Dodecanese
Kastellorizo
The tiniest inhabited island in Greece — and one of the most unforgettable.
Getting around
Walkable
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
Flight or ferry
In pictures
Kastellorizo
Kastellorizo sits at the extreme eastern edge of Greece, just two kilometres from the Turkish coast and seventy from the nearest Greek island. Its population of around 500 lives in a single harbour of colourful Italian-era neoclassical houses curved around a bay of exceptional clarity. There are no proper beaches — swimming is from the rocks or by boat to the Blue Cave (Galazia Spilia), an illuminated sea grotto where refracted sunlight from below the waterline turns the water an electric blue. There is almost nothing to do except eat, swim, and sit with the particular feeling of being somewhere at the edge of the world that the map nearly forgot. The Italian film Mediterraneo, an Oscar winner, was filmed here in 1991 and captured something real about the island's quality of improbable beauty. For the right person, it is unforgettable.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Almost nothing to do and hard to reach — the entire point. Gets overwhelmed when cruise ships anchor offshore.
Where it sits
Dodecanese, Greece
Kastellorizo — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Kastellorizo? +
- The best months to visit Kastellorizo are May to October. It's very quiet, even in August, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Kastellorizo from Athens? +
- Kastellorizo has an airport, so you can fly direct from Athens in under an hour or take the ferry.
- Is Kastellorizo good for couples? +
- Kastellorizo is one of the most romantic Greek islands — sunsets, candlelit tavernas, sea-view rooms.
- Is Kastellorizo good for families with kids? +
- Kastellorizo is not the easiest island for families with young kids.
- Is Kastellorizo expensive? +
- Kastellorizo is affordable by Greek-island standards — value-for-money is on the weaker side, so set expectations.
- Do you need a car on Kastellorizo? +
- Kastellorizo is small and walkable — you don't need a car or scooter for most stays.
- What's the catch with Kastellorizo? +
- Almost nothing to do and hard to reach — the entire point. Gets overwhelmed when cruise ships anchor offshore.