Tilos

Dodecanese

Tilos is a small island in the Dodecanese, about halfway between the much bigger islands of Rhodes and Kos. It's a delightful and pretty island, with a healthy amount of tourism but not so much that it spoils the friendly atmosphere. It does ensure there are several good hotels, plenty of rooms to rent and other accommodation options, and some very good restaurants and tavernas.

Ferry Arriving in TilosFerry Arriving in Tilos

Getting to Tilos

Flights to Tilos

Tilos does not have an airport so taking one of the ferries is the only way to get there - which is one reason it remains such a delightful island.

Ferries to Tilos

In summer ferries link Tilos with other several other islands. There is a daily ferry from Rhodes, several each week from Kos, and two ferries a week from Piraeus, Athens. Some of these ferries call in at other islands including Nisyros, Symi, Halki, Kalymnos, Naxos and Paros.

Ferries in Greece

Ferries in Greece has an excellent and very thorough website where, in addition to checking ferry schedules and times, you can also book tickets and get lots of useful information about travelling by ferry in Greece.

Tilos, Greece

Read this delightful account of life and love on a Greek island, a real-life Shirley Valentine story from Tilos

Birdwatching in the Greek Islands

Tilos has also become an attraction for birdwatchers, as several rare species can be seen there as they migrate. Most notably there are large numbers of Eleonora's falcons, with about 650 pairs (10% of the world's population) breeding on Tilos each year. It's quite amazing to be able to sit having a drink in a café and watch these beautiful birds sweeping through the skies. In all, 155 species have been recorded on this one small island, making it a big draw for birdwatching.

Read our Page on Birdwatching in Greece

What to Do on Tilos

Apart from birdwatching, Tilos is great for other nature lovers as there are also many rare plants and orchids to be found. It's a good island for walking, and for beaches for those who like to find quiet coves away from the crowds.

Mikro Chorio deserted village on Tilos

The port and main town is Livadia, an attractive little town where most of the accommodation and eating places can be found. The island's only other town, Megalo Chorio, is at the other end of the island and is linked to Livadia by a bus that goes back and forth each day, stopping off at some of the beaches on the way. From Livadia you can walk to Mikro Chorio, a deserted village which used to be the island's main town when it was necessary to hide inland from would-be invaders. A few houses here are being renovated, so Mikro Chorio may spring to life once again, one day.

The Monastery of Áyios Pandeleímon, the island's patron saint, can also be visited, and there are several ruined castles dotting the landscape. One of the most famous sites is the Kharkhadió Cave, where the bones of a dwarf elephant and some Neolithic remains were found in the 1970s, though the cave is not open to the public.

Where to Stay on Tilos

More Travel Information about Tilos
Tilos has its own website so for further information and up-to-date news visit the Tilos island official website.

See our other Dodecanese pages...

  • Wild Abandon

    Wild Abandon by Jennifer Barclay and published by Bradt Guides is A Journey to Deserted Places of the Dodecanese islands in Greece, including Rhodes and Kos.

  • Karpathos in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Karpathos in the Dodecanese islands of Greece is noted for its traditions, its music, and mountain villages like Olympos.

  • 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

  • Rhodes

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

  • 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.

  • Kasos

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

  • Kalymnos in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Kalymnos in Greece in the Dodecanese islands is most famous for its history of sponge fishing, and see here information about flights and ferries.

  • Astypalaia in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

    Astypalaia in the Dodecanese islands of Greece is a largely unspoilt island with good beaches.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Kastellorizo

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

  • Halki

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

  • Arki

    Arki is a small island in the Dodecanese close to Lipsi, with beaches and tavernas with rooms to rent and ferry connections with Patmos, Samos and Marathi.

  • Agathonisi in the Dodecanese islands of Greece

    Agathonisi is a small island in the Dodecanese with quiet beaches, a few hotels, pensions and rooms to rent.

  • 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.

  • Dodecanese

    Travel and vacation information about the Dodecanese islands of Rhodes, Symi, Kos, Patmos, Halki, Tilos, Karpathos, Leros, Lipsi, Astipalea.

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