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If you are staying on Kastellorizo (Megisti), a day in Kaş is possible, but only on the days when a boat leaves the island in the morning. Most sailings on this route are built around visitors coming the other way, from Kaş to the island and back, so check the timetable first and plan your day around it. Bring your passport: you leave Greece and the Schengen area and enter Turkey, then do the same in reverse in the evening.
Short answer
- Who sails: Meis Express (run by Ferah Turizm of Kaş) and Meis Ferry Lines. Both are Turkish operators, and the boats take foot passengers only.
- Morning boats from the island: as of October 2026, Meis Express lists a 10:30 departure from Kastellorizo only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On other days the first boat from the island leaves in the afternoon.
- Time ashore: on Wednesdays and Saturdays (to 31 October 2026) you can come back on the 18:00 from Kaş, which gives you most of a day. On Fridays the return is at 15:30.
- Crossing: about 20 to 30 minutes, plus passport control at both ends.
- Fare (as of October 2026): Meis Express lists €25 one way or same-day return for adults; port fees may be extra.
- Clocks: from 25 October 2026 Greece is one hour behind Turkey. Ask which local time your island departure is printed in.
Boats from Kastellorizo to Kaş
Who runs the route
Two companies sail between Kaş and Kastellorizo: Meis Express and Meis Ferry Lines. Meis Express’s own site names the operating company as Ferah Turizm, says it has run passenger sailings between Kaş and Meis for about 20 years, and lists two ferries, the Kastellorizo and the Bahriyeoğlu. Both companies are based in Kaş, with ticket offices opposite the harbour in the old town.
Ferryhopper lists both operators on the Kastellorizo to Kaş direction as well. We could not find a published timetable from Meis Ferry Lines, so the times below come from Meis Express only.
Timetable as of October 2026
The Meis Express timetable published in mid-October 2026 covers 15 October to 13 November 2026. The pattern for someone starting on the island looks like this:
| Day | Leaves Kastellorizo | Leaves Kaş (back to the island) | Day trip from the island? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Saturday (to 31 Oct) | 10:30, 16:00 or 16:30, 23:00 | 09:30 or 10:00, 11:30, 18:00 | Yes, up to about seven hours in Kaş |
| Friday (to 30 Oct) | 10:30, 16:00 or 16:30 | 09:30 or 10:00, 15:30 | Yes, but short: roughly three to four hours |
| Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and every day from 1 Nov | 16:00 or 16:30 only | 09:30 or 10:00 only | No, you need at least one night in Kaş |
On the busy days, the 18:00 from Kaş and the 23:00 back are an evening rotation for Kaş-based visitors; for you, the 18:00 is the boat home.
From November 2026 the listed schedule has one morning boat from Kaş and one afternoon boat from the island, so a visit to Kaş then means at least one night there.
The operator reserves the right to change the schedule, and sailings can be cancelled in bad weather. A 2025 traveller report says both companies usually add extra sailings on Wednesdays and Saturdays in summer, but we have not seen a 2027 timetable. Check the current list before you plan, and see our Kaş to Kastellorizo ferry guide for the route from the Turkish side.
Fares and port fees
As of October 2026, the Meis Express fare page lists these prices for the Kaş–Meis route:
| Passenger | One way | Same-day return | Open or different-day return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €25 | €25 | €35 |
| Child | €15 | €20 | €25 |
| Infant | €5 | €10 | €15 |
The page does not split fares by direction, so confirm the price for a ticket starting on Kastellorizo. Ferryhopper showed fares from €8 for the Kastellorizo to Kaş direction, but labels its figures as based on last year’s data.
Port fees are not mentioned on the Meis Express fare page. Traveller reports from 2025 describe a Greek port tax of about €5 and a separate Turkish harbour fee paid at a kiosk in Kaş before passport control. We could not confirm the current amounts, or how they are charged when you start on the island, so carry some euros and a card.
Tickets, check-in and the time difference
Meis Express’s terms ask passengers to be at the port at least one hour before departure, to bring the card used to pay for an online ticket, and to print the e-ticket. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded once bought, and there is no refund if you are refused boarding for missing documents.
We could not confirm where tickets are sold on the Kastellorizo side. The operator’s English booking form did not clearly offer the island as a starting point when we checked, so ask the operator directly or book through Ferryhopper, which lists this direction.
Time difference. Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year. Greece ends summer time on Sunday 25 October 2026, after which Kastellorizo is one hour behind Kaş. Until then both sides show the same time. The Meis Express timetable does not say whether island departures are in Greek or Turkish time, so ask when you buy your ticket.
Passports and entry
You cross an external Schengen border twice in one day. The essentials:
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can use a passport or national ID card on this route, according to Ferryhopper.
- British citizens can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The UK government says your passport must be valid for at least 150 days after you arrive in Turkey and have a blank page.
- Back into Greece: non-EU visitors are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System, with fingerprints and a photo, which took full effect in April 2026. Allow time for this on the evening return.
- Schengen visa holders need a visa that allows more than one entry, or you cannot get back onto the island.
For entry rules by nationality, see our hub on day trips to Turkey from the Greek islands.
What to do in Kaş in a day
Kaş harbour is in the middle of town, so most of what follows is within walking distance of where you land. For the full town guide, see things to do in Kaş.
Antiphellos theatre
The Hellenistic theatre on the hillside just outside the centre is the main ancient site. According to the Ancient Theatre Archive it held about 4,000 people, and its seating faces south-west over the sea towards Kastellorizo. That gives you a clear view of the island you are staying on, and of the harbour you sailed from.
The Lion Tomb and Uzun Çarşı
Uzun Çarşı, the lane that climbs from the harbour through the town, ends at the Lion Tomb, also called the King’s Tomb. It is a 4th-century BC Lycian sarcophagus with two lion heads on its lid and an inscription in Lycian B, a rare form of the Lycian language. It stands in the street, so you pass it on the way up.
Lycian rock tombs
Turkey’s cultural inventory lists a Doric-style rock tomb and a rock-tomb necropolis among the remains of ancient Antiphellos. Sarcophagi stand in the lanes, tombs are cut into the cliffs above town, and remains of the acropolis walls look out towards Kastellorizo.
Swimming
- Büyükçakıl: about 1.5 km from the centre, so most people walk. A row of beach businesses lines the shore.
- Küçükçakıl: closer to town, with beach clubs on wooden platforms nearby.
- Limanağzı: a cove on the far side of Kaş bay, reached by boat from the harbour in about 15 minutes. There is no road.
- Kaputaş: about 19 to 20 km west on the Kalkan road, down 187 steps. Minibuses on the Kaş–Kalkan route stop there. It can fit into a seven-hour day if the minibus times work, but not into a Friday visit.
Kekova needs a full day
The boat trip to the Kekova Sunken City and the castle village of Simena (Kaleköy) is the classic outing from Kaş, but the GetYourGuide listing we checked runs for 8 hours. It does not fit between a 10:30 departure from the island and an 18:00 return. Plan it with a night in Kaş: see our Kekova boat trip from Kaş guide.
Sample timeline (Wednesday or Saturday, October 2026)
Times are as listed by Meis Express. After 25 October, check whether the island times are in Greek or Turkish time.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Be at Kastellorizo harbour, an hour before the boat, with passport and ticket |
| 10:30 | Boat leaves Kastellorizo |
| About 11:00 | Arrive Kaş; Turkish passport control at the harbour |
| 11:30–13:00 | Walk up Uzun Çarşı to the Lion Tomb, then look for the rock tombs above town |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch break in town |
| 14:00–16:00 | Swim at Büyükçakıl or Küçükçakıl, or take the boat to Limanağzı |
| 16:00–16:45 | Antiphellos theatre, with the view back to Kastellorizo |
| 17:00 | At the port for check-in and Turkish exit control |
| 18:00 | Boat leaves Kaş |
| About 18:30 | Arrive Kastellorizo; Greek entry control (EES for non-EU visitors) |
On a Friday, drop the swimming or the theatre and be at the port by 14:30 for the 15:30 boat.
Staying a night in Kaş
If no morning boat suits you, or you want to see Kekova, cross in the afternoon and stay in Kaş. Rooms around the harbour and Uzun Çarşı keep you within walking distance of the port; see where to stay in Kaş.
Kas: Kekova Island Sunken City & Historical Sites Boat Tour
Full-day boat trip with the Sunken City and Simena; the meeting point is close to Kaş harbour, so it only works with a night in town.
Check price & availabilityYou can also book a Kekova boat directly at Kaş harbour, or drive to Üçağız and board there.
Kaş as a gateway: airports and supplies
For many island visitors, Kaş is also the way in and out. Kastellorizo’s own airport has flights to Rhodes. The nearest Turkish airports are:
- Dalaman Airport: about 155 to 180 km from Kaş depending on the source, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car. Havaş airport buses from Dalaman serve Fethiye and Marmaris, not Kaş; from Fethiye it is about 110 km on to Kaş. See Dalaman airport transfers.
- Antalya Airport: about 185 to 200 km, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by car.
If you plan to fly out of Turkey at the end of your island stay, take a one-way ticket to Kaş on a day when the timing leaves room for the transfer.
Shopping in Kaş and carrying it back is limited by customs. Arriving in Greece by sea, adults may bring only 40 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits, and no meat or dairy from Turkey. Details are on our customs allowances page.
Money
Kaş prices are in Turkish lira, Kastellorizo uses euros, and leftover lira is hard to change on the island. If a card terminal or cash machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in the local currency. Phone roaming is the other cost: EU “roam like at home” rules cover Greece but not Turkey. See money and mobile data for more.
FAQ
Can I do a day trip to Kaş from Kastellorizo?
Yes, on days with a morning boat from the island. As of October 2026, Meis Express lists a 10:30 departure from Kastellorizo on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with returns from Kaş at 18:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 15:30 on Fridays, until the end of October.
How long is the crossing?
About 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the boat and the sea. Passport control on both sides adds to that, and can take longer than the crossing on a busy day.
Is there a time difference between Kastellorizo and Kaş?
From 25 October 2026 until late March, yes: Kastellorizo is one hour behind Kaş. In summer both show the same time. Confirm which local time your ticket uses.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, or a national ID card for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. British passports must be valid for at least 150 days after arrival in Turkey.
Can I see Kekova on the same day?
Not realistically. The Kekova boat tours from Kaş last most of a day, so you need to stay at least one night in Kaş.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Meis Express: Kaş–Meis timetable, 15 Oct to 13 Nov 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meis Express: Kaş–Meis timetable, Turkish (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meis Express: Kaş–Meis fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meis Express: about the company (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meis Express: terms and conditions (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Kastellorizo to Kaş (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turkey’s For Life: Kaş to Meis ferry (March 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Hop On World: day trip to Kastellorizo from Kaş (updated Nov 2025) (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com: clock changes in Greece 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com: time zone in Ankara, Turkey (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Turkey entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek MFA: EU Entry/Exit System from 10 April 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ancient Theatre Archive: Antiphellos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Medgulets: Kaş Lion’s Sarcophagus (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kültür Envanteri: Antiphellos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Enuygun: Kaş beaches (accessed Oct 2026)
- Küre Ansiklopedi: Kaputaş Beach (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kekova Sunken City boat tour from Kaş (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ulaşım Transfer: closest airport to Kaş (accessed Oct 2026)
- Turna: how to get to Kaş (accessed Oct 2026)
- Havaş: airport bus services (accessed Oct 2026)
- European Commission, Your Europe: alcohol and tobacco allowances (accessed Oct 2026)
- European Commission: roaming policy (accessed Oct 2026)
