The square is the centre of local life and the acacia trees along one side provide an attractive backdrop for taverna tables. The village shops are all within a few seconds’ walk and the narrow streets are virtually traffic-free, except for delivery tricycles and the inevitable scooter.
There is a nice town beach of good sand, separated from the harbour by a peninsula and therefore clean. A minibus serves the two other most popular beaches: one at Platys Yalos in the north is set in an encircling arm protecting it from the Meltemi and with a highly regarded taverna overlooking it. The other is a series of sandy bays at Katsadia, also with the obligatory taverna, with lovely views south to Leros and Kalymnos.
The flatter, eastern, half of the island offers good walking and deserted sandy beaches; the NW of the island invites more challenging walking. Caiques provide day trips, with swimming stops, to seven islets round Lipsi as well as across to Patmos. Hydrofoils and ferries make it possible to visit Leros, Agathonisi and Fourni, but check the schedules!
Along the small port and at the village at the top of the hill the visitor will find most of the local accommodation in Lipsi ,Hotels, rooms and apartments. In small taverns and cafes you will find local delicacies. Look for local products, namely thyme honey (produced the traditional way), wine, cheese, dairy products (touloumotyri cheese, the local version of cottage cheese called mizithra) and grapes.
Also to be found on the market: loom-woven fabrics, carpets and "fookadia" (cloth pouches used to strain cheese). Day trips and cruises are organized to and around the surrounding islets whereas those of the peripatetic type will find various paths to lead them to some truly scenic spots. If you travel from Rhodes or Kos you can use on daily basis the Catamaran Dodekanissos.
Lipsi does not have daily connections with ferries from Athens so you can get there either from Patmos or Leros. During the summer there is once a week connection with the Cyclades island of Mykonos with the ferry boat Milena from Leros.