Fethiye to Rhodes Ferry

Where it leaves from

The Fethiye–Rhodes ferry departs from Fethiye harbour on Turkey's Turquoise Coast, a scenic bay ringed by forested mountains and rock-cut Lycian tombs. The port is in the town centre, close to the bazaar and waterfront restaurants. The crossing arrives at Rhodes Town, where the ferry terminal sits directly beside the UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town, one of the most impressive ferry arrivals in the Mediterranean.

An international border crossing

This crossing is a full international border between Turkey and Greece, with passport control on both sides. Fethiye is on the Turkish mainland; Rhodes is a Greek island and part of the EU Schengen Area, where non-EU travellers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System on arrival. Carry a valid passport. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a Schengen visa to enter Greece, or a Turkish visa or e-Visa to enter Turkey on the return leg. Check the requirements for your passport before booking.

Operators and vessels

Three companies sail the route: Sky Marine, Tilos Travel and İDO, the İstanbul ferry company, which also runs catamarans on some Turkey–Greece crossings. They use fast passenger catamarans, and the crossing takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. This is a foot-passenger service: the boats have no car deck. Luggage allowances differ by operator, so check when booking.

Schedule and booking

Sailings run three to seven days a week depending on the month, with the most departures in July and August and a reduced service in winter. Book ahead in the summer peak, as popular dates fill quickly. Always verify current departure days with the operator or a booking site such as Ferryhopper, as schedules shift between seasons.

Fethiye, the Turquoise Coast and Rhodes

Fethiye is the gateway to one of Turkey's most celebrated stretches of coastline, the Turquoise Coast (Türkiz Sahil), named for the colour of the water. The Ölüdeniz lagoon and Blue Lagoon, Butterfly Valley, the Saklikent gorge and the ancient Lycian ruins of Tlos and Xanthos are all within day-trip range. Fethiye itself has the impressive Lycian rock tombs carved directly into the cliff face above the town.

From Rhodes, the medieval walled city, the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights provide one of the finest concentrations of Crusader-era architecture in Europe. Rhodes also connects by ferry to other Dodecanese islands such as Kos, Symi and Patmos, making the Fethiye–Rhodes crossing an excellent entry point into the Greek island chain for travellers coming from the Turquoise Coast.