Money
Halki has no bank, but now does have a cash machine on the
harbourfront, at the ‘information hut’. Credit cards are
accepted at two tavernas and one gift shop. If exchange is
required, apply to the agencies.
Post Office
7.30 – 1.30 Monday to Friday. Post box on the stairs. Post
departs and arrives twice a week. Check days as dependent on
mode of transport being used.
Telephones
A number of call boxes exist around the harbour front – at the
church, near the toilets, one at each kiosk. There is also one
near the police station, and another at Pondamos beach. These
take phone cards (around 3 euros). Codes for countries outside
Greece are prefixed with 00 and then the country code without
the initial 0 of the telephone number.
Church
The main church of Emborio, St Nikolas, has services Saturday pm
from about 7.00 pm and Sunday am from about 7.30.
Anyone is welcome, just buy a candle (50c) and leave when you
please. The church interior is very beautiful and well worth a
visit, though it is difficult to find it open outside service
times.
A new (donated) set of bells has been installed, with varied and
attractive peals, a welcome replacement for the previous
monotonous toll…
Other churches throughout the island are open to individual
worshippers and visitors, though the church of the Virgin Mary
at Chorio is kept locked (to protect its valuable frescos)
except at specific Festivals – eg 14th August.
Church Museum
This is staffed by a volunteer. Displays of vestments, icons,
silver dishes, bibles collected from various churches around the
island. Postcards of Old Halki for sale. Opening hours are still
to be settled, so look for the notice outside. Entrance charge 2
euros.
Siesta
Transport
There is one taxi, usually parked near the Post Office if not
out on call. Phone numbers and destinations are advertised at
the kiosks.
No other public transport. Few cars. One water taxi.
Destinations displayed. Rates by negotiation dependent on number
in party (up to 12). No car, bike or boat hire. So unless one
has the taxi or lifts are going, everyone walks.
Ferries
The basic service is by 2 alternating kaikis, leaving Halki
06.00 every day in the season (less off season) (may be 07.00 on
Saturday) for Kamiros Skala, a small port on the Western coast
of Rhodes, North of Halki. The journey takes approximately 1
hour and 15 minutes.
Arriving at Kamiros, 07.15, there is a short wait for the bus
which leaves from the taverna up on the road at 07.40. This
arrives in Rhodes town, at Mandraki harbour about 0.8.50, but
may be slow when the schools are in session up to June and from
September.
On Saturday, the bus leaves the taverna about 09.30. On Sunday
there is no bus service to Rhodes town, but the boat runs a day
trip to Halki, leaving Kamiros Skala at 09.00 and leaving Halki
at 17.00.
The bus returns from Mandraki, leaving 13.25/30 from the same
bus stop, arriving at Kamiros shortly after 14.30. Please note –
do not board the bus marked Kameiros as this stops at Ancient
Kameiros, some 15 kms short of the port. The bus is marked
Kritinia, or Monolithos, villages beyond Kamiros Skala. The
boat waits for the arrival of the bus before departing, but be
aware that the bus does NOT wait for the boat, so if you leave
Halki late in the morning, you will need a taxi into Rhodes. It
is best to call one out from Halki before you leave, to give the
cab time to get down to Kamiros and meet you. This can be
expensive as you are paying call out from Rhodes – it could be
35-40 euros.
Transport times are affected by the use of the kaikis by the
tour companies for transfers on Wednesday in the season.
Halki is served by Lane Lines and GA ferries. These connect the
island with Rhodes and Piraeus. During the season, the Lane
service calls 2 evenings a week en route to Rhodes – scheduled
for 17.30 – but often late after the long voyage (24 hours) from
Piraeus via Milos, Crete, Karpathos, and Kassos .
Sailing time to Rhodes is around 2 hours, into the commercial
harbour near the Old Town, but time should also be allowed for
tying up and disembarkation. Passengers with luggage will
certainly require a taxi, as it is at least a 15 minute walk to
the new town.
The boat returns early the following morning at 06.30 - 07.00,
en route to Piraeus. This means a departure time from Rhodes of
04.30.
It is very
important to note, firstly, that one requires a ticket in order
to board, obtainable in advance from the local agent–Halki tours
and from the appropriate agencies on Rhodes. This is NOT
necessary for the two local ferries.
Secondly, when these ships call at Halki, it is not uncommon for
them to spend less than 5 minutes tied up – so there is no
margin for error and they will not wait for any late passenger.
Hence plenty of opportunity and excuse for waiting in the bars
and cafes until the boat shows up….
In the season, hydrofoils may call in at Halki en route to
Rhodes or other islands but are of no use for day trips, as they
do not return the same day, or allow very little time, eg in
Rhodes, before returning. Island-hoppers might find them useful,
however.
Water and Sanitation
Halki’s water supply is all brought in by ship from Rhodes which
makes careful conservation essential during the busy summer
months. Otherwise your accommodation’s supply may run dry and
it could be days before more water can be obtained. Use the sea
rather than the shower for cooling off purposes. If there is a
basin provided to stand in when showering, please do so and then
use that water for flushing the lavatory. The same goes for
washing up water. If you notice any leaks, please report them
to the relevant person so that they can be attended to
promptly. Supplies can be interrupted for up to an hour or more
while machinery is swopped to another holding tank.
As the pipes are all small bore nothing, not even toilet paper,
should be flushed down the toilets. Bins are provided.
Blockages occur practically instantly whereas finding a plumber
takes longer.
Electricity
The island receives power by undersea cable from Rhodes.
Capacity is limited. Please turn off all appliances when not in
use, particularly air conditioning units and water heaters, to
avoid overloading the system. As the wiring in many houses is
old and idiosyncratic it is also wise not to switch everything
on at once! The island does have black outs which may last a
few hours. Most accommodation is provided with torches for
these occasions.
Public Toilets
The public toilets are on the South waterfront, near the mooring
for Nissos Halki.
All the eating establishments and bars have toilets, however, it
is polite to be a customer when using their facilities.
International Telephone Codes
Australia 0061
Austria 0043
Belgium 0032
Canada 001
Cyprus 00357
Denmark 0045
Finland 00358
France 0033
Germany 0049
Holland 0031
Hungary 0036
Italy 00390
Luxembourg 00352
Malta 00356
New Zealand 0064
Norway 0047
Poland 0048
Portugal 00351
Spain 0034
South Africa 0027
Sweden 0046
Switzerland 0041
Turkey 0090
United Kingdom 0044
USA 001
