Kastellorizo Island, Dodecanese, Greece cruise port
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Kastellorizo Island, Dodecanese, Greece

Kastellorizo (Megisti) is Greece's most remote island — a car-free gem of pastel neoclassical mansions, piercing blue water, and a Blue Grotto so vivid it almost doesn't look real. Small ships only, and an experience unlike anywhere else in the Aegean.

⚓ Tender port🕒 Typical call: 5–8 hrs💶 Euro (€)🗣️ Greek (Turkish nearby)🐢 Sea turtles in the harbour
Docking
Tender — ships anchor in Megisti Bay; tender to the harbour front
Walk to Centre
0 min — tender lands you directly on the waterfront promenade
Best For
Blue Grotto, harbour photography, slow taverna lunches, history
Don't Miss
Boat to the Blue Grotto (€10–20 pp) and resident sea turtles at the quay

Getting Ashore

Kastellorizo has no cruise pier — all ships tender into the main harbour.

Getting Ashore

  • 1
    Collect your tender ticketShip-organised excursion guests board first. Independent travellers receive numbered tender tickets; wait for your group to be called.
  • 2
    Tender to the harbourThe ride is 5–15 minutes depending on anchorage. Tenders land on the cobblestone quay at the centre of the main town — cafés and tavernas are immediately in front of you.
  • 3
    No customs or entry formalitiesKastellorizo is part of Greece/Schengen. However, if your itinerary takes you into Turkish waters before or after, carry your passport — random checks do occur.
  • 4
    Watch your phone roamingTurkey is only 2 km away. Your phone may lock onto a Turkish network (Turkcell/Vodafone TR). Turn off data roaming on arrival or manually select a Greek carrier to avoid surprise roaming charges.

💡 Pro move: The island is almost entirely car-free. Everything you need is within a 15-minute flat walk along the harbour or a short boat ride.

Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line

There is no dedicated cruise pier — all vessels tender into Megisti Harbour.

Cruise LineTypical Berth / ArrivalDock or Tender
Small/luxury cruise lines (Star Clippers, SeaDream, etc.)Anchor in Megisti Bay, tender to Megisti Harbour quay📍Tendered
Expedition & boutique shipsAnchor in Megisti Bay, tender to Megisti Harbour quay📍Tendered

Top Excursions

Kastellorizo is small — the island is only 9 km² — but its key experiences pack real punch.

Iconic

Blue Grotto (Galazio Spilaio)

One of the Mediterranean's most spectacular sea caves. Sunlight refracts through the underwater entrance, turning the water an electric blue. You must lie flat in a tiny skiff to squeeze through the 1 m-high entrance — claustrophobes, be warned.

⏱ 30–45 min round trip🚣 By local skiff from harbour💶 €10–20 pp⚠️ Low clearance — not for claustrophobes
Book Blue Grotto boat trips →
History

Castle of the Knights (Castello Rosso)

The 14th-century castle of the Knights of St. John crowns the red rock above the harbour — giving the island its name (Red Castle). A steep climb up stone steps rewards you with the best panoramic view of the harbour and the Turkish coast.

⏱ 30–45 min🥾 Steep steps🆓 Free📷 Best harbour views
Find Kastellorizo walking tours →
History

Lycian Rock Tomb

The only Lycian-style monumental rock tomb in Greece, carved into the clifface near the castle entrance. Dating to the 4th century BC, it is a striking reminder of the island's ancient cross-cultural ties to neighbouring Anatolia.

⏱ 15 min🚶 Easy, flat walk from tender quay🆓 Free🏺 Unique in Greece
Find Kastellorizo history tours →
Culture

Mosque Museum

A beautifully restored Ottoman mosque at the harbour entrance now serves as a small museum showcasing local costumes, photographs, and artefacts documenting the island's turbulent 20th-century history, including the WWII evacuation of its population.

⏱ 20–30 min💶 ~€2–3 entry🏛️ Harbour front
Find Kastellorizo cultural tours →
Nature

St. George Islet Water Taxi

A 5-minute water taxi (€5–10 return) takes you to this tiny islet just outside the harbour, complete with a whitewashed chapel, wooden swimming platform, snorkelling water, a pebbly beach, and a small café. Perfect for a swim.

⏱ 1–2 hrs🚤 Water taxi from harbour💶 €5–10 return🤿 Great snorkelling
Find Kastellorizo boat tours →
Adventure

Monastery of Agios Georgios tou Vounou

Climb 401 stone steps up the mountain behind town to reach this fortified monastery (St. George of the Mountain). The reward: a stunning mosaic floor, a catacomb chapel, and sweeping views across the island and towards Turkey.

⏱ 1–1.5 hrs return🥾 Steep, 401 steps🆓 Free🌄 Panoramic views
Find Kastellorizo hiking tours →

Self-Guided Walks & Hikes

Kastellorizo is almost entirely car-free and flat along the harbour — it is one of the most walkable small ports in Greece.

Harbour Promenade & Town Loop

1.5 km · 20–25 min · Flat

Walk the full crescent of the pastel neoclassical waterfront from the tender quay, past the Lycian rock tomb, up to the Mosque Museum, then loop back through the back lanes. Look for sea turtles in the harbour water as you go.

  1. StartMegisti Harbour, Kastellorizo
  2. StopLycian Rock Tomb, Kastellorizo
  3. StopMosque Museum Kastellorizo
  4. EndCastle of the Knights Kastellorizo
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Castle & Mandraki Cove

2 km · 45–60 min · Some steep steps

From the harbour, climb the steps to Castello Rosso for harbour views, then descend the other side towards Mandraki — the island's closest thing to a sandy beach, a small bay a few minutes around the headland from the main harbour.

  1. StartMegisti Harbour, Kastellorizo
  2. StopCastle of the Knights Kastellorizo
  3. EndMandraki Beach Kastellorizo
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Climate normals for Kastellorizo Island, Dodecanese, Greece (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.

MonthAvg HighAvg LowRainy DaysSunriseSunset
Jan56°F / 13°C45°F / 7°C137:12 AM5:10 PM
Feb58°F / 14°C46°F / 8°C96:49 AM5:42 PM
Mar60°F / 16°C48°F / 9°C96:12 AM6:08 PM
Apr67°F / 19°C53°F / 12°C56:28 AM7:35 PM
May74°F / 23°C60°F / 16°C55:55 AM8:00 PM
Jun81°F / 27°C67°F / 19°C25:44 AM8:20 PM
Jul89°F / 32°C74°F / 23°C15:56 AM8:18 PM
Aug88°F / 31°C75°F / 24°C16:20 AM7:51 PM
Sep84°F / 29°C70°F / 21°C36:44 AM7:08 PM
Oct76°F / 24°C62°F / 17°C57:08 AM6:25 PM
Nov68°F / 20°C55°F / 13°C76:38 AM4:53 PM
Dec60°F / 16°C49°F / 9°C117:05 AM4:48 PM

Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)

Insider Tips

  • 📵
    Switch off data roaming: Turkey is 2 km away. Your phone almost certainly will latch onto a Turkish carrier (Turkcell/Vodafone TR) — and Turkey isn't in the EU, so data costs can be significant. Manually select a Greek carrier or disable cellular data as you step off the tender.
  • 💶
    Bring small cash: There is only one ATM on the island, on the harbour front. Card payments work in most tavernas but local skiff operators for the Blue Grotto are cash-only.
  • 🚣
    Book your Blue Grotto boat early: Skiff operators are easy to find on the quay, but on busy ship days they fill up fast. Go straight to the harbour as soon as you land and negotiate your trip.
  • 👟
    Wear proper shoes: The cobblestones are uneven and can be slippery when wet. Anything involving the castle or the monastery involves steep stone steps — sandals are risky.
  • 🐢
    Sea turtles at the quay: Resident loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) regularly swim right up to the harbour wall, especially near the tavernas. Look over the edge — you may spot one without any effort at all.

Cruises Calling Here

Upcoming cruises that call at Kastellorizo Island, Dodecanese, Greece. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.

Star Flyer
Star Clippers Cruises
Istanbul → Antalya
⚓ Calls 08 Jun 202711 nights11 portsDeparts 2027 May 29
View itinerary · 11 ports
11 days, one-way from Istanbul to Antalya
  1. 29 MayDeparting from Istanbul, Turkey, Galataport
  2. 31 MayDikili, Turkey
  3. 01 JunCesme, Turkey
  4. 02 JunSamos Island, Karlovassi-Samos, Greece
  5. 03 JunPatmos Island, Greece
  6. 04 JunDatca, Turkey
  7. 05 Junriver cruising
  8. 06 JunFethiye, Turkey
  9. 07 JunKas, Turkey
  10. 08 JunKastellorizo Island, Greece
  11. 09 JunArriving in Antalya, Turkey
Find this cruise to book →
Price on request
Star Flyer
Star Clippers Cruises
Antalya → Istanbul
⚓ Calls 11 Jun 202710 nights10 portsDeparts 2027 Jun 09
View itinerary · 10 ports
10 days, one-way from Antalya to Istanbul
  1. 09 JunDeparting from Antalya, Turkey
  2. 10 JunKekova Island Turkey
  3. 11 JunKastellorizo Island, Greece
  4. 12 JunFethiye, Turkey
  5. 13 Junriver cruising
  6. 14 JunSymi Island, Greece
  7. 15 JunPatmos Island, Greece
  8. 16 JunCesme, Turkey
  9. 17 JunBozcaada Island, Turkey
  10. 19 JunArriving in Istanbul, Turkey, Galataport
Find this cruise to book →
Price on request
Star Flyer
Star Clippers Cruises
Istanbul → Antalya
⚓ Calls 03 Aug 202711 nights11 portsDeparts 2027 Jul 24
View itinerary · 11 ports
11 days, one-way from Istanbul to Antalya
  1. 24 JulDeparting from Istanbul, Turkey, Galataport
  2. 26 JulDikili, Turkey
  3. 27 JulCesme, Turkey
  4. 28 JulSamos Island, Karlovassi-Samos, Greece
  5. 29 JulPatmos Island, Greece
  6. 30 JulDatca, Turkey
  7. 31 Julriver cruising
  8. 01 AugFethiye, Turkey
  9. 02 AugKas, Turkey
  10. 03 AugKastellorizo Island, Greece
  11. 04 AugArriving in Antalya, Turkey
Find this cruise to book →
Price on request
Star Flyer
Star Clippers Cruises
Antalya → Istanbul
⚓ Calls 06 Aug 202710 nights10 portsDeparts 2027 Aug 04
View itinerary · 10 ports
10 days, one-way from Antalya to Istanbul
  1. 04 AugDeparting from Antalya, Turkey
  2. 05 AugKekova Island Turkey
  3. 06 AugKastellorizo Island, Greece
  4. 07 AugFethiye, Turkey
  5. 08 Augriver cruising
  6. 09 AugSymi Island, Greece
  7. 10 AugPatmos Island, Greece
  8. 11 AugCesme, Turkey
  9. 12 AugBozcaada Island, Turkey
  10. 14 AugArriving in Istanbul, Turkey, Galataport
Find this cruise to book →
Price on request

Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.