Astypalaia Astipálaia

The arid karstic island of Astypálaia, the most westerly of the Dodecanese, lying between Kos (40 km/25 mi away), Amorgós (35 km/22 mi) and Anáfi (40 km/25 mi), has close affinities in topography and culture with the Cyclades. Two wide bays on the northwest and southeast sides of the island divide it into a higher western half (1,581 ft/482 m) and a lower eastern half (1,201 ft/366 m), linked by the isthmus of Áyios Andréas, which is only 110 m/120 yd wide. Stock-farming (cheese), the growing of fruit and vegetables and fishing bring the inhabitants a modest degree of well-being.

Boat services run twice weekly from Athens (Piraeus); local services Kos-Kálymnos-Astypálaia) run weekly.