Getting from Mykonos to Telendos

You're heading to Telendos, a small island that broke away from Kalymnos in an earthquake around 500 AD and has been sitting just off its western coast ever since. The crossing from Kalymnos takes five minutes by small boat and yet the two feel like completely different worlds. Telendos has no cars, no roads to speak of and a single waterfront settlement with a handful of tavernas and places to stay. The rock face that rises behind the village is one of the most dramatic backdrops of any island in the Dodecanese and has made it a destination for serious rock climbers from across Europe. For everyone else it is simply a place to slow down completely.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry between Mykonos and Telendos. The island is reached exclusively by small local boats from Myrties on the western coast of Kalymnos, a crossing that takes around five minutes and runs constantly through the day. Getting there from Mykonos means reaching Kalymnos first, either by ferry from Piraeus or by flying to Kalymnos via Athens, and then making your way across to the western coast for the short crossing to Telendos.

What about flying?

Telendos does not have an airport so flying directly to the island is not an option. The nearest airport is Kalymnos, which is your gateway to Telendos however you approach it. The journey from Mykonos goes via Athens to Kalymnos and then overland to Myrties for the short boat crossing. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly to Kalymnos via Athens, make your way to Myrties and take the five minute boat across. Telendos is best done as an overnight stay rather than a day trip from Kalymnos. Eat at one of the waterfront tavernas in the evening, watch the sun drop behind the rock and wake up to an island with no cars and no noise. It is one of the simplest and most satisfying experiences in the Dodecanese.