A Symi day trip from Rhodes takes you by boat from Rhodes to the island of Symi and back on the same day. You can compare it with other Greece tours on our homepage, and each section below names boat trips you can book.
Read on for the boat ride, the time on the island and what people ask before they book a Symi day trip from Rhodes.
How long is the boat ride on a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
A Symi day trip from Rhodes takes about 80 minutes each way on a fast boat. The Sebeco speedboat leaves Rhodes at 9:00 and reaches Symi at 10:20, a little over an hour at sea.
The crossing is short because the two islands sit close together. Symi lies about 24 km north of Rhodes, and the route runs over the Aegean Sea. The TUI page calls the crossing a glide across the Aegean. The time at sea still differs a little between companies. Check the sailing time in your own booking.
Another operator lists three Rhodes departures for its Symi town tour, at 9:00, 10:30 and 12:20. Each one arrives on Symi 80 minutes later. That matches the Sebeco figure for a Symi day trip from Rhodes.
Other sources give close figures. One tour company lists about 1 hour 15 minutes each way. The same page also shows 1.5 hours of travel each way. A travel blog says boats from Rhodes to Symi take about 1.5 hours. For a Symi day trip from Rhodes, these figures sit between 75 and 90 minutes.
The sea time repeats on the way home. A Symi day trip from Rhodes has two crossings, one out and one back. The time on the boat adds up to between two and a half and three hours.
The start of the trip is early. The Sebeco boat and the Manos tour both leave Rhodes at 9:00, and a TUI tour departs at 8:55. A Symi day trip from Rhodes therefore begins in the morning, and the first crossing is done before 11:00.
Which harbour in Rhodes town do the Symi boats use?
The Symi boats leave from two harbours in Rhodes town, Mandraki and Kolona. A Symi day trip from Rhodes starts at Mandraki Harbour with the Manos or TUI tour. The Sebeco speedboat sails from Kolona Harbour.
Mandraki is the meeting point for the Manos tour on a Symi day trip from Rhodes. The group gathers at 8:30 in front of the Evangelismos Church, near the fountain. The Manos tour is back in Rhodes at 17:50. The TUI tour lists an 8:55 departure from Mandraki Harbour. It returns there between 5:35 and 5:45 in the evening.
A Symi day trip from Rhodes on the Sebeco boat begins at Kolona Harbour instead. Its page lists check-in at 8:30 for the 9:00 departure. Guests are asked to be at the harbour at least 30 minutes before sailing.
Kolona is the Rhodes port for traffic inside the Dodecanese, and Symi belongs to that island group. Mandraki and Kolona both lie in Rhodes town. The Sebeco page adds that guests can photograph the castle walls from a unique location once they are on board.
The choice of harbour comes down to the company you book. Pick the company first, because the harbour for your Symi day trip from Rhodes follows from that choice. Then read the meeting point in your own booking the evening before. Plan to reach the harbour by 8:30, the time the Manos meeting and the Sebeco check-in begin.
Can you join a Symi day trip from Rhodes from Faliraki, Kolymbia or Lindos?
Yes. One fast-boat listing offers a Symi day trip from Rhodes with boarding at Faliraki Beach, Kolymbia Harbour and Lindos. Each place has its own departure time, so you skip the bus to Rhodes town.
Faliraki lies about 14 km south of Rhodes town. A Symi day trip from Rhodes can leave straight from its beach. On that listing, the beach boat leaves at 10:20. A different tour sails a high-speed boat direct from the beach. It offers 3 hours of free time on Symi and free parking at the Amada Colossos stop.
Kolymbia is a resort in the Afantou area, which lies just south of Faliraki. On the same listing, the Kolymbia Harbour boat leaves at 10:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A Symi day trip from Rhodes starting here therefore needs the right weekday, so check the calendar first.
Lindos sits about 40 km south of Rhodes town. A Symi day trip from Rhodes starting there runs on set days. The boat leaves Vlycha Beach at 9:45 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Another tour picks up in Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos and Lindos. One more option sends you by bus to Rhodes town to board.
Pickup lists differ by operator. One tour with bus pickup names Ialyssos, Ixia, Rhodes Town, Kallithea and Faliraki, but not Kolymbia or Lindos. It collects guests between 7:30 and 8:15 am, depending on the stop. Ask whether your hotel is covered before you book a Symi day trip from Rhodes.
What is the difference between a fast boat and a cruise ship to Symi?
A fast boat is a speedboat or high-speed cruiser that gives you more time on the island. The bigger cruise boat is a catamaran or ferry that sails on to Panormitis by sea.
One fast-boat operator says its boat gains at least 2 hours of free time over the conventional catamaran cruise. A Symi day trip from Rhodes by fast boat lists around 3 to 4 hours on the island. The same operator lets you pick the return from Symi: 14:20, 15:45 or 17:40.
Seating differs too. One high-speed boat promises open-air seating with sun and shade. Another speedboat has an air-conditioned indoor space and a sundeck. The ferry tour lasts 9 hours plus transfers. The ferry offers easy access for elderly passengers and wheelchair users, with seating only on the ground floor.
One fast-boat operator adds the monastery by bus from Symi town. The bigger boat sails to the monastery itself. On one catamaran, a Symi day trip from Rhodes includes about 3 hours in Symi and 1 hour at Panormitis. It has an air-conditioned lounge and sells snacks, coffee and soft drinks on board.
So choose by priority for your Symi day trip from Rhodes. For more hours in the harbour town, pick the fast boat. For the monastery by sea and a lounge, pick the bigger boat. Both types bring you back to Rhodes on the same day.
How much free time does a Symi day trip from Rhodes leave in Gialos?
A Symi day trip from Rhodes leaves about three to four hours in Gialos, where the boats land. One tour gave about three hours. Another lists four hours in Symi. A cruise with a monastery stop lists the harbour from 12:20 to 16:15.
The return boat sets the length of the stay. One timetable for a town-only trip lets guests pick a return boat at 14:20, 15:45 or 17:40. That choice makes a Symi day trip from Rhodes shorter or longer, so read the sailing times before you book.
Free time is yours to plan. One cruise lists alleys, traditional shops and local treats. One visitor on a three-hour stop climbed to the upper town and ate lunch. The same visitor then spent about 90 minutes on the harbour and in the shops. There was no time left to swim.
One operator’s plan for a Symi day trip from Rhodes splits a short stay into blocks. A walk around Yialos takes about an hour. A meal takes about an hour. The Kali Strata takes about 60 minutes. Two short stops of about 10 and 20 minutes bring the plan to three and a half hours.
On a Symi day trip from Rhodes, a stay of four hours leaves half an hour spare against that plan. Spend it at the harbour, where the tourist boats arrive. One cruise promises time for a last photo of the painted houses as the boat leaves the bay.
How long is the Kali Strata stairway up to Chorio?
About 500 stone steps lead up the Kali Strata from Gialos to Chorio, the upper town. One magazine counts about 400 instead. Plan for a climb of 400 to 500 steps on a Symi day trip from Rhodes. One operator lists the walk at about 60 minutes.
Every Symi day trip from Rhodes lands in Gialos, the lower town by the water. Chorio is the older, residential neighbourhood on the hill. The name Kali Strata means Good Way in Greek. Merchants and donkeys once carried goods along this path. Today the houses beside it are private homes, holiday studios, offices and restaurants.
The climb is a real walk. It includes inclines, narrow walkways and a long flight of stairs, says one operator. One visitor climbed on a hot summer day and was drenched in sweat at the top. One writer adds that the steps are no place to rush.
Walkers on a Symi day trip from Rhodes who want to save time have two choices. A public bus runs every hour from the harbour. Its second stop is Chorio, near the top of the Kali Strata. One operator also offers a transfer to the top, so guests only walk down the steps.
The effort brings wide views over Gialos on the way up. At the top, quiet alleys continue higher through Chorio. One visitor enjoyed lunch there but found little that the harbour does not offer. With three hours, a Symi day trip from Rhodes makes the climb a choice, not a duty.
What do you see inside the Panormitis church and its museum?
A Symi day trip from Rhodes can stop at Panormitis. The church holds a silver-covered icon of Archangel Michael, about two metres high, and two museums stand close by. Icons cover the church walls.
Visitors on a Symi day trip from Rhodes find iconography across the whole church, which is decorated with elaborate chandeliers. At the back, look for the mural of the fall of the angels. The ornate wooden iconostasis, the screen of icons before the altar, also stands out.
Tradition says the icon appeared at this spot and returned after people moved it. The church was then built over the place. The silversmith Ioannis Peloponisios made the relief silver cover in the late 18th century. The church dates from the same century.
Pilgrims leave gifts in the church, and a common offering is a straw or reed broom. Church tradition says the monks heard the Archangel sweeping at night with these brooms. On a Symi day trip from Rhodes you can buy a broom at the gift shop next to the monastery.
The monastery has two museums. One shows church art, such as silver icons and objects used in services. It also shows model ships brought to Panormitis by sea as offerings. The other shows folk art linked to fishing, farming and shepherding. A library holds Byzantine manuscripts.
The museum also holds prayer messages that Greek sailors cast into the sea in bottles. The bottles washed up at the monastery, and visitors can read the messages. The stop is short on a Symi day trip from Rhodes. One tour allows 40 minutes at Panormitis, and another allows one hour.
One operator lists the museum visit as an optional extra, so ask before your Symi day trip from Rhodes begins. Cover your knees and shoulders for the chapel. The lady at the door lends a scarf to anyone who forgets.
Which Symi day trip from Rhodes stops to swim at St George’s Bay?
One Symi day trip from Rhodes swims at St George’s Bay. A small boat takes visitors from Symi town to the beach. They get an hour there to swim and relax.
The beach is a mix of pebbles and sand, with rocky cliffs around it. The water is turquoise and clear, so the stop suits swimming and snorkelling. You can also sunbathe. Take your own food, drink and umbrella, because boats are the only way in. Shade comes from the steep rock wall, mostly in the afternoon.
Tours differ, so read each itinerary. One lists only a photo pause at the bay on the way to Symi harbour. A traveller on a Panormitis cruise reported a swim of about 30 minutes there. The boat then went on to Symi town. Ask whether your Symi day trip from Rhodes includes swimming.
A second operator sells a Saint George and Symi cruise from Rhodes. A private RIB boat trip lists swimming stops, and the group can add Panormitis. One listing gives the small-boat trip from Symi town to St George as 1 hour 30 minutes. Compare these options before you book a Symi day trip from Rhodes.
Which Symi beaches can a taxi boat reach in one afternoon?
On a Symi day trip from Rhodes, small taxi boats leave the centre of Gialos harbour on a regular schedule. They call at beaches along the east coast, including Agia Marina, St Nicholas, Nanou and Marathounda.
The boats normally leave Gialos at 10, 11, 12 and 1 o’clock. They return hourly in the afternoon, at 2, 4, 5 and 6, with no boat at 3. They normally run only between late spring and mid-October. Compare these times with the free time on your Symi day trip from Rhodes before you pick a beach.
St Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) mixes sand with fine pebbles, and trees give natural shade. It has umbrellas, sunbeds, a beach bar and a taverna, which helps if you travel with children. Agia Marina is a small sandy cove with a tiny rocky islet just offshore. A chapel stands on the islet.
Nanou is a bay surrounded by cypress trees and rock formations, with umbrellas and a taverna. It has no road access. Marathounda is a small pebble bay with facilities and a couple of places to eat. Taxi boats from Gialos serve both on a Symi day trip from Rhodes.
Your Symi day trip from Rhodes can also use a smaller taxi boat from Pedi harbour. It takes 5 minutes to St Nicholas and 10 minutes to Agia Marina. The bus from Gialos to Pedi takes 20 minutes. Pedi boats stop in the late afternoon, so write down the last return time.
Which local dishes can you taste on a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
The dish to try on a Symi day trip from Rhodes is Symian shrimp. It is a rare, very small shrimp that lives only in local waters. The fish tavernas of Gialos serve it fried and whole, as a meze with ouzo or wine.
You eat the tiny shrimp whole. A squeeze of fresh lemon on top is all they need. Cooks also grill the shrimp, or add it to other recipes. Order a plate early on your Symi day trip from Rhodes, because it is the hallmark of the island.
Next, ask for gaelopita, the Symi version of atherinopita. Cooks fry small fish together with onion and batter. The tavernas by the sea also grill octopus and squid. Ask them to name the fish of the day.
Meat dishes on Symi include goat, roasted in the oven or cooked in clay pots with rice, orzo or spaghetti. For a meat-free plate, try lentils cooked with rice. Dolmades are vine leaves stuffed with rice. These recipes are part of Symi cooking, so a meat-free lunch fits into a Symi day trip from Rhodes too.
End a Symi day trip from Rhodes with akoumia. They look like doughnuts, but the dough holds boiled rice, and sugar goes on top. Loukoumades are puffed pastries with honey and cinnamon. Only a small number of vineyards remain on Symi, and the wine stays on the island.
Which Symi museums and sights fit into one afternoon?
A Symi day trip from Rhodes reaches three sights close together. The Nautical Museum is by the harbour in Gialos, and the museum complex is up in Chorio. The ruined Kastro stands above Chorio.
A Symi day trip from Rhodes lands at Gialos, so start at the Nautical Museum there. It fills a carefully kept neoclassical building and ranks among the leading naval museums in Greece. Its cases hold ship models, old maps, compasses, maritime instruments and old diving uniforms. A sponge-fishing section adds diving suits, sponges and bell stones.
A smaller stop is the Annunciation church on the hill above Gialos. It has a graceful bell tower. Its terrace looks over the harbour, and flights of stairs lead up to it from Gialos. A Symi day trip from Rhodes can fit this viewpoint in.
In Chorio, a Symi day trip from Rhodes reaches the Historical Museum of Symi. It spreads over restored mansions and traditional houses, with courtyards and gardens. The Farmakidis Mansion holds the archaeological and folklore museums. Local families gave the buildings to the island, so the Greek state did not build them.
The archaeological collection shows Hellenistic sculpture, ancient coins, grave offerings and small statues. The folklore collection shows Byzantine manuscripts, musical instruments and traditional clothes. The wider displays follow shipbuilding, sponge fishing, trade and religious life on the island.
The Kastro was built for the Knights of Saint John in the early 15th century. It stands high above the harbour and reuses part of an older acropolis. The path beside the blue and white Panagia church gives a panorama. The castle is largely in ruins, but a Symi day trip from Rhodes still gets a wide view.
Who built the coloured houses around the harbour of Gialos?
Craftsmen from Karpathos, skilled stonecutters, built the neoclassical houses of Gialos, paid for by rich sponge merchants. Building spread down to the shore in the middle of the 19th century. Each Symi day trip from Rhodes ends up beneath their work.
Shipbuilding and sponge diving made Symi rich. Merchants spent the profit on grand mansions around the harbour, copying the fashions of the newly independent Greek state. Symi reached the height of its prosperity in the mid 19th century. The mansions on the slopes date from that period.
The houses follow neoclassical models. They have tiled roofs, pediments, decorative details and square ground plans. Because the ground slopes, each house stands two storeys high at the front and one at the back. From the deck on a Symi day trip from Rhodes, they rise in tiers around the bay.
The colour range runs from ochre, salmon and red to blue and white. In earlier times the walls were painted with lime, ochre, lilac and brick-red. Those shades have returned, so a Symi day trip from Rhodes sees the old colours again.
The harbour also owes its look to restorers. Buyers from Italy, Germany, France, Scandinavia and England have restored houses. A great number of homes were destroyed in World War II. Restorations must now follow guidelines from the Greek culture ministry’s Archaeological Service. That care keeps a Symi day trip from Rhodes landing at a neoclassical waterfront.
Can you reach Symi on your own by public ferry instead of a tour?
Yes. Public ferries sail from Rhodes to Symi all year, so you can build your own Symi day trip from Rhodes. You choose the sailing times, but you also plan the return crossing and the way around the island yourself.
Four companies run the route: Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways, Sebeco Lines and SAOS Ferries. The tourist season, from April to October, brings more crossings. Blue Star does not sail every day, so a Symi day trip from Rhodes starts with a timetable check.
Timetables differ by company. Blue Star posts its dates well in advance, while other operators publish only weeks ahead, and sometimes not at all. You can sail out early with one company and return later with another, depending on the time of year. Check both directions together before you book your Symi day trip from Rhodes.
The return needs extra care, because ferries stop running in the late afternoon. One travel writer advises a ferry back around 5 pm, the last return ferry on that visit. The same writer missed a larger ferry that left from the opposite side of the harbour. Confirm exactly where your return ferry departs.
A passenger ferry also leaves the island plan to you, with no tour transport on Symi. Dodekanisos Seaways can call at Panormitis in high season, so check the stop. The town port is Gialos. A self-made Symi day trip from Rhodes gives more free time in town and a free choice of lunch spot.
Which weather and sea conditions change a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
Wind is the main weather factor for a Symi day trip from Rhodes. The meltemi, a strong dry north wind, blows from late spring to mid-September. At force 7 to 8, the majority of inter-island ferries cannot sail.
The meltemi is strongest in the afternoon and tends to die down at night. It can also blow for days without a break. It comes up in clear weather without warning. A calm morning therefore does not promise a calm afternoon on your Symi day trip from Rhodes.
The Beaufort scale shows what the sea does, which helps before a Symi day trip from Rhodes. At force 4, white-topped waves become fairly frequent. At force 6, large waves begin to form. Force 7 is a wind of 50 to 61 kilometres an hour. The sea heaps up and foam blows in streaks.
Weather also changes the plan on the booking side. One Rhodes boat-trip page says every trip is subject to weather conditions. It adds that the itinerary and timings always depend on them. Ask the operator about your Symi day trip from Rhodes before you head to the harbour.
A gale with force 8 and 9 gusts led authorities to ban sailing from the ports of Rafina and Lavrio. The advice was to ask the port authority, the ferry operator or a travel agent before travelling.
Rain matters far less in summer. The weather station at Rhodes airport records 0.7 mm of rain in July and 137.8 mm in December. Sebeco, a cruise company, says the painted houses of Symi town mirror in calm water on the majority of days.
What do you bring, and how do you book a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
Bring water, ID, medication and sun protection. Book your Symi day trip from Rhodes well in advance, because seats are limited. Online tour listings close booking between 30 minutes and 10 hours before departure.
A Symi day trip from Rhodes is a full day out, so pack the basics. One travel writer advises sunblock and a hat that you can secure on your head. Another list adds sunglasses, a small towel and a waterproof bag for the swimming stop. Pack swimwear if you plan to swim, and light layers for the boat trip.
Comfy shoes suit the hilly streets. If you are prone to seasickness, bring motion sickness remedies. One full-day tour lists food and drinks as not included, so pack snacks. A planning article on the trip also says to head to the port with buffer time.
To book a Symi day trip from Rhodes, read the cut-off time on the tour page first. Two tour pages let you reserve now and pay later. One operator says certain tours can be arranged only on request.
One full-day tour lists instant confirmation and accepts a mobile voucher. Another sends pre-arranged boarding cards for skip-the-line boarding. Before you pay, check the return time and the exact place where the return boat leaves. One operator asks guests to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
Which questions do people ask before a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
Can you cancel a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
Tour pages for the trip state a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before it starts. One page puts it as up to 1 day before the experience begins. Read the cancellation line on your own tour page before you pay.
Is the boat wheelchair accessible?
Two listings for a Symi day trip from Rhodes carry a wheelchair accessible tag. One operator says its ferry boat offers easy access for elderly passengers and those with wheelchairs. Another tour page says its tour is not wheelchair-accessible, so read the access note first.
Can children join a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
Yes. One cruise page states that there are no age restrictions, and a fast-boat article calls its boat stroller-accessible. A planning article says the trip can suit children when the day is planned realistically. For families, it adds, timing matters more than anything else.
Do you need cash on Symi?
Yes, carry cash on a Symi day trip from Rhodes. A ferry-travel site says smaller establishments do not always accept cards, and ATMs stand in the harbour area. Another article lists cash for shopping and tipping, and a third for personal expenses and souvenirs.
Can you book a private boat for a Symi day trip from Rhodes?
Yes. One Rhodes operator offers a private RIB trip. You choose the departure time and make a customised program for your group. A travel blogger notes that private boats generally must be booked at least a day in advance.