Ferry from Kastelorizo to Symi

Kastelorizo Guide

Located in the south east Mediterranean Sea, the Greek island of Kastelorizo lies around 2 km off the south coast of Turkey, 570 km to the south east of Athens, midway between the islands of Rhodes and Antalya and 280 km from Cyprus which is to the south east. The small island, which measures around 9 sq. km., has three capes: Agios Stefanos to the north, Pounenti in the south west and Nifti in the east. Located on a wide bay, between the capes of Agios Stefanos and Nifti, is the island's main harbour and only town.

The island's terrain mainly consists of high mountains which lead to cliffs down to the sea. In the more fertile areas of the island you can see olives, grapes and beans growing. The houses in the island's town are of Anatolian style and tend to be slender with timber balconies. To the east of the entrance to the harbour there is are remnants of a single story, former Italian governate, erected in 1926. Close by, is the island's former Ottoman mosque which dates back to the second half of the 18th century. The building has since been restored and is now a museum.

Ferries from the port connect the island to Rhodes, Kos, Nisyros, Piraeus, Kalymnos, Symi and Astypalea.

Symi Guide

The Greek island of Symi is one of the Southern Dodecanese and is located to the north of the island of Rhodes and is close to the coast of south west Turkey. The island is around 13 km in length, north to south, and about 8 km east to west and has a total land area of around 70 sq. km. The four main areas on the island are Yialos, which is where the island's main harbour is located, Chorio is the top town, Pedi Bay is the valley that is located below Chorio and Nimborios is the bay and settlement that lies to the north of Yialos. Also on the island is the small village of Marathounda and the Monastery at Panormitis.

There are a number of popular sites across the island and includes a number of old churches and monasteries with one worth visiting being the Church of Constantinos and Eleni on the southern slopes of the Vigla which has lovely gardens and terraces. Also on the island, and built by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century, is the Monastery of the Archangel Michael at Roukouniotis which was built on the site of a 5th century monastery, which itself was built on the site of a pre-Christian temple.