Skip to content
Voykit

Region

Dodecanese

Base yourself on Rhodes or Kos for 3–4 nights; day-trip to smaller islands by ferry. Do not island-hop daily.

Open Rhodes Plan a trip
More: share, save offline, report a correction
More

Key facts · Greece

Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Visa
Depends on your passport
Currency
Euro (EUR, €)
Language
Greek (Greek alphabet)
Plugs
C · F · 230 V
Time zone
EET, UTC+2
Month by month hereIn detail ↓
Rules in force · 12Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
  • Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
  • Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
  • Greece ↗Greece is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
  • Greece ↗Taking stones, pottery or other objects from archaeological sites is illegal; so is exporting antiquities without a permit.
  • Greece ↗Do not photograph military sites or border zones; signs mark them.
  • Greece ↗Acropolis tickets are sold for one-hour entry slots on the official Hellenic Heritage site (hhticket.gr); in peak season slots sell out days ahead, and you cannot enter outside your hour.
  • Greece ↗Businesses must give a receipt (apodeixi) for every sale; ask for one, and do not accept a handwritten note in place of it.
  • Greek Islands ↗Book high-season ferries (July–August, and any car space) days ahead; foot-passenger tickets are usually buyable at the port on the day.
  • Greek Islands ↗Ferry fares are per person plus, on some routes, a small port fee paid at the quay.

The Dodecanese is a chain of 15+ inhabited islands in the southeastern Aegean. Rhodes has the biggest medieval old town and the most flights; Kos is smaller, cheaper and closer to Kalymnos and Leros. Both work as a base for day-trips to Symi, Kastellorizo, Karpathos and the rest. A single-island stay with day-trips saves you from repacking every day.

Where to sleep

6 places in this region

Sleep base

  • RhodesRegion

    Walled old town, Lindos, beaches; most flights from Europe.

    Open Rhodes →

  • KosCity guide

    Smaller, cheaper, closer to Kalymnos and Leros; good for a quieter base.

    Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Kos →

Day trip

  • KarpathosCity guide

    Remote, traditional villages; ferry from Rhodes ~2 h.

    Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Karpathos →

  • SymiCity guide

    Neoclassical harbour; day-trip from Rhodes (ferry ~1 h).

    Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Symi →

  • KastellorizoCity guide

    Tiny, colourful island near Turkey; ferry from Rhodes ~2 h.

    Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Kastellorizo →

  • LerosCity guide

    War history and quiet coves; ferry from Kos ~1 h.

    Best May–Oct

    Open Leros →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights
Rhodes 4, day-trip to Symi and/or Lindos
6 nights
Rhodes 4 + Kos 2, day-trip to Kalymnos from Kos
  • Ferry schedules change weekly in shoulder seasons; always confirm the day before.
  • July–August: Rhodes and Kos are crowded; book accommodation and ferries weeks ahead.

Day-trips door to door

ToFromDoor-to-door p50Last returnNote
SymiRhodes90 mincheckFerry runs daily in summer; last return around 17:00.
KastellorizoRhodes150 mincheckFerry 2–3 times a week in summer; check schedule.
KarpathosRhodes150 mincheckFerry 1–2 times daily in summer; last return around 18:00.
KalymnosKos45 mincheckFrequent ferries; last return around 19:00.
LerosKos60 mincheckFerry 2–3 times daily; last return around 18:00.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding between islands is not common; pack light and use the ferry's luggage hold.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
CountryJFMAMJJASOND
Kos
Karpathos
Symi
Kastellorizo
Leros
Greek Islands (country-wide)
Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month
ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
Rhodes / KosCoastal lowlandscoolcoolokbestbesthothothotbestbestokcool
best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windows
Rhodes / Kos
Summer (Jun–Sep) 28–35 °C (82–95 °F), dry; winter (Dec–Feb) 10–16 °C (50–61 °F), rainy. Meltemi wind can make ferry crossings rough in July–August.

Best months: May–June and September–October for warm weather and fewer crowds.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate
FromToHowp50Note
Athens (ATH)Rhodes (RHO)Flight ~1 h~4 h door-to-doorMultiple daily flights; also to Kos (KGS).
PiraeusRhodes / KosFerry (Blue Star, Anek, etc.)12–16 hOvernight ferry; book a cabin. Runs daily in summer, less in winter.
Kos (KGS)Kos TownBus or taxi~15 minAirport bus meets flights.
Rhodes (RHO)Rhodes TownBus or taxi~20 minPublic bus every 30 min.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Greek Islands ferry pass (e.g. Blue Star, Anek)

check

No multi-island pass exists; buy single tickets or use a ferry aggregator.

Rhodes city bus pass

check

Day passes for local buses; check current prices at the terminal.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works
DishWhereTiming / trap
Pitaroudia (chickpea fritters)Rhodes: old town tavernasOften served with tzatziki; a local specialty.
Krasotyri (wine-marinated cheese)Kos: local tavernasGrilled or fried; try it as a meze.
Seafood (grilled octopus, fried calamari)Symi: harbour restaurantsSymi is known for its seafood; prices are higher than on Rhodes.
Souvlaki and gyrosEverywhereCheap and filling; look for a grill turning on the street.

Go next

Cyclades

Ferry from Rhodes or Kos to Santorini / Naxos ~4–6 h

Summer only; check schedules.

Crete

Ferry from Rhodes to Heraklion ~8–10 h

Overnight ferry; book a cabin.

Athens

Flight from Rhodes or Kos ~1 h

Multiple daily flights year-round.

North Aegean Islands

Ferry from Kos to Chios / Lesvos ~4–6 h

Summer only; check schedules.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep
2 bases
Day trips
5, 45 min to 2 h 30
Nights suggested
4–6 nights
Ways in
4 listed
Best months
Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open Rhodes Up to Greek Islands

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

Ask about Dodecanese

Loading…

Was this useful?