Posted by The name of the Dodecanese archipelago is derived from the Greek word dodeka = twelve (islands). In ancient times, it was thought that the archipelago consisted of 12 main islands. Some of the islands are very popular with tourists. Besides the large main island of Rhodes, Kos and Karpathos are the two most famous islands. Other islands in the group are Lipsi, Chalki, Nissiros, Patmos, Kassos, Simi, Agathosnisi, Kastellorizo and Kalymnos. The islands are very mountainous and popular with hikers. Tourism is developed to varying degrees. On some of the islands you can still experience a lot of original culture. The archipelago only became part of Greece in 1948. Before that, it was occupied by the Turks, the Italians and, during World War II, the Germans.
The main islands of Rhodes and Kos can be reached from Athens by ferry every day. These ferries also call at some of the other islands in the group. There are also ferries from Crete and the Cyclades several times a week. The three large islands of the Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos and Karpathos) have a developed airport for direct flights (charter flights) from Germany. It is also very interesting to explore the Dodecanese on a sailing trip. Many people are looking for fellow sailors at reasonable prices. You should book a sailing holiday in Germany or try the ports on the larger islands.
Rhodes is the main island of the Dodecanese. Rhodes Town is the large city in the area and has a very interesting old town, which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most interesting islands in Greece. Rhodes has around 150,000 inhabitants, more than all the other islands of the Dodecanese combined. The modern new town is also worth seeing. A must-see on the island of Rhodes is ancient Lindos.
The world-famous city of Rhodes, the capital of the Dodecanese Islands
Kos is the home of the world-famous ancient doctor Hippocrates. There is now quite a lot of beach and package tourism on Kos. The castle from the 13th century is worth seeing. The campsite “Kos Camping” is not bad. There are also ferries from here in the summer to Turkey (to Bodrum). In general, Kos is the number 2 tourist island in the Dodecanese after Rhodes. The international airport also brings many package holidaymakers to the island.
View of Kos Town from the ferry before arrival
Kalymnos is a densely populated island with 12,000 inhabitants. Until a few years ago, the residents lived mainly from sponge diving (natural sponges). Tourism plays a relatively minor role here.
Patmos, located in the northwestern Dodecanese, is a small island with just 40 square kilometers and just under 3,000 inhabitants. The apostle John is said to have written his revelation on the island around 95 AD.
Tilos is said to have the best secluded beaches in the Dodecanese. The island has only 300 inhabitants and little tourism. The beautiful nature on the sparsely populated island is ideal for hiking. In recent years, the residents of Tilos have successfully tried their hand at ecotourism.
Nissiros is a volcanic island. It is probably the most unusual island in the Dodecanese. A visit to the volcanic crater is very interesting.
Leros is a medium-sized island. The island belonged to Italy until 1943, which is easily recognizable from the island’s architecture.
Karpathos is an island about halfway between Crete and Rhodes. There is now quite a lot of tourism on Karpathos. Nevertheless, the island is still suitable for vacationers looking for peace and quiet.
Kassos is a small island a few hours’ ferry ride east of the island of Crete. Although there is now limited tourism there, Kassos is only suitable for vacationers interested in traditional Greek island life.
Kastellorizo is also part of the Dodecanese. It is the most remote island in Greece. It lies far away from all the other main islands, just a few kilometers off the Turkish coast.
In addition to the main islands, there are a large number of secondary islands. The number twelve is rather historical and arbitrary. There are at least 20 inhabited islands in the Dodecanese. There are also hundreds of uninhabited islands.
How to get to the Dodecanese?
The Dodecanese islands (e.g. Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos, Karpathos) in the southeastern Aegean are easily accessible. Here are the best options:
1. Fly to the Dodecanese
Direct flights:
Rhodes (RHO) and Kos (KGS) have international airports with direct flights from many European cities, especially in the summer season.
Other airports:
Karpathos (AOK)
Kasos (KSJ)
Kalymnos (JKL)
For smaller islands like Symi or Lipsi, you’ll first fly to a larger airport.
Domestic flights:
There are regular connections to the main islands from Athens (ATH) or Thessaloniki (SKG).
2. Ferries to the Dodecanese
From Athens (Piraeus):
Ferries run from Piraeus to the main islands like Rhodes, Kos, Leros, Patmos and Karpathos.
Duration:
Rhodes: approx. 12-15 hours (depending on the ferry).
Kos: approx. 10-12 hours.
Between the Dodecanese Islands:
Ferries connect the islands to each other, e.g. Rhodes → Kos → Kalymnos → Patmos.
Speedboats: Catamarans such as Dodekanisos Seaways offer faster connections.
➔ To book ferries within Greece, we recommend the reputable website Ferryscanner.com
3. Flight + ferry
For smaller islands (e.g. Symi, Chalki or Lipsi) you can:
Fly: To Rhodes, Kos or Karpathos.
Use ferries: Continue your journey with boats or catamarans.
Summary:
Flight: Direct flights or domestic flights to Rhodes, Kos or Karpathos.
Ferry: From Athens (Piraeus) or between the islands.
Combination: Flight to a larger island + ferry to the smaller ones.
Direct flights to the Dodecanese
There are three international airports in the archipelago. The largest airport is Rhodes Airport, followed by Kos Airport. Karpathos Airport is also served by direct flights from Germany from various cities several times a week in the summer. Most of the other islands have smaller airports with connections only to neighboring islands and to Athens.
Direct flights to the Dodecanese
Almost all of the Dodecanese islands are served by ferries directly from Athens. These are usually large car ferries that can accommodate several thousand passengers and hundreds of vehicles. Some islands, such as Rhodes and Kos, have daily connections to Athens. Others only about twice a week (e.g. Karpathos and Kasos). In the tourist season, smaller ferries also travel between the islands. These are often fast ferries such as catamarans. Smaller islands, such as Chalki, are often served by small ships all year round from larger neighboring islands. It is quite a long way to Athens by ferry (depending on the island, the journey takes 10 to 20 hours). Ticket prices from Athens to the Dodecanese start at around 35 to 50 euros (without a cabin). With a cabin or with a car, it is significantly more expensive. There are usually four-bed cabins that you can share with unknown travelers. There are also single cabins and double cabins.
Island hopping
It is very interesting to visit several islands in one holiday. You simply take ferries from island to island. Most island hoppers stay on each island for about 2 to 4 days. Our tip: When island hopping in the Dodecanese, you should definitely visit the Nissiros volcano and the island of Tilos (for nature lovers). You must study the ferry timetables carefully beforehand. Many ferries do not run every day and certainly not at the desired time.
Map of the Dodecanese
Dodecanese roughly translates as “twelve islands”. This refers to the main islands. In total, there are over 20 inhabited islands in the region. The main island with the most inhabitants and the largest area is the island of Rhodes. There are also direct flights from Europe to the island of Kos and the island of Karpathos.
-
-
List of the islands of the Dodecanese
- 1.Rhodes
Size: 1,401 km²
Population: approx. 115,500
2.Karpathos
Size: 324 km²
Population: approx. 6,200
3.Kos
Size: 290 km²
Population: approx. 33,400
4.Kassos
Size: 69 km²
Population: approx. 1,000
5.Kalymnos
Size: 111 km²
Population: approx. 16,200
6.Astypalea
Size: 97 km²
Population: approx. 1,300
7.Symi
Size: 58 km²
Population: approx. 2,600
8.Leros
Size: 74 km²
Population: approx. 7,900
9.Tilos
Size: 64 km²
Population: approx. 780
10.Nisyros
Size: 41 km²
Population: approx. 1,000
11.Patmos
Size: 34 km²
Population: approx. 3,000
12Chalki
Size: 28 km²
Population: approx. 300
13.Lipsi
Size: 16 km²
Population: approx. 800
14.Agathonisi
Size: 14 km²
Population: approx. 200
15.Kastellorizo (Megisti)
Size: 12 km²
Population: approx. 500
-
The number of inhabitants can vary seasonally, especially on islands that are heavily dependent on tourism.
There are of course many small, mostly uninhabited islands without regular ferries.
By far the most important and largest island is Rhodes, followed by Kos and Karpathos. These three islands have an international airport with direct flights from Germany. Kalymnos has quite a lot of inhabitants, but is not so important for tourism.
There is the historical term Dodecanese (translated as about 12 islands). At that time only 12 islands were counted: Rhodes, Kos, Karpathos, Kalymnos, Astypalea, Kassos, Symi, Leros, Patmos, Nisyros, Tilos, Kastellorizo
German Version: Dodecanese 
My Hotels |
|
| The simple rooms, usually with bathroom, can be accessed by clicking on the name of the hotel. | |
| Location | hotel name |
| Rhodes City | Hotel City Centre |
| Rhodes Faliraki | Mon Repos Hotel |
| Kos Town | Hotel Koala |
Do you have feedback, an addition, found an error or a comment? Send us an email to: mail@griechenland-insel.de