Patmos - The Sacred Island

Patmos has been famous for centuries because it was here, in a small cave, that St. John wrote the Book of Revelations. To honor St. John, a monastery was built in his name and both the Cave Church and the Monastery are popular attractions for daytrippers from the many cruise ships that make a brief stop here. The main town of Skala gets very busy while the ships are in port but once they leave, things revert to a more laid back pace.

Much of Patmos is dry and brown but we found quiet, clean beaches within a 1/2 hour walk from town where we could take a cool dip in the sun warmed water.

The island is quite small with limited banking and tourist services but for us, that lack of commercialism meant a welcome break from crowds at the larger and more popular islands nearby. The area around Skala’s ferry terminal is where most of the restaurants are located and repeat visitors are warmly greeted, almost like old friends, since few tourists stay on the island for any length of time.

For us, Patmos was Greek island life at its relaxing best.

Quick Tips:

The best time to visit the monasteries is early in the morning or later in the afternoon when the cruise ships have left and it's not so crowded.

Best Way To Get Around:

I don't remember a car rental but you can rent mopeds. There is limited bus and taxi service and,if you don't mind hills, the island is easy to explore on foot.

This large house has a pretty front garden and large, well kept and extremely clean rooms on the main floor. The rooms have tile floors, twin beds, a small table and chairs and private bathroom. Some of the rooms also have a small balcony (with clothes line) and it''s a treat to sit outside at night watching the stars and sipping an ouzo. Breakfast is not included. The pension is approx. a 10 min. walk from the ferry pier and is next door to the Hotel Australis. The owners are very friendly and will go out of their way to make your stay comfortable.

This restaurant has been around a long time and is featured in many guide books but its' reputation is well deserved. It is fairly large and offers indoor and outdoor dining. The tender roast lamb was deliciously seasoned with the right amount of oregano and basil. The serving of pastitsio (pasta and meat dish) was so large I couldn't finish it all. The white house wine was crisp and cheap (a good combination). The restaurant is only open at dinner and there is sometimes a wait of a few minutes to get a table (I don't know if they accept reservations)but that gives you a good opportunity to soak up the lively atmosphere and check out the meals of other diners.

On the hill above town and just before the Monastery of St. John, this small monastery is built around the cave where St. John wrote the Book of Revelations. The main attraction is the well lit cave and there are a number of icons inside. The monks are quite strict about clothing requirements in this holy sight. Shorts are not allowed for anyone nor are pants for women. Entrance is free and there is a pamphlet that provides information on the cave.

This grey stone monastery was founded in the 11th century to honour St. John who spent time on Patmos. It looks more like a medieval fort than a monastery because the monks wanted to protect it from pirates who frequented the area. There are a number of chapels and frescoes that detail the life of St.John. The monks are friendly and will show you around if it's not too busy. The treasury contains some of the religious icons and ornaments donated by Catherine the Great. Surrounding the monastery are homes of wealthy Greeks but most have high, white washed walls to protect their privacy. The monastery can be reached via a very steep hill from the centre of town. The walk can take about 45 minutes or you can get a cab to whisk you to the top in no time.