Patmos Travel Guide

Located in the Dodecanese Archipelago's north, Patmos is off the beaten path for most people holidaying in Greece. Its lovely landscapes and peaceful atmosphere make it worth visiting. Patmos is home to around 300 churches, scattered in villages and on hillsides. Greek Orthodox icons occupy nearly every wall, which may account for them being the island's most popular souvenirs.

Patmos' devout aura is partly due to its biggest attraction: the Cave of the Apocalypse. The location is reputedly where John the Apostle wrote the Book of Revelations; he was exiled on Patmos for several years and supposedly founded the Monastery of St John. The island's main towns are Skala and Hora, and both are charming villages with rows of whitewashed houses and 17th to 18th-century mansions. Visitors should be respectful of the traditions and beliefs of the local population and dress modestly. That is, women are required to wear long skirts and cover their shoulders, while men must wear long pants. Patmos lacks any sort of nightlife or rowdy attractions, but offers tourists a glimpse of a simpler way of life.