How do I get from Rhodes to Symi?

Catamarans and local ferries run multiple times daily from Rhodes Town harbour. The crossing takes approximately 50 minutes by fast catamaran.

Is Symi worth an overnight stay?

Absolutely. Symi is a completely different island once the day-trip boats have left — quieter, more authentic, and the harbour at night is extraordinary.

Teleporio™ — Greek Island Travel Intelligence

Symi Travel Guide

Plan your Symi trip. Fast ferry from Rhodes in 50 minutes, neoclassical harbour, best months and why you should stay overnight.

Reviewed by Georgios — Teleporio™ route intelligence guide — Updated 2026-07-24

Why Symi Is Worth Understanding

Symi is the most photogenic harbour in the Dodecanese — arguably in all of Greece. A horseshoe bay ringed by neoclassical mansions painted in ochre, terracotta, cream, and pale yellow, climbing the hillside above a working fishing port. The mansions were built during the nineteenth century, when Symi's shipbuilders and sponge merchants were among the wealthiest in the Aegean. The architecture dates precisely from that prosperity and its sudden end. When the steamship replaced the wooden caïque, Symi's shipbuilding industry collapsed almost overnight. The island's population fell from 30,000 at its nineteenth-century peak to fewer than 3,000 today. The mansions remain, impeccably preserved, and the harbour looks much as it did in 1880.

The critical advice for understanding Symi is: stay overnight. The island receives several large excursion boats from Rhodes each day. Between roughly 10:00 and 17:00, the harbour is full of day-trippers. After 17:00, when the excursion boats leave, the harbour empties and Symi reveals its actual character — quiet tavernas, fishing boats returning, the light turning gold on the painted facades. Visitors who stay overnight experience a completely different island from those who arrive and depart the same day. Symi is worth the extra night.

History and Heritage

Symi's history is inseparable from the sea. The island was part of the ancient Dorian Hexapolis, associated with the cult of Apollo. Its natural deep harbour made it a strategic point throughout antiquity. Under Ottoman rule (1522 onwards), Symi negotiated significant autonomy in exchange for supplying the Sultan with high-quality wooden boats. This arrangement made the island prosperous for three centuries and accounts for the exceptional concentration of skilled craftsmen and wealthy merchants who built the neoclassical harbour district. The Treaty of Symi, signed on the island in 1945, formally surrendered the Dodecanese from Germany to the Allied forces — ending the Second World War in the Aegean. The monastery of the Archangel Michael at Panormitis, in the island's south, is one of the most visited sacred sites in the Dodecanese.

What Symi Is Famous For

Neoclassical harbour architecture — the most photographed in the Dodecanese
Shipbuilding heritage — wooden boat workshops still operate
Monastery of Panormitis — sacred site and pilgrimage destination
Fresh seafood — particularly shrimp and local fish from the harbour
Symi shrimps — a local speciality, smaller and more flavourful than Atlantic prawns
Quiet atmosphere — genuine small-island character despite day-trip traffic

Local Specialities

Symi shrimps (garides Symis) are the island's most famous culinary export — small, intensely sweet shrimps caught in the surrounding waters, grilled simply with olive oil and lemon. Fresh fish from the fishing boats moored at the harbour. Local honey. The island also produces a distinctive herb liqueur. The upper town (Chorio) has several excellent tavernas that are quieter and cheaper than the harbour-front restaurants.

Best Time to Visit

Symi is best visited in May, June, September, or October — when the day-trip crowds are thinner and the weather is excellent. July and August are manageable if you stay overnight, as the day crowds leave by early evening. The crossing from Rhodes (50 minutes by fast catamaran) is calm year-round, with only occasional cancellations in winter storms. Winter Symi is very quiet — many restaurants and shops close from November through March.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Symi from Rhodes? Fast catamaran takes 50 minutes. Multiple daily departures in summer. Is Symi worth visiting as a day trip from Rhodes? The harbour is beautiful but the island rewards overnight stays far more. Day visitors see it at its busiest. How expensive is Symi compared to Rhodes? Slightly more expensive on average due to the smaller scale of tourism and higher transport costs. What is the upper town (Chorio) like? The upper town above the harbour has quieter restaurants, a medieval castle, and excellent views down to the harbour. Worth the 357-step climb. Is there a beach on Symi? Several coves are accessible by water taxi from the harbour. Nos beach is a short walk. Nanou and Marathounda require boat transfer.