BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Kos or Rhodes: which base to choose in the Dodecanese?
Two great gateway islands of the Dodecanese compared: central-crossroads Kos and its marina, Rhodes further south and more remote. Meltemi, itineraries and level to choose.
In the south-east Aegean, the Dodecanese is reached mostly via two large islands linked by air: Kos at the centre of the archipelago, Rhodes further south. Both open a magnificent sailing ground between Greek islands and the nearby Turkish coast — but they don't resemble each other.
Kos: the central crossroads
Kos is ideally placed at the heart of the Dodecanese: its marina, one of the best-equipped in the Aegean, makes it a very practical base to roam towards Kalymnos, Pserimos, the Nisyros volcano or the Bodrum coast opposite. Distances between stops are reasonable, which suits a week aboard without exhausting legs. Our Kos guide details the anchorages.
Rhodes: further south, more remote
Rhodes, the great medieval island of the south, offers a more "end-of-the-line" base: superb for a loop towards Symi, Chalki and the southern Dodecanese, but more isolated from the rest of the archipelago, with longer crossings to work back north. It's the choice for those who want to combine heritage (Rhodes old town) and sailing, without necessarily circling the whole archipelago.
The meltemi, summer's referee
Like all the Aegean, the Dodecanese is subject in summer to the meltemi, that northerly that can blow hard for several days running. Work by Takvor Soukissian and colleagues on the wind climate of the Aegean Sea (see on Google Scholar) confirms a dominant, sustained northerly regime in high summer. In practice, you often run south with the wind and beat back with more difficulty: an itinerary heading south then back is planned around this dominant northerly, and a first charter here is better kept to short legs. Our guides to Mediterranean winds and the Beaufort scale help you anticipate.
Level and budget
The Dodecanese is windier than the gentle Ionian: neither Kos nor Rhodes is ideal for a very first solo passage in an established meltemi. When in doubt, a local skipper changes everything. For price ranges, see our guide to what a rental really costs, and our hub on Rhodes, Kos and the Dodecanese for the whole archipelago.
Verdict
Choose Kos for a central, practical, well-connected base, ideal for roaming; Rhodes for the heritage and a due-south loop towards Symi. Compare the real fleets of both islands — and of all of Greece — on Boat-Comparator before booking.
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