Explora Journeys in Patmos

Patmos is the small Dodecanese island where, by tradition, Saint John received the visions of the Book of Revelation, and that history sits compactly above the harbor town of Skala. A single scenic road climbs from the waterfront past the Cave of the Apocalypse to the fortified Monastery of Saint John and the whitewashed village of Chora. The sights are physically connected on one route, which makes this one of the more self-directed Greek island days.

What to do on a day in Patmos

• Cave of the Apocalypse, the grotto enclosed by a chapel where John is said to have received his visions, about 1.2 km and a 20-minute uphill walk from Skala or a short bus or taxi hop
• Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, the 11th-century fortress-like monastery crowning Chora, with a small treasury of jeweled crosses, icons, and an El Greco
• Chora village, the tangle of whitewashed lanes and courtyards around the monastery, worth time on foot once you are up the hill
• The three restored windmills a short walk from the monastery, a free vantage point over the island and sea
• Skala harbor promenade, flat and walkable straight off the tender, lined with cafes and shops
• Agios Theologos beach, a few minutes left of the pier if you want water without a transfer

Getting ashore

Patmos is a tender port: ships anchor in the bay and run boats into Skala, dropping you in the heart of the waterfront. The local bus and a handful of taxis run up to the Cave and Chora, or it is a 45 to 60 minute climb on foot; one day is enough to do the Cave, monastery, and Chora without rushing.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May and June (early cruise season). Warm and reliably dry, daytime highs around 24 to 25C / 75 to 77F, with almost no rain and strong sun.
• July and August (peak). Hot and dry, highs around 25 to 29C / 77 to 84F, intense midday sun, and the climb to the monastery has essentially no shade.
• September and October (late season). Still warm, highs around 23 to 28C / 73 to 82F, with the first rains usually holding off until late October.