20 minutes to 2 hours from Turkey
They are between half an hour and two hours from the Turkish coast. Which port serves which island, how the express visa works and what to see when you arrive — it is all here.
- 0island guides
- 0islands with express visa
- 0Turkish ports with ferries
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Departures board
Leave the coast, be on the island by evening
The shortest crossings from Aegean and Mediterranean ports to the Greek islands: Kaş to Kastellorizo in 20 minutes, Çeşme to Chios in half an hour.
All ferry routes- Ayvalık Midilli ~1 h 30 min
- Dikili Midilli ~1 h 30 min
- Çeşme Chios ~30–45 min
- Kuşadası Sisam (Samos) ~1 h 15 min – 1 h 30 min
- Bodrum İstanköy (Kos) ~45 min – 1 h
- Turgutreis İstanköy (Kos) ~30–45 min
- Turgutreis / Bodrum Kalimnos ~1 h
- Bodrum / Kuşadası Batnoz (Patmos) ~2–3 h
- Bodrum İleryoz (Leros) ~2 h
Times are approximate and vary by season.
Highlights
Most popular islands
For you
What kind of holiday do you want?
Pick a style and we will list the islands that suit you.
Season guide
Which month, which island?
Pick a month and we will rank the islands where the sea is 21°C or warmer.
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Express visa
12 islands you can visit without a Schengen visa
You apply in advance through a ferry operator or agency; the visa is issued into your passport at the port. Up to 7 days, valid only on the island you enter.
How to apply
Regions
Five faces of the Aegean
5 islands
North Aegean
Chios, Lesvos, Samos and Lemnos — large, authentic islands opposite the İzmir coast.
7 islands
Dodecanese
Rhodes, Kos, Symi and Kastellorizo — the islands closest to Turkey's southwest coast.
5 islands
Cyclades
Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos — whitewashed villages and the classic image of Greece.
1 islands
Crete
Greece's largest island: Minoan palaces, gorges and long beaches.
2 islands
Ionian Islands
Corfu and Zakynthos — green islands on Greece's west coast.
Guides
Read before you go
10 places to see in Rhodes
From the medieval town to the Acropolis of Lindos — the ten highlights of Rhodes.
Read moreWhere to stay in Chios: an area-by-area guide
Chios town, Karfas, Kardamyla and the mastic villages — which area suits whom.
Read moreTaking your car to Kos: documents and tips
Can you take your own car from Bodrum to Kos? Documents, insurance and the express visa.
Read moreFAQ
Your questions answered
The most common questions about visas, ferries and money. Can't find yours? Write to us.
Do I need a visa for the Greek islands?
For Turkish citizens the general rule is a Schengen visa. However, 12 Aegean islands offer an express (on-arrival) visa: you apply in advance through a ferry operator or agency and can stay up to 7 days.
Which islands offer the express visa?
Lesvos, Lemnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Patmos, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi, Rhodes, Kastellorizo and Samothrace. Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and the Ionian Islands are not included.
Can I hop between islands with the express visa?
No. The express visa is valid only on the island you enter. To travel to another island, Athens or other Schengen countries you need a Schengen visa.
Which Turkish ports have ferries?
Ayvalık and Dikili (Lesvos), Çeşme (Chios), Kuşadası (Samos), Bodrum and Turgutreis (Kos, Kalymnos), Datça (Symi), Marmaris and Fethiye (Rhodes), Kaş (Kastellorizo). Some routes run only in summer.
What currency is used on the islands?
The euro. Cards are accepted in most places; carry cash for small tavernas, kiosks and water taxis.
When is the best time to visit?
June–September for swimming; May and late September–early October for a calmer, better-value trip. Compare sea temperatures month by month on the “When to go” page.
