Patmos

This Greek island has many beauties to offer to visitors. Apart from its beauty and contemporary offerings, Patmos Island is rich in religious history as it commemorates an important point in Christian Theology. Patmos has history - St John was exiled here - and it has attractive scenery too as well as several excellent beaches. The combination of a deep water port at Skala and religious attractions in Chora make Patmos a favourite stop for Mediterranean cruise ships that often queue up to berth at Skala's long quayside.

There are two main "cities" on Patmos: Skala, the harbor area and where most of the residents live; and Hora (or Chora), the hilltop area dominated by the Monastery of St. John. The monastery and the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse, where the revelations took place, are major pilgrimage destinations and popular tourist sights as well. Skala is now the most populated and visited place on the island. It offers most of the public services and being the island's only port it has a selection of supermarkets, gift shops, restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, bars and everything you would expect to find in a commercial harbor .

The impressive stone monastery dominates majestically over most of the island, inviting you to approach it with respect, wonder and awe. Hora of Patmos is many times been referred to as the queen of all Hora's, not only because of the monastery, but for the Byzantine residences that are unique to the island and said to be the strongest built in the Aegean .Whitewashed houses, mansions, captain's residences, narrow streets and alleyways, all of which date back to the 15th century, are one of the reasons why this Hora is evidently one of the most expensive areas in Europe. Bought out mainly by foreigners the houses in Hora are in high demand.

There are both pebble beaches and sand beaches. Nudists go to Psili Ammos, as well as people in swimming costumes. The sandy beach of Grikos looks like a lake because there a small island in the front. another nice beach is in the area of Petra The beach is lovely Petra. Diakofti has fine sand and Kampos beach is one of the best in Patmos. The most impressive beach in Patmos has to be Psili Ammos, there's no doubt about that. It's the only sandy beach. The waters are clean and clear and usually there are even some waves.

A boat from Athens ( Piraeus ) takes 7 hours with Blue Star Ferries and 9-10 hours with ANEK ferries. There is also a catamaran "DODEKANISOS SEAWAYS" that reaches Patmos from the ports of Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos and Rhodes.

The fastest way to get to Patmos is by flying to Samos island international airport, Kos island international airport or Leros island domestic airport.