Patmos is the nearest Dodecanese island to Samos, and ferries run between them all year. The quickest option is Dodekanisos Seaways’ catamaran from Pythagorio, on Samos’ south-east coast, which takes from about 1 hour 35 minutes to Skala, the port of Patmos. SAOS Ferries also sails from Pythagorio via the small islands of Agathonisi and Arki, and Blue Star has been listed from Vathy. It is a domestic Greek route with no passport control.
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Is there a sailing?
Stay near the port: Patmos
Getting around Patmos
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Short answer
As of 16 October 2026, the Samos–Patmos crossing takes 95–285 minutes (operators: Dodekanisos Seaways, SAOS Ferries and Blue Star 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 and SAOS Ferries from Pythagorio; Blue Star Ferries from Vathy on some booking sites (October 2026).
- Crossing time: fastest 1 h 35 min on Dodekanisos Pride; about 2 h on average with Dodekanisos Seaways, about 3 h 10 min with SAOS (Ferryscanner, updated 14 October 2026).
- Timing: Dodekanisos Seaways leaves Pythagorio at 08:15; return sailings leave Patmos between 14:35 and 16:20 (Ferryscanner, October 2026).
- Fares (as of October 2026): foot passengers about €7.40 to €41 one way on Ferryscanner.
- Day trip: possible on paper with the morning boat out and an afternoon boat back, but booking sites disagree, so check both legs for your date.
- From Turkey: combine Kuşadası–Samos, Samos–Patmos and IDO’s Patmos–Kuşadası boat for a loop, while IDO is running.
Who sails Samos to Patmos
| Operator | Samos port | Crossing | Sailings (as listed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodekanisos Seaways | Pythagorio | 1 h 35 min fastest, about 2 h on average | 6 a week (Ferryscanner); 4 a week (Direct Ferries) |
| SAOS Ferries | Pythagorio | About 3 h 10 min | 2 to 3 a week |
| Blue Star Ferries | Vathy | About 4 h | 2 a week (Ferryscanner, updated 9 September 2026) |
All arrive at Skala, the only port on Patmos. SAOS lists its line as Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos, Arki, Agathonisi and Pythagorio, so on the way north or south it stops at the small islands; Ferryscanner shows the same calls on some sailings. Blue Star appears only on Ferryscanner’s older all-ports page, which also gives an earliest departure from Vathy at 01:15. Its newer Pythagorio page (14 October 2026) and Direct Ferries list only Dodekanisos Seaways and SAOS, so we could not confirm a current Blue Star sailing.
Departure times (October 2026)
- Samos to Patmos: Ferryscanner shows Dodekanisos Seaways leaving Pythagorio at 08:15. Direct Ferries’ sample week (12 to 18 October 2026) has a SAOS sailing from Pythagorio at 13:00, arriving at 16:10, on Mondays and Saturdays, and gives 15:25 as the latest departure.
- Patmos to Samos: Ferryscanner lists departures from Patmos to Pythagorio between 14:35 and 16:20.
Dodekanisos Seaways changed the itineraries of both its catamarans from 2 to 18 October 2026, so confirm times in the operator’s itinerary search before you book a room.
Season and frequency
The route runs all year. The figures differ by page: Ferryscanner’s Pythagorio page says about 6 crossings a week from June to September and about 5 from October to May, while its all-ports page gave about 12 a week in summer and about 5 in quieter months. Either way, expect daily or near-daily sailings in summer and fewer in winter, when weather cancellations are more common. Our ferry season calendar covers the Turkey crossings.
Fares
As of October 2026, one-way fares on the booking sites:
| Source | Fare |
|---|---|
| Ferryscanner, Pythagorio–Patmos (updated 14 Oct 2026) | €7.40 to €41 for foot passengers |
| Direct Ferries UK (last 30 days’ searches) | Dodekanisos Seaways from £14, SAOS from £7 |
The cheapest fares are on the slower SAOS boat. Direct Ferries says its prices exclude service fees. We could not read a Samos–Patmos fare from Dodekanisos Seaways’ 2026 fare PDF, so check the total at checkout.
The ports
Pythagorio: the harbour town near the Tunnel of Eupalinos, the Heraion and Samos airport. KTEL buses link Pythagorio with Vathy, Kokkari and Karlovasi, leaving from the port exit, according to the local guide SamosIn. With an 08:15 departure, the simplest plan is to sleep in Pythagorio the night before.
Vathy (Samos Town): the capital on the north-east coast, where the Blue Star ships call. If you arrive from Kuşadası at Vathy, you cannot make the same morning’s catamaran from Pythagorio.
Skala (Patmos): the island’s port. Chora and the monastery are about 4 km uphill, according to the municipality.
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.
- Show your ticket and a passport, identity card or other valid travel document on boarding. There is no border check, but you need ID.
- Luggage up to 40 kg and 0.5 m³ per passenger is allowed and is stowed away from the passenger areas.
- 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.
- If a sailing is stopped by the authorities or the company, for example in bad weather, you can change or refund the ticket.
Ferryscanner lists car space on Dodekanisos Pride from Pythagorio and on the Blue Star ships from Vathy. The Dodekanisos catamarans take vehicles only up to 1.90 m high and only unloaded. Pets need a ticket and travel in designated areas.
Patmos in brief
Patmos is a small island with no airport, according to Ferryhopper. Its three main 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 centre 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.
- Cave of the Apocalypse: on the road from Skala up to Chora. Tradition holds that Saint John dictated the Book of Revelation here. Greeka notes that photography is not allowed inside.
- Chora: UNESCO calls it one of the oldest and best-preserved settlements in the Aegean, growing continuously since around the 12th century.
- Getting up: the Patmos Bus timetable valid from 15 October 2026 lists Skala to Chora at 09:45, 11:35, 13:20 and 17:30, with tickets sold on board. The municipality describes a restored 2.4 km stone path between Skala and Chora, about 40 minutes downhill.
Day trip or stay?
On paper a day trip works: the 08:15 catamaran reaches Skala at around 09:50 on the fastest crossing, and boats back leave between 14:35 and 16:20. That leaves enough time for the bus to Chora, the monastery and the walk down past the cave. But Ferryscanner says a day trip is possible on one page and not on another, and not every day has both sailings. Check the outward and return legs for the same date before you commit.
Patmos rewards a night or two, especially out of the day-trip hours. It is also a good stepping stone south: Ferryscanner lists about 12 Patmos–Leros sailings a week in summer and about 6 in quieter months, taking 40 minutes to about 1 hour 50 minutes.
Combining with the Turkish coast
Samos and Patmos are both reachable from Kuşadası, which makes a three-leg loop:
- Kuşadası to Samos: Meander Travel sails to Pythagorio (listed until 18 October 2026) and Vathy (until 1 November). Tilos Travel’s Sea Star Samos leaves Kuşadası at 08:15 for Vathy daily from 28 September to 1 November 2026. See Kuşadası to Samos ferry.
- Samos to Patmos: a night in Pythagorio, then the 08:15 catamaran.
- Patmos to Kuşadası: IDO’s October 2026 timetable has the boat leaving Patmos at 16:30, arriving in Kuşadası at 18:30. IDO had not published an end date for the season or a 2027 programme as of mid-October 2026. See Kuşadası to Patmos ferry.
If IDO is not running, go south instead: Patmos to Leros, then Leros to Kos or Bodrum. See Kos to Leros ferry, Bodrum to Leros ferry and Route 1 in island hopping from Turkey. The ferry route planner shows every link from each port.
Each Turkey crossing means passport control at both ends. Greece puts its clocks back on 25 October 2026 while Turkey stays on UTC+3, so Turkey is then one hour ahead of the islands. For Ephesus from Samos, see Samos to Ephesus day trip.
Turkish citizens on the express visa: Tilos Travel says the gate visa is valid only for the island you applied for, so a Samos visa does not cover a hop to Patmos. Check with the operator.
Staying in Pythagorio
For the morning catamaran, Pythagorio is the practical base. More areas in where to stay in Samos and the Samos travel guide.
Polyxeni Hotel
Pythagorio2★
- Best for: budget, couples, short stays
Within walking distance if your Patmos boat leaves from Pythagorio.
Organised tours
The bus and the stone path cover Patmos’ main sights cheaply. For a short visit with a guide, these private tours include the monastery and the cave. Both describe pickup at the Patmos cruise terminal, so tell the provider you arrive by 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 between the morning and afternoon boats.
Check price & availability
Patmos Religious Highlights Tour: Monastery, Cave & More
Private guided tour of the cave, monastery and Chora; the listing says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
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
How long is the ferry from Samos to Patmos?
From 1 hour 35 minutes on Dodekanisos Seaways’ fastest sailing from Pythagorio, about 3 hours 10 minutes on SAOS, and around 4 hours on Blue Star from Vathy.
Which Samos port do Patmos ferries use?
Mostly Pythagorio, for both Dodekanisos Seaways and SAOS. Blue Star has been listed from Vathy, but we could not confirm a current sailing.
How much is the Samos to Patmos ferry?
As of October 2026, Ferryscanner shows €7.40 to €41 one way for foot passengers. SAOS is cheaper, Dodekanisos Seaways faster.
Can I visit Patmos as a day trip from Samos?
Often yes, with the 08:15 from Pythagorio and an afternoon boat back from Patmos, but not every day has both. Check both legs for your date.
Do I need a passport between Samos and Patmos?
There is no border control, but Dodekanisos Seaways asks every passenger to show a passport, identity card or other valid document on boarding.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Ferryscanner – Samos to Patmos (all ports) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Pythagorio to Patmos (updated 14 Oct 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Patmos to Pythagorio (updated 14 Oct 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner – Patmos to Leros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Direct Ferries – Pythagorio to Patmos (accessed Oct 2026)
- SAOS Ferries – lines served (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)
- Fraport Greece – Samos Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- SamosIn – Samos bus timetables (KTEL) (accessed Oct 2026)
- UNESCO – Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos (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)
- Greeka – Cave of the Apocalypse (accessed Oct 2026)
- Patmos Bus – timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Patmos destination guide (accessed Oct 2026)
- Meander Travel – Ferry to Samos timetable (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel – 2025–2026 Aegean islands sailing plan (Kuşadası–Samos) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel – Greek islands gate visa (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- e-Yaşam Rehberi – IDO Kuşadası–Patmos timetable and fares (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- IDO Aegean Islands – booking and timetable search (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times – clocks go back on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – Patmos Guide Tour to St. John Monastery, Cave of Apocalypse (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – Patmos Religious Highlights Tour (accessed Oct 2026)
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