We totally did not plan to have this day out and I certainly did not have Greece on my list of countries to visit in 2022 (that list is already long enough!).
Kastellorizo is a little Greek island just off the coast of Türkiye, about a twenty-minute ferry ride from Kaş, a stunning holiday town on Türkiye's famed Turquoise Coast. We initially had planned two days in Kaş which was enough time to spend one day exploring the town and then another to hike Sleeping Giant and spend the afternoon on the stunning Kaputaş Beach. We were then due to catch a minibus back to Antalya and then fly up to Izmir for our next leg of our journey in Selçuk.
When we learned that we could, instead of bussing back to Antalya and flying, take an overnight bus from Kaş to Selçuk, we realized we could have another full day in Kaş which would allow us the opportunity to take the ferry out to the exquisite little island of Kastellorizo for the day! Win win!
How to Get to Kastellorizo
Kastellorizo is tiny. We met a few people who were island-hopping through Greece but by far the most common way to visit is by ferry from Kaş in neighbouring Türkiye. We booked the ferry through our hotel for €30 per person with Meis Ferry Lines. Before boarding the ferry, you'll go through maritime passport control as you are crossing the border back into the EU; you'll get a departure and re-entry stamp from Türkiye and, depending on whether or not you hold an EU passport, you'll also get a stamp to enter Greece. The ferry takes about twenty minutes and is an absolutely stunning crossing with postcard-perfect views as you pull into port in Kastellorizo.
There is also a tiny airport on Kastellorizo, serviced by daily flights only to and from Rhodes, a nearby Greek island.
Leaving Kaş
Leaving Kaş - note the Turkish flag
Arriving to Kastellorizo - note the Greek flag
The Meis Ferry
Where to Eat on Kastellorizo
The little harbour town is very small, and mostly centred around the restaurants that line the waterfront. They're all fairly pricey (especially after coming from Türkiye!!) which is to be expected from a small island dependent on tourism. You'll find they all offer a very similar Greek menu which was exactly what we were looking for. We liked Billi's because, of all the restaurants, it was the least touristy and the man working there (who we presume was Billi!) spoke no English and was really just very sweet.
Maybe you'll get lucky and spot the turtle swimming in the bay during lunch!
Best Things to Do on Kastellorizo
1. Swim inside the Blue Cave
As soon as we arrived in Kastellorizo, we found a boat tour departing from the port that would take us around the island to the Blue Cave, a stunningly clear blue cave in which we could jump off the boat and swim in. I don't recall the name of the company, but there are many small boats that will happily take you out; ours cost €10 per person and also included drop off and pick up at #2 below.
2. Hang out on St George Beach
You can only visit this little beach spot by boat, which was included in our trip to the Blue Cave, as it's on one of the little islands just offshore from Kastellorizo. There's a protected cove for swimming and a big open rock space to lay your towel out and read or snooze in the sun.
2. Wander around the town
It's tiny, cute and very walkable. Spend a bit of time moseying around the sleeping little streets, perhaps walking up to the Old Fortress for views down over the harbour.
CHECK OUT MY VLOG OF KASTELLORIZO HERE!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
Hi! I’m Jana, a British-Dutch-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
how long was the boat ride to the blue cave and how log can you swim insude the cave? How long was the tour for E10? Thx
Author
hi! from what I remember, the boat ride and cave tour was about an hour total. and then they dropped us off at St George Beach for the afternoon, and we arranged a time to be picked up later and brought back to Kastellorizo before the ferry. The YouTube vlog linked gives a good idea of what the trip looked like 🙂
Were you able to get a ferry back to Kas that night or did you spend the night in Kastellorizo and leave in the morning?
Author
Hi Madison! We did a day trip from Kas 🙂 Super easy. Our hotel provided us with the ferry times.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time in Kastellorizo! Kastellorizo’s untouched landscapes and peaceful atmosphere will surely provide the perfect backdrop for anyone revitalizing retreat.
Author
Kastellorizo was a wonderful little island, and totally perfect for a relaxing getaway. Loved it 🙂