Turgutreis to Leros Ferry

Turgutreis, near Bodrum on Turkey's south-west Aegean coast, connects in summer to Leros, one of the greener and less crowded islands of the Greek Dodecanese. The route lets travellers on the Bodrum peninsula reach Leros directly by sea rather than routing through Kos or Rhodes.

The vessel and crossing time

The service is a seasonal high-speed catamaran carrying foot passengers only — there is no car deck. The crossing is short, commonly around one hour, though exact timings depend on the vessel and whether the sailing is direct or calls at another island first. Because the trip is brief, the fast craft has airline-style seating rather than cabins.

When it runs

Departures are strictly seasonal, concentrated in the summer months, and are usually limited to certain days of the week rather than operating daily. Schedules for a given summer are often confirmed only shortly before the season starts, so travellers should verify current dates and check for weather-related changes before committing to plans.

Border and documents

This is an international crossing into Greece and the European Union. A valid passport is required for all passengers; an ID card alone will not do for non-EU nationals, and travellers subject to Schengen entry rules should confirm visa status in advance.

Leros rewards the effort: the island is known for the Italian Art Deco architecture of its former naval town at Lakki, the hilltop Pandeli castle, and a string of quiet fishing-village bays that see far fewer visitors than the larger Dodecanese islands.