Dodecanese Island Ferries

The Dodecanese are a chain of twelve major islands and dozens of smaller ones strung along the southwestern coast of Turkey, making them one of the most geographically distinct island groups in Greece. Rhodes and Kos anchor the group and serve as the two main ferry hubs, but the chain also includes Patmos, Kalymnos, Leros, Karpathos, Kasos, Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Halki, and Astypalea, each with its own character and connections. Getting to the Dodecanese from Athens involves a choice: fly or sail.

The ferry from Piraeus to Rhodes takes 12 to 18 hours depending on the vessel and how many island stops are made along the way. Blue Star Ferries runs this route year-round, passing through islands including Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, and Kos before reaching Rhodes. It is a genuine overnight experience and travelling by cabin is the sensible option for the longer legs.

Flying to Rhodes or Kos and picking up inter-island ferries there is often more practical, especially if your time is limited. Dodekanisos Seaways operates fast catamarans that link Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros, Patmos, and the smaller islands in between, running from spring through to October. The journey from Rhodes to Kos by fast ferry takes around two hours.

For the outer islands like Kasos, Karpathos, and Astypalea, patience is required in shoulder and low season as frequencies drop to a few times a week. July and August see the timetables at their fullest, with hydrofoils and day ferries adding to the mix. The Dodecanese were only ceded to Greece in 1947, and the legacy of Italian and Ottoman influence is visible in the architecture of Rhodes Town and Kos Town in particular.

Visiting the Dodecanese is a different experience to the Cyclades: the landscapes are more varied, the Italian-era buildings give the larger towns a distinctive feel, and the proximity to Turkey means the occasional day trip across is possible from Rhodes or Kos.