We are planning on flying from Athens to Samos and catching the ferry to Patmos and then heading to Ephesus. Any advice on this route would be appreciated--both regarding time in Patmos as well as how reliable the ferries are in July. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Ferries will be more frequent in July than at any other time. http://www.ferries.gr/greek-islands-ferry/ferry_samos.htm looks like as good a search engine as any. They do show ferries departing from the port of Vathy on Samos (Hellenic Seaways to Patmos), but note that you might find others by searching for the port of Pithagoria.
To get to Ephesus, you'll either double-back by ferry via Samos or you could cross to Turkey at Kos and take a bus north from Bodrum on the Turkish side.
Aegean Airline also flies between Athens and Izmir (for Ephesus), if that helps in either direction of travel.