A flat, green Dodecanese island with long sandy beaches and a harbour town full of Roman and Hellenistic ruins: the Asklepieion, the healing sanctuary of Hippocrates' followers, the Knights' castle at the harbour, the plane tree of Hippocrates and the ancient agora. Cycle lanes make bikes the easy way round; Kefalos, Paradise beach and the mountain village of Zia are the day trips. Bodrum in Türkiye is 30-60 minutes away by boat. Flights from Athens take under an hour; overnight ferries from Piraeus about 11 hours.
Highlights
- The Asklepieion above the town
- Knights' castle of Neratzia
- Cycle to Tigaki or Lambi beach
- Sunset at Zia
- Paradise beach
- Day trip to Bodrum by boat
Things to do
- Asklepieion and the ancient townMorning · 3h
- Cycle the coastal paths to the beachesMorning · 3h 30m
- Sunset dinner in ZiaEvening · 3h
- Beach day at Paradise or KefalosAfternoon · 4h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – October
Heads up
Summer Heat
July and August bring heatwaves of 35-40 °C and more to the mainland and the big islands. See ancient sites at opening time (they have little shade, and can close at midday in extreme heat), rest in the afternoon, carry water, and book rooms with air-conditioning.
Worth knowing
Wildfire Season
From July to September hot, dry winds spread wildfires in Attica, the Peloponnese, Halkidiki and the islands; in 2023 thousands of tourists were evacuated from resorts on Rhodes. Follow the 112 emergency text alerts (sent in English), obey road closures and evacuation orders, never light a fire or barbecue outdoors, and check the fire-risk map before hiking. Travel insurance should cover cancellations.
Worth knowing
Winter: Fast Boats Stop, Many Hotels Close
From November to March the high-speed ferries stop, island-to-island boats run a few times a week, and most resort hotels, beach bars and boat tours close. The towns stay open with some hotels and tavernas, the conventional ferries and the flights from Athens keep running, and storms can still cancel sailings: keep a spare day before a flight home.
Heads up
Boats to Türkiye: Separate Visa, Fewer in Winter
The boats to Bodrum (from Kos) and Marmaris (from Rhodes) cross the Schengen border: carry your passport, a Turkish visa or e-visa if your passport needs one, and for an Indian passport a multiple-entry Schengen visa to come back. From October to May they run a few times a week rather than daily.
- Orthodox Easter (Pascha) — Greece's biggest festival: candlelit Good Friday processions, the midnight Resurrection service on Saturday with fireworks and church bells, and lamb roasts on Sunday. Corfu's is the most famous, with clay pots thrown from balconies on Holy Saturday morning. Greeks travel home, so ferries, flights and hotels fill, and shops, museums and sites close or shorten hours from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Book well ahead.
- Dekapentavgoustos (the Assumption) — The feast of the Virgin Mary and the peak of the Greek summer holiday: village festivals (panigiria) with music and food the night before, a great pilgrimage to Paros' Church of a Hundred Doors, and every ferry and island room full in the week around it. Athens empties and many of its shops close.