Patmos has no airport; it's pristine landscape, monasteries and historical sites are uncluttered by daytrippers. Getting there takes a little planning;returning is quite simple.
By sea, there is a daily ferry from the Athens port of Piraeus, which leaves in the afternoon and takes about nine hours. Flying to Athens from Europe you almost certainly will make it. Flights from America usually cannot. You have two options: take in the sights of Athens and board the ferry the following day, or make a connecting flight to Samos, a lovely neighboring island with simple port hotels. The following morning you take a fast boat -"dolphin" - (i.e. 1 1/4 hrs) to Patmos.The exception to this overnight on Samos, and my own choice, is the very early Athens-Samos flight (June 2001 at 5:50am) connecting to the 7:45am dolphin to Patmos.
Returning from Patmos is easy, as there is a modern ferry, with good staterooms, leaving every night and arriving early the next day in Piraeus, in time for any flight other than crack-of-dawn.
By air, the Samos & dolphin option is of course available in both directions. One can also arrange a flight and dolphin via Kos; time and distance are about the same. The ferry is usually preferable because flight and boat schedules require an overnight on Kos or Samos, with the exception mentioned above. Finally, there are charter flights from some European cities to both Samos and Kos, and one has only to call the fast boat companies for connections to Patmos.
When you arrive on Patmos your boat will be met by our caretaker.
Telephone
numbers.
Note: the country code for Greece is 30. outside Greece, omit the
zero
before town/island code. further note: in Greece, the phone lines
are used by fish and by underwater choirs; you may hear strange
and beautiful sounds, or a discouraging message saying the number
you are calling does not exist [sic!]. but it probably does, so
persevere.
Olympic
Airways: 30-210-966 6666
Dane Pireaus 30-210 429 3240 /Patmos 22470 31314
G&A Pireaus 30-210 419 9100/ Patmos 22470 31217
Rania Travel on Samos 30-22730 88800
2003 Update: Blue DStar I. There is a new fast hydrofoil from Piraeus.
6 hrs - excellent accommodations. leaves Sat eve. 11:30pm arrives
Patmos 7am Sunday morning. call to book and for updated times:
Athens 30-210-891 9800/ Patmos 22470 31724 (also Thursday, but only
for owls)
In addition, the "Samos Star" is a tour boat (2-2 1/2
hrs) leaving from Samos to Patmos several mornings week.
Tel. Rania Tours on Samos: 0273 - 88800