Dodecanese – Island Hopping in a Sunny Paradise
Dodecanese – Island Hopping in a Sunny Paradise

Dodecanese

Island Hopping in a Sunny Paradise

Published: 02 June 2023, 12:30

Welcome to Dodecanese

The Dodecanese are one of the sunniest regions in Europe and are ideal for an island-hopping holiday. The best-known islands include Rhodes and Kos, but Patmos, Symi and Karpathos are also popular destinations. In addition to numerous Ancient Greek sites and fabulous beaches, the Dodecanese offer varied nature, fantastic food and, for the adventurous, even the possibility of discovering unknown and mostly undeveloped islands.

Both Rhodes and Kos are suitable starting points for island hopping – both destinations can be reached directly from BER. 

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: + one hour 
  •  Population: 190,000
  •  Official language: Greek
  •  Currency: Euro (EUR)

Ten Dodecanese highlights

Acropolis Lindos, Rhodes © daliu/AdobeStock
Ancient heritage meets breathtaking scenery at the Acropolis of Lindos in Rhodes. © daliu/AdobeStocks
Valley of the Butterflies, Rhodes © lubos K /AdobeStocks
The Valley of the Butterflies in Rhodes is a wild and romantic natural paradise where thousands upon thousands of butterflies mate in the summer months. © lubos K /AdobeStocks
Asklepieion, Kos © Roman Rodionov /AdobeStocks
The Asklepieion on Kos is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Dodecanese. In ancient times it served as a famous sanatorium. © Roman Rodionov/AdobeStocks
Volcanic island of Nisyros © gallas/AdobeStocks
Nisyros is known for its active volcano. Visitors can explore the crater and experience the impressive natural phenomenon up close. © gallas/AdobeStocks
Harbour on the island of Symi © Freesurf/AdobeStocks
The harbour of Symi is picture-perfect with its colourful, neoclassical buildings. © Freesurf/AdobeStocks
Monastery of Saint John on Patmos © Freesurf/AdobeStocks
Patmos in the eastern Aegean is also called the holy island. The impressive Monastery of Saint John is the religious centre and has been inhabited by monks for 900 years. © Freesurf/AdobeStocks
Rhodes Old Town © johannes86/AdobeStocks
Rhodes’ medieval Old Town is almost completely preserved. Highlights include the impressive Palace of the Grand Master and the 4km-long city wall. © johannes86/AdobeStocks
Navagio Beach on Zakynthos © Budjak Studio/AdobeStocks
Navagio Beach on Zakynthos is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Vertical cliffs frame the bay with its white sand and turquoise water. © Budjak Studio/AdobeStocks
Grande Grotta on Kalymnos, with a view of Telendos © Iraklis Milas/AdobeStocks
The sea between Kalymnos and Telendos is a popular diving area: here lies the town of Pothia, which once sank in an earthquake, as well as a shipwreck that amateur divers love exploring. © Iraklis Mil
Chora on Astypalea © dash1502/AdobeStocks
The charming capital of Astypalea, Chora, is a little gem with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets and flower-adorned balconies. © piotrszczepanek/AdobeStocks

Discover hidden Dodecanese gems

The Dodecanese archipelago is home to some beautiful and almost deserted islands off the beaten tourist track. These islands are characterised by their unspoilt nature, secluded beaches and small, tranquil villages. Here visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and serenity of the Greek islands and become familiar with their authentic way of life. Some of the completely uninhabited islands can also be explored: day trips and guided boat tours are offered from almost all inhabited islands, for example from Kos to the islands of Tragonisi and Strongyli or from Rhodes to Alimia and Saria.

Five secret island tips away from the masses

Kasos Island © Giovanni Rinaldi/AdobeStocks
Lonely bays and beautiful beaches can be discovered on the somewhat remote island of Kasos. © Giovanni Rinaldi/ AdobeStocks
Lipsi Island, Dodecanese © Theastock/AdobeStocks
The island of Lipsi is known for its pristine beaches, picturesque villages and relaxed atmosphere. You can enjoy the peace and beauty of the island away from mass tourism. © Theastock/AdobeStocks
Colourful houses on Halki © Jaroslav Moravcik/AdobeStocks
Halki (or Chalki) is the smallest inhabited island of the Dodecanese. It captivates visitors with traditional architecture and charming, colourful houses. © Jaroslav Moravcik/AdobeStocks
Port of Megisti, Kastellorizo © Freesurf/AdobeStocks
Kastellorizo is the easternmost inhabited island in Greece. The island, with its rocky coastal landscape and the pretty coastal village of Megisti, is a pearl in the Aegean. © Freesurf/AdobeStocks
Church of Agia Zoni on Tilos © newsfocus1/AdobeStocks
Tilos has numerous hiking trails leading to secluded beaches and historic sites and the hospitality of the locals is legendary. © newsfocus1/AdobeStocks

Islands from BER

Flugzeug kurz vor dem Aufsetzen auf die Start- und Landebahn

Ryanair

EasyJet

Eurowings

Piktogramm Info-i

Rhodes Airport (RHO)

Aircraft about to land at BER

Ryanair

Eurowings

Piktogramm Info-i

Kos Airport (KGS)

Five travel tips for …

1.     Prasonisi Beach on the southern tip of Rhodes offers spectacular sunset views

2.     Livadia Beach on Tilos is known for its beautiful sunsets

3.     The quiet Agios Theologos Beach on Kos also offers breathtaking sunsets

4.     It’s worth getting up early to see the sunrise in the pretty bay of Agia Marina on Symi

5.     The flat Tsambika Beach on Rhodes is perfect for a fantastic view of the sunrise

1.     From Rhodes you can reach Symi, one of the most beautiful islands in the Dodecanese

2.     From Symi the journey continues to the tranquil island of Halki

3.     The next stop is Karpathos, the “Caribbean of the Dodecanese”

4.     From Karpathos you can take a detour to the pristine, small neighbouring island of Kasos

5.     From Rhodes you can also reach Tilos and Nisyros in 2-3 hours by ferry

1.     The hiking and climbing paradise of Kalymnos is just a 30-minute ferry ride from Kos

2.     From Kalymnos the ferry goes to the easy-going island of Leros

3.     From Leros the journey continues to the holy island of Patmos

4.     From Patmos, there are short trips to the pretty little islands of Lipsi and Arki

5.     There is a direct ferry connection from Kos or Kalymnos to the picturesque island of Astypalea

Title image: Dodecanese © ecstk22/AdobeStock

The information published on this page is current as of the date of publication or update.

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