Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is a sea cave on the island of Kastellorizo with a large chamber carved into limestone rock. The entrance is narrow and sits just above water level, while the interior opens into a spacious cavity where sunlight filters through the water.

Local inhabitants named the cave Phokiali, a Greek word meaning seal's refuge, because seals once lived in the area. The site has been known to seafarers as a shelter point on this coastline for many centuries.

The cave has long served as a natural refuge for fishermen and sailors seeking shelter during rough seas. Visitors can sense the connection between this place and the lives of those who have worked the waters for centuries.

The cave is only accessible during calm sea conditions because the entrance sits very low to the water and waves can block entry. Early morning typically offers the best conditions, and visitors need a boat to enter the cave.

The intense blue light inside comes from sunlight bending through the seawater, creating a striking visual effect that visitors rarely forget. This natural phenomenon and the cave's size make it more impressive than its better-known counterpart in Capri.