Since 2026 there is a direct ferry between Kuşadası and Patmos, run by the Turkish operator IDO. The crossing takes about 2 hours to Skala, the island’s port, and the October 2026 timetable allows a long day trip from Kuşadası. EU and UK citizens need no visa for Greece, but this is a Schengen border, so carry a passport (or an EU ID card) and expect EES checks for non-EU travellers.
Sources disagree on how many days a week the boat runs and when the season ends. We say below where each figure comes from; confirm your date with IDO before you plan around it.
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Stay near the port: Patmos
Getting around Patmos
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Short answer
As of 11 November 2026, the Kuşadası–Patmos crossing takes 120–135 minutes (operators: İDO); an adult foot passenger pays €35–50 one way. Season: 2026: İDO from 26 May; October 2026 timetable published. Documents: a passport, or a national ID card for EU/EEA citizens; Schengen entry rules apply.
Data behind this answer: ferry fares 2026 (CSV) · 2027 timetable tracker · ferry map and route data
- Operator: IDO, foot passengers only. It is the only direct Turkey–Patmos service we could find for 2026.
- Crossing: about 2 hours (some booking sites say 2 hours 15 minutes), plus passport control on both sides.
- October 2026 timetable: Kuşadası 08:30, arriving Patmos 10:30; back from Patmos 16:30, arriving Kuşadası 18:30 (per a guide site publishing IDO’s tariff, updated 4 October 2026).
- Fares (as of October 2026): adult 50 € one way, 70 € same-day return, 90 € return on a different day (same source).
- Entry: no visa for EU, EEA, Swiss or UK citizens. UK and other non-EU travellers fall under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
- Season: started 26 May 2026. We could not find an official end date or anything on 2027.
| Operators | İDO |
|---|---|
| Crossing time | 120–135 min |
| Adult fare | €35–50 |
| Cars | No cars |
| Season and frequency | 2026: İDO from 26 May; October 2026 timetable published |
| Data checked | 11 November 2026 |
| Sources | Capital – İDO'nun Ege'de yeni sezonu: 10 hatta sefer planı · e-Yaşam Rehberi – İDO Kuşadası–Patmos timetable · Ferryhopper – Patmos to Kuşadası |
Fares, times and sailing days vary by operator and date; confirm with the operator before you book.
Next 3 days: wind on the crossing
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All routes: are ferries running today?
Forecast for a point midway across the strait from the MET Norway model; for guidance only. Operators and port authorities decide whether a sailing goes ahead, so check with yours when it is windy. Data: MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Sailings and operator
Kuşadası–Patmos is one of ten routes in IDO’s 2026 Aegean programme, which began on this line on 26 May according to a Capital report from March 2026. Ekonomist described it as a new route that year. Other crossings from the Turkish coast are on our ferry map, including the much busier Kuşadası to Samos ferry.
| Detail | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | IDO | IDO, Capital, Ferryscanner |
| Ship | IDO PATMOS | Ferryscanner |
| From | Kuşadası (listed as Kuşadası Büyük Liman) | e-Yaşam Rehberi |
| To | Skala, Patmos | Ferryhopper |
| Crossing | 2 h; 2 h 15 min | e-Yaşam Rehberi; Ferryhopper, Direct Ferries |
| Cars | Not carried | Ferryhopper |
| Pets | Not accepted on IDO’s Aegean island sailings | IDO travel rules |
Ferryhopper says pets travel, but IDO’s own rules exclude them (documented guide dogs excepted). Follow IDO.
October 2026 timetable and frequency
As of October 2026, the sources show:
- e-Yaşam Rehberi (October tariff, updated 4 October 2026): Kuşadası 08:30, Patmos 10:30; Patmos 16:30, Kuşadası 18:30. Its day codes appear to mark every day of the week, but the site does not explain them.
- Direct Ferries: five sailings a week, 2 hours 15 minutes.
- Ferryscanner: four days a week, leaving Kuşadası at 08:15.
- Ferryhopper: one to three sailings a week, based on “last year’s data”, and lists the route for August to October.
Check your date on IDO’s booking site before booking anything else around it.
Season and 2027
The season began on 26 May 2026. Booking sites still listed autumn sailings in October, but we could not find an official last sailing date on IDO’s site. IDO had not announced a 2027 programme as of mid-October 2026. Month-by-month status for all routes is on our ferry season calendar, and confirmed 2027 schedules will go on ferry timetables 2027.
Clock change: Greece moves its clocks back one hour on 25 October 2026, while Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year. After that date Patmos is one hour behind Kuşadası, so check which local time your ticket shows.
Fares
As of October 2026, the IDO tariff published by e-Yaşam Rehberi:
| Passenger | One way | Same-day return | Return, different day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | 50 € | 70 € | 90 € |
| Child (6–12) | 40 € | 50 € | 60 € |
| Infant (0–5) | 10 € | 10 € | 10 € |
Ferryscanner also showed 50 € one way. Ferryhopper listed fares from 35 € up to 58.50 €, again marked as previous-year data. IDO’s travel rules mention a 50% discount for ages 6–12, which does not quite match the child fares above. We could not confirm whether port charges are included, so check the total at checkout. Our trip cost calculator helps you add up a day trip.
Tickets and the port in Kuşadası
Booking: on IDO’s Aegean islands site or through Ferryscanner. IDO’s gate-visa page lists the call centre numbers 444 44 36 and 0850 222 44 36.
Ticket rules (IDO travel rules, October 2026):
- The name on the ticket must match your passport exactly; tickets cannot be transferred.
- You can change or re-date a ticket once, if you tell IDO at least 24 hours before departure. Otherwise tickets are non-refundable.
- If IDO cancels for reasons beyond its control, such as weather, the fare is refunded within 30 days. Hotel and other costs are not covered.
- One suitcase or one handbag per passenger is free. Bicycles must be declared when booking, with a limit of 10 per ship.
- Children under 16 must travel with an adult.
Which port: IDO’s Kuşadası office is beside the Ege Port entrance on Liman Caddesi, and its rules send Kuşadası–Samos passengers to the IDO sales office at Ege Port. The Patmos timetable site names the departure point as Kuşadası Büyük Liman. IDO does not give separate instructions for Patmos passengers, so check your ticket for the meeting point. Ferryhopper puts the port about a five-minute walk from the town centre.
When to arrive: IDO asks Samos passengers to be at the sales office at least 1.5 hours before departure. Use the same margin for Patmos.
The sequence: ticket and document check, security, Turkish exit passport control, then boarding. On arrival at Skala you pass Greek passport control, which is your Schengen entry.
Cars: not carried. If you drive to Kuşadası, arrange parking before you sail. Routes that do take vehicles are in our guide to taking a car to the Greek islands.
Passports, visas and EES
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can enter Greece with a valid passport or national ID card and are not registered in EES. Germans, Dutch, Belgians and Swiss can also re-enter Turkey with an ID card according to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Austrians, Scandinavians and UK citizens need a passport for Turkey.
UK citizens need no visa for Greece for up to 90 days in any 180. 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 plan to leave the Schengen area. IDO applies similar rules: at least three months’ validity from your return date and no passports older than 10 years.
EES: the European Commission says the Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. It records non-EU short-stay visitors with passport data, fingerprints and a facial image, replaces passport stamping and costs nothing. UK citizens are covered, but GOV.UK says Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers; follow the officers’ instructions. ETIAS is not yet in operation.
Other nationalities: check whether you need a Schengen visa before you travel. If you are in Turkey on a single-entry e-Visa, it is used up when you leave for Patmos.
Back into Turkey: the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists visa-free stays of up to 90 days for ordinary passport holders from the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Australia, among others. The German Foreign Office points out that leaving for a short trip and coming back does not start a new 90 days. GOV.UK asks British visitors to have a passport valid for at least 150 days after arriving in Turkey.
Turkish citizens without a Schengen visa can use the island gate visa, which has covered Patmos since April 2025 and was extended until April 2027. IDO handles applications for this route (85 € adult, 20 € ages 0–18 as of October 2026, documents at least 10 days ahead, prepaid hotel booking required). Details are in our Turkish guide to the gate visa.
Going the other way: Patmos to Kuşadası
If you are staying on Patmos, the same boat takes you to Turkey. With the October 2026 timetable it leaves Skala at 16:30 and reaches Kuşadası at 18:30, and the next departure back is 08:30 the following morning. A visit to Turkey from Patmos therefore means at least one night in Kuşadası. If you want a full day at Ephesus, plan two nights; see Ephesus from Kuşadası and our Kuşadası travel guide.
Leaving Patmos you pass Greek exit control, and Turkey stamps passports on entry. Allow for the clock change after 25 October.
Patmos in brief
Patmos is a small island in the northern Dodecanese with no airport, according to Ferryhopper. Its top sights are inscribed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1999): the historic centre of Chora, the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse.
- Monastery of Saint John: UNESCO says it was founded in 1088 by Hosios Christodoulos Latrinos and has been a place of pilgrimage and Orthodox learning ever since. We could not confirm opening hours or ticket prices on an official page. It is a working monastery, so dress modestly and ask locally about service times.
- Cave of the Apocalypse: halfway along the steep road from Skala to Chora. Tradition holds that Saint John dictated the Book of Revelation here to his disciple Prochoros. Greeka notes that photography is not allowed inside.
- Chora: UNESCO describes it as one of the oldest and best-preserved settlements in the Aegean, developing continuously since around the 12th century.
- Getting up there: Chora is about 4 km above Skala, according to the municipality. The Patmos Bus timetable valid from 15 October 2026 lists Skala to Chora at 09:45, 11:35, 13:20 and 17:30, and Chora to Skala at 10:00, 11:50, 13:35 and 17:45; tickets are sold on board. The municipality describes a restored 2.4 km stone path between Skala and Chora, about 40 minutes downhill.
On a day trip, a sensible plan is the 11:35 bus up, the monastery and Chora, the cave on the way down, then the path back to Skala well before the 16:30 boat.
Organised tours
You can easily see the main sights on your own by bus and on foot, which is cheaper. If you prefer a guide for a short visit, these private tours cover the monastery and cave. Both listings describe pickup at the Patmos cruise terminal; tell the provider you arrive on the IDO ferry at Skala and confirm the meeting point.
Patmos Guide Tour to St. John Monastery, Cave of Apocalypse
Private car, driver and licensed guide with entrance tickets for the cave and monastery; a compact option for day-trippers.
Check price & availability
Patmos Religious Highlights Tour: Monastery, Cave & More
Adds Chora and the Simantiri Mansion to the cave and monastery; the listing says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
Check price & availabilityStaying in Kuşadası
The boat leaves early, so if you are coming from further away, stay the night before: see where to stay in Kuşadası.
Trip 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
How long is the ferry from Kuşadası to Patmos?
About 2 hours; some booking sites say 2 hours 15 minutes. Add time for passport control in Kuşadası and at Skala.
Can I visit Patmos as a day trip from Kuşadası?
With the October 2026 timetable (08:30 out, 16:30 back) you get about six hours on the island before formalities. Confirm that your date has a sailing, as sources disagree on the days.
Do I need a visa for Patmos?
Not as an EU, EEA, Swiss or UK citizen. Other nationalities should check the Schengen visa rules. The gate visa sold by IDO is only for Turkish citizens.
Can I take my car or dog?
No car: the route is foot passengers only. IDO’s rules exclude pets on its Aegean island sailings, except documented guide dogs.
Where does the ferry leave from in Kuşadası?
From the port area at Ege Port in the town centre, where IDO’s office is. The timetable site calls it Kuşadası Büyük Liman. Check the meeting point on your ticket.
Will the route run in 2027?
Unknown. IDO had not published a 2027 programme as of October 2026.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
See all our routes for other crossings from the Turkish coast.
Sources
- IDO Aegean Islands – booking and timetable search (accessed Oct 2026)
- IDO Aegean Islands – travel rules (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- IDO Aegean Islands – gate visa conditions, Kuşadası–Patmos section (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Capital – IDO’s new Aegean season, 10 routes (18 Mar 2026, Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ekonomist – Sea travel to the Greek islands on 10 routes (18 Mar 2026, Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- e-Yaşam Rehberi – IDO Kuşadası–Patmos timetable and fares (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Patmos to Kuşadası (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Kuşadası–Patmos ferry (accessed Oct 2026)
- Direct Ferries – Kusadasi to Patmos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Patmos destination guide (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Greece entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Turkey entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- European Commission – Entry/Exit System (accessed Oct 2026)
- Government of Poland – Introduction of ETIAS in 2027 (30 Sep 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Republic of Türkiye MFA – Visa information for foreigners (accessed Oct 2026)
- Republic of Türkiye MFA – Countries whose citizens can enter with national ID cards (accessed Oct 2026)
- Auswärtiges Amt – Türkei: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times – Express visa extended to Patmos and Samothrace (21 Mar 2025) (accessed Oct 2026)
- To Vima – Visa express scheme extended to 2027 (23 Apr 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- UNESCO – Chora, Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Patmos – Settlements (accessed Oct 2026)
- Monastery of Saint John the Theologian – official site (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka – Cave of the Apocalypse (accessed Oct 2026)
- Patmos Bus – timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com – Clock changes in Athens 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – Patmos tours (accessed Oct 2026)
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