The Greek Island of Meis/Kastellorizo – Things To Do

Arriving by ferry to the Dodecanese Greek island of Meis (or Kastellorizo as it’s known outside of Turkey) – just fills you with that complete happy satisfaction that not all in the world is racing along and over-developed.

For the traveller craving tranquility, idylls are still very much in existence. And Meis (aka Meğisti) ticks all those perfect-dreamy-Greek-island boxes.

It’s a blissful escape.

But what to do in your little idyll once you’ve taken oodles of photos from your ferry and disembarked?

We’ve come up with a few tips for things to do in Meis/Kastellorizo.

But first, a little intro…

Intro To Kastellorizo, Megisti, Meis

What’s in a name? Greek islands always have alternative names, don’t they?

Kastellorizo is perhaps the most common name – the name given to the island when it was administered by Italy – and means Red Castle.

Megisti, the island’s Greek name, means ‘biggest.’

The island is titchy – the smallest of the Dodecanese – but it’s the largest of the archipelago in the area. All relative, you see?

We love that name!

And Meis – well that’s the Turkish name for the island. And the one we’re more familiar with, these days as we always travel to the island from Turkish shores.

‘You will either love Kastellorizo and stay a week, or crave escape after a day.’ (Rough Guide To The Greek Islands 2002)

‘It takes a certain amount of decisiveness and a sense of adventure to come to tiny, rocky Kastellorizo, a mere speck on the map 118 kilometres east of Rhodes. (Lonely Planet Greece 2004)

Regular Visitors

If you’re a regular visitor to this blog, you’ll know that, in the past, we were regular visitors to Meis; every twelve weeks or so, in fact. And we can definitely stay for a day without craving escape.

Does this mean we have ‘decisiveness and a sense of adventure’?

Hmm, well we may have a bit of that in us I guess?

But when that sentence was written, I think the author was perhaps thinking about those wanting to visit Kastellorizo from its nearest Greek neighbour, the island of Rhodes, 70 nautical miles away.

But Meis also has a very healthy supply of foreign visitors from Turkey.

The pretty town of Kaş is just 2.5 kilometres across the water and is the departure point for foreigners – us included – hopping over to Meis to take a day trip or longer stay.

The Kaş-Meis ferries make daily trips through summer. And a few times a week in winter.

So, if you find yourself on the beautiful Greek island of Kastellorizo and you’re wondering how you’re going to while away the hours, here are our recommendations for survival and enjoyment…

We love the place!

Our Top Things To Do In Meis / Kastellorizo

If you’re a hopeless thrill-seeker or an adrenaline-junkie, well, you’re gonna struggle here, people.

But, if you’re ready to chill and enjoy the solitude of this easternmost Greek island, let’s get rolling…

1. Get Some Height For Views Of Meis & Beyond

Take yourself off up the winding roads. Get your camera out and take countless photos of the fantastic Meis scenery.

There’s a ridiculously big army barracks up the road going towards the west of the island – put your camera away here!

There are signs warning you that entry and photos are forbidden. And we never much fancy putting them to the test by continuing in snap happy ways.

If you’re feeling fit and energetic and you want even more height, there’s a couple of obvious choices.

Climb the cliffside Kastellorizo cliff steps that lead to a monastery – amazing views over Meis harbour, over to Kaş and elsewhere along the Lycian Turkish coast.

Those are the steps you can see winding their way up the almost vertical cliff face behind the harbour.

You can also hike to the Paleokastro Fortress.

Sturdy shoes and ample water are essential for these walks.

Even if you don’t want to venture too far, just a little bit of height is still completely rewarding as you see the island from so many angles.

2. Explore The Side Streets Of Kastellorizo Town

In the past, Meis had a significantly larger population – and at least twice the amount of villas than it has today.

Slowly, slowly, ex-islanders and younger generations are returning to the island (mainly from Australia) to renovate dilapidated buildings or to build new summer homes from scratch.

In the summer months, don’t be surprised to hear lots of Australian accents which suddenly flip into Greek conversation.

A Photographer’s Dream

If you love to take photos, the Meis side streets are going to keep you entertained for a good couple of hours.

The streets are traffic-free, narrow, stepped and cobbled.

Villas are of the Anatolian Greek style with cute balconies and shuttered windows.

It’s a mix of whitewashed and pastel shades. And, as most life is centred around the harbour, you usually have all of this to yourself…bar the odd group of builders!

3. Eat, Drink, & Chill Around The Harbour

Meis is one of those picturesque islands where most of the activity is set around the harbour.

If you’re anything like us, you won’t find any problem whatsoever is whiling away a few hours sat here in the company of international day trippers, summer dwellers and hardcore, full time islanders.

Greek Tipples

We live in Fethiye in southwest Turkey, so, as well as soaking up a bit of Greek island scenery and atmosphere when we hop over to Meis, we also relish the opportunity to partake in a few Greek tipples.

Mythos Hellenic lager is the main beer of choice on the island – we love us a Mythos or two.

Amstel is also a feature of the Greek beer menus. But Mythos pips it, for us.

But it’s not all about beer.

As you sit along the harbour of Meis, you will notice lots of locals enjoying glasses of strong, iced coffee. This is often served black.

Why not join the frappe party to see what the attraction is?

I find the black one a bit too strong. So I opt for a milky version packed with ice cubes. So refreshing when the weather’s hot.

Okay, we need to come clean, here.

This is a ‘things to do in Meis/Kastellorizo’ post. And so, for that reason, we’ll tell you that most of the Kastellorizo restaurants around the harbour specialise in simple, fresh seafood served with an array of Greek mezedes.

Well, it’s a Mediterranean Greek island with lots of pretty, colourful fishing boats in the harbour.

Fishing and tourism are the main trades…so what else would you expect?

A Pork Fix

So, yes, by all means, enjoy the seafoods of the harbourside tavernas. They’re usually cooked on the open barbecue and look delicious.

But we visit Meis from our home in Turkey. Fethiye has an amazing fish market and local seafood restaurants that we frequent quite a lot.

And, you see, the Kastellorizo restaurants also do fantastic barbecued pork!

So, as well as fish, if you’re an out and out meat eater, you’re gonna love sitting along the harbour.

The pork chops in Meis are huge! And juicy and tender.

As we make the journey from Fethiye to Kaş for our sail over to Meis, Barry debates aloud: pork souvlaki or pork chop?

Chop wins, more often than not.

No debate in my head about our upcoming lunch…

Eating in Meis is all about the enjoyment of the ingredients or the multitude of mezedes (the same style of eating as Turkish meze) and indulgence in your food of choice.

Most Meis restaurants serve these fabulous Greek pork sausages grilled on the open barbecue.

If you’re a sausage aficionado, don’t miss these – especially when served with real chips!

Caretta Caretta & Cats

As you might expect from a Greek island, as you eat, drink and chat the hours away in any of the restaurants along the harbour, you’re going to be the best friend of numerous cats.

4. Take In Some History Of Meis Island

All Greek islands have their own individual history, traditions and dialects and Meis is no different.

As you enter the harbour of Meis by boat, you’ll see a mosque and the castle of the Knights of St. John.

The Mosque

The mosque is home to a small culture museum displaying life and culture on Meis.

A short video is shown at noon highlighting Meis in its heyday and explaining how it came to be the island that it is today…it’s a moving tale.

The Archaeological Museum

For ancient history – and more fabulous views – head to the archaeological museum, just above the mosque.

The museum building is as interesting as the collections inside.

The Castle

From the archaeological museum, you can continue uphill and clamber around the castle of the Knights of St. John.

Naturally, it being a castle, this is a perfect vantage point for surveying your surroundings.

There are amazing views around the harbour and the Mandraki neighbourhood and back over to Kaş.

Greece’s one and only Lycian rock tomb can be visited from here, too.

5. Take A Swim In Meis

The sea around Meis is so inviting – turquoise and clear.

There’s a couple of places around the harbour with steps leading into the water, probably placed there for guests of some of the few places to stay on the island.

By the way, apparently it is illegal to swim the whole way across from one side of the harbour to the other?!

A wander over the hill to Meis’s other main neighbourhood, Mandraki, also gives you a few swimming opportunities – as well as another little area to explore, of course.

If you are swimming, beware the sea urchins. The sea bed is rocky, the sea is clear. So you can see them lurking, waiting for unsuspecting feet to land on them.

Did you know… After spending a night on Meis, Pink Floyd vocalist and guitarist, David Gilmour, was inspired to write the instrumental track, Castellorizon. The track appears on his third solo album, On An Island.’

6. Take A Boat Trip To The Blue Cave / Blue Grotto

Even if you are just on a Kaş to Meis day trip, there’s a handful of boat owners around the harbour that offer this boat trip to the famous Meis island Blue Cave.

We’re yet to do this trip. But we will do one day…

Some of these boat trips also take in nearby St. Georgios Beach, which also has a taverna.

7. Head Up To The Horafia District

When you get off the ferry in Meis, you’ll see some wide, whitewashed steps.

Head off up there and you will come to ‘suburban Kastellorizo.’

A small village square, Panagia Square, has the character-filled taverna, Ta Platania.

We always come up here for a drink, sharing our space with the odd local chap enjoying a beer.

No pretence here. If you want a traditional Greek taverna with home cooked food, this is your place.

Kastellorizo Churches

Just next to Ta Platania is the beautiful church, Agios Georgos tou Horafiou (Church of St. George)

The photo above makes us happy. Because, previous to 2023, this photo was of the derelict church and we said how much we’d love to see it restored.

At the time, we mused that perhaps the population of approximately 300 people didn’t merit resoration of another church.

Well, happily, the population of the island is once again growing (now just shy of 600) so maybe there’s enough people to once more use this 1906 church.

When we used to peer through the windows, it was an empty shell with bits of debris strewn across the floor.

Now, it’s a functioning place of worship that can be visited – when the doors are open, that is. We made do with once more peering through the windows.

Just opposite is another picturesque church built in 1835.

This is the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Elena, the patron saints of the island.

It’s possible to visit the church and services are held here too.

So, if you’re in Meis whilst a service is taking place, you’ll get to feel a bit more of life on the island.

The church has a distinctive bell tower. And there’s another link to Lycia on the opposite coastline here because the 12 granite columns supporting the roof in the church were transported from the ancient site of Patara.

8. Stay Overnight In Kastellorizo Hotels

Phew, that’s quite a bit to be getting on with for a day trip, isn’t it?

So, how about staying overnight, or longer on Meis?

There are a few little pensions, rooms and a handful of small hotels on Meis.

Book a night or two in Meyisti and you can enjoy the same tavernas as the sun goes down and watch the twinkling lights of Kaş, opposite the harbour.

9. Concede Defeat In Meis And Move On

If you are here from Turkey on a day trip, your boat will soon be taking you back to Kaş.

If you are a party animal, an adrenaline junkie or just in desperate need of a tad more land mass, well, you can take Kastellorizo’s only taxi to the airport – Kastellorizo Municipal Airport (KZS) – and take a direct domestic flight to the island’s nearest Greek neighbour, Rhodes – a 40 minute flight.

From Rhodes, you can also go on to other nearby Dodecanese islands such as Kos and Symi.

Or, you can wait for the ferry to Rhodes and other Greek islands to come and pick you up. Just watching the ferry being manoeuvred into the harbour is a marvel!

Your other alternative is to make the most of Kastellorizo’s proximity to Kaş and go off to explore Turkey.

Share this article