Symi - a true gem of the Greek Isles.
Symi is a picturesque island in the Dodecanese archipelago, renowned for its neoclassical architecture, serene beaches, and vibrant cultural heritage. Located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, near the coast of Turkey, Symi offers a tranquil escape with its charming harbor, colourful houses, and cobblestone streets. The island is a blend of historical richness and natural beauty, featuring landmarks like the Panormitis Monastery and the iconic Kali Strata staircase. Symi’s traditional cuisine and warm hospitality make it a captivating destination for travellers seeking an authentic Greek island experience. Whether exploring its scenic roads, diving in crystal-clear waters, or simply soaking in the island's laid-back atmosphere, you are sure to find both relaxation and adventure.
The best time to visit Symi
The best months to visit are either in May before the summer crowds and very hot weather or October when the waters have been warmed by the summer heat and after the very busy tourist season.
Symi has such character and charm pretty much everywhere you look. Its certainly not a commercial Greek island overrun with tourists, but rather an Island that appeals to those seeking authenticity, natural beauty, slowing down, yet appreciating the wonder that every Greek island offers.
Getting There
Transportation options (ferry routes & nearest airports)
Depending on where you fly from, you may have to fly to Athens, the capital of Greece, from where you can catch an overnight ferry to Symi. Alternatively, if you can fly to Rhodes, we would suggest this, as Symi is a short 1hr ferry ride from Rhodes harbour. It’s important to coordinate your flight arrival time and ferry departure time, to ensure you have adequate time to get from the airport to the Old Town where the harbour is located in Rhodes. This goes for any trip to Greece.
Travel tips for first-time visitors
If you are planning a trip to Symi, we would recommend checking out FerryHopper to plan and book your ferry legs of the journey to and from Symi.
Accommodation
Where we stayed
There are various options available when it comes to accommodation in Symi. We chose to stay in the most wonderful spot, located out of the main town; a beautiful 2km coastal road leads to Ponente. Located on Nimborio bay, our hosts Efti and her husband Philiomon warmly welcomed us. We were blown away by the accommodation and facilities available, every detail has been thought through and we recommend booking directly with them. This is a self-catering stay, which we really enjoyed for the nights we felt like chilling at home and embracing the tranquility of this location.
If you are going to stay here, we would highly recommend renting a car through ‘Panoromitis Travel’. Efti our host was very kind in assisting us with this. It costs €30 per day (a total of €250 for the whole time we were there). Not only does this make getting to town that much easier, but it also gives you the ability to get to a number of beaches accessible by road.
Accommodation options for various budgets
The shoulder seasons make a huge difference to accommodation prices, another reason we chose to travel in May. As a rough guideline, you can budget on between €100 - €150 per night depending on the accommodation you choose.
($$) Ponente Studios
($$) Niriides Hotel Apartments
($$$)The Anchor House
($) Kokona
Top Attractions
Symi Town (Gialos and Chorio): Historical architecture, neoclassical buildings, markets, the harbour and many tavernas.
Panormitis Monastery
Symi Archaeological and Folklore Museum
Kali Strata: The famous staircase connecting Gialos and Chorio
Symi Beaches
Our favorite beaches
Marathounda, Saint Nikolas, St Georges Bay, Agia Marina & Toli beach. Some of these beaches are accessible by boat only, but there are a number of taxi boats and private boat rentals available from either Symi’s main harbour or from Pedi bay.
Beach amenities and tips
All beaches in Symi are pebbly and every main beach provides loungers for your comfort. Most beaches don’t charge for them but some do and they range between €5 - €7 per lounger for the day. Most of the beaches have cafes from which to buy food and drinks, and we strongly recommend taking cash and this is the simplest way of paying. Do take note that St Georges Bay is simply a beach with no facilities, and requires a taxi boat to access. This is hands down the most beautiful beach on the Island and must not be skipped. If you do choose to go on the Poseidon tour, this will stop at St Georges for a 40minute swim time.
Poseidon boat tour
We would highly recommend the Poseidon boat tour. This tour circumnavigates the entire Island, stopping at idyllic swimming & snorkelling spots and offers a phenomenal lunch included, along with drinks throughout the day. This costs €60 per person and is 100% the best €60 you’ll spend. Weather dependent, the tour leaves at 10:30 daily, from the main harbour and returns at 17:30.
We would recommend getting to the boat between 09:45 & 10:00 to ensure you get a good spot on the boat.
Local Cuisine
There are a number of local dishes you have got to try, namely; ‘Symi shrimp’, octopus, goat, tuna, seabass, calamari & lamb chops. These are a couple of dishes that we had and they were all absolutely outstanding.
Top restaurants (locally known as tavernas)
Tholos
Odyssia
Haritomeni
Daphnes (at Toli Beach)
Agia Marina beach restaurant (accessed by Taxi boat from Pedi bay)
Best coffee & Cocktails
Ο Φούρνος Του Πανορμίτη Πρατήριο Γιαλού bakery
Eva’s Cocktail Bar
Practical Information
Currency
Greece is a part of the European Union, which means they use the Euro (€). There are a number of ATM’s on the island as well as a bank or two where you can draw cash. We used cash a lot on this trip, so we would recommend coming prepared with cash or drawing some when you arrive.
Day Trips and Excursions
Rhodes and Tilos islands are accessible for a day trip by Ferry. Although we didnt do that this trip, it’s a very popular way of experiencing Greece. We however did stay in Rhodes for a night on route home, due to ferry times and flight availability. We will be posting a separate guide for this, for those wanting some insight.
Best viewpoints and photography spots
The white stairs next to ‘Mikes Sponges’ on the main harbour front road
The church located at the top of the renowned Kali Strata
The scenic road to the Holy Monastery of the Taxiarch Michael Panormitis (a rental car is recommended, but this road offers breathtaking views at several points)
Aggelidi road from the harbour towards Nimborio bay. A 2km coastal road offering magnificent views
In conclusion, you have got to visit Symi. This is a magnificent, charming and relaxing destination. We hope you have found this helpful, and if you do book a trip, we would love to hear from you. Please do send us a DM on Instagram or drop us an email.
