Why Charter a Yacht in the Dodecanese Islands?
The Dodecanese are the islands we recommend to returning charter guests. They are not the easiest place to reach, and that is exactly why they still have their soul: Ancient Greek ruins, medieval castles, Ottoman ports, and anchorages with nobody in them, all strung along the Turkish coast.
You get real contrast here: from the walled old town of Rhodes to the volcanic crater of Nisyros. It is a larger area than it looks, so the week rewards planning smart rather than planning more.
Still choosing a region? Our Greece itineraries guide compares the main charter areas in one place.
Broker insight
The Dodecanese is not the easiest place to reach from Athens, and that is exactly why it keeps its soul. My advice is to stop fighting the geography: fly to Rhodes and start there. You step off the plane into a medieval old town, and the fleet, the provisioning, and your first anchorage at Symi are all within easy reach.
Chris de Kock
Charter Broker, Sales Broker, Active CYBA Member
The Most Popular Dodecanese Islands for Yacht Charters
These are the four islands everyone asks us about, with the honest version of each. Further down you will find the quieter stops our captains rate just as highly.
Rhodes
Start here. Rhodes has a proper airport, a UNESCO-listed old town, and a real marina. The medieval core is one of the best-preserved in Europe, and Lindos Acropolis is worth the trip inland. Anchor off Anthony Quinn Bay for clear water and quiet nights.
Symi
Just over 20 nautical miles from Rhodes, Symi is one of the most striking arrivals you will ever make by boat: colorful neoclassical houses stacked up the hills of the harbor. Swim off Nanou Beach, and anchor overnight just outside the port.
Kos
We usually recommend Kos for starting or restocking: the marina is modern and convenient, and the Asclepeion is one of the best ancient medical sites in Greece. From here the quiet northern chain opens up: Kalymnos, Leros, Patmos.
Patmos
The holy island of the Dodecanese: the Monastery of St John crowns the hill above Skala harbor on Patmos, and the Cave of the Apocalypse sits halfway up. Quiet bays on the north coast, and one of the most atmospheric evening harbors in Greece.
Weather and Distances in the Dodecanese
The meltemi reaches here too, but it arrives milder than in the Cyclades and there are more islands to hide behind. The real planning factor is distance: the chain stretches far, so the week works best with fewer stops and longer stays.
Approximate passage times in calm weather:
| Leg | Distance | Motor yacht (~16 kn) | Catamaran (~7 kn) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodes to Symi | ~23 nm | ~1.5 hrs | ~3.5 hrs |
| Rhodes to Kos | ~60 nm | ~4 hrs | ~9 hrs |
| Kos to Kalymnos | ~12 nm | ~45 min | ~2 hrs |
| Kos to Patmos | ~38 nm | ~2.5 hrs | ~5.5 hrs |
A Realistic Dodecanese Week
The mistake we see most in Dodecanese planning is trying to cover the whole chain in seven days. Two shapes actually work. A round-trip from Rhodes gives you the Old Town, an overnight at Symi’s amphitheater harbor, a swim day at Nanou, and the Nisyros volcano before returning along the Lindos coast. A one-way from Rhodes to Kos covers more ground without doubling back: Symi, then Tilos or Nisyros, then Kalymnos and Leros before finishing at Kos’s modern marina and airport.
Either way, the yacht is what makes this region work: the islands the ferries connect badly are exactly the ones worth seeing, and your captain strings them together in an order the schedule-bound visitor never could. Tell us which islands are must-sees and we will tell you honestly whether they fit one week.
Combining the Dodecanese with Turkey
The Turkish coast sits within sight, and combining the two countries is the most asked question we get about this region. The honest answer: crossing fees run around €2,000 per entry, Turkish-flagged yachts cannot charter in Greek waters at all, and the rules move with the politics. The plan that works is a week in each country on two different yachts, and we arrange both halves.
Best Yacht Type for a Dodecanese Yacht Charter
Motor yachts are the best fit for the long legs: Rhodes to Kos in an afternoon instead of a full day at sea.
Catamarans shine on the tighter northern routes out of Kos: Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos, all short hops with protected bays.
Sailing yachts get real wind here without Cyclades exposure. See our motor yacht vs catamaran guide for the full comparison.
Where to Start Your Dodecanese Yacht Charter
Rhodes gives you the biggest yacht selection, the best provisioning, and an airport that connects well to Europe, with the marina right by the Old Town.
Kos is smaller but well-placed for heading north to Kalymnos, Leros, and Patmos. We recommend one-way charters between Rhodes and Kos if you want to cover more ground without doubling back; our round-trip vs one-way guide covers the trade-offs.
Dodecanese yacht charter itineraries.
7-Day Dodecanese Yacht Charter Itinerary from Rhodes
A 7-day Dodecanese loop from Rhodes: Symi's harbor arrival, the Nisyros volcano, and swim days between the old towns.
See full itinerary
7-Day Dodecanese Yacht Charter Itinerary from Kos
From Kos into the quiet northern Dodecanese: Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi, and Patmos, short hops with protected bays.
See full itineraryDodecanese charter guides.
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Read guideDodecanese Charter Questions, Answered
How much does a Dodecanese yacht charter cost?
Crewed catamarans start around €30,000 a week and motor yachts around €60,000, plus APA and Greek VAT. The locally based fleet is small, so booking early matters more here than anywhere else in Greece.
Can we combine Greece and Turkey in one charter?
Not on one yacht in practice: crossing fees run around €2,000 per entry, Turkish-flagged yachts cannot charter in Greek waters, and the rules shift. The plan that works is a week in each country on two vessels, and we arrange both.
Should we start in Rhodes or Kos?
Rhodes for the biggest fleet, the old town, and the best provisioning; Kos for heading north. A one-way between them covers the most in a week.
Is the Dodecanese windy?
The meltemi arrives milder than in the Cyclades, and the chain offers more islands to shelter behind. Distances, not wind, are the real planning factor.
Why is the Dodecanese so quiet?
It is harder to reach from Athens and the ferries connect the smaller islands badly, which is exactly the problem a yacht solves.
Which Dodecanese island do captains rate highest?
Symi, for the most striking harbor arrival in Greece, with the Nisyros volcano as the stop nobody expects and nobody forgets.
