Meis for Turks, Megisti for Greeks, Kastellorizo for Europe. It has three different names; but it’s actually as small as a palm of its own. If you have a Schengen visa, you can come quickly with a 20-minute ferry ride from Kaş and visit every part of it in a few hours.. The houses lined up on the slope overlooking Kaş are enough to make people happy with their different colors.. Most of all, you are jealous of the way that Greece embraces this ‘not-so-popular’ island and the people of Meis tending to their homes like flowers.
The restaurants on the coastline are the address of all Greek delicacies; From seafood to frappe, it offers a suitable environment to meet classical Greek tastes.. It’s okay if you don’t speak English, because they know enough Turkish to take your order.. If you came unprepared, you can also pay your account in Turkish Lira.. You can talk to your line on the island as if you were in Kaş and use the internet comfortably.. The people of Meiss, who even planned the settlement on the island next to Kaş, love the Turks very much; I don’t think there are two other coasts in the world that have such a warm neighborhood relationship.
Colorful houses of Meis
Meis can be called the ‘Entry to the Greek Islands’ point due to its small size. Everything here is like a prototype of those famous Greek islands you are used to watching.. There is everything about Greek culture, but little by little, an example of everything.. A sweet view that you can watch from the top of the island with a 10-minute walk, and the typical Greek architecture in its side streets, as well as the surprise Turkish details originating from the Ottoman past, and its mosque, which is used as a museum today, are among the other beauties of Meis.. The colorful cultural synthesis, which is the result of Meis’s connection to the Ottoman Empire, then to Italy and England, and finally to Greece, can be seen by all visitors today.
Meis, Greek Island at the nearest to Turkey. It is so close that you can continue to use your Turkish line even if you have crossed the border.. I think we can be happy with the friendship between Meis and Kaş, if we leave aside the deer saying how we left a place so deep to Greece.. Due to the small size of the island, the people of Meis meet most of their needs from Kaş.. They do their shopping and repairs here.. There are reciprocal expeditions between the two shores for the local people, and the friendships that have been going on for years still continue without discrimination of religion, language and race.. Meis is a small but beautiful place, its people are also very nice.. The interest towards Turks is always at the highest level, and everyone who lives and works here is very aware of the importance of Turkish tourism.
We welcome you on your way to Meis. Ottoman mosque
DO YOU NEED A VISA FOR MEIS ISLAND?
You need to have a Schengen visa covering the date range you will go to Meis Island. Since it is a very small island, I do not recommend getting a visa just because I will go to Meis, after all, it is expensive.. But if you have a visa and you are on your way to Kaş, of course, I recommend you to cross this sweet island while you’re here. I don’t have a visa, but if you want to go, you can apply for a ‘door visa’ by going to Meis Express Head Office on the beach as soon as you set foot in Kaş.
Just after Meis boat
WHAT IS A DOOR VISA FOR MEIS AND HOW TO GET IT?
Visa at the Door Application for Turkish, Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian citizens of Greece Kastellorizo (Meis) specially for their entry to the islands of Rhodes, Symi, Kalymnos, Lesbos, Kos, Chios and Samos an application launched. If you want to go to one of these islands and do not already have a Schengen visa, you can come to the application centers and apply for a gate visa. Since it is applied periodically, it is necessary to check before the application whether it continues.
Door visa is issued in 3-4 working days. You follow the standard visa procedure and pay the standard visa fee. If you are going with accommodation, you must submit an additional statement of account.. Gate visa means 7 days valid, ‘single entry’ Greece Schengen visa. Note that with this visa you cannot enter any place in Europe except the designated islands.. For detailed information and application documents, you can visit the Meis Express website.
Coastal view of the island
HOW AND HOW MUCH TO GET TO MEIS ISLAND?
It is very easy and practical to go to Meis Island. For this, you can make an agreement with the tourism agencies that you come across everywhere in Kaş or you can contact the Meis Express Head Office located directly at the marina.. Agreement with any tour company or Meis Express is essentially the same thing.. These companies organize your transfer to and from the island of Meis, and your exit from the borders.. They are a bit of an intermediary, they take your passports before you go, they arrange your exit by meeting with the police, your passports are approved, and they meet at the port to get to the island the next day and transfer you to the boat.
After that, it’s up to you, as of this moment, you have no ties to either the tour company or Meis Express.. You are traveling alone. On the way back, you get on your boat and go back.. You have a time zone of 6 hours on the island.. This procedure is valid for daily trips.
We went to Meis with Xanthos Travel, the intermediary tourism agency of the hotel we were staying at.. We paid 100 TL per person for this transportation and passport procedure.. Xanthos Travel had already become an agency that we were satisfied with, and I described our first experience in my Boat Tour from Kaş to Kekova article.. That’s why we proceeded here without hesitation.
Two evenings before our Meis trip, we went to their office near Uzun Çarşı and left our passports for permits and exit procedures.. In the morning, we met again at the office and went to the marina with our tour guide to get on the boat that will take us to Meis.. While getting on the boat, the relevant police read your names and hand over your ready passports with your exit stamp.. Once you’re on the boat, you’re ready for your new journey!
Sweet island landscapes
DAY MEIS ISLAND: TRAVEL GUIDE
Take a Coastal Tour Accompanied by Colorful Houses:
As the boat approaches the island, you will see the Lego houses of Meis with different colors that welcome you.. As soon as you get off the boat, take a tour on the beach where these houses are located and which will be walked in 15 minutes.. Take a look at the cafes and restaurants on the coast, starting from the point where the mosque, which dates back to the Ottoman period and serves as a museum today, is located, and find places for yourself to take a rest afterwards.
The island of the coastline that you will reach the end in 15 minutes. fastest way to get to know. Do not be surprised if you see the flags of England and Australia in the places you will come across, and if you come across waiters greeting you in Turkish.. Some of the Meis people come from Australia, spend a part of the year here and then come back.. On an island so close to Kaş, it is quite normal to encounter a waiter or owner who speaks a few words of Turkish.
Meis’ White house with blue door as a classic of coming to Istanbul
Photograph Colorful Meis Houses with Wooden Balcony:
Houses painted in different colors will be with you during the beach tour. These sweet old buildings with wooden balconies are perfect for taking pictures.. These delight houses, whose paints look like brand new, are also the symbol of the image of the island that looks like it came out of a postcard.. The houses are so well-maintained that it is not difficult to find yourself praising Greece and the local people of Meis while you are wondering how they can stay like this.. Indeed, it is not something you will come across anywhere that a point so far from Greece is so wrapped up in tourism values.. Enjoy, take lots of photos.
Continue the hill views of Meis
Enjoy the View from Alleys to the Hill:
Of course, the beauty of Meis is not limited to the coastline. Don’t try to be a tourist and spend 6 hours here, enter the side streets near the coast, pass through the tiny squares and climb up the hill.. To get to the top, you will see stairs in the streets, follow these paths without asking anyone.. If you go parallel to the coast, you will reach the view where you will get a view of the island from above as you go up.
Hmmm, I sense the atmosphere of an Italian town in Meis
St. George’s Church, Stroll The Surrounding Italian Influenced Streets:
If you’re satisfied with the view, follow the yellow, orange and salmon colored Italian-influenced houses in the side streets. Chairs sitting haphazardly on the terraces, nostalgic tables, aunts drinking in front of their houses or tontic uncles watering the flowers in the garden also present the natural life of Meis.. At the end of these streets you will come out to a square, where you will find details from Byzantine architecture in St.. George’s Church.
St. George
Eat Greek Dessert for Frappe by the Sea as a Greek Island Classic:
Place Suggestion for Coffee in Meis: Stratos Cafe
When you finish your island tour, it’s time to take a dessert break it means he has come. You can taste the Greek classic Frappes and eat local desserts.. You can sit at Stratos Cafe for this in Meis. Ice cream awaits you at Stratos, with coffee and Frappe varieties, as well as daily dessert alternatives.. We paid 10 Euros for two different desserts and two Frappes.
Frappe Break at Stratos Cafe
Agree with the Boats or Boats on the Beach Go to the Blue Cave, Cool off at Aya Yorgi Bay:
Time to meet with water after the break! By agreeing with the boats and boats on the beach, you can go to Aya Yorgi Bay on the right side of the island and to one of its popular stops, the Blue Cave.. If you make the order so that you see the cave first, you can swim in the bay for 1 hour, then you can ask the boat to pick you up.. Speaking of caves, I think there is a Blue Cave in every corner of the Mediterranean.. If the water height allows, it is possible to enter the cave with a boat.. Aya Yorgi Bay is the most logical spot for swimming in Meis in terms of proximity and water clarity.. Just a cave tour with boats or just going to the bay is 5 Euros with the logic of a sea taxi, bargaining for the two routes together is waiting for you!
Stratos Cafe
Enjoy Greek Tastes with Ouzo While Waiting for the Return Boat:
Place Suggestion for Dining at Meis: Lazarakis
We came to the last activity before leaving Meis; Of course, enjoying an Ouzo with Greek flavors! I can hear you asking, “Okay, where are we going to do it, where to eat in Meis?”. I’m coming to the answer right away. Since our return boat will depart at around 4 pm, we left the meal for the end and sat at Lazarakis, which we had seen before, at around 14:30.. There are a few other good alternatives to eat seafood on the coast; You can also get support from Foursquare for presentation and customer ratings.
The view from Lazarakis’ tables on the pier
Lazarakis, one of the good places in Meis. That’s why the prices are not very affordable. However, since the island is small and the number of restaurants is low, prices are generally similar to Kaş.. In Meis restaurants, vegetables and fruits are bought from Kaş, so the subject of taste is very close to each other on both coasts.. The difference here is that it keeps the Greek ritual alive.
The staff in the place speaks a little Turkish, you can get help if there is something on the menu that you do not understand.. If you haven’t come across a very sunny day, the tables on the pier are sweet to sit on, you can also choose the garden for sunny days.
Lazarakis
Lazarakis
We usually like to have hot and cold appetizers and taste many things in such places.. That’s why we decided to feast on fried zucchini (6€), fried calamari (€10), Greek salad (€5), grilled octopus (€12) and 20 ounces of Ouzo (€9) at Lazarakis. we saw fit. If we had a little more room, we could order the tiny fried shrimps of Meis, but now that part is up to you.
We really liked our appetizers; but I would like to underline the grilled octopus in particular.. Since I like more lemon flavors, I loved Lazarakis’ grilled octopus, which is soft and has no smell.. If you go, be sure to try it! Another popular and highly recommended place is Billy’s.
Our picks from Lazarakis
Before Your Meis Trip After This Post, Don’t Forget To Watch Our Meis Vlog On Youtube! If You Like Our Vlog, We’d Love Your Comments, Likes, and Of course Subscribe to Our Channel.
Here are a few for your opinion. I’m sharing more. In addition to all these, follow me on my Instagramaccount ‘ for Meis Island and other trips, and let’s travel together! I suggest you check the #journavelgreece tag for all my photos and Instagram notes about Meis and Rhodes, and the #journavelakdeniz tag for the Kas and Fethiye notes we had the opportunity to see during our Mediterranean trip.
Meis’s Instagram friendly houses
The first route of this tour Click here for the SELİMİYE TRAVEL notes.
Click here for the FETHIYE TRAVEL notes of our Mediterranean tour.
Click here for the notes of our Mediterranean tour KAS TRIP
Click here for KEKOVA BOAT TOUR recommendations.
If you are curious about the Greek islands, we invite you to our fun RODOS VLOG Welcome to our youtube channel.
Coastal view from Meis
Meis streets full of flowers
Island like an island
Of course I would have a pose like a tourist posing in the pool of the hotel in Antalya
My dear Meis, whose butterflies are as sweet as hers
See you again Meis!
