Dodecanese

The word Dodecanese, or Dodekanissa in Greek, means literally 'twelve islands' (dodeka = twelve and nissi = island). However, this being Greece there are in fact fourteen large islands, three smaller, and a few dozen more that are uninhabited but which can be called islands rather than rocks.

Symi

They are the most southerly group of islands and very popular with visitors due to the hot summer climate. This can lead to water shortages on some of the smaller islands towards the end of the summer, so visitors at all times should use water sparingly and drink bottled water if possible. By the autumn the islands can be quite barren, in complete contrast to the greenness of spring which is when those who like to see wild flowers should try to visit.

For the most part the islands hug the Turkish coastline, and one of them, Kastellorizo, is less than 3km (1.9 miles) from Turkey with a population of fewer than 300 people. By contrast, the biggest island, Rhodes, is home to 100,000 people, and many more in summer as it is also the most developed for tourism, with the island of Kos being not far behind, but much smaller.

The Acropolis at Lindos on Rhodes

Rhodes is also the capital of the Dodecanese and is popular with package holiday visitors and with cruise ships alike. It's also a good hub for getting around some of the other islands in the group. Kos is another very popular holiday destination, with good beaches and nightlife.

Kos

In-between there are islands such as Tilos and Chalki, where tourism has arrived but on a modest and more manageable level, and where visitors will still be treated with friendliness rather than avarice. The group also includes the island of Patmos, where St John is said to have had the vision described in The Book of Revelations, and little Nisyros, a volcanic island whose sulphurous crater still bubbles quietly.

The Volcanic Crater on Nisyros

Two hours by ferry from Rhodes is the island of Symi, one of the gems in the Aegean which has a harbour that is almost too perfect to be true, as anyone who has ever sailed into it at dusk with the harbour lights twinkling will know.

The Village of Olympos on Karpathos

Despite the fact that the islands are so close to Turkey they show no more Turkish influence than any of the other island groups, and if anything have something of an Italian feel to them, having been occupied by the Italians during World War II and only returned to Greece in a treaty signed in 1948. Since then, the Dodecanese have certainly welcomed tourists, needing the boost to their economies which was once provided by shipbuilding, fishing and sponge-fishing. 

If you want to escape the crowds and find yourself a bit of the 'real' Greece, try the lesser-known islands like Karpathos or Kastellorizo. Inbetween are islands where there's some tourism, good hotels and restaurants, but they're not yet over-run by visitors. These include Tilos, Leros, Nisyros, Halki, and Astypalaia. 

The Dodecanese group includes:

You might like these

  • A Walk in the Old Town of Rhodes

    This walk through the Old Town of Rhodes takes you through this World Heritage Site and along the main streets and past the city walls, palaces and mosques.

  • Symi in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Symi (or Simi) is a small island in the Dodecanese near Rhodes with regular ferry connections, hotels, rooms to rent, beaches, tavernas.

  • Rhodes

    Travel advice, information on Rhodes in the Dodecanese, with ferries from Piraeus for Athens, Symi, Crete, Kos, Patmos, Santorini, and flights from Europe

  • Tilos in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Tilos is a small island in the Dodecanese between Rhodes and Kos with regular ferry connections, hotels, rooms to rent, beaches, tavernas and ancient remains.

  • Patmos in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Patmos in the Dodecanese islands is famous for the monasteries of St John and the Apocalypse and on this page you can also read about flights and ferries

  • Nisyros

    Nisyros is a unique volcanic island in the Dodecanese and easily reached on day trips from Kos Town and Kardamena.

  • Lipsi

    Travel information on Lipsi in the Dodecanese group of Greek islands, including flight and ferry information from Greece Travel Secrets.

  • Leros in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Leros is a sizeable island in the Dodecanese with flights from Athens, ferries from Rhodes and Piraeus, good beaches, restaurants and hotels.

  • Kos in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Kos in the Dodecanese islands of Greece has good beaches and night-life, and archaeological remains.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Greece Working to Ensure All Travelers Feel Welcome and Safe

    Greece is working intensively to ensure that all travelers are welcome, said Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis on Thursday, adding that a first list of countries allowed quarantine-free admission into…

    Read More

  2. Lufthansa to Double Flights to Athens from Frankfurt and Munich

    German airline Lufthansa will double its flights to Athens from Frankfurt and Munich as of June 15, as part of its plan to expand its services and make as many destinations as possible accessible for…

    Read More

  3. Be My Guest Athens Hotel Ready to Open on June 5

    Be My Guest, a boutique hotel located in the area of Thissio in Athens, has announced its reopening as of June 5, following a light refurbishment of its rooms and public areas. The hotel remained clos…

    Read More

  4. Thessaloniki Counting on Road Arrivals for 2020 Tourism Season

    Local authorities in Thessaloniki and the greater Central Macedonia region this year are counting on road arrivals from Greece’s neighboring countries to offset the negative impact that the coronaviru…

    Read More

  5. Moments of Daily Life in Athens As Greece Opens Up

    Watch daily life in Athens as Greece is getting vibrant and happy again. On the first week cafes and restaurants open in Greece the Greek capital slowly but surely is finding its pre-pandemic self. Wi…

    Read More

  6. Greece Still Attractive Tourist Destination Despite Covid-19

    Potential travelers appear to be eager to visit Greece in the next three months despite the Covid-19 crisis, according to a study on attitudes and intentions regarding international leisure trips join…

    Read More

  7. Greece in Discussions with Egypt to Resume Tourist Flows

    Greece and Egypt on Tuesday discussed laying the ground for gradual resumption of flights between the two countries in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis, d…

    Read More

  8. AEGEAN Restarts Flights from Thessaloniki to 6 Int’l Destinations as of June 15

    AEGEAN Airlines on Wednesday announced that it will be restarting direct operations to/from Thessaloniki with six European destinations as of June 15. The Greek company’s announcement follows the grad…

    Read More

  9. Travel Restrictions Keep Celestyal from Cruising Until July 30

    Celestyal Cruises, which sails to the Greek islands and the Mediterranean, recently announced that it is further extending the suspension of its operations until July 30. The cruise line said it took…

    Read More

  10. EASA Updates List of Airports in Covid-19 High Risk Areas

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Wednesday updated the list of airports located in affected areas with high risk of transmission of the Covid-19 infection. EASA determined that a li…

    Read More