Marathi

Marathi

Marathi is a tiny islet in the Patmos archipelago, less than a kilometre long, just east of Patmos and north of Lipsi, with nothing but a strip of rock, a sandy spit, a few tamarisks and three houses. For decades it has been home to essentially one family — Emmanouil and his children — who run the two tavernas on the beach that serve the day boats from Patmos, Lipsi and Leros.

With no permanent population beyond that, no cars and no real infrastructure, Marathi is the archetypal Dodecanese escape: a single bay with crystal clear shallow water, moored yachts, grilled octopus, and the feeling of being on your own private island. Most visitors come for a few hours swimming and lunch, then leave it to the goats and the sunset again.

Greece’s least inhabited island, with three tavernas

Marathi is a tiny island 12 nautical miles east of Patmos, southwest of Arki and northwest of Lipsi, part of the Arkioi group in the Dodecanese. It is only 36 hectares — about a third of a square kilometre — and is often called Greece’s least inhabited island, with roughly two permanent residents and only two families living there year-round.

It is off the tourist path and free from crowds, traffic, noise and pollution, ideal if you want tranquility, to read or swim in crystal-clear water on a sandy, car-free bay. The whole social life is centred on its three harbour-front tavernas. Pantelis is the most upscale and popular stop for the sailing crowd and mega-yachts, while Mihalis Marathi Rooms — known as the Pirate’s — and Stavros Rooms with its five rooms are low-key, cosy and very personal. All three serve excellent fresh fish. Most of the island is owned by the family behind Mihalis, and most visitors come just for a long lunch before sailing on.

This is for you if you want the ultimate in slow travel and total relaxation on a nearly uninhabited islet. It is not for nightlife, shopping or anything that needs to be organised.

How to get there & around

There is no airport and no direct ferry to Marathi. You get there by first taking a ferry from Athens to Patmos — allow two days unless you take the night ferry with Blue Star or Anek and catch the morning day-boat from the main harbour. Alternatively, fly from Athens to Leros or Samos and take the Dodecanese Express catamaran to Lipsi or Patmos, then hire a fishing boat or catch the small day-boat that connects Marathi daily with both Patmos and Lipsi. Once on Marathi you walk; the island is car-free and everything is around the single bay. You need to arrange private boat transfers in advance, especially outside high summer.

Sources

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Last Updated on August 30, 2026 by admin