Curving tightly against the Turkish coast, almost touching Anatolia, the twelve islands of the Dodecanese (Dhodhekánisos) lie in the most eastern part of Greece. Dodecenese is the second most famous sailing destination in Greece.

The two largest islands, Rhodes (Ródhos) and Kos, are green and fertile and offer a vibrant tourist life with organised beaches, bars and restaurants.

Kastelorizo, Symi, Chalki, Kasos and Kalymnos are dry, limestone islands with attractive port towns and occupy the sunniest corner of the Dodecanese.

Nisyros was created by a still active volcano, while Karpathos is more variegated, its forested north grafted onto a rocky limestone south.

Tilos, has ample water, shelters, wonderful bays and soft contours. Patmos with the Cave of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian is a world famous pilgrimage destinaton, while Astypalaia is a nature's paradise, offering beaches, architecture and landscapes more reminiscent than the Cyclades.