Greek Islands in Winter 2026–2027: Which Ferries Run

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From November to March you can travel from Turkey to the Greek islands, but only on seven year-round routes, and most of them sail only a few days a week. As of 28 October 2026, five routes have sailings published for January 2027: Ayvalik–Lesvos (Turyol), Çeşme–Chios (Ertürk and Turyol), Bodrum–Kos and Fethiye–Rhodes (Ertürk) and Marmaris–Rhodes (Sea Dreams, 1 January and Saturdays only). Kusadasi–Samos has nothing published after December, and Kas–Kastellorizo nothing between 27 December and 26 February (checked 31 October 2026). All 16 routes month by month are in our winter ferry report 2026–27. The visa-on-arrival programme for Turkish passport holders covers this period too, but sparse sailings and daily quotas narrow the plan.

Short answer

• Routes that run in winter: Ayvalik–Lesvos, Çeşme–Chios, Kusadasi–Samos, Bodrum–Kos, Marmaris–Rhodes, Fethiye–Rhodes and Kas–Kastellorizo (Meis); from 21 November also Aliaga–Lesvos, mostly at weekends. The Dikili, Seferihisar, Turgutreis–Leros, Bodrum–Leros, Kusadasi–Patmos and Canakkale–Lemnos routes are seasonal.
• Most sailings in November: Bodrum–Kos. Ertürk’s timetable (checked 24 October 2026) lists at least one departure from Bodrum or Turgutreis every day of the week in November. On Kas–Kastellorizo there is a sailing on 17 days in November with one of the two companies, not every day (checked 31 October 2026).
• Thinnest route: Kusadasi–Samos. Meander Travel sails daily until 1 November, then once a week from 7 November to 27 December: out on Saturday, back on Sunday.
• January–March 2027: As of 28 October 2026, Turyol lists Ayvalik–Lesvos to the end of March 2027, and on our 1 November check its Fokaia at least to the end of April 2027 (news story) and Çeşme–Chios; Ertürk lists Çeşme–Chios to 30 September 2027 (daily from 30 April; checked 29 October) with no fast-boat sailings from 11 January to 11 February (news story) and its car ferry Apostolos S. on Fridays to Sundays up to 31 January (news story), Bodrum–Kos on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to 28 April 2027 and Fethiye–Rhodes on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to the end of March 2027. Sea Dreams has published January only on Marmaris–Rhodes: Saturdays Marmaris 09:00, Rhodes 15:00, plus one sailing on 1 January (news story). Last winter (2025–26) Bodrum–Kos ran every day.
• Visa on arrival (Turkish passport holders only): The programme is valid for one year from 1 April 2026. None of the company pages we checked states a winter restriction; for returns at the end of March the exact end date of the programme is unclear.
• Time difference: From 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 the islands are one hour behind Turkey.
• Museums and sites: State museums and sites on the islands mostly open 08:30–15:30 and close on Tuesdays from November to March, with free entry on the first and third Sunday of each month. The Eupalinos tunnel on Samos and the Rhodes city walls are closed for the winter. Island by island: what’s open in winter.
• All routes month by month: the November–March status of all 16 routes, car ferries, fares and visa on arrival in one place: winter ferry report 2026–27.

November–December 2026: published winter timetables

The table is based on the timetables we saw on the companies’ own sites and on one intermediary site on 16 October 2026. Winter timetables change often; confirm with the company before you buy a ticket.

Notes by route

Ayvalik–Lesvos. Jalem Tur’s own timetable page on 16 October only showed sailings up to 23 October; the November–December days come from the feribotseferleri.com.tr page updated on 11 October. The same source gives the return from Mytilini after 25 October as 16:30, so a day-trip return is possible. Turyol’s site says sailings run “in every season” but gives no days. Details: Ayvalik–Lesvos.

Çeşme–Chios. In Ertürk’s timetable, in November there are also Apostolos S. sailings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (and on 3–4 and 10–11 November) alongside the fast boat. The fast boat (no cars) sails Friday to Sunday 4–6, 11–13, 18–20 and 25–27 December, plus Çeşme 09:00 on Thursday 24 December, both directions on 30 and 31 December, a 16:30 from Chios on 1 December and 1 January, and both directions on 2–3 and 8–10 January 2027; after that Ertürk lists no fast boat from 11 January to 11 February, then Friday to Sunday from 12 February, daily from 5 to 14 March and Wednesday and Friday to Sunday in April, then daily from 30 April to 30 September 2027 (Chios 18:00 from 28 March; Ertürk checked 29 October 2026, our report). On 30 October 2026 Ertürk had also added its car ferry Apostolos S. on 4–6, 11–13, 18–20 and 26–27 December and on every Friday to Sunday in January 2027: Fridays and Saturdays Chios 08:00 and 16:00, Çeşme 09:50 and 18:00 (January Fridays only Chios 08:00 and Çeşme 18:00), Sundays Chios 16:00, Çeşme 18:00 (our report). Turyol sails on Tuesday and Thursday–Sunday in December; its car-carrying Chios runs on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday until 3 January 2027 (checked 24 October 2026). In December and January the only morning boat from Chios is Apostolos S. on Fridays and Saturdays. See Çeşme–Chios.

Bodrum–Kos. The most flexible route in November. The sailings Ertürk sells leave from Bodrum Cruise Port, Castle Port and, on some days, Turgutreis D-Marin. Ertürk’s timetable (checked 24 October 2026) has four boats in November: K. Şevket İyidere (Cruise Port, Wednesday–Sunday), Asım Kaptan (Cruise Port, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday), Dedetaş-2 (Castle Port, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday) and Erdem Karadeniz (Turgutreis, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday), leaving Bodrum at 09:00–09:15 and Kos at 15:30–16:30. In December (checked 11 November 2026) Asım Kaptan sails on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and Dedetaş-2 on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; in January Asım Kaptan on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, plus Dedetaş-2 on 2 January and Erdem Karadeniz from Turgutreis on 1, 5 and 15 January; from February to 28 April 2027 only Asım Kaptan, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (Bodrum 09:15, Kos 16:30) (news). Tilos Travel’s 2026–27 winter plan is not yet on its site. See Bodrum–Kos.

Rhodes. From Fethiye you can return the same day on Wednesdays and Fridays. On Marmaris–Rhodes, Sea Dreams’ November timetable shows a morning sailing almost every day; the Monday–Wednesday–Saturday pattern given by the intermediary site does not match it. According to the December and January timetables, a day trip from Marmaris to Rhodes is possible on 5, 6–7, 12–13, 19, 23 and 30 December and on Saturdays in January; day-by-day times are in our Marmaris–Rhodes winter timetable story. See Fethiye–Rhodes, Marmaris–Rhodes.

Kusadasi–Samos. In winter the boat goes only to Vathi, and the weekly pattern rules out a day trip; you stay at least one night. See Kusadasi–Samos.

Kas–Kastellorizo. Meis Express’s timetable can now be searched by date. On 31 October 2026 it listed 13 sailing days in November, 6 in December (the last on 26 December) and nothing for January 2027; up to 28 October its three-week window had shown one round trip a day (news, 31 October 2026). The Meis Ferry Lines November–December pattern is based on the timetable we saw on the company’s site in October 2026; when we reopened the page on 16 October the table did not display. Meis Ferry Lines confirmed in a second email (24 October 2026) that it sails once a day on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in November 2026 and on Saturdays in December. See Kas–Kastellorizo.

Routes that do not run in winter

• Dikili–Lesvos (İDO): 22 April to end of September 2026; no sailings in winter.
• Aliaga–Lesvos: Closed on 1 November, the route runs again in winter from 21 November 2026: mostly Aliağa 08:00 on Saturdays and Mytilene 16:00 on Sundays, with no sailings 8 February–4 March 2027 (Turyol timetable, 12 November 2026). Details in our news report.
• Seferihisar–Samos: Ferryhopper data shows April to November.
• Turgutreis–Kos: The platforms show April to November; Ertürk lists sailings from Turgutreis D-Marin in November.
• Bodrum–Leros: Tilos Travel’s boat runs until 25 October 2026.
• Kusadasi–Patmos (İDO): The October 2026 timetable has been published, nothing after that.
• Canakkale–Lemnos: In 2026 it ran only in the summer months.

You can see which route is open month by month in the ferry season calendar and all routes on the ferry map.

What is known for January–March 2027

As of 24 October 2026 four companies list sailings for January–March 2027: Turyol on Ayvalik–Lesvos (Fokaia all winter, at least to the end of April; checked 1 November 2026) and Çeşme–Chios (Catamaran Imbros, no cars after 3 January), Ertürk on Çeşme–Chios (fast boat, now listed to 30 September, none from 11 January to 11 February; checked 29 October; car ferry Apostolos S. on January weekends, checked 30 October), Bodrum–Kos (Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays to 28 April) and Fethiye–Rhodes (to the end of March), and Sea Dreams on Marmaris–Rhodes for January only. Kusadasi–Samos and Kas–Kastellorizo have nothing published for 2027. When the summer routes restart is on our 2027 ferry season start page. For comparison, here is last winter’s pattern (the 2025–26 winter plan, still on Tilos Travel’s site):

This is not a guarantee, only last year’s table. We add new timetables to our 2027 ferry tracker as they are published. The 2027 Eid al-Fitr holiday (Ramazan Bayramı, 9–11 March) falls in the winter timetable; for that see the Turkish page on Greek islands at the bayram holiday (no English version yet), and for 31 December and 1 January see Greek islands at New Year.

Visa on arrival in winter (Turkish passport holders only)

The programme covers this period. Visa on arrival was extended for one year from 1 April 2026; November–March falls within that. The exact end date (31 March or the end of April) is not in an official text. If your return falls at the end of March, ask the company; we follow developments on our Turkish page on visa on arrival 2027 (no English version yet).

The companies state no winter restriction. On 16 October 2026 we looked at the visa-on-arrival pages of Jalem Tur, Tilos Travel, Ertürk, Meis Express, Meis Ferry Lines and Meander Travel (samosaferibot.com); none of them has a season-based restriction. By contrast, the intermediary site feribotseferleri.com.tr says on its Lesvos page that visa on arrival is “active April to October”. We could not resolve this contradiction with an official source; before you apply, ask the company you buy the ticket from whether it processes visas in winter.

It was also in use in December last year. Greece’s Consul General in Istanbul, Konstantinos Koutras, told Milliyet in an interview in February 2025 that the number of Turkish visitors who came on visa on arrival in 2024 was 108,600, for the period from 30 March to the end of December.

Winter-specific points to watch:

• Weekly sailings and the 7 days: The visa is valid for at most 7 days. On routes with one or two sailings a week, work out the return sailing before you buy a ticket. Meander Travel’s Saturday–Sunday pattern fits this limit comfortably.
• Sailing restrictions: Jalem Tur accepts visa passengers only on morning sailings. Tilos Travel lists only the 08:30 and 10:45 sailings for Kos; last winter’s only departure was at 09:15, so ask whether the winter sailing qualifies. According to Tilos Travel, no day trips to Rhodes are allowed on a visa on arrival; you must stay at least one night. Bodrum Feribot also does not accept day-trip crossings to Kos.
• Quota: 6 people a day for Kastellorizo (Meis Express, Meis Ferry Lines). Meander Travel states 30 a day for Vathi and 20 for Pythagorio.
• Application lead time: The Kastellorizo companies ask for 5 days, Jalem Tur 7 days, Ertürk’s Çeşme office 8 days and Tilos Travel 10 days before travel.
• Fees (as of October 2026, adult): Jalem Tur, Tilos Travel, Ertürk and Yeşil Marmaris Lines €80 (Yeşil Marmaris: email, 25 October 2026); Meander Travel and İDO €85; Meis Ferry Lines €90; Meis Express €95; Bodrum Ferryboat €100 (25 October 2026). The document list and rules are in our visa-on-arrival guide.

Weather and sea

Long-term averages published by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) on the World Meteorological Organization site, as average daily maximum and minimum temperature:

January and February are the wettest period of the year. The real risk when planning in winter is a cancelled sailing because of bad weather. On routes with one or two sailings a week, a cancelled return means staying on the island until the next sailing; plan around the 7-day limit of visa on arrival and your work. In the days before you leave you can follow the sea state in the 3-day Aegean forecast on the Piri Reis maritime pages of Turkey’s General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM) and in the wind and wave maps of the Poseidon system of the Greek marine research centre HCMR.

Taking a car in winter

• Ayvalik–Lesvos: According to Turyol’s own timetable (checked 1 November 2026), its car-carrying Fokaia sails all winter, at least to the end of April 2027, on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays both ways (Ayvalik 09:00, Sundays 12:00; Mytilene 16:45, from 28 March 17:45) (news).
• Çeşme–Chios: Cars are carried by Ertürk’s Ertürk-1 and Apostolos S. and by Turyol’s Chios. In November Apostolos S. sails on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (and on 3–4 and 10–11 November) and Turyol’s Chios on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday; Turyol’s Chios sails until 3 January 2027 (checked 24 October 2026), and Ertürk lists Apostolos S. on Fridays to Sundays in December and January, up to 31 January 2027 (checked 30 October 2026). Ertürk’s fare page also lists vehicle fares for its fast boat, but its timetable marks those sailings “No Car”, so ask Ertürk.
• Other routes: We found no other route carrying cars in winter.

For documents such as the green card, vehicle registration and power of attorney, see taking a car to the Greek islands.

Which Greek island in winter? Route by route

A side-by-side view of the year-round routes for December to March, based on the timetables above (checked 24 October 2026) and the island sections below. “Day trip” means out in the morning and back the same afternoon on a published sailing.

• Most regular in January to March: Kos from Bodrum (three days a week) and Rhodes from Fethiye (three to four days a week), as far as the timetables published so far go. Turkish passport holders on a visa on arrival should note that some operators do not allow day trips to Rhodes or Kos (see above).
• With a car: Lesvos on Turyol’s Fokaia; Chios only until 31 January (Ertürk’s Apostolos S. at weekends; Turyol’s Chios until 3 January).
• Mildest: of the two islands with long-term HNMS data in the weather table, Rhodes is 2–3 °C warmer than Lesvos in January.
• Hardest to plan: Samos and Kastellorizo, with weekly or no published sailings after December.
• New Year: for day-by-day sailings around 31 December see Greek islands at New Year.

What’s open in winter, island by island

Museums and archaeological sites run by the Greek Ministry of Culture keep winter hours from 1 November to 31 March. On the islands reached from Turkey that mostly means 08:30–15:30, closed on Tuesdays. The tables below come from Hellenic Heritage (hh.gr), the ministry’s ticketing site, and the ministry’s museum pages, checked on 22 October 2026; prices are full adult tickets, with the reduced price in brackets. We found no separate winter price at any of these sites: winter tickets cost the same as summer ones.

• Free Sundays: Under the ministerial decision on ticket prices (ΦΕΚ Β’ 1968/29.03.2024), state sites and museums are free on the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March. In winter 2026–27 that means 1 and 15 November, 6 and 20 December, 3 and 17 January, 7 and 21 February, and 7 and 21 March. Some pages on the ministry’s museum site still mention only the first Sunday; hh.gr and the Greek public-information site that quotes the decision list both.
• Closed everywhere: State sites close on 25 and 26 December, 1 January and 25 March. They are open on 6 January and on Clean Monday (15 March 2027). Last entry is 20 minutes before closing.
• Not covered: Museums run by foundations or municipalities (PIOP, the Petrified Forest museum, Teriade and Theophilos) set their own hours; they are listed separately below.

Lesvos (checked Oct 2026)

• Petrified Forest parks: The museum’s site lists the Bali Alonia and Sigri parks at 08:00–16:00, but says visits outside the summer season are arranged through the museum. Call before you drive out to the west of the island.
• Teriade and Theophilos museums (Varia, south of Mytilene): We could not verify winter hours; the Teriade museum’s website did not let us in. The University of the Aegean lists their phone numbers as +30 22510 23372 (Teriade) and +30 22510 41644 (Theophilos).
• Hot springs: Eftalou and Polichnitos are the best-known baths. The only opening hours we found were on an undated tourism portal, and a 2024 travel.gr article lists the Lisvori bath as closed, so ask locally before you go.
• Getting around: In KTEL Lesvou’s winter timetable of October 2026, the routes from Mytilene to villages such as Agiasos and Skala Eresou have no Sunday service, and Agiasos works as a day trip only on weekdays. Details in the Lesvos guide.
• Flights: Mytilene airport has announced runway works on Tuesdays from 17 November 2026 to 23 March 2027, with flights suspended on those days (see the Lesvos guide).
• Where to stay: Mytilene is a university town (the University of the Aegean has its central library there) and the practical winter base. Many hotels in Molyvos, Petra and Skala Eresou may close; where to stay in Lesvos.

Chios (checked Oct 2026)

• Flights: Chios airport is closed to scheduled flights from the evening of 15 November 2026 to 15 March 2027 for runway works, so in that period you reach Chios only by sea (news report).
• Clean Monday: On Clean Monday (15 March 2027) the mastic villages of Olympi, Mesta, Elata and Lithi stage the Agas, a carnival custom in which a villager dressed as an Ottoman aga holds a mock court and “fines” passers-by, according to the Greek Gastronomy Guide.
• Where to stay: Chios Town, which has a University of the Aegean branch, is the year-round base; for options see where to stay in Chios and the Chios guide.

Samos (checked Oct 2026)

• Arriving: In winter the boat from Kusadasi goes only to Vathy, which is a year-round working town, so it is the practical base. The University of the Aegean’s Samos campus is in Karlovasi on the north-west coast. See the Samos guide and where to stay in Samos.

Kos (checked Oct 2026)

• Asklepieion: The sources disagree. hh.gr lists the site as open every day in winter at €15, while the ministry’s museum page for the Asklepieion’s epigraphical collection gives Tuesday as the closing day and an €8 ticket for the collection and the site, plus a €15 three-day ticket for the museum, the Asklepieion and Casa Romana. Avoid Tuesday if you can.
• Therma hot spring: According to the Municipality of Kos, Therma beach lies 13 km from Kos Town past Agios Fokas, with water between 42 and 50 °C. It is a natural spring on the beach, not a bathhouse with opening hours; we found no official statement on winter access, so check the weather and sea state before you go.
• Where to stay: Where to stay in Kos and the Kos guide.

Rhodes (checked Oct 2026)

• Lindos: Visit Greece gives the winter opening time as 08:00; hh.gr gives 08:30.
• Where to stay: Rhodes Town, which also has a University of the Aegean unit, is the year-round base; the beach resorts are built for summer. See where to stay in Rhodes and the Rhodes guide.

Kastellorizo and Symi (checked Oct 2026)

• Kastellorizo: The ministry lists the Diachronic Museum at 08:30–15:30, closed Tuesday, €5; Visit Greece gives 15:00 as the closing time. Ferries from Kas are thin in winter (see the table above). Kastellorizo guide
• Symi: There is no winter ferry from Turkey; Symi is reached from Rhodes. The ministry lists the Archaeological Museum of Symi at 08:30–15:30, closed Tuesday, €5. Symi guide

Buses, car hire, food and beaches

• Buses: KTEL island buses run all year on winter timetables. We could open the current winter timetable only for Lesvos; for Rhodes, Kos, Chios and Samos check the timetable close to your travel date, and expect fewer runs to beach resorts.
• Car hire: We found no source listing which rental offices open in winter. Searching with your actual dates shows what is really on offer; the car search in the trip kit below does this.
• Restaurants and cafés: We have no verified list of named places open in winter, so we name none. As a rule, tavernas and cafés in the main towns (Mytilene, Chios Town, Vathy, Kos Town, Rhodes Town) and in fishing villages keep going, while beach bars and most restaurants in resort areas shut for the season.
• Hotels: Most resort hotels close in winter. Book in a main town, and get written confirmation that the hotel is open on your dates.

Dates you can plan a trip around

• 6 January (Epiphany): a holiday in Greece; according to the ministry, state museums are open that day.
• Free Sundays: the first and third Sunday of each month (dates above), plus 6 March, which falls on a Saturday in 2027.
• Carnival (Apokries) and Clean Monday, 15 March 2027: a public holiday that ends the carnival season, with the Agas custom on Chios. The 2027 Ramazan Bayramı holiday (9–11 March) falls in the same week, so the carnival weekend of 13–14 March can be added to a bayram trip.
• 25 March: Greek Independence Day, a public holiday; state museums and sites are closed.
• Out of scope: Orthodox Easter falls on 2 May 2027, so Easter customs such as the rouketopolemos on Chios are outside the winter season.

Winter suits town, museum and village trips better than the sea; for the overall picture by season see best time to visit the Greek islands from Turkey.

Tours that cover winter-proof sights; none of them states winter dates, so pick a date to check availability:

⏱ 50 minutes - 1 dayGetYourGuide

Rhodes: Palace of the Grand Master E-Ticket & Audio Tour

Entry ticket with an audio guide for the palace, which is open in winter except on Tuesdays.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 1 hourGetYourGuide

The Asclepieion at Kos: From Healing Gods to Medicine

Short guided visit to the Asklepieion; check whether the entry ticket is included.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 4.5 hoursGetYourGuide

Chios: Mastiha shore excursion

Mesta, Pyrgi and the Mastic Museum with pickup in Chios Town; the museum keeps winter hours and closes on Tuesdays.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 5 hoursGetYourGuide

Lesvos: 5-Hour Religious Shore Excursion

Churches and monasteries of Lesvos in half a day; a good fit for a winter visit when beaches are out.

Check price & availability →

Time difference and costs

Turkey is on UTC+3 all year. Greece turns its clocks back one hour on 25 October 2026 and stays one hour behind Turkey until 28 March 2027. Meis Ferry Lines states that its departure times are in local time; with the other companies, ask which country’s time the return time on your ticket is in.

The Turkish exit fee for leaving the country is 1,250 TL under the decision published in the Official Gazette on 31 December 2025. The amount changed at the start of last year, so if you travel in January 2027, check the current amount. Ticket prices are on Turkey to Greek islands ferry prices, the total budget on trip cost.

Organised tours

Package-tour dates are sparse in winter; the two products below do not state winter dates, so check availability by choosing a date. If you stay near the port, buying the ticket yourself from the company is usually easier and cheaper. If you are going on a visa on arrival, ask beforehand whether the tour covers the visa process and whether day trips are allowed; the Marmaris–Rhodes tour page asks for a valid Schengen visa.

⏱ 9-11 hoursGetYourGuide

Bodrum: Roundtrip Ferry to Kos with Hotel Pickup

Return ferry and optional hotel transfer; free time on Kos without a guide. Suitable for those with a Schengen visa.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 10 hoursGetYourGuide

From Marmaris to Rhodes Same-Day Return Tour

Hotel pickup in Marmaris, return ferry and free time on Rhodes; the page asks for a valid Schengen visa.

Check price & availability →

Trip toolkit

Before you go

Hotels in GreeceHotels, rooms and apartments free on your dates, on Booking.com.Check availability ↗Car hire · Greek islandsCompare several rental companies in one search.Compare prices ↗Greece eSIMData only, starts at first use. From $3.99 (Oct 2026).See plans ↗

Where to stay, island by island

LesvosChiosSamosKosRhodesKastellorizo

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FAQ

Are there ferries to the Greek islands in winter?

Yes, on seven routes: Ayvalik–Lesvos, Çeşme–Chios, Kusadasi–Samos, Bodrum–Kos, Marmaris–Rhodes, Fethiye–Rhodes and Kas–Kastellorizo. Most sail a few days a week; Kusadasi–Samos sails once a week in November–December.

Which island is easiest to reach in January and February?

Based on the timetables published by 24 October 2026: Kos from Bodrum (Ertürk, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays) and Rhodes from Fethiye (Ertürk, three to four days a week), followed by Lesvos from Ayvalik (Turyol) and Chios from Çeşme (Turyol’s catamaran). Samos and Kastellorizo have nothing published for January; on Kas–Kastellorizo Ertürk lists Meis Ferry Lines again from 27 February (checked 31 October 2026). The comparison table above has the details; check the refund terms for tickets and hotels, since winter timetables change.

Is visa on arrival valid in winter (for Turkish passport holders)?

The programme is valid for one year from 1 April 2026, and November–March falls within that period. The visa pages of the companies we checked contain no winter-specific restriction, but one intermediary site says “April to October”. Get confirmation from the company before you apply; the exact end date at the end of March is unclear.

Can I take my car to an island in winter?

In November yes: Turyol’s Fokaia on Ayvalik–Lesvos, and Apostolos S. and Turyol’s Chios on Çeşme–Chios are in the timetables. In December on Çeşme–Chios Turyol’s Chios takes cars on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until 3 January 2027 (checked 24 October 2026), and Ertürk’s Apostolos S. on Fridays to Sundays in December and January until 31 January 2027 (checked 30 October 2026).

Can I do a day trip in winter?

On some routes: on Çeşme–Chios, Ayvalik–Lesvos, Bodrum–Kos, Kas–Kastellorizo and, on Wednesdays and Fridays, Fethiye–Rhodes you can go in the morning and come back in the late afternoon. It is not possible on Kusadasi–Samos. On a visa on arrival, day trips to Rhodes are not allowed, nor to Kos with Bodrum Feribot.

Timetables, fares and entry rules can change; check an official source before you travel.

Sources

Ferry companies

• Jalem Tur: Ferry timetable (accessed October 2026)
• Jalem Tur: Greek islands visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
• Turyol: Ayvalik–Lesvos ferry ticket (accessed October 2026)
• Turyol: Ferry timetable (accessed October 2026)
• Ertürk: Çeşme–Chios timetable (accessed 22, 24 and 28 October 2026)
• Ertürk: Bodrum–Kos timetable (accessed 21 and 24 October 2026)
• Ertürk: Fethiye–Rhodes timetable (accessed October 2026)
• Ertürk: Visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
• Tilos Travel: Aegean islands sailing plan (accessed October 2026)
• Tilos Travel: Bodrum–Leros sailing plan (accessed October 2026)
• Tilos Travel: Visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
• Samosaferibot.com (Meander Travel): Kusadasi–Samos winter season sailings (accessed October 2026)
• Samosaferibot.com (Meander Travel): Samos visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
• Meis Express: Kas–Kastellorizo timetable (accessed October 2026)
• Meis Express: Kas–Kastellorizo visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
• Meis Ferry Lines: Kas–Kastellorizo ferry sailings (accessed October 2026)
• Meis Ferry Lines: Visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
• Bodrum Feribot: Visa procedures (accessed October 2026)
• Yeşil Marmaris Lines, email, 25 October 2026
• Sea Dreams: Marmaris November 2026 timetable (accessed October 2026)
• Sea Dreams: Marmaris December 2026 timetable (accessed 17 October 2026)
• Sea Dreams: Marmaris January 2027 timetable (accessed 17 October 2026)
• Yesil Marmaris: Marmaris–Rhodes ferry ticket (accessed October 2026)
• İDO Aegean Islands (accessed October 2026)
• Turyol – Timetable, Ayvalık–Lesvos (Fokaia) (checked 1 November 2026)

Intermediary sites and press

• Feribotseferleri: Ayvalik–Lesvos sailings (11 October 2026) (accessed October 2026)
• Feribotseferleri: Aliaga–Lesvos (accessed October 2026)
• Feribotseferleri: Marmaris–Rhodes guide 2026 (accessed October 2026)
• Feribotseferleri: Canakkale–Lemnos (accessed October 2026)
• Ferryhopper: Marmaris–Rhodes (accessed October 2026)
• Ferryhopper: Seferihisar–Samos (accessed October 2026)
• Ferryhopper: Turgutreis–Kos (accessed October 2026)
• E-yaşamrehberi: İDO Kusadasi–Patmos sailing times (accessed October 2026)
• Capital: İDO’s new season in the Aegean, sailing plan on 10 routes (accessed October 2026)
• Euronews Türkçe: Visa on arrival extended by another year (31 March 2026) (accessed October 2026)
• To Vima: EU extends visa express program (31 March 2026) (accessed October 2026)
• Milliyet: Interview with Consul General Konstantinos Koutras (2 February 2025) (accessed October 2026)
• Medyascope: Exit fee abroad becomes 1,250 TL (31 December 2025) (accessed October 2026)

Weather, sea and time

• WMO World Weather Information Service: Rhodes (HNMS climate data) (accessed October 2026)
• WMO World Weather Information Service: Lesvos/Mytilini (HNMS climate data) (accessed October 2026)
• General Directorate of Meteorology (MGM): Piri Reis maritime pages, 3-day forecast (accessed October 2026)
• HCMR Poseidon: Weather and wave forecasts for the Greek seas (accessed October 2026)
• timeanddate.com: Greece clock changes (accessed October 2026)

Winter on the islands

• Odigos tou Politi: Free entry to museums and sites on 28 October 2026, with the list of free days under ΦΕΚ Β’ 1968/29.03.2024 (19 October 2026) (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Palace of the Grand Master & Rhodes Fortification Walls (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Lindos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Palace of the Grand Master, Rhodes (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Visit Greece: Lindos (accessed October 2026)
• The Aegean Islands: Valley of the Butterflies (accessed October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Asclepieion, Kos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Archaeological Museum of Kos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Neratzia Castle, Kos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Epigraphical Collection of Asklepieion, Kos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Casa Romana, Kos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Municipality of Kos: Therma beach (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Archaeological Museum of Vathy, Samos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreio (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Heraion of Samos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Tunnel of Eupalinos (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Byzantine Museum of Chios (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Nea Moni, Chios (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Archaeological Museum of Chios (accessed 22 October 2026)
• PIOP: Chios Mastic Museum (accessed October 2026)
• Greek Gastronomy Guide: Agas, Mostra and the Dead, carnival customs of Chios (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Archaeological Museum of Mytilene, new building (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Mytilene Castle (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest: Visit the museum (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest: Visit the Petrified Forest (accessed 22 October 2026)
• PIOP: Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production in Lesvos (accessed October 2026)
• University of the Aegean, Department of Marine Sciences: Art museums of Mytilene (accessed 22 October 2026)
• University of the Aegean Library: Locations (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Lesvos.com: Hot springs (undated) (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Travel.gr: Lesvos hot springs (2 October 2024) (accessed 22 October 2026)
• KTEL Lesvou: Agiasos–Mytilene timetable (accessed October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Diachronic Museum of Kastellorizo (accessed 22 October 2026)
• Visit Greece: Diachronic Museum of Megisti (accessed October 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Archaeological Museum of Symi (accessed 22 October 2026)
• timeanddate.com: Clean Monday in Greece (accessed 22 October 2026)

Tours

• GetYourGuide: Bodrum, Roundtrip Ferry to Kos with Hotel Pickup (accessed October 2026)
• GetYourGuide: From Marmaris to Rhodes Same-Day Return Tour (accessed October 2026)
• GetYourGuide: Rhodes, Palace of the Grand Master E-Ticket & Audio Tour (accessed October 2026)
• GetYourGuide: The Asclepieion at Kos, From Healing Gods to Medicine (accessed October 2026)
• GetYourGuide: Chios, Mastiha shore excursion (accessed October 2026)
• GetYourGuide: Lesvos, 5-Hour Religious Shore Excursion (accessed October 2026)