Every Greek island is beautiful in its own way and has something unique to offer. Of course, we at Eyia Retreats have our favorites – islands that have made us fall so deeply in love with them that we keep returning year after year. Here we share with you our favorite hidden gems in the Dodecanese Islands. Welcome to Eyia Retreats’ Hidden Gems of the Dodecanese Islands, Greece.
What are the Dodecanese Islands?
The Dodecanese islands are the group of Greek islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea, very close to Turkey. “Dodeca” in Greek means twelve. This group of islands is referred to as Dodecanese islands because there are twelve main islands: Rhodes, Kos, Karpathos, Kalymnos, Patmos, Astypalaia, Symi, Leros, Nisyros, Halki, Tilos and Lipsi. Other islands in the Dodecanese region include: Agathonisi, Kasos, Megisti, Alimia, Arkoi, Farmakonisi, Gyali, Kinaros, Levitha, Marathos, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Strongyli and Syrna. There are about 150 other smaller uninhabited islands and 93 islets in the Dodecanese region.When is the best time to visit the Dodecanese Islands?
The best time to visit the Dodecanese is sometime between late spring and early autumn. The Dodecanese islands are occupied by Greek locals year round, however most of the tourist enterprises like beach bars, restaurants, tavernas, bars, excursions and tours stop operating around November and re-open around May.How many Dodecanese Islands should you visit?
How many Dodecanese islands you should visit depends on the amount of time you have in Greece. It also depends on the size of the islands you are visiting – you may need more time to fully explore the bigger islands. If you have one week, we recommend visiting one to two islands. If you have ten days, we recommend two to three islands. If you have two weeks, you have time to visit three to four islands. If you have a whole month, then you have time to explore six to eight islands.How do you get to Dodecanese Islands?
It is not too difficult to get to the Dodecanese Islands. Rhodes and Kos both have international airports. Karpathos, Leros, Astypalaia, Kalymnos and Kasos have airports that primarily serve domestic flights from Athens. For the islands without airports, you will fly into the nearest island with an airport and then take a ferry from the port to your destination. From Athens, it will be much quicker to travel by airplane, however, you can always take the ferry if you have the time and prefer to travel by sea.What Dodecanese Islands should you visit?
What Dodecanese Islands you should visit depends on what type of vacation you want: an activity filled vacation, a history filled vacation, an authentic Greek vacation, a relaxation vacation. If you have something specific in mind, schedule a consultation with us at Eyia Retreats and we can make your dream Greek Island itinerary come true.Below are our five favorite hidden gems of the Dodecanese, in no particular order: Patmos, Symi, Tilos, Lipsi and Astypalea.
Patmos Island
Patmos is known for its rich history, rugged natural beauty and delicious food. Forbes magazine voted Patmos as “Europe’s Most Idyllic Place to Live”, and we agree! Patmos is a peaceful escape yet during its high season it is full of life and parties. Patmos is famous for being the location where, according to Christian faith, John of Patmos received the vision found in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament and wrote the book. In 1980, Greece declared Patmos a “Sacred Island.” In 1999, the island’s historic center of Chora, along with the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse, were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO because of their significance in Christianity and the preservation of ancient religious ceremonies that occur on the island. Patmos is only accessible by ferry. You can take the long journey from Piraeus port in Athens, or you can fly from Athens to the closest island with an airport, Leros. From Leros port you can take a ferry to Patmos port.
Symi Island
Symi is known for its colorful architecture, charming villages, crystal clear water and stunning secluded beaches, many being only accessible by boat. We highly recommend exploring the island by boat. Symi is also known for its unique shrimps named “Symi’s shrimps” which are small, prepared pan fried and eaten whole – shell and all. Symi’s town of Panormitis is the location of the famous monastery which is visited by people from all over the world. Many Greeks pay homage to St. Michael of Panormitis each year. There are also other areas of significance in history and mythology. The island has 2,603 inhabitants, mostly working in tourism, fishing and trade. The main tourist season lasts from Easter until Panormitis Day in early November. The nearest airport to Symi is located in Rhodes. It is easiest to fly into Rhodes International Airport and then take a ferry from Rhodes port to Symi port.
Tilos Island
Tilos is one of the smaller Dodecanese islands. It is known for being the first green island in the world, energy-wise, as well as achieving zero waste to landfill. Tilos is also known for having a large nature reserve protected by international treaties. It has high mountains, fertile seaside plains, steep rocky shores and long sandy beaches. It is revered for its plentiful herbs, unspoiled beaches, unique, picturesque villages and points of historical interest. The island is surrounded by 16 islets, making it an ideal island to explore by boat. Tilos is a great destination for alternative tourism where the notion of sustainability is put into practice. Tilos is located next to Rhodes. So, the easiest way to get to Tilos is to fly into Rhodes and take a ferry from Rhodes port to Tilos port.
Lipsi Island
Lipsi (or Leipsoi) is a small island, only eight kilometers long, and sparsely populated with only 800 residents. It is known for being a peaceful, slow paced island and having stunning blue waters. There are only a few cars in circulation on the island. The island can be explored by foot or our preferred method, a water taxi, in order to reach the stunning secluded beaches. Its small size has kept the island free of mass tourism, mega-hotels, resorts and huge cruise ships, preserving its unspoiled natural landscape, pristine seashores and traditional character. Hiking, swimming and relaxing at the seashore are the go-to activities when visiting Lipsi. Lipsi is located next to Patmos. It is only accessible by ferry. You can take the long journey from Piraeus port in Athens, or you can fly from Athens to the closest island with an airport, Leros. From Leros port you can take a ferry to Lipsi port.
Astypalea Island
Astypalea is known as the butterfly of the Aegean due to its small butterfly shape. The island, as seen from above, has two distinct sections joined by a narrow stretch of land less than 100 meters wide. Astypalea is known for its magnificent beauty, peaceful atmosphere and delicious food. It is the westernmost island of the Dedecanese and hailed for its centuries-old history, whitewashed villages and blue sea water. The island’s capital town, Chora, is one of the most picturesque towns in the Aegean, with a towering castle and white-domed churches. The best way to get to Astypalea is to fly from Athens. However, the airport only serves domestic flights from Athens during the summer, so if you are traveling out of the summer season, you must reach the island by boat. You can take the long ferry from Piraeus port in Athens, or you can fly to neighboring islands like Kos or Kalymnos and take a ferry from their port to Astypalea’s port.
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