Kastellorizo

Kastellorizo

Kastellorizo, officially Megisti, is Greece’s easternmost island, just 2 kilometres off the Turkish coast at Kaş and 72 nautical miles from Rhodes — a tiny harbour of candy-coloured neoclassical houses stacked around a perfect crescent bay that feels more like an Italian port than a Dodecanese one. At barely 9 square kilometres and with about 500 year-round residents, it was once a maritime giant of 15,000 people, rich from sponge and timber, then bombed and abandoned in WWII and only slowly repopulated.

There are no beaches, only swimming platforms and boat trips to the stunning Blue Cave, one of the largest and bluest in the Mediterranean. Life is all about the waterfront: coffee at the port, lunch under tamarisks, the sunset lighting up the Lycian mountains across the water. It’s impossibly remote and impossibly pretty, famous from the Oscar-winning film Mediterraneo, and you go not for sightseeing but to feel how far east Greece really goes.

Made for you if you love colour, calm and remoteness

Kastellorizo, or Megisti, is a microcosm of everything that’s good about Greece — crystal clear seas, pretty pastel houses, small friendly community, and delicious fresh food at outdoor tavernas on the water’s edge. It’s the smallest of Greece’s permanently inhabited islands, and the furthest from Athens.

There are no sandy beaches — and that is part of its charm. You swim right in the harbour, off swimming platforms and rocky coves with clear turquoise waters, or take a water taxi to the blue cave and other swimming places. Saint George is a beautiful tiny island close to Kastellorizo centre where you can spend a day, with a small church of St George. The island’s small size and close-knit community create safe welcoming environment, some of clearest waters in Mediterranean, ideal for family swimming and snorkeling adventures, marvelling at colourful marine life.

It’s full of colourful neoclassical homes, ancient ruins, lovely churches, castle grounds spacious for kids to explore safely. Perfect for families, couples, solo travellers who want artsy pastel paradise, slow exploration, unplanned moments and simple daily life rather than fixed list of activities.

A few practical things before you go

Getting there is part of the adventure. Fly to Rhodes then fly to Kastellorizo — 35 minutes by Aegean Airways / Olympic Air, about 52 EUR. Or ferry from Rhodes to Kastellorizo — 3.5 hours to 8 hours depending on vessel, costs €40-€80 to €111-€239, Blue Star Ferries. No direct ferry from Rhodes Airport, you go via Rhodes port, journey including transfers about 3h12m.

You can also come from Kas in Turkey — Meis Ferry Lines operates day trip tour from Kas leaving around 9:30 AM and leaving Kastellorizo at 4:00 PM, 30 EUR. Ferry from Piraeus Athens is very long, about 22h20m.

Swimming is focused around harbour and nearby Mandraki, steep terrain and enclosed bay define natural feel. Limited beaches, so bring water shoes, rent a boat for day with captain or solo, and enjoy taverna life.

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Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by admin