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Kastellorizo, officially Megisti and called Meis in Turkish, is a small Greek island just off the Turkish town of Kaş. Its only town wraps around a horseshoe harbour of colourful mansions, and almost everything worth seeing is within walking distance of the ferry quay. Most visitors come over from Kaş for the day; the island is far from the rest of Greece, a ferry of more than two hours from Rhodes, which keeps it quiet once the day boats leave.
Short answer
- Getting there: passenger boats from Kaş take about 20 to 30 minutes. From Rhodes there are ferries (at least 2 hours 20 minutes) and short flights.
- Day trip from Kaş: as of October 2026, Meis Express leaves Kaş every morning and returns from the island in the afternoon, giving you about six hours ashore.
- What to see: the harbour, the Castle of the Knights, the museum, a Lycian rock tomb, the church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni and, by boat, the Blue Cave.
- Swimming: there is no sandy town beach. People swim from ladders on the quay, at Mandraki or on St George islet.
- Getting around: on foot and by boat. You don’t need a car, and the Kaş boats don’t carry them.
- Clocks: from 25 October 2026 Kastellorizo is one hour behind Kaş. Ask which time your return boat uses.
Getting there
From Kaş
Two Turkish companies run the crossing from Kaş harbour: Meis Express and Meis Ferry Lines. The boats carry foot passengers only, and the two harbours are about one nautical mile apart. You leave Turkey and enter Greece and the Schengen area, so there is passport control on both sides.
As of 31 October 2026, the Meis Express timetable shows these winter sailings, one round trip on each day listed:
| Days | Leaves Kaş | Leaves Kastellorizo |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25 and 28 November | 09:30 or 10:00 | 15:00 or 15:30 |
| 4, 5, 7, 12, 19 and 26 December | 09:30 or 10:00 | 16:00 or 16:30 |
| January 2027 | nothing listed | nothing listed |
Meis Ferry Lines adds sailings on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in November and on Saturdays in December. From 27 December 2026 to 26 February 2027 neither company lists a sailing (news).
Meis Express lists an adult fare of €25 for a one-way ticket or a same-day return (as of October 2026). Its terms ask you to be at the port at least an hour before departure. The GetYourGuide listing for the same crossing says a Kastellorizo port tax and a Turkish harbour fee are paid separately in cash, so carry some euros. Meis Ferry Lines told us by email (24 October 2026) that in 2026 a €5 Kastellorizo fee is currently paid at its ticket office and Kaş municipality charges a 200 TL port tax in the customs area. Full details are in our Kaş to Kastellorizo ferry guide, and the town itself is covered in things to do in Kaş.
From Rhodes
Ferryscanner lists Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways and Saos Ferries between Rhodes Town and Kastellorizo. The fastest crossing it shows is 2 hours 20 minutes on the Dodekanisos Pride; the slower ferries take over three hours. It gives about four crossings a week from June to September and about one a week from October to May. A flight-tracking site lists Olympic Air flights between Rhodes and Kastellorizo of about 40 minutes. Check both with the operators for your dates. Our Rhodes travel guide covers the bigger island.
Entry rules
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel with a passport or national ID card, according to Ferryhopper, and are not registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
- UK citizens: GOV.UK says your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area. Its Greece page also says Greek authorities have indicated they will not take fingerprints and photos from UK travellers under EES; follow the officials on the ground.
- Coming from Turkey on a Turkish visa: check whether your visa allows re-entry before you go, especially if you are only visiting for the day.
Getting around
The town is compact and walkable, but expect steps: many houses and lanes climb the slope above the harbour. Boats from the quay go to St George islet, Plakes and the Blue Cave. The airport is about 2.5 km southwest of town; Wikipedia says a bus runs to the town only in summer and taxis are available. There are very few cars on the island, so if you have heavy bags, ask your host whether they can meet you.
Things to see
The harbour
The waterfront is a crescent of restored mansions, cafés and tavernas facing the Turkish coast. Ladders along the quay lead straight into the water, so you can swim in the middle of town. A short paved path from the Kavos quarter leads around the headland to Mandraki bay.
Castle of the Knights
The castle ruins stand on a red rock above the harbour. The municipality says the Knights of St John rebuilt it in the 13th century on the site of an ancient fortification. From the top you see both the harbour and Mandraki.
Museum
The museum is in the Kavos quarter, in the Konaki, a two-storey building that was part of the medieval castle. Visit Greece describes a chronological display: inscriptions and amphorae from ancient Megisti, early Christian and Byzantine pieces, icons, and a folklore section with costumes and a reconstructed island kitchen. A separate folklore museum is in the old mosque.
As of 22 October 2026, the Ministry of Culture’s museums site lists the museum as open all year (summer and winter) 08:30 to 15:30, closed on Tuesdays, with admission at €5. Visit Greece gives 15:00 as the winter closing time, so arrive early if you are cutting it close. From November to March, state museums are free on the first and third Sunday of each month.
Lycian rock tomb
At the foot of the castle, on the path towards Mandraki, a 4th-century BC Lycian tomb is cut into the rock. If you have seen the Lycian tombs in Kaş, this is the same culture on the other side of the strait.
Churches and St George of the Mountain
The church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni, built in 1835, is known for its granite columns brought from ancient Patara on the Turkish coast. Above the town, the fortified monastery of Agios Georgios tou Vounou dates from 1759; the municipality says about 400 steps lead up to it, and inside is the small underground chapel of Agios Charalambos. Climb early or late in the day and bring water.
Blue Cave (Parastas)
The sea cave on the island’s coast is reached only by small boat from the harbour, and only in calm seas. Travel.gr gives its size as about 75 m long, 40 m wide and 35 m high; the entrance is so low that you duck down in the boat. Arrange a boat as soon as you land, because trips stop when the sea is rough.
Where to swim
- Harbour ladders: along the quay and from some waterside hotel terraces.
- Mandraki: the small, sheltered bay over the hill, a short walk from town.
- St George islet: a few minutes by sea taxi from the harbour, with clear water over a rocky bottom.
- Plakes: flat rocks at the harbour entrance, reached by sea taxi or on foot.
Where to stay
Most people stay in Kaş and visit for the day. If you stay on the island, you get the quiet evening after the day boats leave and the early morning for the Blue Cave. The choice is small: Booking.com listed only around 40 properties on the whole island in October 2026, so book early for summer. The main harbour is closest to the quay; the quieter end of the harbour and Mandraki suit swimmers. Our where to stay in Kastellorizo guide compares the areas and lists eight places.
Casa Mediterraneo Hotel
Main harbour4★
- Ferry port: about 200 m (around 2 min walk) from the port
- Best for: couples / families / design lovers
For a special night above the harbour, with a pergola bar at sunset.
Maria's Apartments
Main harbour
- Ferry port: about 2 min walk from the port
- Best for: budget / one-night stays / independent travellers
About two minutes from the boat, with a kitchenette for a short stay.
Megisti Hotel
Quieter end of the harbour
- Ferry port: about 0.8 km (around 9 min walk) from the port
- Best for: couples / swimming / longer stays
At the quieter end of the harbour, with its own swimming area.
Day trips and tours
If you are staying on the island, a day in Kaş works only when a boat leaves Kastellorizo in the morning. As of October 2026 that is Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30, until the end of the month. See our Kastellorizo to Kaş day trip guide, and the hub on day trips to Turkey from the Greek islands for entry rules by nationality.
You don’t need a tour to visit Kastellorizo: buying the ticket directly from the ferry company in Kaş is usually just as easy. The listing below suits people who want the return crossing booked in advance. If you are based in Kaş, the Kekova boat trip is the other classic outing, but it takes a full day, so plan it for a different day.
From Kas: Round-trip Ferry Transfer to Kastellorizo
Return ferry from Kaş booked in advance; port taxes are paid separately in cash, and you need a passport or an accepted ID card.
Check price & availability
Kas: Kekova Island Sunken City & Historical Sites Boat Tour
Full-day boat from near Kaş harbour to the Sunken City and Simena; it does not fit on the same day as Kastellorizo.
Check price & availabilityWhen to go
The Kaş route runs all year, but far less often in winter; the ferry season calendar shows the pattern by month.
- June to September: daily sailings and, on some days, extra evening boats. The harbour is busiest in the middle of the day.
- May and October: boats still run, the island is calmer and rooms are easier to find. In October 2026 the Wednesday and Saturday evening sailings continue to the end of the month.
- November to March: one sailing a day was published for 1–18 November 2026 (checked 24 October 2026), and winter service can drop much lower. The museum keeps winter hours.
The Blue Cave needs a calm sea whatever the month. From 25 October 2026 to late March, remember the one-hour time difference with Kaş.
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FAQ
How long do you need on Kastellorizo?
Five to six hours covers the town, the castle, the museum and a swim. Add about an hour for the Blue Cave. One night lets you see the harbour after the day boats have gone.
How long is the ferry from Kaş?
About 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the boat and the sea. Passport control on both sides adds to that.
Is there a time difference between Kastellorizo and Kaş?
From 25 October 2026 until late March, yes: the island is one hour behind Kaş. In summer both show the same time.
Can I get from Kastellorizo to Rhodes?
Yes, by ferry or plane. Ferryscanner shows about one ferry a week from October to May and a fastest crossing of 2 hours 20 minutes. 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 sefer saatleri (checked 24 Oct 2026; listed to 18 Nov 2026)
- Meis Express: Kaş–Meis fares (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meis Express: terms and conditions (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Kaş to Kastellorizo (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Rhodes to Kastellorizo (accessed Oct 2026)
- FlightsFrom: Rhodes to Kastellorizo flights (accessed Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia: Kastellorizo Island Public Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Megisti: sights (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece: Diachronic Museum of Megisti (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek Ministry of Culture: Diachronic Museum of Kastellorizo (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- All Over Greece: Church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni (accessed Oct 2026)
- Travel.gr: Five reasons to visit Kastellorizo (accessed Oct 2026)
- Exploring Greece: Ten suggestions for Kastellorizo (accessed Oct 2026)
- Booking.com: Kastellorizo region listing (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Greece entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek MFA: EU Entry/Exit System from 10 April 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com: Clock changes in Greece 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com: Time zone in Ankara, Turkey (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: From Kas: Round-trip Ferry Transfer to Kastellorizo (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kas: Kekova Island Sunken City & Historical Sites Boat Tour (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meis Ferry Lines, email, 24 October 2026
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