Kastellorizo Greek island day trip from Turkey
Kastellorizo Greek Island. One fun thing you can do from Turkey is take a day trip to Greece. Two countries in one trip, let’s go! My holiday with my best friend Allison visiting from Australia, continued in delightful Kalkan on the Turkish coast.
We hopped on the dolmus bus from our nearby bus station, for about an hours ride along the coast, to the larger port town of Kas. From there, if you get up early, you can catch the ferry before 10am across to the super cute Greek Island of Kastellorizo (or Meis as the Turkish call it.)
Kastellorizo or Castellorizo is the smallest of the group of islands called the Dodecanese, the largest of which is Rhodes. I had certainly never heard of this particular one, but then there are a great many Greek Islands indeed.
The island is a short 45 minute ferry ride away, about a mile across the Levantine Sea, which is the easternmost part of the Mediterranean. It is about a mile off the coast of Turkey, but is only six kilometres long and three kilometres wide. The sea was calm and the winds light. Our visit was on a beautiful mid summer day.
Kastellorizo – a charmed Greek Island
As you draw in to the harbour on the ferry, the pastel coloured houses fringing the port become more and more visible. So pretty! This view certainly gives you a charming welcome. After passing through the very small border control (you will need your passport for this trip!) we embarked onto the island’s quayside.
The main harbour is the only town on the island, and most of the restaurants are nestled around the bay right here. We started to explore the small harbour and consider our refreshment options. The restaurants are so pretty with their table cloths, shady canopies and painted chairs.
Loggerhead turtle time
One restaurant looked a little more basic than the others but the proprietor was prepared. ‘Look!’ he said, ‘it’s Valari!’ Swimming right up to the side of the restaurant was a huge loggerhead turtle! The restaurant owner threw the remains of his shellfish catch out for him to eat and he came right in. I was super excited. These are an endangered species and very rarely would you see one in the wild like this. ‘I have been feeding him for forty years!.’ He said, and I believed him.
I even got to stroke his bony head as he popped up looking for more free dinner. This was a very good start indeed. Valari was incidentally also the name of the restaurant friend and he gave us a free cup of coffee so we would attract other customers to say hello to his turtle, and hopefully eat at his establishment. We promised to return for some fresh garlic prawns before we were due to leave the island.
Where to stay on Kastellorizo
Exploring around the harbour we encountered lovely high end boutiques and gift shops, picture perfect squares, and lovely bohemian hotels. Kastellorizo hotels are quite high end but there are also air BnBs here too. At the other end of the harbour, were those candy coloured houses which seemed to be mostly apartments for rent. We both decide that one day we will come back and stay in one of them.
The blue cave Kastellorizo
The opportunity to go on a short trip around the island to visit the celebrated Blue Grotto presents itself. This remarkable cave lies on the southeast coast of the island, and can only be reached by boat. It is much larger and more impressive than the famous Grotto Azzurra on Capri in Italy. The dazzling blue effect seen in the cave is created by the sunlight being reflected through the sea.
My other companions on the small boat were much more confident swimmers than I, and promptly jumped off the boat and swam into the cave. It took me a lot more courage but eventually, I lowered myself gingerly in to the sea after much protesting. I manage to swim inside behind the others to get a glimpse of the beautiful blueness.
We bounced back over the waves to the shore and returned to turtle restaurant for a spot of lunch. The prawns, caught that day, were as big as small lobsters and smothered in divine fresh garlic butter sauce. Dealing with the outer carapace of a giant prawn is never that much fun, but the meat inside was so delicious, it was definitely worth it.
Kastellorizo – a very special Greek island
We pottered back to catch the ferry home, very happy indeed. Kastellorizo is an idyllic place and it is all the nicer because it was a total surprise!
Apparently the island has become very popular in recent years for those looking for an isolated place. Its profile was raised by the 1991 Oscar winnng movie Mediterraneo by Gabrielle Salvatores which is set on the island during the Second World War. I think it would be lovely dining around the harbour in the evening but don’t expect a wild time, it’s very quiet.
The island is mountainous with high and steep coastlines which become increasingly difficult to cross. The terrain is poor and only a small amount of olives grapes and beans are produced here. Tourism is a lifeline. There isn’t even a source of fresh drinking water here, and today’s permanent population is less than 500 people.
If you are anywhere along the dazzling turquoise coast, this is one not to miss!
4 thoughts on “Kastellorizo Greek island day trip”
Out of curiosity, how do they get drinking water? Is it piped from a larger island, or is it rainwater like a lot of oceanic islands?
Great to learn about another idyllic and less populated Greek island. Interesting to read that they don’t have fresh drinking water; is water brought in bottled, or do they have tank water?
It sounds like you had a wonderful time in Kastellorizo!
I found the island to be a sanctuary of serene beauty and tranquillity, untouched by the hustle and bustle typical of more touristy Greek destinations.
I totally agree – it is quite unique!
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