48 Hours on Kastellorizo: Things to Do in Two Perfect Days
Kastellorizo is small enough to feel like your own, yet full enough to fill two perfect days. If you have just 48 hours on this remote island in the Dodecanese (known as Megisti in Greek and Meis across the water in Turkey) here is how we'd spend them: slowly, by the sea, with time for a swim, long lunches, and an Aegean sunset you won't forget. This is our favourite two-day itinerary for Kastellorizo, shared from our seafront home at Hotel Mediterraneo.
Day 1
A Slow Start: Late Breakfast on the Terrace
There's no need to rush on Kastellorizo. Begin with a morning breakfast on the terrace at Hotel Mediterraneo, right on the harbour front with a generous spread of fresh local flavours, homemade treats, fruit and good coffee, taken slowly as the port comes to life around you. It's the perfect way to set the pace for the day ahead.
Late Morning: Taxi Boat to the Blue Cave
Once you're ready, hop on a taxi boat directly from the hotel waterfront to the Blue Cave (Blue Grotto), the island's defining natural wonder. Inside, sunlight filters through the water and fills the grotto with an unforgettable, luminous blue. It's one of the most magical experiences Kastellorizo has to offer, and the ideal first adventure.
Afternoon: Back to the Hotel for a Swim and a Snack
Ask the taxi boat to take you back and hop off right at Hotel Mediterraneo for a relaxed afternoon. Cool off with a swim straight in front of the hotel, then linger over a light afternoon snack.
Late Afternoon: Wandering the Mansions and the Mosque Museum
As the heat softens, set out on foot to explore Kastellorizo’s harbour, lined with its typic neoclassical mansions and pastel façades that give the island its unmistakable character. Wander through the backstreets and discover the ruins and abandoned houses that offer a glimpse into the island’s former glory.
Continue to the old Ottoman mosque, now home to the island’s museum, where traditional costumes and historic photographs bring Kastellorizo’s dramatic past to life. Time your visit to catch the historical film that tells the story of Kastellorizo and its fascinating past. Ask our staff for screening times and more information.
Evening: Sunset at Palaiokastro and Dinner at Ta Platania
In the late afternoon, ask for a taxi to take you up to Palaiokastro, the ancient acropolis rising above the town, where the ruins and sweeping views are transformed by the golden light. Time your departure according to the day’s sunset, this is one of the island’s most spectacular view points, with the sun slowly sinking into the sea directly before you.
As the light fades, make your way back down to town and settle in for dinner at Ta Platania, a beloved taverna on a square, serving honest Greek cooking and the perfect setting for a relaxed island evening.
Day 2
Morning: The 300 Steps
Begin early, before the heat sets in, with the island’s classic hike: climb the roughly 300 steps above the town, rewarded with sweeping views across the harbour and rooftops below.
If you have the energy, continue along the trail deeper into the mountains to reach the Holy Monastery of Saint George of the Mountain. Here, you can explore the church’s atmospheric crypt, a memorable experience, but not for the faint-hearted. The passage is dark and confined, so take care if you are uncomfortable in tight or enclosed spaces.
Lunch and afternoon
Afterwards, take a taxi boat across to the little islet of Saint George (Agios Georgios), where a whitewashed church and sheltered waters wait. Swim, have lunch, and let the afternoon unfold slowly, there's nowhere you need to be.
Evening: Cocktails at Pergola and Dinner by the Water
Head back to the hotel to rinse off and change, then make your way to Pergola Bar for a cocktail as the harbour begins to glow and the last light fades from the hills. For an easier journey, ask our staff to arrange a taxi boat across the bay, the short ride is part of the experience, offering a lovely view back towards the town from the water.
Settle in with one of Pergola’s cocktails and take your time choosing. Their drinks are ideal for a slow island aperitivo: fresh, refreshing combinations built around citrus, herbs and quality spirits, with plenty of lighter options for a warm evening. Ask the bartender for something seasonal or for their signature recommendation, and enjoy it beneath the pergola as the harbour lights begin to shimmer across the water.
For your final dinner, continue to Lazarakis on the waterfront, where fresh fish and seafood are served just steps from the sea. Order whatever has come in that day, linger over a bottle of Greek wine, and let the evening unfold slowly, a fitting farewell to two perfect days on Kastellorizo.
Staying Longer? A Few of Our Favourites
If you're lucky enough to have more time, Kastellorizo rewards it. A few more of the things we love:
Take a taxi boat to Plakes, one of the island's favourite spots to swim from the flat rocks into clear, deep water.
Rent a boat, or hire a guide, to circle the whole island — discovering the French Bay, the second grotto, and the hidden coves you can only reach from the sea.
Cross the sea to Kaş, Turkey, for a change of scenery. Wander through its lively bazaar, explore the charming backstreets, and browse the local shops and boutiques.
Do nothing at all at Faros Bar, by the lighthouse — the island's home of unhurried afternoons.
Visit the Puzzle Museum, the only one of its kind in Greece, a quietly brilliant tribute to creative thought.
Follow in the footsteps of the film Mediterraneo — the Oscar-winning Italian movie shot on the island — and see the harbour through its lens.
Step into the sculptor's studio next door, the atelier of Alexandros Zygouris, just beside Hotel Mediterraneo.
Hike to the chapel of Agios Stefanos and reward yourself with a dip in the sea below.
Make Kastellorizo Yours
Forty-eight hours is just enough to fall for this island — and just short enough to leave you planning a return. Whenever you come, Hotel Mediterraneo will be here on the seafront, your home base for every swim, every sunset, and every slow morning.
