Island group · Δωδεκάνησα
Knights’ castles, Italian-era harbours and the warmest, longest season in the Aegean.
Symi
01IntroductionΔωδεκάνησα
The “twelve islands” sit closer to Turkey than to Athens. Their history shows it: Byzantine churches, a medieval walled town built by the Knights of St John, Ottoman fountains and Italian-era civic buildings, sometimes all in one harbour.
For couples, the pairing is often Rhodes and Symi. Rhodes offers flights and a walled old town at night. Symi is a short boat ride away and has one of the prettiest harbours in Greece.
- When to go
- May to October; Rhodes stays warm into November
- Meltemi, July–August
- Meltemi: moderate
- Islands we suggest
- 5
02At a glance
- Best for
- History in layers · A longer swimming season · Combining a big island with a tiny one
- When to go
- May to October; Rhodes stays warm into November
- Meltemi
- Kos and Karpathos are notably windy, and kite-surfers come for it. Rhodes splits in two: the west coast takes the wind and the east coast is far more sheltered. Ferries, beaches and sheltered spots
- Getting there
- Rhodes and Kos take international flights in season. Local ferries and catamarans link Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Patmos.
- Skip it if
- You want short ferry hops from Athens. The Dodecanese is a long sail from Piraeus, so most people fly in.
03The islands, for couples
- 01 Rhodes The walled Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lindos and its acropolis are on the east coast, which is the more sheltered side.
- 02 Symi A horseshoe harbour of neoclassical houses in ochre and rose. Most day-trippers leave by late afternoon. Stay the night.
- 03 Patmos Calm and quietly elegant, with the Monastery of St John above the Chora. Good for slow days.
- 04 Tilos Small, very quiet and good for walking.
- 05 Karpathos Rugged, traditional Olympos in the north and wild beaches. One of the windiest islands in summer, which kite-surfers love.
04Sites, food and stays
Ancient sites nearby
- Acropolis of LindosA Temple of Athena and a Hellenistic stoa on a cliff above a white village and two bays. Climb early; it is exposed and hot by midday.
- Medieval Town of RhodesThe Byzantine city was rebuilt by the Knights of St John after 1309, with the Street of the Knights and the Grand Master’s Palace. It marks the end of this timeline.
What to eat
- Symi shrimpTiny red shrimp, fried whole and eaten shell and all, with ouzo on the harbour.
- PitaroudiaRhodes’s chickpea fritters, flavoured with onion, mint and tomato.
Enquire
Thinking about the Dodecanese?
Tell us your dates and we’ll suggest the right island or two, and the ferry order that works in your month.
Lindos beach, Rhodes