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Dodecanese Δωδεκησα

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RHODES ΡΟΔΟΣ

RHODES TOWN

EASTERN RHODES

WESTERN RHODES & THE INTERIOR

SOUTHERN RHODES

HALKI ΧΑΛΚΗ

EMBORIOS ΕΜΠΟΡΕΙΟΣ

AROUND HALKI

KARPATHOS ΚΑΡΠΑΘΟΣ

PIGADIA ΠΗΓΑΔΙΑ

SOUTHERN KARPATHOS

NORTHERN KARPATHOS

KASOS ΚΑΣΟΣ

FRY ΦΡΥ

AROUND KASOS

KASTELLORIZO (MEGISTI) ΚΑΣΤΕΛΛΟΡΙΖΟ (ΜΕΓΙΣΤΗ)

KASTELLORIZO VILLAGE

SYMI ΣΥΜΗ

GIALOS ΓΙΑΛΟΣ

AROUND SYMI

TILOS ΤΗΛΟΣ

LIVADIA ΛΙΒΑΔΕΙΑ

MEGALO HORIO ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΧΩΡΙΟ

AROUND MEGALO HORIO

NISYROS ΝΙΣΥΡΟΣ

MANDRAKI ΜΑΝΔΡΑΚΙ

AROUND NISYROS

KOS ΚΩΣ

KOS TOWN

AROUND KOS

ASTYPALEA ΑΣΤΥΠΑΛΑΙΑ

SKALA & HORA ΣΚΑΛΑ & ΧΩΡΑ

LIVADI ΛEΙΒΑΔΙ

WEST OF SKALA

EAST OF SKALA

KALYMNOS ΚΑΛΥΜΝΟΣ

POTHIA ΠΟΘΙΑ

AROUND POTHIA

MYRTIES, MASOURI & ARMEOS ΜΥΡΤΙΕΣ, ΜΑΣΟΥΡI & ΑΡΜΕΟΣ

TELENDOS ISLET ΝΗΣΟΣ ΤΕΛΕΝΔΟΣ

EMBORIOS ΕΜΠΟΡΕΙΟΣ

VATHYS & RINA ΒΑΘΥΣ & ΡΙΝΑ

LEROS ΛΕΡΟΣ

PLATANOS & AGIA MARINA ΠΛΑΤΑΝΟΣ & ΑΓΙΑ ΜΑΡΙΝΑ

PANDELI ΠΑΝΤΕΛΙ

VROMOLITHOS ΒΡΩΜΟΛΙΘΟΣ

LAKKI ΛΑΚΚΙ

XIROKAMBOS ΞΗΡΟΚΑΜΠΟΣ

KRITHONI & ALINDA ΚΡΙΘΩΝΙ & ΑΛΙΝΤΑ

NORTHERN LEROS

PATMOS ΠΑΤΜΟΣ

SKALA ΣΚΑΛΑ

HORA ΧΩΡΑ

NORTH OF SKALA

SOUTH OF SKALA

LIPSI ΛΕΙΨΟΙ

LIPSI VILLAGE

AROUND THE ISLAND

ARKI & MARATHI ΑΡΚΟΙ & ΜΑΡΑΘΙ

ARKI ΑΡΚΟΙ

MARATHI ΜΑΡΑΘΙ

AGATHONISI ΑΓΑΘΟΝΗΣΙ

AGIOS GEORGIOS ΑΓΙΟΣ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ

AROUND AGATHONISI

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When the Greek Gods were doling out sandy coves, blankets of wildflowers and lofty views, the Dodecanese seem to have received more than their fair share. Add to this a rich culture heavily influenced by Italian rule, azure waters lapping at their shores, and a wealth of natural and historical sites, and it’s not surprising that the Dodecanese beckon to so many.

Strung out along the coast of western Turkey and far from Athens, the Dodecanese maintain a certain air of separateness. Despite this degree of historical autonomy, outside forces have left heavy footprints across the islands’ past. Here Christianity took root in Greece and the influences of consecutive invasions by the Egyptians, Crusaders, Turks and Italians are still seen in the islands’ architecture and cuisine. The islands later became one of the final battlegrounds of WWII before formally becoming part of Greece in 1947. Only 26 of the 163 islands and islets are inhabited and most of these are quite literally a hop away from one another. Many are endowed with distinctive natural features like Kos’ lengthy beaches, Nisyros’ steaming volcano, or Karpathos’ windswept coastline. Others have captivating sights, such as Rhodes’ bustling old town, St John’s Monastery on Patmos and countless castles, frescoed churches and archaeological ruins dotted across the map. While the bigger islands of Kos and Rhodes afford resort-style vacations, the smaller islands like Lipsi, Leros and Kalymnos offer quiet retreats and traditional island life. If you’re a hiker, botanist, beachcomber, kitesurfer, archaeologist, historian or just someone longing for a sunlounge on a quiet beach, the Dodecanese won’t disappoint.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Living it Up Exploring the stylish nightlife and cafe scene in Rhodes Town

Other Worldly Climbing inside the volcano on Nisyros, with the steam rising around you

Stepping Back in Time Staying in Olymbos after the tours have gone home and seeing traditional lifestyle still intact Click here, on Karpathos

Feeling the Rush Cliff-diving and mountain-scaling on Kalymnos

Picture Perfect Stepping into the postcard-perfect harbour scene on Symi

Kicking Back Lounging on the long stretches of powder-soft beach on Kos

Royal Vista Playing king at Pandeli Castle, on Leros, with gob-smacking sunset views

Slowing Down Immersing yourself in the quiet life on Lipsi

Mystical Entering the cave where St John heard the voice of God on Patmos

POPULATION: 193,480

AREA: 2714 SQ KM

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History

The Dodecanese islands have been inhabited since pre-Minoan times, and by the Archaic period Rhodes and Kos had emerged as the dominant islands within the group. Distance from Athens gave the Dodecanese considerable