Getting from Alexandroupoli to Halki

If you are heading to Halki from Alexandroupoli you are making your way from the far northeastern corner of Greece to a car-free island just off the western coast of Rhodes in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of the country. It has neoclassical sponge merchant mansions around a horseshoe harbour and a pace of life that is as slow as it gets in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Alexandroupoli to Halki. Alexandroupoli's ferry connections are limited to Samothrace, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios and Lavrio. Getting to Halki by sea means flying to Athens first and then taking the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry, which takes around 12 to 18 hours, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki taking around 1.5 to 2 hours. The total journey by sea takes the better part of two days.

Getting there by air

Halki has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Flying from Alexandroupoli to Athens and then Athens to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours.

Your best option

Fly from Alexandroupoli to Athens and then fly to Rhodes and take the local ferry across to Halki. Give yourself at least two nights on Halki. The island is small enough to walk across in an afternoon and the pace of life rewards those who stay long enough to settle into it.