Patmos is usually a tender port. You land in Skala, and the famous monastery is up a steep, winding hill, so take a taxi or the bus up and walk down. The monastery, the Cave of the Apocalypse and Chora are one UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where Patmos lies
PatmosIstanbulAthensArgostoliBodrumChaniaCorfuHeraklionIteaIzmirKatakolonKosKuşadasıLimassolMilosMykonosNafplioRhodesSantoriniSarandëSyrosThessalonikiVolosZakynthosWhere your ship docks
Most ships anchor off Skala, the island's small harbour town, and tender you to the quay. Small ships can dock right in Skala.
Shuttle. No shuttle confirmed. Use a taxi or the local bus to Chora.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi to Chora / Monastery of St John | Short drive up a winding hill (exact time unverified) | About €7 one way (What's In Port; approximate) |
| Local bus to Chora | Unverified | Unverified |
| Walk downhill on the old footpath to Back to Skala from Chora | Unverified | Free |
Taxi to Chora / Monastery of St John
- Find taxis at the Skala waterfront near the tender landing.
- Ask for the Monastery (Moni Agiou Ioannou) in Chora.
- Taxis that come out to fetch you usually charge both ways (Wikivoyage).
Few taxis on an island this small. When a ship is in, lines form fast. Go early.
Local bus to Chora
- Bus stop is in Skala harbour.
- Buses run about hourly; timetables are posted at the stops (Wikivoyage).
Check the posted timetable as soon as you land.
Walk downhill on the old footpath to Back to Skala from Chora
- From Chora, follow the old path down toward Skala.
- Stop at the Cave of the Apocalypse about halfway (Wikivoyage).
Downhill only. Walking up is 'a serious challenge', especially when hot (What's In Port).
What to see
Monastery of St John the Theologian
Fortress-like monastery from 1088 at the top of Chora; UNESCO site.
- How
- Taxi or bus up to Chora.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Unverified. Run by the church, not the state ticket system.
Cave of the Apocalypse
Where tradition says St John wrote the Book of Revelation.
- How
- On the hillside between Chora and Skala; stop on the walk down.
- Time
- 30–45 minutes
- Tickets
- Unverified
Chora village
White lanes, captains' mansions and sea views below the monastery (Visit Greece).
- How
- Walk around after the monastery.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Free
Skala waterfront and town beach
Cafés by the tender pier; a narrow pebble beach just north of the ferry dock (What's In Port).
- How
- Walk from the tender pier.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Free
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Take an early tender to Skala.
- Taxi straight up to the Monastery of St John before tour groups arrive.
- See the monastery, then wander Chora (1 hour).
- Walk down the old path and stop at the Cave of the Apocalypse.
- Lunch on the Skala waterfront.
- Be back in the tender line 60–90 minutes before the last tender. Tender lines get long late in the day.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Tender port: rough sea can stop tenders.
- Few taxis for a whole ship.
- Steep, hot climb if you walk up.
- Religious sites may close in the early afternoon (hours unverified).
Do this
- Go up first, walk down later.
- Bring a scarf or light layer to cover shoulders.
- Book a ship tour if you cannot manage the hill or the taxi line.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Greek cruise passenger fee (per person, per port call, since 21 July 2025): this port pays the standard rate of €5 (1 Jun–30 Sep), €3 (Apr–May and Oct), €1 (Nov–Mar). Only Santorini and Mykonos pay the higher €20/€12/€4. Your cruise line usually adds it to your bill (Keep Talking Greece, 21 Jul 2025).
- Monastery and cave are working religious sites. Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is normal at Greek monasteries; exact rules at Patmos unverified.
Accessibility
Hard. Tender boarding, a steep hill, cobbled lanes and steps inside the monastery and cave. A taxi to the top helps, but expect stairs.
Money
Euro. Cards are widely taken in town; carry some cash for taxis, small cafés and church donations. Use bank ATMs and choose to be charged in euros.
More of the Greek Isles & Eastern Med
Sources & what we could not confirm · 5 sources · checked 2026-11
- What's In Port: Patmos cruise port guide
- Visit Greece (Greek National Tourism Organisation): Patmos
- Wikivoyage: Patmos
- Wikipedia: Monastery of Saint John the Theologian
- Keep Talking Greece: Greece cruise passenger fees rise (21 Jul 2025)
- Monastery and cave opening hours and ticket prices
- Bus fare and exact timetable
- Taxi ride time to Chora
- Walking time Chora to Skala