A Travel Guide to Kastellorizo, Greece
Although Kastellorizo has no source of potable water or fertile soil, there is some evidence that the tiny (it's less than 10 square kilometers!) Greek island has been inhabited since the Neolithic times. However, most of its history is significantly more recent.
- The Red Fortress (for which the island was named) was built by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century.
- A Lycian rock tomb, perhaps one of the oldest "structures" remaining on the island (4th century BC) lays at the foot of the red stone castle. It is believed to be the only Lycian tomb in the Greek islands.
- The Paleokastro includes the ruins of several churches and is believed to date to around the 3rd or 4th century AD.
- The monastery of St. George of the Mountain sits high above the harbour, and is connected to the town by a path / stairway of 401 steps.
- Colourful, classic Greek houses with wooden shutters and balconies face the harbour. There used to be more of these traditional homes in the town, but the island was bombed during World War II and the traditional wooden structures were destroyed in the resulting fire.
Once prosperous, the island never really recovered after World War II. However, a 1991 Oscar winning film called Mediterraneo introduced the world to the beauty of the eastern-most Greek island and tourism has been on the rise ever since. In addition to tourism, Kastellorizo supports a small fishing industry and a Greek military base.
Kastellorizo is accessible by air or by sea. The island has a small airport (KZS) offering direct flights to Rhodes several times a week. Ferries connect the island to Rhodes (2 or 3 times a week during the summer) and Kaş (daily during the summer). And of course, several Turkish businesses offer daily boat trips and charters to the islands throughout the tourist season.
Due to its composition of razor-sharp, limestone cliffs dropping steeply into the sea, the island has no real beaches for swimming and sunbathing. But the beautiful clear water in the region is home to abundant marine life, making the area popular with scuba divers and naturalists. The island's rocky shoreline is dotted with sea caves, including the famous Blue Grotto – a gigantic, stalactite -filled cavern which is home to monk seals. The cave measures 75 metres long, 40 metres wide, and 35 metres tall, but access is via a small gap just big enough for a small dinghy or rowboat - and only when the sea is calm!
The charming island of Kastellorizo, Greece offers visitors the chance to sit back, relax, and enjoy spectacular views of the Mediterranean in peace and quiet. We always enjoy our visits there, and are confident you will too!
Explorer's Map of Kastellorizo, Greece
Our explorer's map does not list bars, restaurants, and hotels on the small Dodecanese island. (They surround the main harbour and you don't need a map to find them.) Instead, it focuses on Kastellorizo's sites of cultural and historic interest, including nearly a dozen churches and shrines on the Greek island. (If you prefer a hard-copy, a free, downloadable copy of the Kastellorizo map is available for printing on A4-sized paper.)
![map of Kastellorizo showing sites of historic and cultural significance](../img/gallery/map-kastellorizo-thumb.jpg)
Click to expand.
![map of Kastellorizo showing sites of historic and cultural significance](../img/gallery/map-kastellorizo.jpg)
Kastellorizo: A Photo Gallery
Updated September 15, 2021
Click on any image to expand it.
![Panorama of Kastellorizo, a Greek island in the Mediterranean](../img/gallery/J9364-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful buildings line Meis' harbour on a sunny summer day](../img/gallery/E5775-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful buildings line Kastellorizo's harbour on a sunny summer day](../img/gallery/E5777-thumb.jpg)
![Bronze statue of a pod of three dolphins leaping out of the water displayed in the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/E5780-thumb.jpg)
![Small ceramic tile with a drawing of a goat embedded into the cement walkway on Meis / Kastellorizo, Greece](../img/gallery/E5786-thumb.jpg)
![A view of the Meis harbour from atop one of the neighbouring hills](../img/gallery/E5806-thumb.jpg)
![Classic Greek house painted the traditional colours of blue and white](../img/gallery/E5807-thumb.jpg)
![The Kastellorizo town hall featuring several domed roofs](../img/gallery/E5811-thumb.jpg)
![A tiny white and blue Greek Orthodox church](../img/gallery/E5812-thumb.jpg)
![Buildings with orange clay roofs surround the harbour at Meis](../img/gallery/E5822-thumb.jpg)
![Gulet anchored in the Kastellorizo harbour surrounded by colourful buildings for which the island is known](../img/gallery/E5827-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful Greek houses lining the harbour at Meis, with towering red rock cliffs in the background](../img/gallery/E5831-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful Greek houses lining the harbour at Kastellorizo, with towering red rock cliffs in the background](../img/gallery/E5838-thumb.jpg)
![Traditional Greek house made of stone with bright blue shutters and doors](../img/gallery/E5849-thumb.jpg)
![Greek flag painted onto the otherwise barren rock face at Kastellorizo, Greece](../img/gallery/G9283-thumb.jpg)
![Greek flag painted on the cliff overlooking busy Meis harbour](../img/gallery/G9294-thumb.jpg)
![The mosque on the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9303-thumb.jpg)
![Arkadaslik's sailor admiring the colourful buildings while sailing into Meis harbour](../img/gallery/G9304-thumb.jpg)
![The view from the bow of a yacht when entering colourful Kastellorizo harbour](../img/gallery/G9308-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful buildings overlooking stunning turquoise water of the harbour at Meis](../img/gallery/G9315-thumb.jpg)
![Two women walking past bars, restaurants, and shops lining the harbour at the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9335-thumb.jpg)
![The Turkish town of Ka# can be seen in the distance behind buildings surrounding the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9351-thumb.jpg)
![Boats of all shapes and sizes (including a Turkish gulet) anchored in the Meis harbour](../img/gallery/G9365-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of a family of leaping dolphins in the Meis / Kastellorizo harbour](../img/gallery/G9373-thumb.jpg)
![Boats anchored in gorgeously clear water at the Meis / Kastellorizo harbour](../img/gallery/G9381-thumb.jpg)
![Orange clay roofs as seen when looking towards the harbour when standing on a hill above the main town on Kastellorizo island](../img/gallery/G9398-thumb.jpg)
![The entrance to the stairway to St. George Monastery on the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9403-thumb.jpg)
![The tree-lined stairway leading to the St. George Monastery at Kastellorizo, Greece](../img/gallery/G9412-thumb.jpg)
![The stone castle at Kastellorizo flying a Greek flag](../img/gallery/G9422-thumb.jpg)
![The first step of the stairway leading to St. George monastery, marked with the number one](../img/gallery/G9432-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of the Lady of Ro](../img/gallery/G9445-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of the statue of the Lady of Ro](../img/gallery/G9447-thumb.jpg)
![Turkish gulet anchored in front of colourful buildings overlooking the Greek harbour at Meis](../img/gallery/G9458-thumb.jpg)
![View from the back of a gulet departing from the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9485-thumb.jpg)
![Small islet with ruins of a stone building flanking the entrance to the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9486-thumb.jpg)
![Small islet with ruins of a stone building flanking the entrance to the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9489-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful Greek buildings on the northern tip of Meis](../img/gallery/G9493-thumb.jpg)
![Greek flag flying atop the ancient castle at Meis / Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9496-thumb.jpg)
![Panorama of Kastellorizo, a Greek island in the Mediterranean](../img/gallery/J9364.jpg)
![Colourful buildings line Meis' harbour on a sunny summer day](../img/gallery/E5775.jpg)
![Colourful buildings line Kastellorizo's harbour on a sunny summer day](../img/gallery/E5777.jpg)
![Bronze statue of a pod of three dolphins leaping out of the water displayed in the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/E5780.jpg)
![Small ceramic tile with a drawing of a goat embedded into the cement walkway on Meis / Kastellorizo, Greece](../img/gallery/E5786.jpg)
![A view of the Meis harbour from atop one of the neighbouring hills](../img/gallery/E5806.jpg)
![Classic Greek house painted the traditional colours of blue and white](../img/gallery/E5807.jpg)
![The Kastellorizo town hall featuring several domed roofs](../img/gallery/E5811.jpg)
![A tiny white and blue Greek Orthodox church](../img/gallery/E5812.jpg)
![Buildings with orange clay roofs surround the harbour at Meis](../img/gallery/E5822.jpg)
![Gulet anchored in the Kastellorizo harbour surrounded by colourful buildings for which the island is known](../img/gallery/E5827.jpg)
![Colourful Greek houses lining the harbour at Meis, with towering red rock cliffs in the background](../img/gallery/E5831.jpg)
![Colourful Greek houses lining the harbour at Kastellorizo, with towering red rock cliffs in the background](../img/gallery/E5838.jpg)
![Traditional Greek house made of stone with bright blue shutters and doors](../img/gallery/E5849.jpg)
![Greek flag painted onto the otherwise barren rock face at Kastellorizo, Greece](../img/gallery/G9283.jpg)
![Greek flag painted on the cliff overlooking busy Meis harbour](../img/gallery/G9294.jpg)
![The mosque on the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9303.jpg)
![Arkadaslik's sailor admiring the colourful buildings while sailing into Meis harbour](../img/gallery/G9304.jpg)
![The view from the bow of a yacht when entering colourful Kastellorizo harbour](../img/gallery/G9308.jpg)
![Colourful buildings overlooking stunning turquoise water of the harbour at Meis](../img/gallery/G9315.jpg)
![Two women walking past bars, restaurants, and shops lining the harbour at the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9335.jpg)
![The Turkish town of Ka# can be seen in the distance behind buildings surrounding the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9351.jpg)
![Boats of all shapes and sizes (including a Turkish gulet) anchored in the Meis harbour](../img/gallery/G9365.jpg)
![Statue of a family of leaping dolphins in the Meis / Kastellorizo harbour](../img/gallery/G9373.jpg)
![Boats anchored in gorgeously clear water at the Meis / Kastellorizo harbour](../img/gallery/G9381.jpg)
![Orange clay roofs as seen when looking towards the harbour when standing on a hill above the main town on Kastellorizo island](../img/gallery/G9398.jpg)
![The entrance to the stairway to St. George Monastery on the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9403.jpg)
![The tree-lined stairway leading to the St. George Monastery at Kastellorizo, Greece](../img/gallery/G9412.jpg)
![The stone castle at Kastellorizo flying a Greek flag](../img/gallery/G9422.jpg)
![The first step of the stairway leading to St. George monastery, marked with the number one](../img/gallery/G9432.jpg)
![Statue of the Lady of Ro](../img/gallery/G9445.jpg)
![Close-up of the statue of the Lady of Ro](../img/gallery/G9447.jpg)
![Turkish gulet anchored in front of colourful buildings overlooking the Greek harbour at Meis](../img/gallery/G9458.jpg)
![View from the back of a gulet departing from the Greek island of Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9485.jpg)
![Small islet with ruins of a stone building flanking the entrance to the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9486.jpg)
![Small islet with ruins of a stone building flanking the entrance to the harbour at Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9489.jpg)
![Colourful Greek buildings on the northern tip of Meis](../img/gallery/G9493.jpg)
![Greek flag flying atop the ancient castle at Meis / Kastellorizo](../img/gallery/G9496.jpg)