Tilos is a small island in the Dodecanese located between Kos and Rhodes. Its total area is 64,525 km² and has 533 permanent residents. There are three villages on the island, Megalo Chorio, Livadia and Agios Antonios.
In mythology, Tilos was the son of Helios and Thalia, sister of the Telchins. Tilos came to the island to look for herbs for his sick mother. He liked it so much that he later returned and named it Tilos. He also built temples for Apollo and Poseidon on the island.
Historically, Tilos is mentioned by Homer, because it has many archeological monuments. In 1970 the Greek professor of Paleontology Nikolaos Symeonidis discovered a cave, a dwarf elephant cemetery in the area of Mysaria. On the island you can also find a small museum of paleontology that has many of the findings of the Arcadian cave.
The island can be reached by boat from the port of Rhodes and the port of Piraeus.
Tilos is a small island with many natural beauties and historical monuments. It has all the elements needed to maintain its traditional identity that happily surprises the few visitors, the unique view and the wonderful beaches.
Most of the island is covered with stones, except for a small part of the valley in the center of the island. The locals work in agriculture and fishing. They are faithful to their traditional way of life and are distinguished for their hospitality. Tilos has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The monuments of the big village, the Venetian castle, the Byzantine churches and the bones of the little elephants, are the elements that reveal important aspects of the island's history.
Tilos is one of the most isolated islands of the Dodecanese. A beautiful and quiet environment for a relaxing holidays!