Coast to Island

News and Updates

Changes to ferry timetables, visa on arrival and border rules: dated and sourced.

  1. Aliağa–Lesvos Ferry Returns 21 Nov With Weekend SailingsTuryol's timetable lists Aliağa–Lesvos again from 21 November: Saturday out, Sunday back in winter, and the 2027 season on sale to 31 October.
  2. Bodrum-Kos Ferries: 4 Days a Week in DecemberErtürk's timetable now lists Bodrum-Kos sailings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in December, plus Turgutreis boats on 1, 5 and 15 January.
  3. Bodrum Cruise Port Plans New Ferry Pier: EIA Under ReviewA new ferry pier and 130-boat berthing area are planned at Bodrum Cruise Port, where some Kos ferries leave. The EIA review has begun; commission meets 1 Dec.
  4. Turkey's Booking Bill Reaches the General AssemblyTurkey's bill requiring a permit for foreign booking platforms goes to the parliament floor from 10 November: TRY 5m permit, TRY 500,000 fine, access blocking.
  5. Chios Without Flights: Plan for 9 Ferries a Week to AthensWith Chios airport shut, Greece's shipping ministry is preparing a tender for two extra ferry lines from Piraeus and Lavrio/Rafina, 30 November-28 March.
  6. Tilos Travel Sells Open 2027 Ferry Tickets: Rules and RisksUntil 20 Dec Tilos Travel sells open return tickets for 1 Mar-31 Dec 2027: Bodrum-Kos €11, Kusadasi-Samos €15. No refunds, and the visa risk is yours.
  7. Lesvos Airport Closed on Tuesdays, 17 Nov to 23 MarchMytilene airport on Lesvos has no flights on Tuesdays from 17 Nov 2026 to 23 Mar 2027. What it means for the Ayvalik ferry and flying via Lesvos from Chios.
  8. Turkish Passport Fee 2027: About 17,143 TL at 27.83%If Turkey's 27.83% revaluation rate is applied in full, the 10-year passport fee rises from 13,410 TL to about 17,143 TL. In 2026 the rise was 18.95%.
  9. Chios Airport Closure: Attica Extends Piraeus SailingsWith Chios airport closing on 15 November, Attica Group keeps its October Piraeus-Chios-Lesvos schedule for another month. Çeşme ferries are unaffected.
  10. Turkey Departure Fee 2027: 1,590 TL Under the LawTurkey's revaluation rate is 27.83%. By law the exit fee for Turkish citizens rises from 1,250 TL to 1,590 TL on 1 January 2027; final notice pending.
  11. New on the Islands: November 2026What changes on the islands in November 2026: Chios and Lesvos airport closures, Kalymnos-Mastichari winter timetable, Samothrace ferry, museum hours.
  12. Storm Agneta: Floods on Rhodes, Rain Warnings in the AegeanFloods and 112 alerts on Rhodes on 2 November, some roads and schools closed. EMY warning runs to Tuesday 3 November afternoon. Confirm your ferry.
  13. Samothrace Ferry Continues: New Alexandroupoli ContractSamothrace's ferry to Alexandroupoli and Lemnos keeps running after 2 November. Greece signed a new contract on 30 October: 7 sailings a week, 3 to Lemnos.
  14. Kas-Kastellorizo: No Longer Daily, Gap in JanuaryMeis Express no longer lists daily sailings. Kas-Kastellorizo sailing days in November and December, the 27 Dec-26 Feb gap and the 2027 restart.
  15. Ayvalik-Lesvos: Seda Jale Car Ferry Sails All WinterUğur Jale Lines lists its car ferry Seda Jale four days a week to May 2027. Ertürk's system shows two sailings a day in summer 2027.
  16. Çeşme–Chios: Ertürk Adds Car Sailings in December, JanuaryErtürk now lists its car ferry Apostolos S. on Çeşme–Chios at weekends in December 2026 and January 2027. Dates, times and what changes. Checked 30 Oct.
  17. 2027 Turkey-Greek Islands Ferries Now Listed: Chios, RhodesErtürk's system now shows summer 2027: Çeşme-Chios daily 30 Apr-30 Sep, Fethiye-Rhodes daily from 14 May, Kaş-Kastellorizo from 19 Apr. Checked 29 Oct.
  18. 30 Oct Ferry Strike: Overnight Sailings and Seven PortsTomorrow's 24-hour seafarers' strike covers seven ports. Piraeus sailings to Rhodes, Kos, Leros, Chios and Lesvos move to Friday night; the times are here.
  19. Çeşme-Chios: Ertürk Extends Its Timetable to April 2027Ertürk's fast boat is now listed to 30 April 2027. No Ertürk sailings from 11 January to 11 February; in that period only Turyol is listed.
  20. Aegean Storm: Bodrum-Kos Cancelled, Red Code on RhodesBodrum-Kos sailings were cancelled on 26 October. Rhodes and the Dodecanese are on Red Code until 29 October. Confirm your ferry before going to port.
  21. Greek Island Museums Close at 15:30 From 1 NovemberUnder a Ministry of Culture decision, sites on Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo and Samothrace open 08:30-15:30 from 1 Nov to 31 Mar. What is closed.
  22. Clocks Go Back in Greece: Turkey Now One Hour AheadGreece moved to UTC+2 on 25 October 2026; Turkey stays on UTC+3. Until 28 March 2027 island ferry times are an hour behind Turkish time. What to check.
  23. Çeşme-Chios: Turyol Opens Its Timetable to September 2027Turyol's car-carrying Chios is listed until 3 January, then only the catamaran. Five days a week in winter, daily from May 2027.
  24. Ayvalik-Lesvos: Turyol Publishes Winter and 2027 TimetableTuryol's car ferry Fokaia is listed four days a week all winter, both ways, and its catamaran at weekends until 28 Feb. Daily sailings from June 2027.
  25. Bodrum-Kos: Bodrum Sea Lines to Sail 5 Days a Week in NovemberBodrum Sea Lines runs Bodrum-Kos daily in October and Wednesday to Sunday in November with Fahri Kaptan III. Times and what it means for winter trips.
  26. Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio: 24-Hour Seafarers' Strike on 30 OctGreek seafarers' union PENEN has called a 24-hour strike at Attica's ports on Friday 30 October 2026. What it means for Turkey-island ferries and Piraeus links.
  27. Chios Airport Closed to Flights 15 November-15 MarchChios airport closes for runway works from the evening of 15 November 2026 to 15 March 2027. Islanders are protesting. What it means for ferries from Çeşme.
  28. Çeşme-Chios Keeps Car Sailings in December (Turyol)Turyol's Çeşme–Chios timetable runs five days a week to 18 December. Its car-carrying Chios sails Tue, Sat and Sun; Ertürk has also added 18 December.
  29. Marmaris-Rhodes Winter Timetable: Saturdays Only in JanuarySea Dreams has published January 2027: Saturdays only, Marmaris 09:00, Rhodes 15:00. Daily sailings in November, 14 days in December.
  30. Kas-Kastellorizo Winter Timetable: Evenings End 31 OctoberKaş–Kastellorizo winter timetable: the morning and 23:00 returns from the island end on 31 October; from November not every day (update 31 Oct).
  31. Greek Island Ferries Go Winter: What Closes After 1 NovemberCar sailings to Chios drop to weekends, some routes fall to once a week, and Greece sets its clocks back on 25 October. The latest on Aegean routes for winter 2026.
  32. Booking.com Back in Turkey? Bill Clears CommitteeA bill requiring a licence for platforms such as Booking, Expedia and Airbnb passed a Turkish parliamentary committee. What changes, when Booking could return, and what it means for travellers.

Trip toolkit

Tours and day trips

Tree-lined path at the entrance to Neratzia Castle, Kos Town⏱ 9 - 11 hoursGetYourGuideBodrum: Roundtrip Ferry to Kos with Hotel PickupReturn ferry with optional hotel transfer in Bodrum and a host at the port; free time on Kos without a guide.See price A cobblestone street lined with stone buildings in Rhodes Old Town⏱ 10 hoursGetYourGuideFrom Marmaris to Rhodes Same-Day Return TourHotel pickup in Marmaris, return ferry and about five hours of free time on Rhodes.See price

Before you go

Aerial view of a beach with clear turquoise waterHotels in GreeceHotels, rooms and apartments free on your dates, on Booking.com.Check availability A white compact car on a road lined with palm treesCar hire · Greek islandsCompare several rental companies in one search.Compare prices A hand holding a smartphone in front of the sea at sunsetGreece eSIMData only, starts at first use. From $3.99 (Oct 2026).See plans

Where to stay, island by island

A palm tree and the sea in Molyvos (Mithymna), LesvosLesvosStone windmills on the shore of ChiosChiosBoats in the harbour of Kokkari, SamosSamosA beach umbrella at sunset in Tigaki, KosKosWhite buildings by the sea in Lindos, RhodesRhodesA small harbour ringed by colourful housesKastellorizo

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