Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Photo by flickr user Werner Vermaak

The Dodecanese island chain fringes the Turkish coast, from the sanctified isle of Patmos in the north to tiny Kastellorizo (see 'Off the Map') in the south. The name means 'twelve islands', but in fact there are well over a dozen if you count the tinier ones. They include minute dots on the map such as Symi, as well as larger and more popular isles such as Rhodes and Kos. Rhodes has the greatest choice of luxury resorts, boutique hotels and budget guesthouses. It also has the pick of the sightseeing, with a unique medieval walled town built by the Knights of St John, the remains of several ancient cities, and an excellent archaeological museum. Kos is package holiday territory, with big resort hotels to match, but there are small and distinctive hotels on quieter islands including Patmos, Symi and Leros. Kos and Rhodes are the only islands in the group with international flights; to get to the others, you need to hop on a ferry or hydrofoil. Fortunately, there are plenty of these, and the Dodecanese is great for island hopping.

The order by which the hotels are listed bears no reflection on our preference. They all close from November to Greek Easter.

Written by Robin Gauldie