A Day Trip to Symi: The Prettiest Harbour in the Dodecanese
If you see one photo of Symi you’ll want to go: tiers of pastel neoclassical mansions cascading down to a sapphire harbour. Just a short boat ride from Rhodes, this tiny island makes one of the most rewarding day trips in the Aegean.
Why Symi is so beautiful
In the 19th century Symi grew rich on sponge-diving and shipbuilding, and that wealth built the elegant mansions that ring the harbour of Gialos. Strict preservation rules have kept the architecture intact, giving the whole town a film-set perfection.
What to do in a day
- Wander the harbour of Gialos and photograph the pastel facades.
- Climb the Kali Strata staircase to the old upper town, Chorio.
- Visit the Monastery of Panormitis, the island’s spiritual heart.
- Swim at a quiet cove like Agios Nikolaos or Nanou Bay.
- Lunch on fresh Symi shrimp — small, sweet and famous.
Getting there
Boats leave from Rhodes Town’s Mandraki and commercial harbours each morning, ranging from fast catamarans to slower, cheaper ferries. Day-trip excursion boats usually include a stop at Panormitis monastery on the way. If you’re staying outside town, plan your morning with our guide to getting around Rhodes.
Symi looks like a watercolour someone painted and forgot to fade — the most photogenic harbour you’ll ever step off a boat into.
Catch your Symi boat stress-free
Early-morning transfers to Rhodes harbour, timed perfectly to your ferry departure.
Book a Port Transfer