Platanos Anchorage

Drop the hook off Platanos, the hilltop capital of Leros, and you'll wake up to one of the most dramatic silhouettes in the Dodecanese — a medieval castle crowning the ridge above a cluster of neoclassical mansions. The setting feels genuinely lived-in rather than touristy, with the village of Agia Marina a short walk along the waterfront and the traditional fishing neighbourhood of Panteli close by. It's a solid spot to swing at anchor while you explore an island that saw serious WWII action, traces of which are still very much visible inland.