Things to see and do Dodecanese

This islet is now uninhabited and can only be reached by boat from the port of Nimborios, but offers some superb and deserted beaches... Indeed, the islet was abandoned after having served as a naval base during the Second World War. Since then, there has been an almost strange atmosphere. The church of the abandoned village, the Saint-Georges church, is still in working order: it is used for a few rare local celebrations. On the heights of the village, a ruined fortress offers magnificent views of Halki and the surrounding area.

To the west of Lakki Bay, the road continues between pine and eucalyptus forests planted by the Italians. You will find beautiful coves with emerald waters and almost deserted beaches. Beyond the Lime Bar, the beach of Merikia is very pleasant with its small old-fashioned cafes but we advise you to continue on the road to Cape Katsouni: you will discover on the way small lonely creeks and the beach of Kokkina, perhaps the most beautiful in Leros. You will be able to get there on foot: it takes about an hour.

From Megalo Horio, you will have easy access to two main beaches, on foot or by bus.

Eristos is a large sandy bay on the south coast, at the end of a large fertile valley. Almond trees grow there and the island's inhabitants grow all kinds of cereals, fruits and vegetables. This green flow is known as Kampos, which means the fields, and you can cross it on foot from Megalo Horio (count 30 minutes to the beach) or by bus by road (5 minutes from Megalo Horio). Eristos beach is surely the most beautiful beach in Tilos and you will inevitably find a place to isolate yourself from the campers who settle under the gigantic tamaris every summer. Taverns nearby allow you to have a snack during a sunny day. Nudists are welcome to the left of the bay.

Skafi is a large pebble cove located on the north coast and only accessible by foot from Megalo Horio. The trail is very well laid out and easy: count about 45 minutes from the village through a valley surrounded by hills that looks like Afghanistan in places, when the light dims at the end of the day. Quiet and very often deserted, there is a good chance that you will find yourself alone on this bay without shade. At the beginning of the season, sea urchins are legion: perfect to fill up with iodine and satisfy small appetites. Another, smaller creek is located on the right of the main bay. Nudism is practiced there.

Towards the highest point of the island and its military base, you will cross a crowned summit of the Paleokastro. It is the island's ancient fortified acropolis dating back to the 4th century BC. Inside, you will find Doric inscriptions that mention the name of Megiste, the other name of the island. Admire the massive cisterns that used to collect rainwater. Largely bombarded during the two world wars, the site is now nothing more than ruins but it is sumptuous, dominating Turkey and the open sea. Don't miss the sunset, an unforgettable memory.

Kaş is located in front of Kastellorizo, on the Turkish coast, just 30 minutes away by boat. Heiress of Antiphellos, the ancient city of the Lycians, it is a pleasant half-day excursion. Enjoy the unique atmosphere that reigns in the beautiful pedestrian streets of the Grand Bazaar where upholsterers, jewellers and ceramists follow one another. Going up Doğruyol street, you will come across the touching Tomb of the King: this beautifully preserved lycian sarcophagus dates back to the 4th century BC. Overflowing with lion's heads and engraved with Lycian inscriptions, it seems to wait patiently for the onlookers to pay attention to it. In the parallel street, stop at Pell's Café: it offers a pleasant break in the shade of a beautiful garden.

Before reaching the port and your boat, be sure to visit the 1st century BC amphitheatre on Necipbey Street, near the city's exit. The renovation is a bit flashy but it is one of the only Anatolian theatres facing the sea: the view is magnificent from the stands which could accommodate up to 4,000 spectators.

Please note: when leaving Kastellorizo, you will have to leave your passport with the captain who will give it to the Turkish customs officers during your visit. When you return to Greece, you will have to declare the valuable goods purchased in Turkey. You can change money almost anywhere in the shops near the port: ask the captain for the rate and the best place to change euros into Turkish lira.

Among the most beautiful walks, we recommend the one that reaches the monastery of Agios Emilianos from Horio. It is a 4-hour one-way hike, of moderate difficulty but which can be long and strenuous on hot days, especially since it is difficult to spot each other and it is therefore necessary to avoid unnecessary detours. We advise you to walk to the monastery and then arrange a return trip by the excursion boats that you will find in the port of Gialos. The trail is not easy to find even if efforts are made to improve the markings. From the heights of Horio, pass the Paraskevi church and reach the town of Xissos by taking the secondary road that leaves the paved road on the right. At the exit of the village from above (do not go down towards Kato Xissos, the lower part of the village), locate the red markers. The trail begins there and continues up the hillside. The trail is divided at the height of an abandoned village. Continue on your left at the red arrows. The path then leads you to a monastery where you can rest for a few moments in the shade of beautiful trees. In the distance you will see the Agios Emilianos monastery. From there, the path descends steeply to the sea and is relatively well marked. If in doubt with secondary trails, keep to your right and avoid paths crossed by a row of stones. The arrival in the bay of Agios Emilianos is magnificent.

It is possible to swim in the port of Gialos at the Tsati bar, if you drink, and only during the day. Beyond the shipyard, continuing on the road to Nimborios, there are steps down to large rocks where you can swim in crystal-clear waters. Otherwise, beautiful beaches are accessible by taxi boat from Gialos :

The beach of Aghios Georgios, perhaps the most beautiful in Symi, is surrounded by impressive white cliffs. As there are no tavernas, umbrellas or deckchairs, this beach is relatively unspoilt and there is a good chance that you will find yourself there on your own. The water is turquoise with maximum sunshine at the beginning of the day. Quite quickly at the end of the day, the sun hides to the west, behind the cliffs.

Beyond that, Nanou beach offers clear waters, surrounded by cliffs and pine trees. It's perfect for diving. Provide sandals for walking on the pebbles. You can eat, have a coffee or take a break in the shade of the unique tavern which also rents deckchairs and parasols. A few trees also offer shade provided they are there early enough to find a spot in high season!

Toli is a pretty pebble beach on the north-west coast, also accessible by road. A few parasols and deckchairs are provided free of charge by the very pleasant Dafne tavern, overlooking it. You can buy particularly tasty thyme honey there. The terrace offers exceptional views and is ideal for admiring the sunset.

This small museum in Pera Gialos traces the unique history of the island of Astipalaia from the Neolithic period to more recent medieval occupations, notably that of the Venetians. Among the finds on display from local excavations are pottery, tools and numismatics discovered at various sites on the island, including the kastro and the necropolis of Kylindra. The latter was dedicated to newborns and small children, as witnessed by the 3,000 or so funerary urns found on site.

Outside the fortifications of the medieval kastro, this large church dedicated to the Virgin Mary is the most important in Astypalaia, and certainly the most beautiful. Founded in 1762 by Saint Anthime the Blind, an ascetic from Cephalonia in the Ionian Islands, it houses a magnificent carved wooden iconostasis. The Virgin is celebrated here on Dormition Day (August 15), the biggest religious and folkloric celebration of the year. Residents and visitors gather for two days on the square to enjoy traditional dishes.

This small museum is a rare gem for lovers of fossils, minerals and colorful crystals. It is a private collection amassed over 40 years by a passionate palaeontologist. The establishment is run by the Stamatiadis family: the collector and paleontologist father looks after the exhibits and provides information to visitors, while his wife warmly welcomes them and the son makes unique jewelry, which can be found in the shop-workshop next door.

Located in Horio, more specifically in the Agios Athanasios district, this interesting museum is housed in beautiful ^18th- and ^19th-century villas, whose magnificent pebble-mosaic courtyards and cool gardens can also be visited. The permanent exhibition traces Symi's history from prehistoric times to the maritime splendor of the ^19th century. The whole is magnificent and touching, in the image of the pearl of the Dodecanese.

The northern half of Astypalaia is a little greener than the rest of the island, but also a little out of time. Whether it's Maltezana or the tiny anchorage of Vathi, it's still a long way from the tourist hustle and bustle of Chora, its port and Livadia. The Vathi area is particularly remarkable in this respect, with few visitors venturing into this Greek fjord. A 2-hour walk to the north will take you into the Cave of the Dragon, with its impressive stalagmites and stalactites.

In winter 2023, a new archaeological museum opened its doors in Megalo Horio, after several years of construction work. The immaculate, beautifully designed building is located at the entrance to the village, on the road leading to Livadia. It complies with environmental standards to limit its ecological impact, as Tilos is obliged to do! On display are the island's archaeological finds, including references to the ancient poet Irinna, a native of Tilos, gold jewelry from the Kena necropolis, and pottery excavated from the Garipa site (1600-1500 BC).

The folk museum project has been playing the Arlesian for many years, but in August 2023 a first exhibition was finally inaugurated, the first step towards a museum in its own right. For the time being, the exhibition is held in a renovated space within the kastro, next to the church of Saint-Georges. Here, you can discover some of the island's traditions, particularly in terms of clothing, song and music, dance and traditional festivities, the panygiria. The coming years should see this project take on even greater scope.

This immaculate nunnery, drowned in lush green plants and lovingly tended by the resident nuns (who sometimes jealously guard the premises, even during official opening hours...), is located not far from the town hall square, to the west of the main monastery. Founded in 1607, its katholicon houses some of the finest frescoes painted between the ^16th and ^18th centuries. Among the highlights is an icon venerated as miraculous: the icon of the Virgin Eleousa or Panagia Eleousa - known as the Three-Eyed Virgin.

When Italian rule came to an end in Rhodes, life in the village of Eleoussa gradually died out, leaving behind only majestic empty buildings. Today, you can stroll between the Aghios Charalambos church and the old central market, with its voluminous arcades and galleries. Nearby, note the building that was once a cinema, before housing the headquarters of the Fascist Party and finally being converted into a sanatorium in 1947.

Skirting the bay of Xirokambos on the only road beyond the To Kima tavern, a path leads down to the tiny, rock-encrusted church of Panaghia Kavouradena. This touching chapel is distinguished by its small size and red roof. Inside, note the icon of the Virgin of the Crab that gives it its name. It is said that a crab fisherman found a miraculous icon here. The Virgin's nativity is celebrated here on September 8. Be sure to stop off at this little corner of the world as the sun sets over Kalymnos.

The road leaving Kefalos to the south winds through a totally unspoilt and wild area. At a fork in the road, you can continue towards Agios Theologos beach or the chapel of St. John the Baptist. The panoramic views that open up change at every turn, and are enchanting. The chapel overlooks the endless Aegean, shaded by centuries-old plane trees. Here, a small café offers shade, refreshments and mezzedes.

This small museum houses an interesting collection of archaeological finds from the island of Karpathos. It is housed in a historic building constructed during the Italian occupation, which served as the island's administrative headquarters. The tour is fast-paced, concentrated in three well-appointed halls that span the centuries between the Neolithic and Byzantine periods. Highlights include a replica of a Mycenaean tomb and an early Christian basilica.

Opened and enlarged in 2022, the Kastellorizo Museum of Puzzles and Enigmas is the first of its kind in Greece, and boasts the largest collection in the country. The museum is a private initiative of mathematician Pantazis Houlis, who goes out of his way to make the visit exciting for everyone. An interesting visit to plan with the whole family: young and old will happily break their heads to solve all sorts of riddles. Since 2021, the founder has organized an annual puzzle festival on the island: scientists and enthusiasts meet up in autumn.