Traveling in Greece
*As of Feb 19, 2022. We will update as/if things change.
All travelers must complete a PLF (passenger locator form) before entering the country. This can be found on the Visit Greece App or travel.gov.gr. One is done per family (traveling together).
Travelers from Australia, Canada or US need ONE of the following:
- 2 doses completed no more than 9 months before arrival, or 3 doses (no time limit).
- proof of recovery of Covid-19, issued 14 days after the day of the first positive test and valid for 180 days after.
- negative PCR test (up to 72 hrs before arrival) or negative Rapid antigen test (up to 24 hrs before arrival).
Patmos is a Greek island part of the Dodecanese group. There is no airport on the island (there is a heliport though) so it can only be accessed by boat. There are a few options to look at. We give you 4 below. Check it out!
Option 1: Athens
There are ferries that go most days per week from the port of Piraeus (Athens) to Patmos. The companies that travel this route are called Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries. Some dates and times are:
August 20: leaving Piraeus at 23:55, arriving in Patmos at 08:15 on the 21st.
August 22: leaving Piraeus at 18:00, arriving in Patmos at 02:10 on the 23rd.
August 23: leaving Piraeus at 15:00 arriving in Patmos at 22:20 on the 23rd.
August 24: leaving Piraeus at 18:00 arriving in Patmos at 02:10 on the 25th.
Check ferry websites (below) for more dates.
Option 2: Samos
You can fly to Samos from Athens airport. From there you can catch a boat from the port in Pythagorion or Vathy to Patmos. There are options on August 20-22 but looks like no options from 23-25. Check the ferry sites (below) for specific times.
Option 3 - Kos
You can fly to Kos from Athens and then take a boat from Kos to Patmos. There are more options here with ferries everyday from August 20-24. Check the ferry websites for schedules.
Option 4 - Mykonos
There is a rare ferry from Mykonos to Patmos on August 23.
Departing at 23:10 and arriving at 5:35 am on the 24th.
Ferry Websites
When booking ferry tickets please note the difference in seat types.
Open deck/economy seat - you can sit anywhere that is not pre-assigned but it is first come, first served. Once you leave the seat, you may lose it.
Economy assigned/air seat - you are purchasing a numbered seat that will be yours for the entire duration of the trip. You can come and go as you please without the risk of losing your seat.
Cabin - For any overnight or longer ferries you can purchase cabins with beds and private bathrooms/showers. Rooms for 4 are likely bunk beds. Rooms for 1-3 are typically single beds.
**We recommend booking your ferries before April!!
Leaving Patmos will depend on where you decide to head afterwards. Some may be heading back home so you will want to take a ferry back to Athens or you can take a ferry to a neighbouring island (Kos, Samos, Ikaria) and then fly to Athens so you will be at the airport for your flight home.
Check the ferry schedules on the websites provided to plan your trip!
Athens is the major gateway for Greek travel so you may find yourself with some extra time there. It is full of things to do!
The majority of ruins are near the subway stops Thiseo, Akropolis and Monastiraki. We recommend going to the Acropolis and Parthenon in the early morning to avoid intense heat and crowds.
Monastiraki is a bazaar with many shops full of trinkets, clothing, souvenirs, etc. Additionally, there are a ton of clothing shops on Ermou which is between Monastiraki and Syntagma.
There are some good restaurants around downtown as well. Some good spots to try are Savvas (eat on the rooftop), Avli psiri restaurant, Diporto (hidden gem), Karamanlidika and Krinos for the best loukoumades. There are many more restaurants, these are just some recommendations for the downtown core.
The cocktail scene in Athens is also amazing. In the same Monastiraki area there are a bunch of cocktail bars with some amazing menus. Some top spots are: The Clumsies (also has good food, top 50 bars in the world), Six d.o.g.s, Tailor's House (good spot for a coffee as well), A for Athens (expensive but nice view on the rooftop at night time), Noel and Drunk Sinatra.
If you have a day or 2 to spend in Athens, this should fill your days nicely!
There are many islands to visit. Some are easier to get to than others. You can either fly or take ferries to many islands in Greece, using Athens as a main gateway.
Mainland is easy enough to travel by car, bus and train. Islands are accessible by boat and most by air as well. Connections between islands depend on the island chain. The Cyclades is the island chain closer to Athens with the popular islands like Mykonos, Santorini etc. Travel between all these islands is usually done by boat. Getting from these islands to Patmos is a little more complicated although there is a ferry from Mykonos to Patmos on Aug 23rd. If you are planning on visiting some of the islands in this region, I suggest catching the ferry from Mykonos to Patmos on Aug 23rd as it will make your life easier and save travel time. Alternatively, you’ll have to fly or take a boat back to Athens and then take one of the other 3 options to get to Patmos.
Paros, Ios, and Mykonos for partying.
Milos and Santorini for Romance and views.
Naxos, Antiparos, and many others in this region are also all good choices.
Crete is also a very popular destination however it is massive and will need at least a week to do properly. Getting from Crete to Patmos will be a little complicated. You'll likely have to go back through Athens.
Near Patmos in the Dodecanese (the island chain Patmos is in) there are also many options. Kos is more of a party island although it has its quiet spots as well. Samos is beautiful and worth a trip. It is very green and mountainous with many hikes and some amazing restaurants. Other options with connections to Patmos via ferry include Kalymnos (popular for sponge divers), Rhodes (Home of the colossus of Rhodes), Ikaria (blue zone, the island with the most centennials in Greece. Also a very beautiful island). These islands all have ferry service to Patmos, however the schedules vary by island so make sure to check ferry service before you decide to go.
If your phone is unlocked, you can buy a SIM card from Cosmote or Vodafone. Depending how much you spend it will give you data and a number to make calls. If you decide not to buy a new SIM, you can leave your phone on airplane mode and use it on WIFI. Almost all restaurants, cafes, and hotels have wifi for their guests to use.
We will both be reachable via Whatsapp throughout our entire trip.