Chalki

Chalki is one of the smallest inhabited islands of the Dodecanese, lying a short hop west of Rhodes. Barely 28 square kilometres in area and home to a few hundred permanent residents, it has a single settlement, the harbour village of Emborio (Nimborio), which is widely considered one of the prettiest small ports in the Aegean. Pastel neoclassical houses rise in tiers around the bay, many of them elegantly restored, and the tall stone bell tower of the church of Agios Nikolaos, said to be the highest in the Dodecanese, presides over the waterfront.

Getting to Chalki is part of its charm. The main link is a short ferry, roughly an hour, from the small harbour of Skala Kamiros on the west coast of Rhodes, with seasonal fast-boat connections to Rhodes Town and neighbouring islands. Because the crossing is quick and the island tiny, Chalki draws day-trippers, but staying overnight reveals its slower rhythm once the last boat leaves.

The island's prosperity once rested on sponge diving, and many islanders emigrated in the early 20th century to Tarpon Springs in Florida, which remains a sister community to this day. That history lends the harbour houses their surprising grandeur. Behind the port, a quiet paved road climbs to the abandoned medieval capital of Chorio, crowned by a ruined Knights' castle with sweeping views, and continues to the monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos at the island's far end.

Chalki is not an island of long sandy beaches. Its swimming is at small, clear coves: Pontamos, a short walk from the port and the only sandy beach, is the easiest, while Kania, Ftenagia and Areta reward those who walk or take a small boat. The water is exceptionally clear, and the lack of crowds means even the nearest coves stay peaceful.

Come to Chalki for the harbour itself, for gentle days of swimming and slow meals, and for a genuine sense of a small island where everyone knows everyone. It pairs naturally with a trip to Rhodes and suits anyone wanting calm rather than resorts. Late spring and early autumn are the loveliest times to visit.