Getting from Crete to Telendos

If you are heading to Telendos from Crete you are going to a tiny car-free island sitting just 800 metres off the western coast of Kalymnos, separated from it by a narrow channel that takes around 5 minutes to cross by local boat, with some of the finest rock climbing in the Dodecanese and a pace of life so slow it borders on suspended animation.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Telendos. The island is accessible only by local boat from Myrties on the western coast of Kalymnos, with the trip taking around 5 minutes and boats running throughout the day. Getting to Kalymnos from Crete means flying via Athens first.

Getting there by air

Telendos has no airport. The nearest airports are Kalymnos and Kos. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then Athens to Kalymnos takes around 1 hour, followed by a taxi or bus to Myrties and the 5 minute boat to Telendos. Total travel time is around 4 to 5 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Kalymnos via Athens and make your way to Myrties for the local boat across. The boats run regularly throughout the day and you do not need to book in advance. Give yourself at least two nights on Telendos. The island is small enough to walk around in an hour and tranquil enough to make you want to stay considerably longer.