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| My Favourite Planet > English > Europe > Greece > Dodecanese > Kastellorizo |
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Kastellorizo, Greece |
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| Kastellorizo |
transport: getting to Kastellorizo |
page 3 |
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The Blue Star Line ferry Diagoras in Kastellorizo harbour. |
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Getting to Kastellorizo is now easier than it has ever been.
Unless you have your own boat, helicopter or spaceship (beaming down prohibited
on Sundays), your transport options are:
• by air from Rhodes
• Greek ferries from Piraeus (Athens) and Rhodes
• ferry from the nearby Turkish resort Kaş
• Private boat from Kaş
Schedules vary seasonally, so check the links below for current information.
Ferry and airline websites have a bewildering variety of ways of displaying their schedules and fares, and use different spellings for Kastellorizo (Kastelorizo, Castellorizo, Castelorizo, Megisti...).
Below you can also find out about duty free shopping in Kastellorizo.
There is a travel article about the ferry crossing from Kaş to Kastellorizo on page 10. |
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By air from Rhodes |
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Olympic Airlines run a turboprop plane service (Dash 8) between Rhodes and Kastelorizo 6 times a week.
Note: spelling of Kastelorizo, with one "L" when searching for flights.
Flights every day except Thursday.
Departure Rhodes 16.25. Departure Kastellorizo at 17.30.
Flight time approx. 30 minutes.
Fare: 26 Euros one way.
It is advisable to reserve well in advance for July and August.
Flights are sometimes cancelled due to high winds.
Kastelorizo airport is about 3.5 km south of the main town.
Although it is possible to walk the distance, a minibus and the island's only taxi carry passengers to and from the airport.
Fares and online booking: www.olympicairlines.com |
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Greek ferries from Piraeus and Rhodes |
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Blue Star Ferries
The very blue Diagoras car ferry from Pireaus (the port of Athens) covers a lot of Aegean sea all year round with the following itinerary:
Piraeus-Kalymnos-Kos-Rhodes and Paros-Naxos-Astypalaia-Nisyros-Tilos-Kastellorizo.
Departs Piraeus Mondays 15.00 hours.
Departs Kastellorizo Tuesdays 14.25 hours.
Journey time Rhodes-Kastellorizo approx. 4.5 hours.
Journey time Piraeus-Kastellorizo approx. 23 hours.
Fares start at 20 Euros for "super economy" class.
The ro-ro (roll-on roll-off ferry) is usually in and and out of Kastellorizo harbour in half an hour. It appears to be huge as it almost fills the tiny port (see photo at the top of the page).
Schedules, fares, online booking: www.bluestarferries.com
Port agents
Megisti: Papoutsis Travel Agency www.greeklodgings.gr
Piraeus: Giovanti Travel Ltd. |
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Photos of ferries
to Kastellorizo
in the photo gallery:
Diagoras ferry |
ANES Ferries
The car ferry Proteus, run by the oddly named Anonymous Ferry Company of Symi (ANES), crosses between Rhodes and Kastellorizo on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Journey time 4 hours 40 mins.
Typical fares: 16.53 €, children 5-10 years 8.27 €, children up to 4 years free. There is also a scale of fares for vehicles from motorbikes to trucks.
Schedules, fares, online booking: www.anes.gr |
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Dodekanisos Seaways
Weekly high-speed car and passenger catamaran Dodekanisos Express from Rhodes in season.
Journey time 2.5 hours.
32 Euros one way
The catamaran journey can get quite bumpy in windy weather. Not for those with weak stomachs.
Current schedules and fares: www.12ne.gr
Further information about Greek ferries:
www.ferrylines.com
See photos of the ferries in our Kastellorizo photo gallery. |
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Dodekanisos
Express |
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By ferry from/to Kaş, Turkey |
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Kastellorizo and Kaş are now both official official border points, and crossing is generally hassle free. Certain nationalities may need visas, for which - in the case of entering Turkey - you may have to pay, See our introduction to Turkey, practical information for Turkish visa information.
Passports must be handed to the ferry operator at the latest the evening before departure. They then take care of acquiring any necessary visas. Passports are given back to you at the end of your return journey. If you need your passport back beforehand (for example to cash traveller's cheques) ask one of the ferry crew.
Since the ferries generally arrive in Kastellorizo around 10.30 am, and leave at 3 or 3.30 pm, you only have around 4 hours to explore and maybe have lunch (See page 5: sights on Kastellorizo). Shame you can't stay longer, but presumably ferry schedules are set so that hotel guests can fit the island trip in between breakfast and dinner in their hotels. |
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See photos of
ferries to
Kastellorizo on
gallery pages
23-36 |
Meis Express
(Meis is the Turkish name for Megisti, aka Kastellorizo.)
A relaxed, comfortable 20 minute ferry ride on a small double decker boat (capacity 120 passengers). The closed lower deck has large windows and rows of seats, while open upper deck has plastic mattresses for lounging and enjoying the view.
1 April - 31 October, Mon-Fri, 10.00 from Kaş, return 15.00.
1 Nov - 31 March, Mon, Wed, Fri, 10.30 from Kaş, return 15.30.
"Night Cruise" 1 July - 30 Sept, Wed, 18.00 from Kaş, return 23.00.
Journey time 20 minutes.
Fare: day return/single 20 € or 40 Turkish Lira.
Information, schedule and fares: www.meisexpress.com
The Meis Express company also operate ferries between Marmaris - Rhodes, Bodrum - Kos and Kuşadasi - Samos, as well as yacht services.
See photos of the Meis Express on gallery pages 23- 28,
and a travel article describing the ferry crossing on
page 10: articles. |
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Meis Express |
Altug Meis Lines
Twice weekly between Kaş and Kastellorizo.
The boat and conditions are similar to the Meis Express, although the top deck has plastic seats rather than mattresses.
Journey time 20 minutes.
Fare: day return/single 20 € or 40 Turkish Lira.
At present we can not confirm current fares or schedules as the English pages of their website are unavailable.
www.altugtours.com
See photos of the Altug Meis ferry in our Kastellorizo gallery. |
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Altug Meis Lines |
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Private crossings from/to Kaş |
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| It is also possible to negotiate a private crossing with the captain of one of the many smaller boats (e.g. the attractive Turkish wooden gülets) which sail tourists around the area's waters. It is a great way to travel (very romantic, for those who like romantic), you can be more flexible about your departure times and for groups of six or more it can work no more dearer than the ferry. Many of the captains are also very interesting characters with excellent local knowledge. |
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a Turkish gület |
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Duty free trip tip |
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The short trip from Kastellorizo (European Union) to Turkey entitles passengers to purchase duty free goods. Kastellorizo's 24-hour duty free shop (Hellenic Duty Free Shops) is excellent value, especially if you come from northern Europe: you can save upto 300% on the price you would pay at home for such heavily taxed sinful goods as perfume, tobacco and spirits. The prices are even cheaper than in Turkish duty free shops. Example: 400 duty free cigarettes cost 36 € in Turkey, while the same brand is only 26 € in Kastellorizo. The normal taxed price in Germany would be 98.82 € ! You may find that what you save pays for the ferry fare and dinner for two in a taverna. Kali orexi!
Articles, information and photos of Kas and Turkish Lycia will be appearing on My Favourite Planet in the near future. |
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Further information about Greece can be found in our introduction to Greece.
Text: © David John
photos: © David John and © Konstanze Gundudis
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Page 4 activities on Kastellorizo  |
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Olive Garden Restaurant
Kastellorizo, Greece
+30 22460 49 109
kastellorizo.de
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Papoutsis
Travel Agency
Kastellorizo, Greece
+30 22460 49 286
greeklodgings.gr
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