Alimia

Alimia

Alimia is an uninhabited island between Rhodes and Halki that looks like someone pressed pause on history. It’s 7.4 square kilometers of deep bays, scrub, and a huge natural harbor that was once good enough to be a naval base — there’s still a ruined Hellenistic fortress up on the 269-meter peak and the crumbling Italian barracks down below.

It is the kind of place you only get to by day boat from Halki or Rhodes, and when you do, it feels like your own island for the day. The water in the main bay at Alimia beach is milky-turquoise and completely sheltered, perfect for snorkeling over seagrass, and on shore there’s the abandoned village of Agios Georgios with stone houses empty since people left for Halki. Goats, an old church, a castle built by the Knights of Rhodes — no people. It’s Dodecanese wilderness at its purest, and part of Natura 2000 for exactly that reason.

Who it suits and why

This one’s for people who love a proper ghost island. Alimia, also spelled Alimnia, Greek Αλιμιά, is between Rhodes and Halki in the Dodecanese. It’s 7.4 km2, coastline 21 km, and it’s been uninhabited since the 1940s. Small population until World War II, then everyone left. If you like abandoned places, you’ll get it here. Deep in the biggest bay, Agios Georgios bay in the south, there’s the old settlement of Alimia. Stone houses, all dilapidated now because no one’s lived there since the 1940s, but it was declared traditional back in 1978, so it’s protected. Feels like time stopped. There are two sheltered bays that sailors love, Agios Georgios in the south and Emporeiou in the east, crystal clear water, safe anchorage for small boats. Perfect for swimming, fishing, snorkelling. You’ve also got a couple of churches worth finding, Agios Minas and the old foundations of an early Christian basilica, plus abandoned Italian army barracks from the Italian occupation 1912-1943. Northwest of the village there’s a little saltwater lake, one of the 37 natural wetlands in the Dodecanese. The whole island belongs to the Municipality of Halki and is in Natura 2000. No hotels, no beach bars, no crowds. You sometimes get monk seals around the coasts, that tells you how clean and untouched it is. It’s perfect if you’re sailing Rhodes to Halki and want a half day where you feel like you’ve discovered something, or you’re into photography, history, and wild swimming. It’s not for you if you want organised beaches or places to stay. There’s nothing to book on the island itself. It’s a day trip only, from Rhodes or Halki, BBQ on the boat, swim, explore the ghost village, and back.

What to keep in mind

Alimia is all about day cruises and private boats. You get there from Rhodes. Most shared day trips leave Rhodes new marina, about 1 to 1.5 hours to Alimia, with BBQ and snorkelling gear included, around 70 to 110 euro per person in high season. Private day trips from Rhodes are about 600 to 1000 euro for the boat. You can also come from Halki, it’s even closer, about 30 minutes. Most people fly UK to Rhodes, about 4 to 4.5 hours direct in summer, then boat from there. Best time is May to October, 25 to 30 degrees, sea 23 to 27. July and August is hot, 31 to 34 midday, but there’s almost no shade on Alimia except the ruined houses, so bring cover. June and September are ideal, calmer and less busy. There’s no accommodation, no taverna, no water, no bins. The island was officially declared an archaeological site of national interest in 1999, so don’t take anything, don’t climb on fragile walls. Stay on Rhodes or Halki. Rhodes has everything, Halki is tiny and lovely if you want quiet, rooms 70 to 120 euro shoulder, 100 to 180 euro August. Bring hat, reef shoes, snorkel, water, food, and take all rubbish back. No fires, it’s Natura 2000. Check wind, the bays are sheltered but the crossing from Rhodes can be choppy if meltemi is up. Book day trips a couple of days ahead in August. It’s uninhabited, used only by shepherds occasionally, so tell your skipper your plan and arrange a pick-up time, there’s patchy signal.

Sources

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Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by admin