Kasos by ferry
In the following lines, we have prepared a small user guide that will help passengers to travel to Kasos as easily and pleasantly as possible.
Find useful information on how to get to Kasos by ferry, local public transportation options to reach your overnight hotel, port addresses and embarkation offices, ferry schedules and prices, and real-time departures and arrivals.
Kasos by ferry is the best option you have and it can be a very nice and exciting experience and especially if you are doing some island-hopping too. Greek islanders are seasoned ferry experts and they prefer to travel by ferry because of the convenience and flexibility it affords!
There is a choice of Regular Ferries that are running frequently with stops along the way. Cars are allowed on most ferries, for an additional fee and children usually travel for half price!
Give a date and click on "search" to view the ferry timetables!
Notice: Each year and depending on the period, there may be more or fewer connections to Kasos. The biggest shipping companies (ferry operators) announce the new ferry schedules by the end of March and the rest of them by April-June each year!
Kasos ferry tickets
Arrange your ferry ticket in advance.
If your final destination is Kasos do not neglect to book your ferry tickets early enough to avoid last-minute surprises! We are sure that you do not want to ruin your vacation or change your destination because you will not find an itinerary available. How could you feel to be at the departure port and not be able to board the ferry to Kasos because it is fully booked?
On this page page, we will mention some reasons that make it necessary to book your ferry tickets to your destination in advance!
About Kasos
It is the most south island of Dodecanese complex, bearing an ancient history and many common features with the island of Crete, which is quite near.Phoenicians are considered to be the first inhabitants, while Homer includes Kasos in the list of islands which took part in the Trojan War. Despite its small size, the island had a great naval and commercial presence, also using its fleet to participate in the Revolution of 1821, fact which cost its complete destruction from the Turks in June 1824. Its later history is identical with one of the rest of Dodecanese islands, until the unification with the mainland in 1948. Many of Kasos’, as well as Karpathos’ inhabitants immigrated to America and Egypt, where they worked for the opening up of the Suez Canal in the middle of 19th century. The island extends over a surface of 66 km2, its coastline is 50 km long and it has 1,000 inhabitants. It can be reached by ferry via Piraeus, Crete (Siteia, Aghios Nikolaos), Rhodes, Halki and Karpathos islands or by airplane from Rhodes and Karpathos.
Kassos is first mentioned in Homer's Iliad where the Greeks go off to fight in Troy. The island has also been called Amphe, Achne and Astravi. The name Kassos comes, according to legend, from the island's first inhabitant, who was a Cretan prince. This indicates that the Minoans were amongst the first to settle on the island.
In the 8th century BC it was conquered by Rhodes, and 300 years later it became member of the Athenian League when war against the Persians united almost all of Greece.
During the Middle Ages Kassos belonged to the Venetians, but it was really a pirate nest. When the Turks ruled the island in the 18th century, it was reputed as a flourishing island with a strong commercial fleet. Ironically for the Turks, this helped greatly in the war of Independence that started in 1821, since the island contributed to the Greek side with a fleet of over 80 ships.
Sadly, this didn't help the island, since almost everyone died during the war: either as fighters, or when the Turks slaughtered the inhabitants. The Turkish rule here didn't end until 1921, when the Italians took over.
Kassos was finally freed in 1948. By then, the island was totally impoverished, and it is not until lately that the island has started to come alive.
What to see in Kasos
Fri is the capital of the island and is very picturesque with its stone houses. There is a church worth visiting here called Ag Spyridonas.
Emborios is another pretty village, with a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In Ellinokamara there are caves where archaeologists have found traces of Neolithic settlements. Sellai is a stalactite cave you can visit.
In Poli, the old capital, there are some remains of the Venetian Kastro, and a beautiful church, Ag. Triada.
Useful information
Municipality: 22450 41400
Police: 22450 41222
Medical assistance: 22450 41333
Port Authority: 22450 41288
Airport: 22450 41444
Bank: 22450 22330
