Expats rejoice: ferry services resume between Turkey and Greece

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It has been almost two years since the last ferry ran from Bodrum to Kos before closing indefinitely due to pandemic precautions. I know this because my mother and a group of her friends were on the last boat that made the trip and they even had to quarantine themselves afterwards because of it. For those who live along the southern coast of Turkey, taking a day trip to a Greek island is completely normal.

The ferries with routes from Bodrum to Kos, Çeşme to Chios, Fethiye to Rhodes and Ayvalık to Lesbos are all relatively fast, organized and extremely pleasant. Most, if not all, ferries have services that depart in the morning and return the same afternoon, making a quick day trip to Greece both doable and fun.

There are several options when choosing ferries. (Photo Shutterstock)

If the short time span of four to six hours between the arrival and departure of the boats does not allow for an in-depth discovery of the islands, it is certainly enough time to have lunch, stroll around the port area of ​​each town and do some shopping. Of course, you can spend the night in one of these destinations and simply return on the day of your choice.

After a brief hiatus in services, fortunately for us southern expats and anyone wishing to take a short getaway to Greece, ferry services between Turkey and Greece have officially resumed. Hopefully we can now expect more destination options and day trips to be offered in the coming months.

From Fethiye to Rhodes

The first ferry from Turkey to Greece appears to be a trip that started on Saturday February 26. While it was scheduled the day before, the weather conditions necessitated a one-day delay. Keep in mind that during the off-season months, ferries must cancel their services when weather conditions do not allow safe passage. However, as with last weekend’s trip, ferry service is usually quickly rescheduled to the earliest day the storm watch will allow.

Nevertheless, the 1 hour and 45 minute catamaran trip is scheduled to sail from Fethiye to Rhodes every Friday and Sunday, departing at 8.30am for Rhodes, then departing for Fethiye at 5.30pm. The cost of the trip is 50 euros ($56). ) for a round trip on the same day, 60 euros for a round trip on different days and 45 euros for a single trip. The travel agency arranging the trips from Fethiye is Tilos Travel and it will also operate the Kuşadası to Samos route from the end of March. While the trip from Fethiye to Rhodes is admittedly one of the longest, lasting nearly two hours each way, the ferry ride from Kuşadası to Samos is much more digestible at just 40 minutes.

At the moment, the Fethiye-Rhodes route is the only route currently in service. However, at the end of March and in April, many other additional services are expected to operate between Turkey and the Greek islands. That said, Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and well worth a few days of exploring.


One of the ferry destinations is the island of Chios.  (Photo Shutterstock)
One of the ferry destinations is the island of Chios. (Photo Shutterstock)

Cesme to Chios

On March 1, the route from Çeşme to the island of Chios in the North Aegean will resume with ferries carrying vehicles taking off at 2 p.m. from Çeşme with a return service departing from Chios at 5 p.m. The route only lasts half an hour and will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On weekends, there will be even more services with a ferry departing from Çeşme on Fridays, starting March 5, at 7:30 p.m., and at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Ayvalik to Lesvos

One of my favorite islands to visit from Turkey has to be the island of Lesvos in the North Aegean, which will be accessible via car ferries from Ayvalik. The ferry lands in Mytilene, and the wonderful island offers many areas and beaches steeped in history and natural beauty to explore. Might be worth a visit, especially as ferry services are expected to resume within the next couple of weeks. Served by Turyol, the trip takes 1.5 hours but is well worth it, so check their website for the soon-to-be-determined ferry schedule between Ayvalık and Lesbos.

Bodrum to Kos

In April, services between Bodrum and the neighboring island of Kos in the Dodecanese will resume, although the days and times of the connections are yet to be determined. Speaking with Bodrum Feribot, I was told that it is likely the 20 minute trip will be operated by catamaran rather than ferry at this time. Although the ferry trip from Bodrum to Kos takes about 45 minutes, it offers the option of boarding with a car.


There is a lot to see on the Greek islands.  (Photo Shutterstock)
There is a lot to see on the Greek islands. (Photo Shutterstock)

Things to consider…

While in the past there were times when Turks were allowed to visit the Greek islands on day trips, nowadays a Schengen visa is required for Turks to set foot on Greek soil. Pandemic precautions are also in place, so it’s important to know the pre-boarding requirements, which currently include submitting a COVID PDF form and vaccination certificate. The travel agency you buy a ticket from can help you both with obtaining visas and providing updates on the latest pandemic measures regarding sea travel. It is forbidden to bring dairy or meat products into Turkey and these products may be confiscated at customs. Each passenger is allowed to bring one bottle of strong alcohol and one bottle of low alcohol, such as wine. Goods like these can also be purchased at duty-free shops, which are open on the Greek port side.

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