Can't Miss Festivities in Patmos, Greece

Patmos is proud of its long, rich history. On this small Greek island, people are passionate about their customs and traditions, whether religious or cultural, as evidenced by the many festivals and feasts. Once you’ve checked in at your Patmos hotel, ask someone about local festivities happening during your stay. Whether you come to Patmos for food, culture, music, or religious pilgrimage, you’ll find colorful festivals that are just what you need to make your trip special. 

The entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse

Dormition of the Virgin

August 15th is the day of the Dormition of the Virgin, which celebrates the “sleeping” of the Mother of God and her resurrection. In Patmos, the Dormition of the Virgin is enthusiastically celebrated with a large annual feast at the Monastery of Panagia Geranou. Live music, dancing, and of course, copious amounts of food, commemorates the day. You can also find events and celebrations in Skala, Kambos, and Chora. 

The Monastery of St. John

The Feast of St. John

If you missed the Feast of St. John on May 8th, make sure you catch it on September 26th. St. John is perhaps Patmos’s claim to fame. It was the isle of Patmos to which he was exiled and it was on the isle of Patmos that his Revelation was revealed to him. You can visit the Monastery of St. John while you’re here or the Cave of the Apocalypse to celebrate the resurrection of St. John with the rest of Patmos, and it would make a great addition to your religious pilgrimage. 

The International Film Festival of Patmos

As is often the case, out of one of the worst economic crises Greece has ever seen rose the creative minds to create the International Film Festival of Patmos. 46 days of cinema, 345 films in total. Because the festival has gone over so well, the creators have decided to expand to the surrounding Aegean islands, but you can still see new, exclusive films every weekend in July in Patmos. 

Festival of Folklore Dances

You can learn a lot about a culture from its dances. Preserving the historic culture of Patmos is very important to those who live there, and it’s enthusiastically celebrated through their festival of folklore dances. In this festival, all the dancers wear traditional dress that they might have worn in the early days and perform traditional, sometimes ancient Greek dances that existed long before anyone in the audience and will continue long after. 

Festival of the Sacred Music of Patmos

Held in an outdoor theatre outside the Cave of the Apocalypse, this festival is famous all throughout Greece. There are 5 days of music from August 27 through September 1, highlighting songs touch on religious significance as well as cultural significance to Patmos. Some are traditional songs dealing with immigration and refugees, a timelessly relevant topic. The festival is free and makes a great end note to your trip to the Cave of the Apocalypse.

When searching for Patmos hotels so you can attend these festivals, consider Chris Hotel in Patmos, Greece. Chris Hotel is located in Skala, the main port of Patmos, close to all the shops and grocery stores, and near the bus line. The staff is committed to exceptional customer service. When you check in, just ask one of the hotel staff about festivals going on at the time and where to find them.

The "Patmos Revelation" & Sports In Patmos

Despite the rugged terrain perfect for hikers and the clear, crystal blue waters, Patmos has not, in times past, been seen as much of a hub for sports tourism. It is more widely known for its connections to the Christian faith and the beauty that comes with being an island in the middle of the Aegean Sea. But this year, Patmos changed that by opening the first ever “Patmos Revelation in attempt to attract athletic tourists from all over the world to their little island.

The “Patmos Revelation,” so named after the revelation that St. John had when he was exiled to Patmos, was a sports tournament including swimming races and running races. This new tournament began for the first time on June 30, 2017, and lasted for three days. The first day was for the kids. In an open football stadium, retired track and field record holder, Periklis Iakovakis, partnered with Kids’ Athletics to teach kids about track and field. On the second day, the swimming races began. On the third day, the runners ran through Chora, passing The Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse on their way. For the adults, there were 15km and 5km routes, but there was also a 1km route for children who wanted to race.

The purpose of the Patmos Revelation as set out by the Greek National Tourism Organization was to draw a crowd of athletes from all over the world to Patmos. In this, they certainly succeeded. There were over 200 athletes, both professional and amateur, from 9 countries (Australia, England, France, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, and Greece) that all made their way to Patmos for the races. Sponsors came out in droves to help. Vikos bottled water sponsored the event by providing water to all participants. AB Vassilopoulos offered groceries and other products as incentives for volunteers. Patmos hotels like Chris Hotel in Patmos also came out to support and assist with the tournament.

Waterskiing is just one water sport available in Patmos

Patmos Revelation was declared a success, and it will certainly return for years to come. But you don’t have to wait until next June to enjoy athletics of Patmos. At any time of year, the Aegean Sea is still there and ripe for all kinds of water sports. You can water ski, canoe, or take a pedal boat onto the water. On Campos beach, you can even take water skiing classes to improve your athletic ability. And of course, surfing, wind surfing, and sailing are popular pastimes wherever there’s wind.

One of the hiking paths in Patmos

Patmos is also a popular hiking destination. The ruggedly built Chora, seated atop a hillside (once intentionally done to protect the city from pirates), offers a great start for a hiking enthusiast, but there are hiking paths all over the island. There are easy, leisurely hiking paths and more difficult terrains for hikers who like a challenge. Hiking through Patmos is an excellent way to see the historic sights of the island while still getting a workout in.

With the success of the Patmos Revelation, more athletes are expected to flock to Patmos, both for the races and for their own amusement. Wouldn’t you like to be one of them? Make sure you book a Patmos hotel ahead of time to ensure you have a place to stay, and don’t forget your hiking boots.

Patmos Offers Extravagant Shopping and Hotels

The saying goes by 'money can't buy happiness'. But how in the world shopping exists? It would be great to splurge money on yourself sometimes. Yet, if you can't help it, why would you bother boycotting shopping? 

In Patmos, prepare for a whole day of shopping. It's not like in the malls you have back home. If you are wondering why, well, let's just say the whole island is the mall itself! Patmos will make your dream vacation come true because there's endless shopping here. From antique stores to electronic shops. From food stores to wine and liquor shops. There are several little and big stores in Patmos that sell whatever you want! In some cases, you won't need to walk too far or get on a bumpy ride just to get to a store. By just looking around your Patmos hotel, you'd find a local shop that sells the goods you are looking for.Are you done with stretching your body and purse? Let's go shopping!

Clothing Store

Roaming around the cobbled streets of Patmos is one activity you can do. Clothing shops like Iliotropio in Skala offer what girls love. From the famous TOM's shoes to handcrafted sandals- they have a variety of the outfit you are aiming for! Got invited at a local wedding reception by some Greek you just met? Buying the perfect night-out dress is not stressful at all. You can find summer casual dresses at Iliotropio. Match it up with elegant accessories, and you're ready to rock the night out!

Food Shop

Who likes eating ice cream during the summer season? Us! Kids and the young at hearts, enjoy eating cold ice cream especially in a hot Greek Island like Patmos. Christodoulos is a pastry shop that offers handmade ice cream! Yes, they craft their ice cream from scratch! Maybe grab a bag of handmade cookie or two before you go on a day trip with your whole family. 

Are you looking for a bake shop and ice cream shop in one? Christodoulos has it for you!

Tourist Shop

If you still have an extra space in your luggage, why not bring a small part of Patmos art back home? No, shrugging your shoulders is not an answer. Well, if you go over your luggage weight, you can always ship it direct to your home address. Fair enough? We recommend visiting the Theocharis for handmade jewelry and gifts. Inside the shop, you'd see crafted collections of furniture. From wooden clocks to bed lamps, small vases, and fancy picture frames. They retail clothes, jewelry, and bags too.

A sneak peak inside the Theocharis Tourist Shop.

Tired of going hauling from one shop to another? You know the answer on how to finish your shopping plot for the day. Cocktails! 

There are many bars in Skala. In some cases, you'd find cafe bar or food cafe in a Patmos accommodation too. One of these amazing hotels is the Chris Hotel in Patmos. Chris Hotel serves you the best Greek food and drinks to pamper you. After the all-day shopping activity you did, sure enough that you'll regain your aura for a night out! 

Who wouldn't enjoy this perfect view while dining at the Chris Hotel Cafe Bar?