Ferries link Kos and Rhodes all year, with three Greek operators on the route. The fastest boats, Dodekanisos Seaways’ catamarans, take about 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes from Kos Town to Rhodes Town; Blue Star’s big car ferries are a little slower, and SAOS Ferries goes the long way round via the smaller islands. It is a domestic Greek route, so there is no passport control, and it fits neatly between a crossing from Bodrum and a crossing to Marmaris or Fethiye.
Plan the crossingAffiliate linksFull toolkit
Is there a sailing?
Stay near the port: Rhodes
Getting around Rhodes
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
On this page
Short answer
As of 16 October 2026, the Kos–Rhodes crossing takes 125–250 minutes (operators: Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries and SAOS Ferries). Season: Year-round; fewer sailings outside June–September.
Data behind this answer: ferry fares 2026 (CSV) · 2027 timetable tracker · ferry map and route data
- Operators: Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries and SAOS Ferries, according to Ferryscanner, Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries (October 2026).
- Crossing time: fastest about 2 h 10 min on Dodekanisos Pride (Ferryscanner); Blue Star about 2 h 30 min to 3 h, SAOS 5 h 40 min to 7 h 10 min (Ferryhopper).
- Frequency: Ferryscanner (updated 15 October 2026) counts about 20 crossings a week in June to September and about 19 in quieter months, with Dodekanisos Seaways and Blue Star each sailing seven times in the coming week.
- Fares (as of October 2026): foot passengers about €14.50 to €57 one way on Ferryscanner; lowest listed fares are around €11.50 to €15 with Blue Star and €22 to €30 with Dodekanisos Seaways, depending on the booking site.
- Ports: Kos Town harbour to Rhodes Town. Small passenger ferries use the Kolona harbour by the Old Town; Blue Star uses the larger Akandia quay.
- Day trip: not practical. Ferryscanner and Direct Ferries both show no sensible same-day return, so plan at least one night on Rhodes.
Who sails Kos to Rhodes
All three operators sail from Kos Town harbour (listed as Kos Main Port) to Rhodes Town. Booking sites disagree on details, so the table shows each source.
| Operator | Crossing | Sailings (as listed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodekanisos Seaways | 2 h to 2 h 20 min (Ferryhopper); fastest 2 h 10 min (Ferryscanner) | 7 a week (Ferryscanner, Direct Ferries) | High-speed catamarans Dodekanisos Pride and Dodekanisos Express |
| Blue Star Ferries | about 2 h 30 min to 3 h (Ferryhopper); 3 h 15 min (Direct Ferries) | 6 to 7 a week | Large car ferries on the long line from Piraeus |
| SAOS Ferries | 5 h 40 min to 7 h 10 min | 2 a week (Ferryscanner, Direct Ferries) | Calls at Nisyros, Tilos and Symi on its Rhodes–Kos line |
SAOS lists one of its lines as Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Nisyros and Kos, which explains the long crossing: useful for stopping at one of those islands, not for reaching Rhodes quickly.
Departure times (October 2026)
We could not confirm a reliable departure-time pattern. Ferryscanner (updated 15 October 2026) gives the first departure from Kos as 00:20 and the last as 06:40, yet says on the same page that there are no night ferries. Direct Ferries lists departures between roughly 00:20 and 20:15 for 12 to 18 October 2026. Expect some sailings at unsociable hours and check the exact time on the operator’s booking search before you book a room. Dodekanisos Seaways also changed both catamarans’ itineraries from 2 to 18 October 2026, so autumn times can shift at short notice.
Season and winter
The route runs all year. Ferryhopper, using last year’s data, shows Blue Star and Dodekanisos Seaways six days a week each in November and December, and no SAOS sailings. Blue Star published weather-related itinerary changes for 13 to 15 October 2026, so allow slack in winter. Month-by-month status for the Turkey crossings is on our ferry season calendar.
Fares
As of October 2026, one-way adult fares shown by the booking sites:
| Source | Blue Star | Dodekanisos Seaways | SAOS | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferryscanner (updated 15 Oct 2026) | – | – | – | €14.50 to €57 |
| Ferryhopper (last year’s data) | from €11.50 | from €22 | from €14.70 | from €11.50 |
| Direct Ferries (last 30 days’ searches) | from €15 | from €30 | from €16 | – |
Direct Ferries says its figures exclude service fees. Blue Star’s €20 “Super Economy” offer applies only to routes from or to Piraeus, so it does not appear to cover Kos–Rhodes. Dodekanisos Seaways publishes a 2026 fare list as a PDF, but we could not read a Kos–Rhodes fare from it reliably, so check the total at checkout.
The ports
Kos: booking sites list departures from Kos Main Port, the harbour of Kos Town, where the boats from Bodrum also arrive. We could not confirm on an official page which quay each operator uses, so check your ticket and ask at the operator’s office. If you connect from Bodrum on the same day, leave plenty of time between boats, because Turkish crossings can run late and Greek passport control adds time.
Rhodes: Rhodes Town has several harbours. According to a port guide published in January 2026, the small passenger ferries of Dodekanisos Seaways use Kolona, the middle harbour just outside the Old Town walls, while all Blue Star ferries use the big commercial quay at Akandia, which the same guide puts at around 20 minutes’ walk from the Old Town. Mandraki is mainly for excursion and fishing boats. Read the quay on your ticket, especially if you are leaving Rhodes again by ferry.
Tickets, check-in and luggage
Book on the operators’ websites or through Ferryscanner. Dodekanisos Seaways’ travel terms (October 2026) say:
- Be at the ship 60 minutes before departure, with or without a vehicle.
- Show your ticket and a passport, identity card or other valid travel document on boarding. There is no border check between Greek islands, but you still need ID.
- Luggage up to 40 kg and 0.5 m³ per passenger is allowed.
- Cancellation is free up to 7 days before departure, costs 50% up to 24 hours before, and is not possible on the day of departure. You can switch to an open-date ticket up to 12 hours before sailing.
- If the authorities or the company stop a sailing, for example in bad weather, you can change the ticket or get a refund.
Cars, bikes and pets
Cars are carried: Ferryscanner lists vehicles on the Dodekanisos catamarans and the Blue Star ships. Dodekanisos Seaways limits vehicles on its catamarans to 1.90 m in height, accepts them only unloaded and wants a copy of the registration certificate in advance. With a hire car, ask the rental company whether ferry crossings are allowed. Ferryscanner says bicycles usually travel free. With Dodekanisos Seaways, pets need their own ticket and an up-to-date health booklet and travel in designated areas; companion and assistance animals must be on a lead and muzzled. The boats from Turkey carry no cars; see taking a car to the Greek islands.
Rhodes in brief
Rhodes is far larger than Kos and has more to see. The medieval Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. The Knights of St John held the island from 1309 to 1523, and their walls run for about 4 km around the town. The Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights are in the Upper Town; the Lower Town mixes Gothic buildings with Ottoman mosques and baths.
As of October 2026, the Greek Ministry of Culture lists the Palace of the Grand Master at €20, open 08:00 to 20:00 until 31 October, then 08:30 to 15:30 and closed on Tuesdays.
Lindos, about 50 km down the east coast, has an acropolis above a whitewashed village; Visit Greece lists admission at €20 and the KTEL bus from Rhodes Town at about 1 hour 40 minutes. Kamiros and the far south are easiest by hire car.
More in our Rhodes travel guide, and if you are still deciding between the two islands, see Kos or Rhodes.
Day trip or stay?
Stay. With two hours or more each way and no convenient same-day return, a day trip makes little sense. Two nights in Rhodes Town cover the Old Town and Lindos. For a taste of other islands from Kos, the Kos three islands boat trip is the easier day out.
Combining with the Turkish coast
Kos–Rhodes is the middle leg of an open-jaw trip: fly into Bodrum, cross to Kos, sail on to Rhodes, then return to Turkey through Marmaris or Fethiye and fly home from Dalaman. Our island hopping from Turkey page sets this out as Route 3, and the ferry route planner shows all links from each port.
- Bodrum to Kos: the Sea Star Kos ran four times a day each way from 29 May to 24 October 2026 and twice a day from 25 October to 1 November, according to Tilos Travel. See Bodrum to Kos ferry.
- Rhodes to Marmaris: Sea Dreams sails all year. From 25 October 2026 the boat leaves Rhodes at 08:30 Greek time. See Marmaris to Rhodes ferry and the Rhodes to Marmaris day trip.
- Rhodes to Fethiye: Tilos Travel’s 2026 timetable has the boat leaving Rhodes at 16:30, daily until 24 October, with fewer days a week in winter. See Fethiye to Rhodes ferry.
Leaving Greece for Turkey you pass passport control again. Greece puts its clocks back on 25 October 2026 while Turkey stays on UTC+3, so from then on Turkey is one hour ahead of Kos and Rhodes; check which local time each ticket shows.
Turkish citizens on the express visa: Tilos Travel says the gate visa is valid only for the island you applied for, so it does not cover a Kos–Rhodes hop. Check with the operator before planning.
Where to stay in Rhodes Town
If you arrive on a Dodekanisos catamaran at Kolona, the Old Town is on your doorstep; the New Town has larger hotels near Elli beach. More areas in where to stay in Rhodes.
Avalon Boutique Hotel Rhodes
Old Town
- Ferry port: about 800 m from the port
- Best for: couples
Inside the Old Town walls, about 800 m from the port.
Acandia Hotel
New Town
- Ferry port: about 7 minutes' walk from Mandraki harbour
- Best for: couples / beach
A New Town base for your first Rhodes night after the boat from Kos.
Organised tours
The Old Town needs no tour, and the KTEL bus to Lindos is cheaper. These help if you want entry or a hotel pickup sorted.
Rhodes: Palace of the Grand Master E-Ticket & Audio Tour
Pre-booked palace entry with a self-guided audio tour on your phone, with an option to add the Lindos acropolis; buying at the gate is the cheaper alternative.
Check price & availability
From Rhodes: Lindos Round-Trip Bus Transfer with Free Time
Hotel pickup, a coach to Lindos and about five hours of free time; acropolis entry is an optional extra, so compare the price with the KTEL bus.
Check price & availabilityTrip toolkit
Links in this section are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Prices and terms are set by the provider.
FAQ
Is there a ferry from Kos to Rhodes every day?
Booking sites showed sailings on most days in October 2026, with Dodekanisos Seaways and Blue Star each listed six or seven times a week. Check your date, because winter schedules and weather changes are common.
How much is the ferry from Kos to Rhodes?
As of October 2026, Ferryscanner shows €14.50 to €57 one way for foot passengers. Blue Star is usually the cheapest and the Dodekanisos catamaran the fastest.
Do I need my passport between Kos and Rhodes?
There is no border control, but Dodekanisos Seaways asks every passenger to show a passport, identity card or other valid travel document on boarding.
Can I take a car from Kos to Rhodes?
Yes, on Blue Star and on the Dodekanisos catamarans, which limit vehicle height to 1.90 m. Cars cannot come over on the boats from Turkey.
Can I do Kos to Rhodes as a day trip?
Not realistically. Crossings take two hours or more and the timetables do not offer a convenient same-day return.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Ferryscanner – Kos to Rhodes (updated 15 Oct 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Kos to Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
- Direct Ferries – Kos to Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – company site (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – schedule changes for Dodekanisos Pride and Express (4 Oct 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – travel terms (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – 2026 passenger and vehicle fares (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- SAOS Ferries – lines served (accessed Oct 2026)
- Blue Star Ferries – Why visit Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
- Blue Star Ferries – Super Economy fare (accessed Oct 2026)
- Blue Star Ferries – itinerary changes due to bad weather, 13–15 Oct 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- The Mediterranean Traveller – Rhodes port map (Jan 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- UNESCO – Medieval City of Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek Ministry of Culture – Palace of the Grand Master (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece – Lindos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel – 2026 sailing plan, Bodrum–Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel – Fethiye–Rhodes timetable 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel – Greek islands gate visa (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Sea Dreams – October 2026 Marmaris schedule (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times – clocks go back on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – Rhodes: Palace of the Grand Master E-Ticket & Audio Tour (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – From Rhodes: Lindos Round-Trip Bus Transfer with Free Time (accessed Oct 2026)
Was this page helpful?
No name or email needed. ›