usual routine is a short dip in the old pool, then a walk of a few steps out to the sea to cool off, then back again.

Next to the old bath is a newer, renovated section with private tubs and taps, so you can mix the hot water down to something you can sit in. It suits anyone who finds the old pool too much.

The beach itself is part of the experience. Hot water seeps through the rocks along the shore and mixes with the sea, so you can find warm patches while swimming. People used to dig small pools in the sand and gravel here, but winter storms have dumped boulders on the shore and changed it, so expect rocks rather than a neat sandy pool.

Is it open?

This is the question to settle before you drive out. The baths belong to the Municipality of West Lesbos, which has been trying for years to find someone to run and restore them: a tender was heading for cancellation in 2016, and in July 2023 the municipality invited investors to propose a wellness product built around the existing buildings. In July 2026 it approved the economic and technical studies for leasing Eftalou, Polichnitos and Lisvori to private investors. For Eftalou, the plan is to reuse the existing buildings without large new construction, first restoring the core bath and getting it licensed “so that legal reopening becomes possible”, then adding massage, hammam and sauna. The municipality itself said approving the studies does not mean the springs reopen straight away.

We found no announced 2026 opening dates or prices, and an independent island guide warns that the baths may be closed. Ask at your hotel or in Molyvos before you go. If the bathhouse is shut, the beach and the warm water along the shore are still there.

Getting there

From Mytilene, the island’s capital, port and airport, drive north across the island toward Kalloni and on to Molyvos, then follow the coast road east toward Skala Sykamias. Eftalou lies along this road. The bathhouse is at the shore, a short walk down a paved path from the road.

From Molyvos, it is about 4 km (2.5 miles). Options:

• Drive or taxi east on the coast road. Parking near the baths is limited; leave the car where it does not block the road.
• Walk along the coast road, which takes under an hour each way. It is pleasant in the morning or evening but hot at midday in summer.
• Bus: in season, buses from Molyvos have run to the baths. Check the current timetable locally.

Note that the coast road at Eftalou is being repaired. A contract signed on 12 August 2026, with 720 days to complete, covers about 120 m of road along the sea where waves have undermined the retaining wall. Works are carried out in sections to keep traffic moving, so expect short delays.

When to go

• Summer and early autumn are when the bathhouse has normally opened. A long-time visitor’s notes give the old bath’s hours as early morning (06:00-08:00) and evening (18:00-22:00), with the new bath open 09:00-18:00. Those hours are not dated, so treat them as a guide only.
• Evenings are the classic time: the air cools, and the hot pool feels better.
• Midday in July and August is the least comfortable time for a 113°F45°C bath.
• Winter storms reshape the beach. After a big blow, the warm patches may move or be buried.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimsuits are the norm in the bathhouse and on the beach in front of it. A longer walk around the bend to Golden Beach brings you to a place where people swim naked; keep that away from the baths.
• Shower before getting into the shared pool, and use no soap or shampoo in it.
• Keep it short and share. The old pool is small. Do a few minutes and make room.
• Pay whatever fee is charged at the door. No current price is published.

Where to stay nearby

Molyvos has the widest choice of hotels, rooms and tavernas, and its castle and old town are worth an evening. There are also hotels and rooms along the Eftalou coast itself, east of Molyvos. Petra, just south of Molyvos, is another base. For a different kind of bath on the south side of the island, see the Polichnitos hot springs, though check their status first.

Safety notes

• Very hot water: At 109-115°F43-46°C the old pool can cause dizziness or fainting within minutes. Go in slowly, stay in briefly, and get out if you feel faint. Do not go in alone, and avoid it if you have heart or blood pressure problems or are pregnant.
• Hydration: Drink water before and after, especially in summer.
• Rocky shore: The beach is rocky and the stones near the springs are slippery. Wear water shoes.
• Untreated water: Do not drink the spring water or put your head under.
• Sea conditions: The north coast is exposed to northerly winds. Stay out of the sea when the waves are big.

Nearby stops worth adding

Molyvos castle and the old village are a short drive back west. Farther east along the coast road is Skala Sykamias, a small fishing harbour. The Petrified Forest at Sigri, on the west coast, makes a good day trip from the north of the island.