How to get to Symi

In this post: How to get to Symi from Rhodes,

How to get to Symi from Athens,

How to get to Symi while island-hopping,

Booking tips and links

Symi can feel a world away. There’s no airport so getting here takes a little more effort than reaching some of the bigger, more touristic islands. But if you know what you’re doing the additional effort is small and the rewards more than make up for it – the journey itself can even be a pleasure.

How to get to Symi from Rhodes

By far the easiest way to get to Symi is from Rhodes. If you’re travelling from the UK direct flights to Rhodes start as early as April and boats from Rhodes to Symi are frequent - from the start of May there are four or five a day.

If you check the timings before you travel it’s possible to fly to Rhodes and jump on a boat to Symi in the same day. You can take a taxi from the airport to the old town or to the port for around €27. The journey will take roughly half an hour. Alternatively there’s a bus service which leaves the airport every 30 minutes and goes to the town centre. This costs €2.50 per person but won’t get you all the way to the port.

Rhodes has three ports from which boats sail to Symi, so make sure you know which one you’re boat leaves from. Telling your taxi driver which boat you’re getting and your destination is usually enough to get you to the correct port – but it’s a long walk between them, so give yourself a bit of time in case of error.

The journey from Rhodes is between 1 hour (on the Blue Star) and 2 hours on the Saos Ferry. Somewhere in the middle, the Sebecco is a smaller, more frequent ferry, which travels to Symi twice a day in the summer and takes about 90 minutes.

Costs vary significantly between operators, so if you’re not worried about departure time, shop around for the best deal.

If your arrival in Rhodes doesn’t match up with a ferry to Symi on the same day, then a night in Rhodes old town can be a fun bolt-on to your Symi holiday. We’re available for Rhodes accommodation and restaurant recommendations to help you make the most of a night on the town.

How to get to Symi while island-hopping

If you have the time, there are few holidays as inspiring as touring the Greek Islands. An extensive network of ferries connects the islands, and in summer journeys are frequent – particularly across shorter distances.

If you’re in the Dodecanese chain of islands, reaching Symi is quick and easy using the Dodekanisos Seaways service. An express service runs daily from islands including Kos, Kalymnos, Rhodes and Chalki, meaning it’s easy to reach Symi from many of its cousins in the Dodecanese.

Other islands in the Dodecanese and the Cyclades are connected to Symi by the Blue Star Ferry service. In the summer this usually runs three times a week, stopping at Santorini, Samos and Kos on its way to Symi.

Timing is important though – sometimes there are days between suitable services, so its sensible to check the boat time-tables and book in advance before arranging accommodation.

How to get to Symi from Athens

Cruise overnight from Athens to Symi on the Blue Star. This can be an adventurous and romantic way to reach Symi as the ferry wends its leisurely way across the Aegean. The journey takes about 14 hours, giving you time to sit on deck under the stars, have a meal in the unexpectedly excellent on-board restaurant or just curl up in your cabin with a podcast. There are many stops en-route to Symi, giving you the uniquely Greek experience of watching clusters of light appear against the black sea and gradually emerge into bustling ports, before sinking back into darkness as the ship passes.

As romantic as the stops are, if you are booking a cabin, try to select one on the upper floors and at the front of the ship – this will keep you from being woken up by the rumble of trucks and passengers at each island port.

Tips for booking

Book on advance – in the season even the big boats fill up, so try to book at least a few days before you travel.

Book directly with the operator – this is slightly cheaper than using an agent, but the biggest benefit is tickets  and boarding passes will be emailed to you directly, giving you less to worry about at the port.

Check the timetable before you travel - there can be days between boats, so plan accordingly.

Links

Check the timetable at Open Seas Book directly: Blue Star Ferries

Sebeco Lines

Dedekanisos Seaways

Saos Ferries

NOTE: Ferry tickets from Rhodes to Symi are included in all Interval holidays. We’ll liaise to confirm your travel times, book the boat for you and send you your tickets and passes.