The tiny island off the coast of Turkey that’s actually Greek – with turtles, cheap beers and fluorescent waters

JUST 30 minutes off the coast of Turkey is a pretty island – that is actually Greek.

Meis, also known as Kastellorizo, is owned by Greece despite its proximity to the Turkish mainland.

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A tiny island close to Turkey is actually owned by Greece[/caption]

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It is just 30 minutes from the Turkish mainland by boat[/caption]

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Most people visit for the day, with cafes and restaurants lining the waterfront[/caption]

Occupied by the French and Italians during the war, it was given to Greece in the 1947 Paris Agreement.

This is despite the nearest Greek island of Rhodes being more than 100 miles away.

And just a mile away from the Turkey coast, the ferry from the mainland takes just 30 minutes.

This also means tourists visiting the island will have to go through passport control, seeing as they are travelling from one country to another.

With just 350 locals, this number hits around 1,000 during the busier summer months.

The island is small – it can be done in a day with it taking around 30 minutes to walk to each side.

Most head straight to the top for the best views, found at the 14th century castle ruins.

But for a more relaxed day trip, there are a number of brightly coloured restaurants and cafes lining the waterfront, selling cheap local beers such as Mythos.

The highest rated is Alexandra’s Restaurant, with people praising the amazing views and food.

Fresh seafood is the most common choice at the restaurants, along with pork chops and pork sausages.

Make sure to jump in the clear waters, and you may even spot some nearby loggerhead turtles.

One of the island’s most popular attractions is the Blue Cave, where you can go on boat tours to visit the florescent blue waters.

It’s not just tourists who visit the island – expats in Turkey also visit to avoid problems with their visas.

Tickets to the island cost around €25, departing at 10am and returning at 4pm from the seaside town of Kas.

If you do fancy staying, there are a number of small hotels to choose from offering apartments and rooms.

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Boat trips run to the Blue Cave with bright blue waters[/caption]

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Turtles can even be spotted in the harbour[/caption]

These range from the three-star Poseiden Hotel to the four-star Megisti Hotel and Kastellorizo Hotel.

The best way to get to Kas is with easyJet, with flights from Manchester taking around four hours.

Brits will need at least one blank page for entry and exit stamps, and passports must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive.

There’s another Turkish island that only locals know about.

Half an hour from the mainland is Bozcaada, which is mentioned in The Iliad. Its beaches is where the ships delivering the famous Trojan Horse were launched from.

The island was Greek until it joined the Turkish Republic in 1923.

And one island has been dubbed the ‘Maldives of Turkey’, with day trips costing around €25.

Fancy visiting a Greek island instead? Here’s one of the most affordable ones to visit.

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Boat trips cost around €25, and there are direct UK flights to the mainland[/caption]