Rhodes, Kos & Leros Itinerary: How to Island Hop the Dodecanese
If you’re looking for a Greek island-hopping route that combines historic towns, beautiful beaches, great food and smaller islands that feel a little less touristy, the Dodecanese are an incredible place to start.
We spent part of our summer travelling through Rhodes, Kos and Leros, and this route ended up being a great mix of bigger-name Greek islands and a quieter, more local-feeling destination.
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Why Island Hop the Dodecanese?
The Dodecanese are a group of Greek islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea, close to the coast of Turkey. They’re a great region for island hopping because the islands are relatively close together and connected by ferries, but each one has a completely different feel.
The route that makes the most sense is Rhodes → Kos → Leros. Rhodes is an easy starting point with good flight connections, and you can work your way through the islands without too much backtracking. You can also do the route in reverse depending on which flights are cheapest.
That’s not quite how we did it. We started in Rhodes, went to Leros, then crossed to Bodrum, continued to Kos, and ended back in Rhodes. We wanted to include Bodrum in the trip, and we had already booked round-trip flights to Rhodes before we finalized the rest of our itinerary. Whatever island you start with I do not recommend going from Rhodes to Leros, as you’ll be passing Kos and spending extra time on the ferry unnecessarily.
If you’re planning this route from scratch, I’d recommend looking at one-way flights into Rhodes and out of Leros before booking anything. Depending on flight prices and schedules, reversing the itinerary can also make more sense. Building the trip around the cheapest and most convenient flights can save you from having to backtrack like we did.
How Many Days Do You Need for Rhodes, Kos & Leros?
I’d recommend 9–10 days for this route. That gives you enough time to see the highlights without feeling like you’re constantly checking out of one hotel and heading to the next ferry.
We actually spent 17 days exploring Rhodes, Kos and Leros, but that’s definitely not necessary for most trips. We’re teachers, so we were traveling through Europe for two months with our kids, which gave us the luxury of taking things much slower than you would on a typical vacation.
For a more realistic trip, I’d split your time roughly like this:
- Rhodes: 4 days — explore Rhodes Old Town, visit Lindos and fit in some beach time.
- Kos: 3 days — spend time in Kos Town, explore some of the island’s beaches and see a little beyond the main tourist areas.
- Leros: 2–3 days — slow things down, explore the villages and enjoy the quieter side of the Dodecanese.
You can shorten the trip if you’re limited on time, but I wouldn’t try to squeeze all three islands into just a few days. The whole point of island hopping is getting to experience the differences between them, rather than rushing through each one.
If you have extra time, I’d add it to Rhodes or Kos. Both have enough to keep you busy for several more days, especially if you want to mix sightseeing with beach time.
How to Get to Rhodes
For most people, Rhodes is the easiest place to start this itinerary, especially if you’re coming from outside Greece. Before automatically booking a flight to Athens, I’d check whether you can fly directly into Rhodes (RHO) instead.
I always recommend starting with Skyscanner so you can compare different airlines, nearby airports and dates. Rhodes has a surprisingly large number of international connections, particularly during the summer, so you may be able to skip Athens altogether. There are currently direct flights to Rhodes from more than 25 countries, although many routes are seasonal.
Some of the main countries with direct flights to Rhodes include the UK, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, among others. Routes change throughout the year, so definitely check your specific dates rather than assuming a route operates year-round.
If you’re already flying through Athens, getting to Rhodes is incredibly easy. Aegean and Sky Express operate around 8 flights a day in the summer and the flight time is only an hour. Just beware that there are less frequent flights in the off season.
For our trip, we had already booked round-trip flights to Rhodes, so we started and ended there. But if I were planning this itinerary from scratch, I would price out Athens → Rhodes and Leros → Athens as well. You may find that an open-jaw itinerary saves you time and eliminates the need to backtrack.
My advice: Before booking anything, search your home airport → Rhodes, Athens → Rhodes, and even Rhodes → your next destination on Skyscanner. You might be surprised by how easy it is to get to Rhodes without making an unnecessary stop in Athens.
Rhodes — 4 Days
We started our trip in Rhodes, and it was the perfect introduction to the Dodecanese. There’s so much variety here — from the medieval Old Town and archaeological sites to beautiful beaches and easy day trips.
If you have four days, I’d plan it like this:
Day 1: Explore Rhodes Old Town
Spend your first day getting lost in the medieval streets of Rhodes Old Town. Visit the Palace of the Grand Master, walk along the Street of the Knights and stop at the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. There are also plenty of little shops, cafés and restaurants to discover along the way.
Day 2: Beach Day
After a day of sightseeing, spend your second day enjoying some of Rhodes’ coastline. Anthony Quinn Bay, Tsambika Beach and Kallithea Springs are all great options, depending on what kind of beach day you’re looking for.
Day 3: Spend the Day in Lindos
Lindos is one of the places I wouldn’t skip on a first trip to Rhodes. Spend the day exploring the whitewashed village, visiting the Acropolis of Lindos and relaxing at Lindos Beach. Give yourself plenty of time here because the village is just as enjoyable to wander around as the major sights.
Day 4: Butterfly Valley or Symi
For your last day, you have a couple of great options.
Butterfly Valley is an easy choice if you want to stay on Rhodes and see something completely different.
Or, take one of the most popular day trips from Rhodes: Symi. We were actually dying to go, but our boat trip was cancelled because of strong winds. And I was apparently unhinged enough to start calculating whether we could change our flights and extend our time in Rhodes just to squeeze Symi back into the trip once the sea conditions improved. 😂
The problem? We already had a car rental booked for when we returned to Athens, so changing everything became way more complicated than it was worth.
So unfortunately, Symi remains on my list, but if you have the flexibility and the weather cooperates, I’d absolutely consider adding it to your Rhodes itinerary.
Rhodes to Kos: How to Get There
Once you’ve finished exploring Rhodes, the easiest way to continue this itinerary is by ferry from Rhodes to Kos.
There are regular ferry connections between the two islands during the summer, although schedules and journey times can vary depending on the date and ferry. I’d recommend checking the ferry schedule before booking your hotels, especially if you’re trying to fit several islands into one trip.
I used Ferryhopper to check the different routes and compare ferry schedules when planning our trip. It’s a really helpful starting point because you can see which islands connect, what days the ferries run and what your options look like before you commit to an itinerary.
We actually did this route a little differently because we visited Leros and Bodrum between our Rhodes and Kos stays, but if you’re following the simpler itinerary, Rhodes → Kos is the route I’d recommend.
One thing I learned from planning this trip: build your itinerary around the ferry schedules, not the other way around. Some routes don’t run every day, and the timing can make a big difference when you’re trying to fit multiple islands into one trip.
Kos — 3 Days
After Rhodes, Kos has a completely different feel. We expected beautiful beaches and a relaxed island atmosphere, but one thing that genuinely surprised us was how many ancient ruins and archaeological sites there are around Kos. You can easily combine sightseeing with beach time, which makes three days a great amount of time for a first visit.
Day 1: Explore Kos Town & Ancient Ruins
Start in Kos Town, where you can spend the day exploring the historic centre and waterfront. Visit the Ancient Agora, Neratzia Castle and the famous Tree of Hippocrates, then wander through the harbour and surrounding streets.
We were honestly surprised by how much history you come across just walking around Kos. If you enjoy ancient sites, definitely give yourself more time than you might expect.
Day 2: Beaches & Asklepieion
Spend the day exploring some of Kos’ beaches. Agios Stefanos was our favourite beach on the island and I’d definitely put it high on your list. You have ancient ruins right beside the beach, beautiful water and a small island just offshore that you can swim out to.
Other options include Paradise Beach or Tigaki, depending on what kind of beach day you’re looking for.
You can also visit the Asklepieion, one of the island’s most important archaeological sites. If you have a car, this is a good day to combine a few different stops around the island.
Day 3: Explore the Island & Sunset in Zia
Use your last day to see a little more of the island before heading up to Zia for sunset. The mountain village is known for its beautiful views over Kos and the Aegean, and it’s a great way to end the day.
If you’re planning to take the KTEL bus to Zia, check the schedule carefully before you go. The Zia route does not operate on Sundays, so you’ll need to plan around that or arrange another way to get there.
I’d aim to arrive with enough time to wander around the village and find a good spot for sunset before it gets busy.
Kos to Leros: How to Get There
The next stop on the route is Leros, and this is where the trip starts to feel a little quieter and less touristy.
The easiest way to get there is by ferry from Kos to Leros. Ferry schedules can vary quite a bit depending on the season and the day of the week, so I’d recommend checking the current options before booking your accommodation.
Keep in mind that ferries may not run every day, especially during the off-season, so it’s worth checking the schedule first and planning your itinerary around the available sailing days.
Once you leave Kos, Leros is a nice change of pace. It’s smaller, quieter and has a much more laid-back feel, which is exactly why I think it’s worth including in this itinerary.
Leros — 2–3 Days
Leros was probably the biggest surprise of this trip for us. After the more popular islands, it felt quieter, slower and much more local, and we really enjoyed that change of pace.
It’s the kind of island where you don’t need a packed itinerary. Give yourself a couple of days to drive around, stop at different villages and bays, have long lunches and just enjoy being somewhere that doesn’t feel as busy as Rhodes or Kos.
Day 1: Agia Marina, Platanos & Panteli
We stayed in Agia Marina, which worked well as a base, but after exploring more of the island, I actually think Panteli would be a better choice. It’s prettier, more walkable and has more of a lively waterfront atmosphere, with restaurants and cafés right by the water.
Start by exploring Agia Marina and Platanos, then make your way down to Panteli. From there, you can walk up toward the windmills for an amazing view over the village and coastline. Just be warned — it can get very windy up there, so hold onto your hat!
Day 2: Explore More of Leros
This is a good day to get in the car and explore more of the island. Visit Lakki, Alinda and some of the smaller beaches and bays along the way.
I’d also make time for the War Museum. Leros played an important role during World War II because of its strategic location and was the site of the Battle of Leros in 1943. The museum is built inside a former wartime tunnel and bunker, and walking through it honestly felt like being teleported back in time.
It was one of the most emotional stops of our trip. It’s not a lighthearted tourist attraction, but it gives you a much deeper understanding of Leros and what happened here during the war.
One of my favourite things about Leros was that you could drive for a while, turn down a random road and end up somewhere completely different. It felt much more like discovering the island as you went rather than ticking attractions off a list.
Day 3: Take It Slow
If you have three days, don’t feel like you need to fill every minute. Pick a beach or swimming spot, have a long lunch and enjoy a slower day before moving on to your next destination.
If you’re short on time: Two full days is enough to get a good feel for Leros, but I’d keep the third day if you can. This is the island where slowing down is part of the experience.
Do You Need a Car for Rhodes, Kos & Leros?
You don’t necessarily need a car for this itinerary. We actually didn’t rent one at all.
With three car seats, finding a rental large enough to fit all of us comfortably was difficult, and the cost of renting a bigger vehicle added up quickly. For us, it made more sense to use buses and taxis, and it actually worked out cheaper.
Rhodes
If you’re staying around Rhodes Town, you can easily get around without a car. We used other transportation to get to the places we wanted to visit, and you can also take taxis when it makes more sense.
Kos
Kos has a good bus network, and we found it easy enough to use buses and taxis rather than renting a car. Just pay attention to the schedules if you’re trying to fit several stops into one day.
Leros
Leros is the island where having a car would have been the most convenient, especially for exploring the smaller villages and beaches. That said, we managed without one by using taxis. The island is small enough that we got to know all the cab drivers and ended up having the same driver a few times.
If you’re travelling as a couple or a smaller group, renting a car may make more sense. But if you’re travelling with a larger family and need a vehicle big enough for multiple car seats, don’t assume you need to rent one. For us, buses and taxis were easier, and ultimately cheaper.
How Much Does Dodecanese Island Hopping Cost?
The cost can vary quite a bit depending on when you visit, where you stay and how you travel. For us, Rhodes was the most expensive of the three, while Leros was noticeably cheaper, both for accommodation and food.
We were travelling as a family of five — two adults and three kids — so our costs will look different from a couple travelling without children.
What We Paid for Accommodation
For the places we stayed, we paid approximately:
- Rhodes: $240 CAD/night
- Kos: $225 CAD/night
- Leros: $150 CAD/night
That was for two adults and three kids, and prices will obviously vary depending on the time of year and type of accommodation.
We noticed the same general pattern with food. Rhodes was the most expensive, Kos was somewhere in the middle, and Leros was the most affordable.
If you’re trying to keep the cost of your trip down, Leros is a particularly good option for adding a few nights without paying the same prices you might find on the more popular islands.
Beyond accommodation and food, you’ll also want to budget for ferries, transportation, activities and flights. Since we didn’t rent a car, we used buses and taxis instead, which actually worked out better for us financially.
Best Time to Visit the Dodecanese
The best time to island hop Rhodes, Kos and Leros really depends on what you want from the trip.
June and September would be my picks if you want warm weather without the peak summer crowds and prices. The sea is warm enough for swimming, and you can spend your days sightseeing without dealing with the hottest part of summer.
July and August are the busiest months, but this is when we travelled. The weather was hot, the islands were lively and everything was in full swing. Just expect higher accommodation prices and more people, especially in Rhodes and Kos.
If you want a quieter trip and potentially lower prices, May or early October can also be worth considering, although you’ll want to check ferry schedules carefully because connections become less frequent outside the main summer season.
For this particular itinerary, I’d personally choose June or September. You get the best balance of good weather, swimming, ferry connections and fewer crowds.
Would I Do This Route Again?
Looking back, I’m really glad we included all three islands rather than sticking to just the bigger names. Rhodes and Kos gave us plenty to see and do, while Leros ended up being the place that surprised us most.
And honestly, that’s what I love about travelling this way. You can start with somewhere as well-known as Rhodes and, just a few ferry rides later, find yourself somewhere that feels completely different.
If I were planning this trip again, I wouldn’t change the three islands, I’d just make sure I left room for the things you can’t plan for, whether that’s an unexpected favourite beach, a windy day that cancels your boat to Symi, or finding yourself wanting to stay somewhere a little longer.
