The medieval castle is the most important monument and landmark of Chalka and stands on the strategically important 280 m high St. Nicholas Hill.

It offers stunning views of the entire southern coast of the island and the town of Chalki. It was this location that gave the castle its excellent defensive function.

The 10 best accommodations on Chalki

Fortress of the Knights of Malta

The castle was built at the beginning of the 14th century, when the Knights of Malta ruled the whole area and at that time built a dense network of defensive forts, which you can also admire on the neighbouring island of Rhodes, for example.

The castle protected the inhabitants of Chalki mainly from pirate raids and due to its location it was one of the most difficult to access and therefore most protected castles on the Dodecanese islands.

Breathtaking views

Even though the journey to the castle is arduous, especially in the heat, we definitely recommend a trip here.

The views of Chalki Island and distant Rhodes are simply incredible, and I personally liked Chalki Castle the most out of all the sights I visited during my trip to Rhodes and the surrounding islands.

Apart from the beautiful and at times almost mystical setting, the fact that very few tourists head here contributes to this.

In fact, I didn't meet anyone else during my entire day in the interior of Chalki.

Entrance fees and opening hours

The ruins of Chalki Castle are accessible 24/7.

Admission is free.

How to get there

The only way to get to the castle is on foot, or in case of a car or motorbike, by arrangement with the owner of the accommodation you will be staying at in Chalki.

The road from the harbour leads along a concrete road to the village of Chorio (about 3 km one way). The route is constantly uphill and the elevation is high, but the road is wide, newly repaired and absolutely traffic-free.

From Chorio you will have the biggest elevation gain through the historic ancient village. The remaining distance is only 460 metres, but the elevation gain is around 100 metres.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Chalki.