If you’re craving an escape and a little laid-back Mediterranean life, head over to the tiny Greek island of Meis (Kastellorizo), located just a few minutes cruise over the water from Kas. This colourful, picture-postcard island is the smallest of the Dodecanese and was once part of the Ottoman Empire. It’s a lovely place, rarely busy and an excellent location to take a lazy lunch or enjoy a cold drink as you watch the fishing boats and locals go about their daily business.

Meis does have that blissful Greek island feel, so if you’re after the boom-boom of busy bars and nightclubs, this isn’t the destination for you! There are no high-rise hotels or brand name stores on Meis, and it’s simply a place where time slows down and life revolves around the harbour.

About Meis (Kastellorizo)

The island of Meis lies just 2.1 km off the coast of Kas. It’s a picturesque location full of Instagram-worthy two-storey pastel houses, narrow cobbled streets and tiny restaurants and cafes serving Mediterranean dishes and seafood facing the harbour.

Although peaceful now, Meis has a vast and checkered past spanning many centuries. The Dorians were the first to settle on the island before Rhodes took hold during the Hellenistic period. The Byzantines and Ottomans both battled to take control of Kastellorizo during the Middle Ages, and the Knights of St. John ruled in the 14^th century. Following the Knights, many others took power, including the King of Naples and Sultan Suleyman. More recently, during World War 1, the French and Italians took over, then the British after the war until the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty put it under Greek rule, where it remains today.

A walk around Meis will likely surprise you, as its rulers and history has left marks on the land. The harbour-top castle was once used as a prison for the wayward knights. There’s an Ottoman mosque that you see on approach, and a Byzantine church can be found to the rear of the town square. A steep flight of steps lead to an ancient acropolis and monastery, plus many of the grand old houses have fascinating stories of their own.

Things to do in Meis/ Kastellorizo

It won’t take you long to explore Meis, and most visitors tend to spend an hour or so exploring and taking photos before finding a nice harbourside restaurant or café to enjoy a few drinks and a Greek-style lunch.

Explore the history of the island.

Meis, like every Greek island, has its traditions, customs and history. On approach, you will spot the mosque near the harbour front and the castle of the Knights of St. John at the top of the island, both worth a look if you head ashore and fancy a wander around. There’s also a cultural and archaeological museum near the mosque that you may find interesting.

Take a few photos from the top.

Meis is full of cobbled little alleys and streets ideal for a nosey around and a few Instagram shots. A walk to the top of the island and the castle offers some fabulous views back towards Kas and along the Lycian coast, there’s also a chapel, but make sure you pop the camera away near the army barracks, as photos are forbidden.

Walk the backstreets and cobblestone alleyways.

Meis was once a thriving island with a far larger population, but many islanders moved away to study or find work. The last two decades have seen ex-islanders returning and renovating the crumbling old stone buildings. There’s now some lovely holiday homes and little businesses hidden away on the backstreets, their flower-drenched balconies and shuttered windows a photographers dream.

ADD A VISIT TO MEIS OR KAS TO YOUR ITINERARY

A visit to the Greek island of Meis is an easy leisure stop if you’re cruising the Lycian coast. A few hours of relaxing and exploring is usually enough for most guests, and most yachts tend to head back to the Turkish town Kas for the evening as there is far more entertainment on offer (see our blog on Kas) If you would like to add Meis or Kas to your itinerary, please CONTACT US.