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On this page
- Short answer
- New Year calendar
- 29 December-3 January: sailings day by day
- Sample New Year plans
- Visa on arrival: last days to apply (Turkish passport holders only)
- Weather and cancellation risk
- What is open on 1 January and in winter
- Time difference and New Year’s Eve
- Turkey’s exit fee at the start of the year (Turkish citizens only)
- Which island for New Year
- Frequently asked questions
You can cross from Turkey to the Greek islands over New Year. When we checked the operators’ own timetables on 29 October 2026, four routes had published sailings between 30 December and 2 January: Ayvalik-Lesbos, Çeşme-Chios, Fethiye-Rhodes and Marmaris-Rhodes. Bodrum-Kos sails on 30 December and 2 January, and on 1 January from Turgutreis (added by 11 November), but not on 31 December. We found no sailing to Samos or Kastellorizo in New Year week. For Turkish passport holders using the visa-on-arrival scheme, the last day to apply falls between 20 and 26 December depending on the company.
Short answer
- Dates: Thursday 31 December 2026, Friday 1 January 2027. 1 January is a public holiday in both Turkey and Greece, so there is a four-day window from Thursday to Sunday.
- Out on 31 December: Ayvalik-Lesbos (Turyol catamaran 08:45, car ferry Fokaia 09:00), Çeşme-Chios (Turyol and Ertürk 09:00), Fethiye-Rhodes (Sea Star 08:25 in Ertürk’s timetable) and Marmaris-Rhodes (Sea Dreams 10:30).
- Back on 1 January: Lesbos 16:30 and 16:45, Chios 16:30, Rhodes to Fethiye 15:00, Rhodes to Marmaris 13:00. Turyol also lists a 09:00 departure from Çeşme on 1 January.
- Visa on arrival (Turkish passport holders only): New Year falls within the current scheme. For a 30-31 December departure the safest plan is to apply by 20 December; that is exactly the last day at companies that ask for 10 days.
- Weather: Strong winds can cancel sailings in winter; on 26 October 2026 Bodrum-Kos sailings were cancelled. Do not leave your return to the last day of your holiday.
- On the island on 1 January: Ministry museums and sites are closed on 1 January and free on Sunday 3 January. Greece is one hour behind Turkey.
New Year calendar
| Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas; holiday in Greece, ministry museums closed |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Holiday in Greece, ministry museums closed |
| 31 December 2026 | Thursday | Not a public holiday in Turkey |
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | Public holiday in Turkey and Greece; museums closed |
| 3 January 2027 | Sunday | First Sunday of the month; state museums and sites free |
| 6 January 2027 | Wednesday | Epiphany holiday in Greece; Palace of the Grand Master open |
In Turkey, 1 January is the New Year holiday under Law No. 2429. The Greek holidays come from the 2027 list on Office Holidays; the holidays on which museums close or open come from the Greek Ministry of Culture’s page for the Palace of the Grand Master (29 October 2026). The ministry’s page lists only the first Sunday of each month from November to March as a free day; sources based on ministerial decision ΦΕΚ Β’ 1968/29.03.2024 also give the third Sunday (17 January). 3 January is free according to both.
29 December-3 January: sailings day by day
The table shows the sailings we pulled from the operators’ own timetables (Turyol, Ertürk, Sea Dreams) on 29 October 2026. “TR” is the departure from Turkey, “isl.” the return from the island. Island departure times are as the company lists them; check whether your ticket uses Turkish or Greek time.
| Route | Tue 29 Dec | Wed 30 Dec | Thu 31 Dec | Fri 1 Jan | Sat 2 Jan | Sun 3 Jan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayvalik-Lesbos (Turyol) | – | TR 08:45, 09:00 · isl. 16:30, 16:45 | TR 08:45, 09:00 | isl. 16:30, 16:45 | TR 08:45, 09:00 · isl. 16:30, 16:45 | TR 08:45, 12:00 · isl. 16:30, 16:45 |
| Çeşme-Chios (Turyol) | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 (car ferry) | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00, 14:00 · isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:00, 16:30 |
| Çeşme-Chios (Ertürk fast boat) | – | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 | isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 | TR 09:00 · isl. 16:30 |
| Çeşme-Chios (Ertürk car ferry Apostolos S., checked 30 Oct) | – | – | – | TR 18:00 · isl. 08:00 | TR 09:50, 18:00 · isl. 08:00, 16:00 | TR 18:00 · isl. 16:00 |
| Bodrum-Kos (Ertürk timetable) | – | TR 09:15 · isl. 16:30 | – | – | TR 09:15 · isl. 16:30 | – |
| Fethiye-Rhodes (Ertürk timetable, Sea Star) | – | TR 08:25 · isl. 15:00 | TR 08:25 | isl. 15:00 | TR 09:30 | isl. 15:00 |
| Marmaris-Rhodes (Sea Dreams) | – | TR 09:00 · isl. 15:00 | TR 10:30 · isl. 11:30 | TR 11:30 · isl. 13:00 | TR 09:00 · isl. 15:00 | – |
| Kusadasi-Samos | None (Meander Travel’s winter sailings end on 27 December) | |||||
| Kas-Kastellorizo | None (last sailing Saturday 26 December) |
In winter only the year-round routes run. The Dikili, Seferihisar, Turgutreis, Leros, Patmos and Lemnos routes are seasonal and have no sailings in December. Aliaga–Lesvos, however, runs out on Saturdays and back on Sundays in December; for New Year there is a sailing from Aliağa at 08:00 on Thursday 31 December and back from Mytilene at 16:00 on Saturday 2 January (Turyol timetable, 12 November 2026). For a month-by-month table see the ferry season calendar; for the whole winter, our winter ferry report.
Ayvalik-Lesbos
This route has the most options at New Year. According to Turyol’s timetable, the catamaran Kalimnos (no cars) leaves Ayvalik at 08:45 and the car ferry Fokaia at 09:00; on 31 December both go out but do not come back, and on 1 January there are only returns from Lesbos at 16:30 and 16:45. On Sunday 3 January Fokaia leaves Ayvalik at 12:00. If you want to take a car, Fokaia is the one.
Jalem Tur’s own timetable page showed sailings only up to 4 November when we checked on 29 October. In Ertürk’s sales timetable, Jalem Tur’s Seda Jale and Fatih Jale appear on 30 and 31 December from Ayvalik at 09:00 and on 1 January from Lesbos at 16:45 and 17:00; confirm this with Jalem Tur. With visa on arrival, Jalem Tur accepts only morning sailings. Details in the Ayvalik-Lesbos ferry guide.
Çeşme-Chios
Both companies’ timetables cover New Year. Turyol runs the car ferry Chios on 29 December and the passenger-only Catamaran Imbros from 30 December to 1 January (Çeşme 09:00, Chios 16:30); on 24 October only a return was listed on 1 January, by 29 October the 09:00 from Çeşme was listed too. The car ferry’s last sailings are on 2 January (Çeşme 14:00, Chios 16:30) and 3 January (Çeşme 09:00, Chios 16:00). Ertürk’s fast boat (no cars) sails both ways on 30-31 December and 2-3 January, and only from Chios at 16:30 on 1 January. When we checked again on 30 October, Ertürk had also added its car ferry Apostolos S. on 1-3 January (Friday Chios 08:00 and Çeşme 18:00, Saturday Chios 08:00 and 16:00 and Çeşme 09:50 and 18:00, Sunday Chios 16:00 and Çeşme 18:00) and on every Friday to Sunday until 31 January, so after Turyol’s car ferry stops on 3 January you can still take a car at weekends (news). From mid-January to mid-February Ertürk’s fast boat does not sail (news). See Çeşme-Chios.
Bodrum-Kos
Last winter this was the most regular route: Tilos Travel sailed every day from 5 November 2025 to 28 March 2026. For this winter, Tilos Travel’s (Sea Star) own booking calendar showed nothing after 6 November as of 29 October. The only published timetable is for the Asım Kaptan sailings sold by Ertürk: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Bodrum Cruise Port 09:15, Kos 16:30. Around New Year that means 27, 28 and 30 December and 2 and 4 January. When we checked again on 11 November, Ertürk also listed Dedetaş-2 from the Castle Port (30 December and 2 January, 09:15, back 15:30) and Erdem Karadeniz from Turgutreis on Friday 1 January (09:00, back from Kos 16:00); still no sailing on 31 December. Going out on 30 December and returning on 2 January means three nights. See Bodrum-Kos.
Rhodes: from Fethiye and Marmaris
Fethiye-Rhodes: The Sea Star sailings in Ertürk’s timetable are Fethiye 08:25 on 30 and 31 December, Rhodes 15:00 on 30 December and 1 January, Fethiye 09:30 on 2 January and Rhodes 15:00 on 3 January. So going out on 30 or 31 December and back on 1 January works. Tilos Travel has not published its own winter timetable with times. See Fethiye-Rhodes.
Marmaris-Rhodes: According to Sea Dreams’ December and January timetables (rechecked on 29 October 2026), there are sailings on 30 December (Marmaris 09:00, Rhodes 15:00), 31 December (Marmaris 10:30, Rhodes 11:30), 1 January (Marmaris 11:30, Rhodes 13:00) and Saturday 2 January (Marmaris 09:00, Rhodes 15:00). There are none between 24 and 29 December. The 31 December sailing returns from Rhodes at 11:30, so it does not work as a day trip. The company says its times are local times. Yeşil Marmaris Lines told us by email that it sails on 14 days in December, without naming the days. See Marmaris-Rhodes and our January timetable report.
According to Tilos Travel, a day trip to Rhodes on visa on arrival is not possible; at least one night’s stay is required.
Samos and Kastellorizo
On Kusadasi-Samos, Meander Travel’s winter pattern is once a week (out on Saturday, back on Sunday) and ends on 27 December; there is no January timetable. On Kas-Kastellorizo, Meis Ferry Lines sails only on Saturdays in December (company email, 24 October 2026); the last December sailing is on the 26th. Meis Express’s own timetable, searched by date on 31 October 2026, also ends with Saturday 26 December (Kaş 09:30, back 16:00) and lists nothing in January 2027; the next listed sailing on the route is Meis Ferry Lines’ on 27 February 2027 in Ertürk’s booking system. We add the January timetables to our 2027 ferry tracker when they appear.
Sample New Year plans
These plans use only sailings published on 29 October 2026. All of them stay within the 7-day limit of the visa-on-arrival scheme.
| Plan | Out | Back | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chios, New Year’s Eve on the island | Thu 31 Dec, Çeşme 09:00 (Turyol, Ertürk) | Fri 1 Jan, Chios 16:30 | 1 |
| Chios, long weekend | Wed 30 Dec, Çeşme 09:00 | Sat 2 Jan, Chios 16:30 | 3 |
| Lesbos with a car | Thu 31 Dec, Ayvalik 09:00 (Fokaia) | Fri 1 Jan, Lesbos 16:45 | 1 |
| Lesbos, long weekend | Wed 30 Dec, Ayvalik 08:45 or 09:00 | Sat 2 or Sun 3 Jan, 16:30/16:45 | 3-4 |
| Rhodes from Fethiye | 30 or 31 Dec, Fethiye 08:25 | Fri 1 Jan, Rhodes 15:00 | 1-2 |
| Rhodes from Marmaris | Wed 30 Dec, Marmaris 09:00 | Fri 1 Jan, Rhodes 13:00 or Sat 2 Jan, Rhodes 15:00 | 2-3 |
| Kos | Wed 30 Dec, Bodrum 09:15 | Sat 2 Jan, Kos 16:30 | 3 |
Visa on arrival is valid only for the island where you land. If you plan to go out and come back via different Turkish ports (for example Marmaris to Rhodes and Rhodes to Fethiye), ask the company first, because the application is made through the company you buy your ticket from. If you hold a Schengen visa, an EU residence permit or an EU passport, this question does not arise.
Visa on arrival: last days to apply (Turkish passport holders only)
The scheme runs for one year from 1 April 2026, so December and January fall within it. The rules are the same as in summer: at most 7 days, a single entry, only the island where you land. We calculated the last days from the number of days each company states (data: company pages and emails, October 2026). Whether the count includes the departure day may differ between companies, so act a day early.
| Company (island) | Rule | Departure 30 Dec | Departure 31 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilos Travel (Kos, Rhodes, Chios, Samos), İDO, Yeşil Marmaris Lines (Rhodes) | 10 days ahead | Sunday 20 December | Monday 21 December |
| Ertürk, Çeşme office (Chios) | 8 days ahead (Izmir office 10) | Tuesday 22 December | Wednesday 23 December |
| Jalem Tur (Lesbos), Turyol (Chios), Bodrum Ferryboat (Kos) | 7 days ahead | Wednesday 23 December | Thursday 24 December |
| Turyol (Lesbos, Kos) | 5 days ahead | Friday 25 December | Saturday 26 December |
- 20 December is a Sunday. At companies asking for 10 days, the last day for a 30 December departure is a Sunday; we do not know whether the offices are open. Plan to hand in your documents by Friday 18 December. Yeşil Marmaris Lines suggests sending documents by courier about 15 days ahead.
- Quotas: Jalem Tur says there is a daily quota but gives no number; Tilos Travel calls the Kos quota “limited”. Expect quotas to fill early in a holiday week.
- Refunds: Most companies do not refund the visa fee if the application is refused or cancelled. If a sailing is cancelled because of the weather, ask whether the application moves to the new sailing.
Fees and documents are in our visa-on-arrival guide. What happens after 1 April 2027 is not yet known.
Weather and cancellation risk
Strong winds and storms can cancel sailings in the Aegean in winter; the company or the port authority usually decides on the day. For example, according to İHA, Bodrum-Kos sailings were cancelled because of bad weather on 26 October 2026 (news). Because many routes sail only a few days a week in New Year week, a cancelled return may not be replaced the next day: from Kos the first sailing after 1 January is on 2 January, on Fethiye-Rhodes on 3 January.
- Do not leave your return to the last day before work; with a 1 January return, keep 2-3 January as a buffer.
- With visa on arrival, check that the buffer does not take you past the 7-day limit.
- On the morning of your sailing, check the wind forecast for your route on ferries today and the company’s SMS or website notice.
What is open on 1 January and in winter
Museums and sites of the Greek Ministry of Culture are closed on 1 January and 25 and 26 December, and open on 6 January (the ministry’s page for the Palace of the Grand Master, 29 October 2026). Winter hours apply from 1 November to 31 March. The following is what we give, with sources, in our island guides:
Rhodes
- Palace of the Grand Master: 08:30-15:30, closed Tuesdays; ticket 20 €. The city walls walk is closed all winter (hh.gr).
- Archaeological Museum: 08:30-15:30, closed Tuesdays; ticket 10 €.
- Lindos: According to hh.gr, 08:30-15:30 in winter, closed Tuesdays; ticket 20 € (reduced 10 €). Visit Greece gives 08:00 as the opening time.
- Valley of the Butterflies: Closed in winter according to the regional tourism site.
Kos
- Asklepion: According to hh.gr, open daily 08:30-15:30 from 1 November; ticket 15 € (reduced 8 €). The ministry’s museums site gives Tuesday as a closing day; check before you go.
Lesbos
- Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest (Sigri): In October 2026 the museum’s site said 09:00-17:00 every day; closed on public holidays.
- Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production (Agia Paraskevi): 10:00-17:00 from 16 October to 28 February, closed Tuesdays. We could not find out whether it opens on 1 January.
Kastellorizo
- Diachronic Museum of Megisti: According to the ministry’s museums site, 08:30-15:30, closed Tuesdays, admission 5 €.
1 January is a public holiday, so public offices are closed. We could not find a reliable list of how many hotels, restaurants, cafés and car-rental offices open on 1 January or in winter. Book your accommodation in advance and get written confirmation that it is open. For the wider picture, see the Greek islands in winter.
Time difference and New Year’s Eve
Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year. Greece is one hour behind Turkey from 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027. When you enter the new year on the island, it is 01:00 in Turkey. Sea Dreams and Meis Ferry Lines say their times are local times; with other companies, ask which country’s time the return time on your ticket refers to.
Turkey’s exit fee at the start of the year (Turkish citizens only)
Turkey’s exit fee for travel abroad has been 1,250 TL since 1 January 2026; the amount was published in the Official Gazette on 31 December 2025 and so changed at the start of the year. If it changes for 2027, check from which date the new amount applies before you set out. Exemptions and the current amount are on our Turkey departure fee page.
Which island for New Year
- Chios: The route with sailings on the most days in New Year week; two companies, including on 1 January. Chios guide
- Lesbos: Car ferry and two departure times a day; out on 31 December and back on 1 January works. Lesbos guide, where to stay in Lesbos
- Rhodes: Returns on 1 January to Fethiye and Marmaris; on visa on arrival you need at least one night. Rhodes guide, where to stay in Rhodes
- Kos: Three nights, 30 December to 2 January. Kos guide
- Samos, Kastellorizo: No sailings in New Year week. Samos, Kastellorizo
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a ferry to the Greek islands on 31 December?
Yes. According to the timetables as of 29 October 2026, on Thursday 31 December there are sailings on Ayvalik-Lesbos (08:45, 09:00), Çeşme-Chios (09:00), Fethiye-Rhodes (08:25) and Marmaris-Rhodes (10:30). There is nothing that day on Bodrum-Kos, Kusadasi-Samos or Kas-Kastellorizo.
Can I return from the island on 1 January?
Yes: returns are listed from Lesbos at 16:30 and 16:45, from Chios at 16:30, and from Rhodes to Fethiye at 15:00 and to Marmaris at 13:00. From Kos on 1 January there is one sailing, to Turgutreis D-Marin at 16:00 (listed since our 11 November check); to Bodrum town the first is on Saturday 2 January.
When must I apply for visa on arrival for New Year?
For Turkish passport holders, 5-10 days ahead depending on the company. For a 30 December departure, companies asking for 10 days (Tilos Travel, İDO, Yeşil Marmaris Lines) have Sunday 20 December as the last day; handing in your documents by 18 December is safest.
Are museums open on the islands at New Year?
Ministry museums and sites are closed on 1 January and 25 and 26 December. In winter they generally close at 15:30 and are closed on Tuesdays. Entry is free on Sunday 3 January 2027.
What happens if my ferry is cancelled at New Year?
The company or the port authority decides on the day. Because many routes sail only a few days a week in New Year week, the next sailing can be two or three days later; leave a buffer for your return and keep the 7-day visa-on-arrival limit in mind.
What is the time difference between Greece and Turkey in winter?
One hour. Greece is one hour behind Turkey from 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027.
Sailing times, fares and entry rules can change; check an official source before you set out.
Sources
Dates and time
- Memurlar.net: Law No. 2429 on National Holidays and Public Holidays (accessed October 2026)
- Office Holidays: Greece public holidays 2027 (accessed 29 October 2026)
- timeanddate.com: Greece time change (accessed October 2026)
Ferry timetables (checked 29 October 2026)
- Turyol: ferry timetable (Ayvalik-Lesbos, Çeşme-Chios) (29 October 2026)
- Ertürk: Çeşme-Chios timetable (29 and 30 October 2026)
- Ertürk: Ayvalik-Lesbos timetable (29 October 2026)
- Ertürk: Bodrum-Kos timetable (29 October 2026)
- Ertürk: Fethiye-Rhodes timetable (29 October 2026)
- Ertürk: Kas-Kastellorizo timetable (29 October 2026)
- Sea Dreams: Marmaris timetable, December 2026 (29 October 2026)
- Sea Dreams: Marmaris timetable, January 2027 (29 October 2026)
- Sea Dreams: list of Marmaris timetables (none from February 2027) (29 October 2026)
- Jalem Tur: ferry timetable (29 October 2026)
- Meis Express: Kas-Kastellorizo timetable (29 October 2026)
- Samosaferibot.com (Meander Travel): Kusadasi-Samos sailings (accessed 27 October 2026)
- Tilos Travel: Bodrum-Kos sailing plan (winter 2025-26; accessed October 2026)
Visa on arrival
- Tilos Travel: visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
- Jalem Tur: Greek islands visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
- Ertürk: visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
- İDO Aegean Islands: visa on arrival (accessed October 2026)
- Bodrum Ferry: visa procedures (accessed October 2026)
- Euronews Turkish: visa on arrival extended by one year (31 March 2026) (accessed October 2026)
Weather
- Our report: Bodrum-Kos sailings cancelled, citing İHA (26 October 2026) (27 October 2026)
Winter on the islands
- Greek Ministry of Culture: Palace of the Grand Master, Rhodes (holiday closures) (29 October 2026)
- Greek Ministry of Culture: Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (accessed October 2026)
- Hellenic Heritage: Palace of the Grand Master & Rhodes Fortification Walls (22 October 2026)
- Hellenic Heritage: Lindos (22 October 2026)
- Visit Greece: Lindos (accessed October 2026)
- The Aegean Islands: Valley of the Butterflies (accessed October 2026)
- Hellenic Heritage: Asclepieion, Kos (22 October 2026)
- Greek Ministry of Culture: Asklepion, Kos (accessed October 2026)
- Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest: visit information (accessed October 2026)
- PIOP: Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production, Lesbos (accessed October 2026)
- Greek Ministry of Culture: Diachronic Museum of Kastellorizo (22 October 2026)
- Odigos tou Politi: free-entry days under ΦΕΚ Β’ 1968/29.03.2024 (19 October 2026) (22 October 2026)
Exit fee
- Medyascope: exit fee becomes 1,250 TL (31 December 2025) (accessed October 2026)
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