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...

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Greece Eases Some Covid-19 Lockdown Rules, Keeps Movement Restrictions in Place

    Greece’s authorities have announced the opening of high schools in the country and the loosening of a few lockdown measures, but said that the night curfew and movement restrictions would stay in plac…

    Read More

  2. Greece Domestic Air Travel: Only Essential Trips Allowed Until February 1

    The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) on Saturday updated an aviation directive (NOTAM) that allows only essential domestic travel between all Greek airports. The directive that bans trips betw…

    Read More

  3. Greece’s 7-day Quarantine Rule for Air Arrivals Extended to February 8

    Greece is extending the mandatory 7-day quarantine rule for all international travelers arriving by air. In an announcement on Friday, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) issued an update for…

    Read More

  4. American Airlines Announces Athens-New York Route for Summer 2021

    American Airlines, as of June 3, will launch a new service connecting Athens with New York, JFK airport, for the 2021 summer season. Flights, to be conducted on a Boeing 777-200, will be available for…

    Read More

  5. Where To Enjoy The Most Amazing Views In Athens

    When you set off to discover Athens, you will be surprised by the amount of amazing vantage points the city has to offer. Due to its unique geography, Athens offers a number of places to visit and tak…

    Read More

  6. Tough Measures Continue in Greece Due to Covid-19 Variant

    Greece plans to keep its strict lockdown measures in place in view of a Covid-19 variant which appears to be spreading at a fast pace. The new strain of the deadly virus believed to be more contagious…

    Read More

  7. Strefi Hill Revamp to Create an Oasis in Athens for Residents and Visitors

    The Strefi hill, located in the neighborhood of Exarchia near the center of Athens, is set to undergo a major revamp, as part of an ongoing drive for the overhaul of the Greek capital, the Municipalit…

    Read More

  8. Commission: All Non-essential Travel ‘Strongly Discouraged’

    One day before EU leaders meet to discuss actions in the fight against the Covid-19 crisis, the European Commission called on member states to discourage non-essential travel and to accelerate vaccina…

    Read More

  9. Underwater Excavation Off Kasos Uncovers Ancient Shipwrecks and Cargo

    A shipwreck of the Roman period and its cargo are among the significant finds of an underwater excavation that was carried out by archaeologists off the Greek island of Kasos in the Dodecanese. Accord…

    Read More

  10. Conde Nast Traveller Shares its List of the Best Greek Islands to Visit in 2021

    UK travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller (CNT) has compiled a list of the “Best Greek islands to Visit in 2021” and features some of Greece’s most popular vacation spots. After a challenging summer sea…

    Read More