Dodecanese Symi Ferries

Symi Travel: Getting to Symi by Ferry

Ferry routes to Symi, Dodecanese, Greece

Symi has no airport, so you can only reach it by sea, and the easiest way is to fly to Rhodes and take a regular ferry across. Ferries also run from Piraeus a few times a week, but that crossing is long, so most travellers arrive via Rhodes. Once there, the beaches are reached by water taxi. Hire a car to explore Symi at your own pace, covered in our Symi car hire guide.

Airport: None
Arrive via: Rhodes
From Piraeus: Few times a week
On Symi: Water taxi

Getting to Symi

Symi has no airport, so the only way to reach the island is by sea. Ferries run from Piraeus to Symi a few times a week, but the journey takes a long time. The best option is to fly to Rhodes and travel on from there, where regular ferries and plenty of day-trip tours serve Symi and the other Dodecanese islands.

Ferries from Rhodes

From Rhodes there are regular ferries to Symi with Dodekanisos Seaways and Anes-Symi Lines, which run fast hydrofoils. Anes-Symi Lines has a small fast boat that carries no cars, sailing straight to Symi and back, and another ferry on the route Rhodes - Symi - Tilos - Nissyros - Kos. Check the operators' websites for current times.

Ferries from Piraeus

For the trip from Piraeus (Athens) to Symi, GA Ferries runs a boat to the Dodecanese a few times a week that stops at Symi, on the route Piraeus - Patmos - Lipsi - Leros - Kalymnos - Kos - Symi - Rhodes. You can check itineraries and book online through Ferries in Greece, which is worth doing in advance for a fast ferry in high season.