Ferry to Chalki

A bougainvillea next the port of Chalki with its fishing boats

An easy guide for how to get to Chalki by Ferry, schedules and prices for the Ferry to/from Chalki and recommendations for public transportation services. Explore the website and find all necessary details for the Ferry to Chalki; Port description, destinations and Routes with schedules and prices, accommodation options with real time availability and helpful tips for transfer opportunities in Chalki!

Chalki by ferry

In the following lines, we have prepared a small user guide that will help passengers to travel to Chalki as easily and pleasantly as possible.
Find useful information on how to get to Chalki by ferry, local public transportation options to reach your overnight hotel, port addresses and embarkation offices, ferry schedules and prices, and real-time departures and arrivals.

Chalki by ferry is the best option you have and it can be a very nice and exciting experience and especially if you are doing some island-hopping too. Greek islanders are seasoned ferry experts and they prefer to travel by ferry because of the convenience and flexibility it affords!

There is a choice of Regular Ferries that are running frequently with stops along the way. Cars are allowed on most ferries, for an additional fee and children usually travel for half price!

Give a date and click on "search" to view the ferry timetables!

Notice: Each year and depending on the period, there may be more or fewer connections to Chalki. The biggest shipping companies (ferry operators) announce the new ferry schedules by the end of March and the rest of them by April-June each year!

Schedules & prices for Chalki

With the developed "Easy-Way" system of go-ferry.com, you can make the most reliable and flexible online booking of your ferry ticket!
We will connect you to the booking systems of most ferry operators and will show you:

  • Direct itineraries with schedules to Chalki
  • Alternative routes to Chalki
  • Ferry prices
  • Prices for Adults, children, and babies
  • Prices for all vehicle sizes
  • Trailer prices
  • Ticket offers*
  • Early booking discount*

With all these options we offer, you can be sure that you will find the best deal for the ferry ticket to Chalki at a price that will suit your budget.

*if any

Chalki ferry tickets

Arrange your ferry ticket in advance.

If your final destination is Chalki do not neglect to book your ferry tickets early enough to avoid last-minute surprises! We are sure that you do not want to ruin your vacation or change your destination because you will not find an itinerary available. How could you feel to be at the departure port and not be able to board the ferry to Chalki because it is fully booked?

On this page page, we will mention some reasons that make it necessary to book your ferry tickets to your destination in advance!

Accommodation on the ferry to Chalki

Book your ideal accommodation on the ferry to Chalki and arrive fresh and rested to your destination! Comfortable armchairs, business class comfort seats, outside and inside cabins or economy deck chairs. There is a range of accommodation options to choose for a day or night ride to or from Chalki port.

About Chalki

Stravon calls this area "Chalchia" because of the copper mines it possessed. Its first inhabitants were the mythic Titans, who were succeeded by the Pelasgians. Ruins of the Pelasgian walls can be found in the Acropolis of Chalche. The area was populated by the Karian people and later, by the Dorians. In ancient times, the island was divided into thirty municipalities (ktoines). The most important among these were Chalche, two kilometres West of the Acropolis, and Phoenicia, with its seaport, Pontamos. There were three temples, ruins of which have survived today and bear witness to the worship of the god Apollo Helios. In the Dodecanese, this god took the form of the Archangel Michael.

Because the island was a municipality of Rhodes, it followed the same course of history as Rhodes. In 315 B.C., the people of Chalche defended the walls of Rhodes during the siege of Dimitrios the Besieger. In 79 B.C. the island, together with Rhodes, yielded to the Romans. During the Byzantine Era, it belonged to the Thema, the region of the islanders. In the 7th century, it became the victim of Arab brutality until 825, when Nikiforos Fokas released the Dodecanese from this cruel yoke. After the abolition of the Byzantine State by the Crusaders, Chalche passed over to the Venetians and the Genoans until 1309, when the Johanite Knights conquered the island, established Rhodes as their capital, and fortified all the other islands as well. They built the fortress of Alimia and constructed their own stronghold over the ancient Pelasgic ruins. In 1523, the island passed to the Turks who granted them several privileges, so that they would be administred by the Senate, which dealt with private affairs and was responsible for the collection of the 12,000 "aspra" tax (the Byzantine and subsequently, Turkish currency). The period from 1835 to 1912 is characterized by the struggle of the islanders to protect their privileges from abuse by the administration. The ascent of the Young Turks in 1909 resulted in the massive emigration of the inhabitants of the Dodecanese. Chalche was nearly left desolate. The Young Turks not only abolished every kind of liberty but they also imposed obligatory military service and the obligatory teaching of the Turkish language in schools.
On April 22, 1912, during the Turkish-Italian War in Tripolitida, the Italians landed on the islands in the role of liberators and stayed there until 1945, during which time they imposed cruel methods to try to make the population more Italian oriented.

Alexander Diakos was a great personality of the Second World War. His statue stands in Liberty Square in Rhodes. Chalche joined the Greek State on March 7, 1948 together with the other Dodecanese islands. The islanders of Chalche were experts in navigation from ancient times and thus, became effective sailors. In particular, their main occupation was collecting sponges. Around 1935, they possessed a fleet of 50 fishing-boats which brought wealth to the island.

Nimborio

Nimborio, the capital of Chalki, is built amphitheatrically above the crystal clear sea, preserving its noble beauty, its picturesque alleys and the special house architecture: It is one of the prettiest neoclassical settlements of Greece! The former capital of the island was Chorio, built next to the mighty fortress of Knights of Rhodes. Once the inhabitants overcame their fear of the pirates they founded Chalki or Nimborio (1850-1870), which was filled with mansions, reflecting the memories of these prosperous years. Chalki is a featured, traditional settlement.

What to See in Chalki

Sights worth visiting

  • The imposing stone tower of the clock, in front of the neoclassic Town Hall
  • The temple of patron saint Aghios Nikolaos [Saint Nicolas] (1861) bearing the tallest bell-tower of Dodecanese and a beautiful black and white pebbled mosaic in its surroundings
  • Chorio (2.5 km W) was the former capital of the island, but it was officially deserted during the 60’s. The small stone-made houses are made of ancient materials, beneath the castle of Saint John’s Knights, upon a location with a marvelous view. It’s also worth visiting Panaghia built in the 16th century
  • The monastery of Taxiarxis Michael (5 km NW) housing a beautiful icon of the saint, as well as the monastery of Ai-Giannis Alarga, with the huge cypress in the west end of Chalki
  • Kameno Spilio, in the location «Amiglai», in the NW side of the island

Chalki Caves

  • THE CAVE IN THE AREA OF KELIA (access to it takes a 20-min boat trip), which has housed anchorites in the past, features religious paintings on its rocks
  • THE CAVE OF KAMENOS SPILIOS (the burned cave) is situated in Amiglay, on a steep rock, 8 km from Nimborio. In 1658, the Venetian Admiral Francesco Morosini eliminated the inhabitants who were hiding inside, when he blocked the cave entrance with wood from the nearby almond trees and set it a fire. In this manner, Morosini wreaked vengeance on the people of Khalki who had foiled his plan to take over the island of Rhodes by sending word to the Rhodians
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