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Symi is a small, steep Dodecanese island between Rhodes and the Turkish coast, known for the colour-washed neoclassical mansions stacked around its harbour. There is no airport: you fly to Rhodes and take a ferry, which takes about 45 minutes on the fastest boat. Most visitors come for the day, but Symi is at its best once the excursion boats have left, so a night or two is worth considering.
Short answer
- Getting there: fly to Rhodes, then a ferry from Rhodes Town to Gialos, about 45 to 90 minutes depending on the boat. Kos also has direct sailings, which take longer. We could not confirm any direct ferry from Turkey in 2026.
- Main sights: Gialos harbour, the roughly 500 steps of the Kali Strata up to Chorio, Panormitis Monastery in the south-west, and coves you reach by sea taxi.
- Getting around: a bus links Gialos, Chorio and Pedi, a few buses a day go to Panormitis, and sea taxis serve the beaches in summer. You do not need a car for a short stay.
- How long: a day trip gives you three to four hours in Gialos. Two or three nights let you add Panormitis, a boat-only beach and a walk.
- When to go: June to September has the most sailings; sea taxis usually stop around mid-October.
- Clock change: Greece goes back to winter time on 25 October 2026; from then on Turkey is one hour ahead.
Getting there
By air
Symi has no airport. The nearest is Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras”, run by Fraport Greece, about 14 km south-west of Rhodes Town. It has many direct summer flights from the UK and continental Europe; see our Rhodes travel guide for airlines and the bus into town, and Rhodes airport transfers for getting from the terminal to the harbour.
By ferry from Rhodes
Rhodes to Symi is the island’s main link and runs all year. Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries, Saos Ferries and Sebeco Lines all sail the route. Ferryscanner showed about 19 sailings a week from June to September and about 13 a week in quieter months, as of October 2026. Some sailings call at Panormitis as well as, or instead of, Gialos, so check which port is printed on your ticket.
| Operator | Crossing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dodekanisos Seaways | About 45–50 min (catamarans) | Also runs the slower Panagia Skiadeni, about 1 h 30 min, usually April to October |
| Sebeco Lines | Around 1 h 10 min to 1 h 30 min | Small passenger ferries |
| Blue Star Ferries | Around 1 h to 1 h 10 min | Large car ferry, cheapest fares |
| Saos Ferries | Around 1 h 30 min | Two to three days a week |
As of October 2026, Ferryhopper showed fares from €18 one way on Dodekanisos Seaways, and from €5.50 one way on Blue Star based on the previous year’s data. Dodekanisos says its fares may be adjusted with season and demand, so check the price for your date.
In Rhodes Town, the boats do not all leave from the same quay. According to a Rhodes port guide updated in January 2026, Dodekanisos Seaways and Sebeco use Kolona harbour, Blue Star uses Akandia, and excursion boats leave from Mandraki. Dodekanisos asks passengers to be at the port 60 minutes before departure. Our Symi day trip from Rhodes guide has the quay details and day-trip timings.
By ferry from Kos and other islands
Kos to Symi is served by Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries and Saos Ferries. The crossing takes from about 1 hour 20 minutes to nearly 4 hours, depending on the boat and the number of stops, and Ferryscanner showed about 11 to 14 sailings a week as of October 2026. The slower ferries also call at Tilos and Nisyros, so Symi fits a Dodecanese island-hopping trip. Use our ferry route planner to combine legs.
From Turkey
As of October 2026 we could not confirm that any direct ferry from Turkey to Symi ran in 2026. Bodrum and Marmaris services have run in earlier years, and a Datça–Symi service was announced for summer 2026, but we found no operator timetable showing it actually ran. The reliable way in from Turkey is via Rhodes: see the Marmaris to Rhodes ferry or Fethiye to Rhodes ferry, then continue to Symi.
Getting around
A transport guide updated in December 2025 describes the following options.
| Option | Route | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Gialos–Chorio–Pedi | About 10 min to Chorio, 20 min to Pedi; roughly hourly from 08:00 in season |
| Bus | Gialos–Panormitis | About 40 min; three a day each way in high season, two in low season |
| Sea taxi | From Gialos and Pedi to the coves | Usually May to mid-October |
| Taxi | From Gialos | Few cars; agree the fare before you set off |
| Hire car or scooter | Gialos | Useful for Panormitis, Marathounda and Toli |
The bus stop is a small car park on the south side of Gialos harbour. Times change with the season and at weekends; check the board at the stop.
Things to see
Symi’s wealth came from sponge diving, shipbuilding and trade, and most of the mansions date from the 19th century. Visit Greece describes the main town as one of the most beautiful and largest neoclassical settlements in Greece. The 2021 census counted 2,603 residents on the island.
Gialos
Gialos is the harbour, where ferries and most excursion boats dock. Discover Greece describes houses in ochre, salmon, red, blue, turquoise and grey rising up the slopes. Along the waterfront are the old customs house, the fish market, a stone bridge, the statue of a young fisherman and the clock tower of 1881. The Nautical Museum, in a neoclassical building in the old shipyard area, covers sponge diving. Nos, a small beach beyond the clock tower, is the nearest swim.
Kali Strata and Chorio
The Kali Strata is a stone stairway of around 500 steps from Gialos to Chorio, also called Ano Symi or Horio. It was once the only route between the two, and the climb takes about 20 to 30 minutes. At the top, Syllogou Square has the old municipal pharmacy of 1884, known as Spetsaria. The lanes continue up towards the castle area, with views over the bay.
Chorio also has the Symi museum, which sources describe under different names; a renovated historical museum spread over several buildings reopened in September 2020. We could not find current opening hours or prices from an official source.
Panormitis Monastery
The monastery of the Archangel Michael stands in a sheltered bay in the south-west. Visit Greece says the main church dates from the 15th century and the monastery itself was built in the early 18th century on older foundations. Inside is a full-length icon of the Archangel covered in silver and gold, considered miraculous, plus an ecclesiastical museum and a folklore museum. Discover Greece notes that the monastery rents basic rooms for overnight stays. You can reach it by bus from Gialos, by hire car, on some ferries from Rhodes, or on the classic excursion boat.
Pedi and Nimborio
Pedi is the bay at the end of the bus line from Gialos, a small settlement with a narrow beach. It is mainly a starting point: a coastal path leads to Agios Nikolaos beach in about 20 minutes, and sea taxis go to Agios Nikolaos and Agia Marina. Nimborio is a small bay west of Gialos, about 3 km by the coast road, where some Rhodes excursions make a swim stop.
Walking
Visit Greece recommends exploring Symi on foot. The longest route runs about 22 km from Gialos to Panormitis, passing churches and the forested area around Kourkouniotis, with an optional swim at Marathounda on the way. Shade is limited, so start early in summer and carry plenty of water.
Beaches
Many of the best coves have no road access; sea taxis from Gialos and Pedi reach them in summer.
- Agios Georgios Dysalona: a cove reachable only from the sea, used for swim stops by many boats from Rhodes.
- Nanou: most visitors arrive by boat.
- Agia Marina: a small beach with clear water, by sea taxi from Pedi or Gialos.
- Agios Nikolaos: by coastal path or sea taxi from Pedi.
- Marathounda: on the way to Panormitis, by road or sea taxi.
- Toli: by hire car or on an organised minibus trip from town.
Discover Greece also lists Fokospilia among the coves visited by boat.
Where to stay
We do not have a Symi where-to-stay page yet. In general terms, Gialos is the practical base: the ferries, buses and sea taxis all start there. Chorio is quieter and higher up, but every trip to the harbour means the steps or the bus. Pedi suits a stay near the water with sea taxi access to the coves. For something different, Panormitis Monastery rents simple rooms, according to Discover Greece.
Hotels and rooms on Symi
See which hotels, guesthouses and apartments on the island are free for your dates, with a map view, on Booking.com. On small islands rooms run out early in high summer.
Day trip or stay?
Day trip: excursion boats from Rhodes give about three to four hours in Gialos; the classic boat adds about an hour at Panormitis. That is enough for the harbour, the Kali Strata and Chorio, or a swim. Scheduled ferries are cheaper but you need a same-day return, which not every operator offers on every date.
Stay: a night or two lets you see Gialos in the evening and early morning, take the bus to Panormitis, spend a day at a boat-only cove and walk part of the island. It also makes Symi a natural stop between Rhodes and Kos on a slower ferry.
Organised tours
From Rhodes, an excursion boat is the easiest way to see Panormitis and Gialos in one day or to get a swim stop at a boat-only cove. If you only want Gialos and Chorio, or you plan to stay, a scheduled ferry is cheaper and more flexible.
Rhodes: Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat
Boat from Mandraki with free time at Panormitis and in Symi town, a Saturday swim stop in summer and optional port transfers from several Rhodes resorts.
Check price & availabilityRhodes: Symi Island by Fast Boat (Only ~1-hour journey!)
Speedboat from Mandraki to Gialos with about 3.75 hours on Symi and optional hotel transfer; suits travellers who want the most time in town.
Check price & availabilityIf you are staying on Symi, this minibus trip covers the beach that is hardest to reach without a car:
Symi: Mini Van Excursion To Toli Bay
Shared minibus from the operator's office in town, with pickups at Pedi and Chorio, a photo stop and a long beach day at Toli; check the operating days when you book.
Check price & availabilityWhen to go
- June to September: the most ferries, sea taxis and excursions, but also the most day-trippers in Gialos around midday.
- May and the first half of October: quieter, with sea taxis usually running from May to mid-October.
- Late October onwards: fewer sailings, more weather disruption, and the clocks change on 25 October. Blue Star published weather-related itinerary changes for 13 to 15 October 2026, so allow a spare day before a flight.
- Winter: ferries from Rhodes keep running, but expect a much quieter island and fewer services.
See the ferry season calendar for routes by month.
Practical tips
- Cash: carry some euros; small islands may have only a few cash machines. See money and mobile data.
- Documents: Rhodes to Symi is a domestic route with no border control, but carry your passport or ID card; Dodekanisos Seaways asks passengers to carry ID.
- Turkish citizens on the island visa: the visa is valid only for the island of entry, so a Rhodes visa does not cover onward travel to Symi.
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FAQ
How do you get to Symi?
Fly to Rhodes and take a ferry from Rhodes Town to Gialos, about 45 minutes on the fastest Dodekanisos Seaways catamaran and up to about 1 hour 30 minutes on slower ferries. There are also direct ferries from Kos.
Is there a ferry from Turkey to Symi?
We could not confirm one for 2026. Services from Bodrum and Marmaris have run in earlier years, and a Datça route was announced, but we found no timetable showing it operated. Go via Rhodes instead.
How many days do you need on Symi?
A day trip covers Gialos and Chorio. Two or three nights let you add Panormitis, a cove by sea taxi and a walk.
How many steps is the Kali Strata?
Around 500, according to Discover Greece. The climb takes about 20 to 30 minutes; a bus also runs between Gialos and Chorio.
Do you need a car on Symi?
Not for Gialos, Chorio and Pedi. Buses and sea taxis cover most visits. A car or scooter helps for Toli, Marathounda or a longer stay at Panormitis.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Visit Greece: Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece: Hiking and exploring on Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece: Monastery of the Archangel Michael, Panormitis (accessed Oct 2026)
- Discover Greece: Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Archaeology Wiki: Renovated Historical Museum of Symi reopens (Sept 2020) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia: Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- On the Luce: Symi without a car (Dec 2025) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dave’s Travel Pages: Symi beaches (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways: company site and destinations (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways: 2026 passenger and vehicle fares (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways: Symi to Rhodes, what to check before booking (accessed Oct 2026)
- SAOS Ferries: lines served (accessed Oct 2026)
- Blue Star Ferries: itinerary changes due to bad weather, 13–15 Oct 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Rhodes to Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Panagia Skiadeni (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Bodrum to Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Rhodes to Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Kos to Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferrybodrum.com: Symi island (accessed Oct 2026)
- Direct Ferries: Datça to Symi (accessed Oct 2026)
- The Mediterranean Traveller: Rhodes port map (Jan 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Rhodes Airport: by public bus (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk: Gate visa conditions (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com: Clock changes in Greece 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Rhodes, Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Rhodes, Symi Island by Fast Boat (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Symi, Mini Van Excursion to Toli Bay (accessed Oct 2026)
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