Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
It is not an island with sights. It is an island with a story, and if that is not what you want you will find very little to do here.
The history, which is the point
Kasos was a shipping island: for its size it owned an extraordinary merchant fleet, and its sailors crewed vessels across the Mediterranean. Kasiot captains and engineers were involved in the digging of the Suez Canal.
It also has one of the darker episodes of the Greek War of Independence in its past, a destruction in 1824 that the island commemorates annually and that emptied it for a generation.
The result is a diaspora far larger than the island: communities in Egypt, the United States and elsewhere, many of whom come back in August. That is when Kasos is busiest, and the visitors are mostly Kasiot.
The villages
- Fry, the port and capital, small and white, with the tiny fishing harbour of Bouka beside it.
- Agia Marina, above it, the largest village.
- Arvanitochori, Panagia and Poli, the last built under the old castle site.
They are within walking distance of each other, which makes an afternoon.
What else there is
- Selai cave, a stalactite cave on the south coast, unmanaged and reached with local help rather than a ticket.
- Helatros, a remote bay at the south-western end down a long rough road, and the monastery of Agios Georgios near it.
- Beaches that are small, pebbly and sometimes reached by boat, including the islet of Armathia with pale sand, a short trip from Fry.
Getting there and how long
A small airport with domestic flights via Rhodes or Karpathos, and ferries on the long route between Crete and Rhodes. Connections are sparse and weather-dependent.
Three nights, largely because getting off again is not quick.
Last checked August 2026. Flight and ferry schedules are sparse and weather-dependent - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Where is Kasos?
The southernmost island of the Dodecanese, between Karpathos and Crete.
What is Kasos known for?
Its seafaring and shipping history, a very large diaspora relative to its size, and being one of the least visited inhabited Greek islands.
Is there much to do on Kasos?
Not in the usual sense. There are five walkable villages, a cave, a remote southern bay and small beaches. It suits people who want a working island rather than sights.
When is Kasos busiest?
August, when the diaspora returns. Most of the visitors then are Kasiot rather than tourists.
How do you get to Kasos?
By domestic flight via Rhodes or Karpathos, or by ferry on the long Crete to Rhodes route. Connections are sparse.