Dodecanese Islands Guide - Hotels, Travel Agents, Car Rentals in Patmos, Rhodes, Karpathos, Kos, Leros Map of Dodecanese Greece

Discover the Dodecanese Islands Greece! - A Brief Dodecanese Islands Guide

The Dodecanese Islands, Greece are located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea. The islands are characterized by their wonderful historical sites, particularly from the Venetian Era, exquisite religious monuments, such as the Cave of the Apocalypse, impressive natural features like the volcano of Nisyros.

The Dodecanese cluster is comprised of 14 main inhabited islands and many other smaller islets. The main islands are: Astypalea, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Lipsi, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos and Halki. They are situated close together and are connected by ferry boat, high-speed boat and airplane, facilitating those who want to do a bit of island hopping from island to island in the Dodecanese, Greece.

The Dodecanese Islands offer something for everyone as they possess stunning natural landscapes, charming towns with quaint narrow alleyways, excellent sightseeing, stimulating nightlife and a myriad of stunning Dodecanese beaches with crystal-clear waters. Sailing in the Dodecanese cluster is very popular and there are many agencies that offer yacht charters in the Dodecanese Islands.

The Dodecanese Islands Greece have an exceptionally well-developed tourist infrastructure that include Dodecanese hotels, travel agents, car rentals agencies, nightlife venues, dining venues and shops that cater to all types of holidaymakers. While planning your holidays in the Dodecanese Islands, you will find a plethora of available Dodecanese hotels, luxury hotels, studios, apartments, villas and rooms for rent. Visitors are provided with both luxury and budget hotel accommodations in Rhodes, Patmos, Leros, Kos, and Karpathos, as well as the less-frequented islands of Astypalea, Kalymnos, Kasos, Kastelorizo, Lipsi, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Halki. The hotels on the Dodecanese Islands are ideal for both romantic getaways for two, exciting vacations for groups of friends, and relaxing family holidays.

Dodecanese Beaches

Some of the finest beaches in the Aegean Sea are located on the Dodecanese Island in Greece. Visitors will find dozens of beaches where they can spend hours relaxing in the sun and swimming in warm, clean waters. There are Dodecanese beaches of all kinds: popular beaches packed with tanned sunbathers, well-equipped family beaches with shallow waters, secluded beaches for couples, gay beaches and nudist beaches. Depending on your preference, you can visit pebbly beaches, sandy beaches or rocky coves. Many Dodecanese beaches have a variety of comforts, including cafes, restaurants and water sports facilities.

On the four most popular holiday destinations in the Dodecanese Greece cluster, you are offered a plethora of stunning beaches.

Rhodes Beaches Greece:
Are the beaches of Afandou, Faliraki, Kalathos, Kiotari, Ladiko, Stegna, Tsambika and Vlycha on the northern coast of Rhodes Island, and Ialyssos, Ixia and Paradissi on the southern coast of Rhodes. On the southern tip of the island is Prassonissi, which is famous for its soft sandy beach and shimmering waters.

Patmos Beaches Greece:
You will find the beaches of Agriolivado, Grikos, Kambos and Meloi on the eastern side of Patmos, as well as Psili Ammos Beach on the southwestern side of Patmos, which is considered the finest Patmos Beach and can only be reached by excursion boat or on foot.

Leros Beaches Greece:
You will come across the beaches of Alinda, Dyoliskaria, Panteli and Vromolithos on the eastern side, Gourna and Merikia on the western coast, Blefoutis and Partheni in northern Leros and Xirokambos in southern Leros.

Kos Beaches Greece:
Including the beaches of Agios Stefanos, Kamari, Kamila, Kardamena and Paradissos on the southern coast of Kos Island, Agios Fokas, Psalidi and Thermes on the southeastern side, and Lambi, Marmari, Mastichari and Tigaki on the northern part of Kos.

Dodecanese Sightseeing & Attractions

All the Dodecanese Islands in Greece are packed with impressive archaeological and historical monuments, as well as beautiful natural sites, making them a paradise for those interested in touring and sightseeing. Just purchase a Dodecanese map and a Dodecanese Islands guide and start exploring the islands!

Rhodes Sightseeing
The most frequented Dodecanese Island is Rhodes. Visitors have the opportunity to see the Medieval City in Rhodes Town, walking in its squares and streets, and admiring the towers, the Knights' Buildings and the Grand Masters' Palace. Apart from the Medieval City, there are several other wonderful attractions in Rhodes Town, including the Odeon, the Temple of Apollo, the Stadium, the Gymnasium, the Temple of Zeus and Athina and the capital's museums. In Ialyssos, it is worth visiting the Acropolis and the Calvary Road, while in Lindos there is another impressive Acropolis. The Butterfly Canyon in Theologos is a natural treasure of the Rhodes Island, Dodecanese, Greece.

Patmos Sightseeing
While vacationing in Patmos, Dodecanese, Greece you must definitely visit the Cave of the Apocalypse, also known as the Holy Grotto of the Apocalypse, where St. John the Theologian wrote the Book of Revelation after hearing the voice of God. Chora, the capital of Patmos, is home to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, where you can see a number of religious relics, scriptures and icons. In Skala, the port of Patmos, we suggest visiting the Ancient Acropolis and the site where it is believed that St. John baptized those who wanted to become Christian.

Kos Sightseeing
Kos is known for its wonderful historical monuments. In the capital of the island, there are several very interesting sites, such as the Ancient City of Kos and its various buildings, the Medieval Castle of the Knights, the Asklipion Ancient Site, the Palm Tree Road, the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, Forou Gate, the Gazi Hasan Pasha Djami, and the Archaeological Museum. In Kardamena, you can visit the Ancient Theater, while in Kefalos you can admire the Paleochristian Basilica of Agios Stefanos.

Leros Sightseeing
Leros Island is an excellent destination for history aficionados. Around the capital of Platanos, and in the nearby village of Agia Marina we recommend visiting the Castle on Apityki Hill, the Broutzi Roman Fortress, the Manors of Kandioglou and Antonellos, the Churches of Profiti Elias and Agia Paraskevi, and the Agia Marina Archaeological Museum. In Xirokambos, visitors are always astonished at the sight of the Church of Panagia Kavouradainas, which is embedded in a crack in the rocky cliff. Alinda has a significant Historical and Folklore Museum, while the Ruins of the Temple of Artemis in Partheni are worth a visit.

Dodecanese Entertainment - Dodecanese Events

Nightlife in the Dodecanese Islands can easily rival most of the other Greek Islands. There is a wide variety of live music halls, dance clubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and tavernas in the major tourist resorts of the islands. In Rhodes, nightlife is concentrated in Rhodes Town, Faliraki and Ialyssos. If you want to spend an enjoyable night in Patmos, you should go to Skala or Chora. On Kos, your evening entertainment is offered in Kos Town, Kardamena, Kefalos and Tigaki, while in Leros, you can find the entertainment of your choice in Platanos, Agia Marina and Lakki. From the largest tourist resort to the smallest village, visitors have an endless selection of traditional tavernas and restaurants that serve local delicacies.

An abundance of traditional fairs and festivals are held in the Dodecanese during the year, especially in the summertime. Cultural, athletic and art events take place in the larger towns, while all villages have religious festivals and events. We suggest getting a good Dodecanese Islands guide that mentions all the important festivals and try to attend as many as possible.

Dodecanese Weather - Dodecanese Climate

The climate in the Dodecanese Greece is very pleasant, as the islands have some of the best weather in Greece all year round. On the whole, the Dodecanese climate is characterized by warm and sunny summers, and quite mild winters, with slight differences from island to island. Some are a bit more humid than others, e.g. Rhodes due to rainfall, while others tend to be drier, such as Karpathos. Cool winds during the summer months take the edge off the high temperatures, making the Dodecanese Islands superb vacations spots.

During wintertime, temperatures in the Dodecanese range approximately between 11.5°C - 13.5°C, offering mild weather conditions even in the coolest months. Spring in the Dodecanese Islands is a lovely season, as their countryside fills with lush greenery and the temperature ranges from mid teens to low 20s. The Dodecanese weather in the summer is excellent, as average temperatures are between the mid to high 20's, making it very comfortable for tourists. Occasionally the temperature may reach the low to mid 30's, but even in such cases, the cool winds create a pleasant atmosphere. Autumn in the Dodecanese Greece is quite enjoyable, as temperatures remain in the high teens to low 20s.

Ferries & Flights to the Dodecanese Islands, Greece - Rent a Car in the Dodecanese Islands

Transportation to the Dodecanese Islands Greece is very frequent. There are flights to the Dodecanese Islands throughout the year, mainly from Athens Airport. The only Dodecanese Island that receives flights from Thessaloniki and Heraklion, Crete is Rhodes. There are also scheduled flights that connect the Dodecanese Islands to each other. The islands of Rhodes, Leros, Kos, Kasos, Karpathos, Astypalea and Kastelorizo have airports and interconnecting flights are programmed daily. The price of airplane tickets to the Dodecanese Islands depends on the season and the time of reservation. We suggest booking your flight well in advance for preferred seating and lower airfare.

Ferries to the Dodecanese Islands Greece depart frequently from Piraeus Port in Athens, particularly in peak summer months, when tourists from Greece and abroad flock to the islands for their summer holidays. The only port that is connected directly to Thessaloniki Port is Rhodes Port. Ferry connection in the Dodecanese Island cluster is frequent and well-organized. Apart from ferries routes that interconnect the islands, there are also ferries routes to other Greek Islands. The northern Dodecanese Islands are connected by ferry boat and hydrofoil with the Cyclades Islands (Amorgos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros) and islands of the NE Aegean cluster (Ikaria and Samos), while the southern Dodecanese Islands are connected by ferry boat and hydrofoil with Milos Island in the Cyclades, as well as the Agios Nikolaos and Sitia Ports Lassithi, Crete. Rhodes Island is the hub of the Dodecanese cluster, as it offers ferry boats to all the other Dodecanese Islands, the Cyclades Islands (Amorgos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros) and the Agios Nikolaos and Sitia Ports Lassithi, Crete.

In the Dodecanese Islands Greece, visitors can find a good selection of car rentals agencies that cater specifically to individual driving needs. With a trustworthy rental car, you can easily tour the Dodecanese Island of your choice and explore its attractions in comfort and style. You can also find a Dodecanese Islands travel agent to help you plan your tours and sightseeing agenda.