Marathi (also known as Marathos) is an incredibly tiny, drop-shaped islet located east of Patmos in the Dodecanese archipelago, offering the closest thing to a true Robinson Crusoe escape. Spanning just over 35 hectares, this sun-drenched haven has no roads, no cars, no shops, and no supermarkets. In fact, it is famous for being one of Greece's least populated islands, with its year-round population traditionally dropping to just a single-digit number of permanent residents—who happen to run the island's few businesses. Life here is beautifully reduced to a radius of about 50 meters, concentrated entirely around a pristine, horseshoe-shaped bay protected from the Aegean winds.The entire Marathi experience revolves around slow living, pure relaxation, and simple culinary pleasures.
Visitors spend their hours sunbathing on the soft sand of its singular beach, swimming out to the nearby rocky islet of Spalathronisi, or hiking up a quiet hill path to see the small, white-washed church of Agios Nikolaos. Without the distraction of urban light pollution, evening activities involve sitting directly on the water at one of the island's two legendary family-run tavernas. There, you can dine on freshly caught baked bream, lobster pasta, and local goat dishes while watching the sunset melt into the horizon.
