August 1, 2026
The shortest way into Greece from Turkey is not a flight. Eight ports along the Turkish Aegean coast run scheduled boats to the islands facing them, and on some routes the crossing is over before a short-haul flight would have finished boarding.
The routes, port by port
| From | To | Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Ayvalık | Lesvos (Midilli) | About 1 hour 30 |
| Dikili | Lesvos | Seasonal |
| Çeşme | Chios (Sakız) | Under 1 hour |
| Kuşadası | Samos (Sisam) | About 1 hour 30 |
| Bodrum | Kos (İstanköy) | About 30 minutes |
| Marmaris | Rhodes (Rodos) | About 1 hour |
| Fethiye | Rhodes | Seasonal, longer |
| Kaş | Kastellorizo (Meis) | About 20 minutes |
Each port serves the island opposite it. There is no coastal service running along the Turkish shore from one Greek island to the next, so the route is chosen at the point of departure, not adjusted en route.
Who operates them
The lines are run by private operators, and most routes carry more than one. Ayvalık to Lesvos is served by Jalem Tur, Uğur Jale and Turyol; Çeşme to Chios by Ertürk Lines and Turyol; Bodrum to Kos by Yeşil Marmaris, Dentur Avrasya and Turkish Sea Lines. On the Bodrum route, departures can leave from the Kale, Liman or Turgutreis quays, so the ticket and the pier need checking together.
The visa rule that shapes the whole trip
Turkish citizens can use a visa-on-arrival scheme covering 12 islands: Rhodes, Kos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kastellorizo, Leros, Lemnos, Kalymnos, Symi, Patmos and Samothrace. It allows a stay of up to seven days, is issued for a single entry, and is valid only for the island you land on.
That last clause is the one that catches people. Island hopping onward from the arrival island is not covered; it requires a Schengen visa. A trip built around two or three islands has to be planned on the Schengen document from the start.
The cost has two parts: the official Greek visa fee of 60 euros plus the service charge added by the agency or operator, which takes the total to roughly 80 to 85 euros in practice. Children aged 0 to 12 do not pay the visa fee.
Season, frequency and cancellations
Frequency follows demand. A route with several daily departures in August can drop to a few sailings a week in winter, and some links close entirely between November and March. Anyone travelling outside the season should confirm the return leg before booking the outward one.
Wind is the other variable. The meltemi that blows across the Aegean in midsummer strengthens through the afternoon; at force seven and above the smaller craft stay in port. Morning departures are the safer choice when a crossing connects to a flight.
Practical notes before the pier
Tickets are issued against passport details and popular legs sell out in high season. Boarding closes earlier than most passengers expect, and ports are large enough that the walk from the car park matters. Vehicles travel only on the routes equipped for them, at a separate tariff and with prior booking.
Luggage is stowed by the door rather than kept at the seat, so valuables belong in a small bag you carry.
Frequently asked
Which crossing is the shortest
Kaş to Kastellorizo, at around twenty minutes, followed by Bodrum to Kos at roughly half an hour.
In Case You Missed It
Can I take a car across
Only on the routes that run vehicle-capable vessels, with a separate fare and advance booking. Most passenger boats on these lines do not carry cars.
Can I use visa on arrival and then continue to another island
No. The document is valid for the island of arrival only. Continuing onwards requires a Schengen visa.
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