Patmos is a small Greek island, located in the Aegean Sea and part of the Dodecanese . Patmos is linked to Saint John the Divine as it was the island where he wrote the Apocalypse.

How to get to Patmos

You can get to Patmos by ferry. The island doesn’t have an airport but the close-by major islands do. You can fly into Samos , Leros, Kos or Rhodes and then take a ferry to Patmos or you can get on ferry from Athens (Piraeus).

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>>Flights within Greece
>>Ferries in Greece
>>Ferries from Athens to Patmos

Weather

Just like the other Dodecanese weather, Patmos is blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate. During the summer, the strong northerly wind (Meltemi) blows in the Aegean. But the temperature of the water stays high during many months and it is possible to swim even during the shoulder season (September to November).

The rainiest period is between November and February. The hottest month of the year is August (average high temperature 29C/85F; average low 23C/74F) and the coldest is January (average high temperature 14C/58F; average low 9C/49F).

If you don’t like heat, April, May, September and October are the most pleasant moths to plan a vacation in Patmos.

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What to do

Patmos Town (Chora) is located about 4.5 km from the port (Scala). The narrow alleys, the white chapels and the colorful courtyards make it a very interesting place to visit.

The beautiful monasteries are of Eastern Orthodox tradition and are all worth a visit. Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi is located on the eastern side of Chora. Celebrations on the Friday after the Easter are very interesting here.

Patmos Town’s historic center, along with the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse, have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The Monastery of Saint John the Divine was founded in 1088 and was built on a spot veneered both Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. The Cave of the Apocalypse is located about halfway up on the mountain along the road between the villages of Chora and Scala.

Kambos village is definitely worth a visit. It is located about 9 km north of Patmos Town. The whitewashed houses and the narrow allies are very picturesque. And there’s a nice beach as well.

Beaches

Psili Ammos Beach is located about 10 km from Patmos Town is very picturesque. But be aware that naturists gather on its south end. The closest village to the beach is Diakofti.

Getting out

The island of Agathonisi is located quite close and although it’s small and lacks tourist amenities, it is an excellent choice for a relaxing day trip.

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