Getting from Santorini to Telendos

Telendos is one of those small Greek islands that stops you mid-thought. It sits just 800 metres off the western coast of Kalymnos, separated from it by a narrow channel, and the crossing by local boat takes around 5 minutes. The island is car-free, has a permanent population of a few dozen people, a single waterfront village of tavernas and small guesthouses, and some of the finest rock climbing in the Dodecanese on the limestone cliffs above it. The view back across to Kalymnos from the waterfront in the evening, with the lights coming on and the water between them going still, is one of the quieter pleasures of the eastern Aegean.

Take the ferry

There are no scheduled ferries to Telendos from anywhere in the wider Greek ferry network. The only way to reach it is by local boat from Myrties, a small village on the western coast of Kalymnos, with the crossing taking around 5 minutes and boats running throughout the day. Getting to Kalymnos from Santorini means flying to Athens and then connecting to Kalymnos by air, or flying to Kos and taking the short ferry to Kalymnos from there.

What about flying?

Telendos has no airport. The nearest airports are Kalymnos and Kos. The journey from Santorini goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Kalymnos, followed by a taxi or bus to Myrties and the 5-minute boat to Telendos. Total travel time is around 5 to 6 hours. 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 and make your way to Myrties for the local boat across. The boats to Telendos 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 much longer.