How many days in Symi? 3 days, before and after the Rhodes day-trippers
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Symi is a small, rocky Dodecanese island about 1 hour by fast boat from Rhodes, with one of the most photographed harbours in Greece: Gialos, an amphitheatre of ochre, pink and cream neoclassical houses built in the 19th century, when the island grew rich on sponge diving and shipbuilding. Most visitors come on a day trip from Rhodes, arriving around 11:00 and leaving by 16:00. Give it three days instead. In the early morning and evening, Symi is quiet, and the beaches are reached by small boat.
Short answer
Two days covers Gialos, Chorio and one boat-beach day. Three days adds the Panormitis monastery in the south and a slow evening in Chorio, after the boats have left.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Gialos, the Kali Strata and Chorio
Morning. Walk the harbour of Gialos before 10:00, past the clock tower, the bronze boy fisherman statue and the old customs house. Then climb the Kali Strata, a wide stone stairway of about 500 steps lined with neoclassical mansions, up to Chorio, the upper town, about 20-30 minutes.
Afternoon. In Chorio, see the small Symi Museum (archaeological and folk collections, a few euros) and the 18th-century Chatziagapitou mansion. Climb to the Kastro, the castle of the Knights of St John at the top, with the church of the Panagia inside its walls, and views over both harbours.
Evening. Watch sunset from the windmills above Chorio, then walk down to Gialos for dinner. Order Symi shrimp (Symiako garidaki), tiny shrimp fried and eaten whole, €15-20 a plate; a meal costs €20-30 per person.
The Kali Strata has no shade and many steps. Climb it early, and come down in the evening, when the lamps are lit.
Day 2: Taxi boats to the beaches
Morning. Take a taxi boat from Gialos (about €10-20 return, several times a day in summer) to Agios Georgios Dysalona, a pebble beach under a 300-metre cliff, or to Nanou, a pine-backed bay with a taverna. Boats leave around 10:00-11:00 and return in the late afternoon.
Afternoon. If you prefer to walk, take the bus or walk 2 km to Pedi, the bay below Chorio, then take the coastal path to Agios Nikolaos beach (about 30-40 minutes) or a taxi boat to the islet of Agia Marina, with a chapel and shallow water.
Evening. Back in Gialos, eat at a taverna on the harbour, or walk 30 minutes along the coast to Nimborio, a small bay with early Christian mosaics and a taverna.
Day boats from Rhodes arrive in late morning. The beaches are calmest before noon and after 16:00.
Day 3: Panormitis monastery and the south
Morning. Take the island bus or a boat to Panormitis, in a bay on the south coast, about 40-50 minutes by road over the mountains. The monastery of the Archangel Michael, patron of sailors, has a carved wooden iconostasis and a silver icon; the small museums of Byzantine and folk objects cost a few euros.
Afternoon. Swim in the bay of Panormitis or at Marathounda, a quiet cove in the east, with a taverna. On the way back, the mountain road crosses the island's high centre, with old cypress and juniper woods and views to the Turkish coast.
Evening. Last evening in Gialos. Stop at a café on the harbour for a coffee and a Symi sweet, and buy sponges, spices and local herbs at the harbour shops.
Panormitis is very busy on 8 November, the feast of the Archangel, and in summer with pilgrims from Rhodes. Cover shoulders and knees.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Gialos, the Kali Strata and Chorio on Day 1 and a taxi boat beach on Day 2. You lose Panormitis.
Got extra days?
Extra days can go back to Rhodes for the medieval Old Town, or onward to Tilos or Nisyros on the Dodecanese line, about 1-2 hours by fast boat. Walkers can follow the old paths across the island to remote chapels and coves.
Where to stay in Symi
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Gialos (back streets) | Rooms near the harbour, close to the boats and tavernas. | €50-90 |
| Mid-range | Gialos harbour | Restored neoclassical houses with harbour views. | €100-180 |
| Mid-range | Chorio | Quiet, with views, but many steps to the harbour. | €80-160 |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels in Gialos or Pedi | Mansion suites and sea-view terraces; book early for summer. | €180-350 |
Getting around
Symi is small; most of it is on foot or by boat. A minibus runs between Gialos, Chorio and Pedi every 30-60 minutes in summer (about €1-2). Taxis are few. Taxi boats reach the beaches from Gialos and Pedi. Ferries from Rhodes take about 50-60 minutes by fast boat or about 1h30 by conventional boat, from Mandraki or Kolona harbour, several times a day in summer. Blue Star ferries reach Symi from Piraeus in about 14-16 hours. There is no airport; the nearest is Rhodes. Check current timetables.
What to eat in Symi
Symi's signature is the Symi shrimp, tiny shrimp fried whole and eaten shell and all. Also order grilled octopus, fresh fish, kakavia (fish soup) and stuffed vine leaves. Symi has a tradition of spice and herb trade; look for oregano, thyme and sage. In Gialos, tavernas on the harbour are pricier; those on the back streets and at Pedi cost less. A meal with wine is €20-30 per person. Try a local sweet at the harbour cafés. For a cheaper lunch, the bakeries in Gialos sell cheese pies and spinach pies for €2.50-4, and Pedi's tavernas serve fish from the boats moored in front of them. Book dinner on the harbour in August, when yachts fill every berth.
Best time to visit
May, June, September and October are best: highs of 25-30°C and warm sea, still around 23°C in October. July and August are hot, often 33-35°C, with the rock walls of the harbour trapping heat and the Kali Strata hard going after 10:00. The Symi Festival brings concerts in summer. Many hotels close from November to April, and ferries are fewer.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €35 | €70 | €140 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €25 | €50 |
| Local transport | €5 | €10 | €30 |
| Total per person, per day | about €75 | about €150 | about €300 |
Approximate 2026 prices; tickets include taxi boats. Ferries from Rhodes (about €20-35 one way) are extra. Greece charges a per-room, per-night climate resilience fee, higher from April to October.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Symi worth a day trip from Rhodes?
A day trip shows you the harbour and maybe Panormitis, but it is rushed and busy. The boats arrive in late morning and leave in the afternoon. If you can, stay at least one night: the evenings and early mornings in Gialos and Chorio are the best part of the island.
How do I get to Symi?
Fly to Rhodes, then take a ferry from Mandraki or Kolona harbour: about 50-60 minutes by fast boat or 1h30 by conventional boat. Some boats stop at Panormitis first. From Piraeus, Blue Star ferries take about 14-16 hours. Check current timetables.
Which beaches are best in Symi?
Agios Georgios Dysalona, under a high cliff, and Nanou, with pines and a taverna, are reached by taxi boat. Agios Nikolaos near Pedi has shallow water and is good for children. Agia Marina has a chapel on an islet. Most beaches are pebble.
Do I need a car in Symi?
No. The island is small, the roads are few, and boats reach the best beaches. A minibus links Gialos, Chorio and Pedi, and buses or boats go to Panormitis. Walking is the best way to see Chorio and the harbour.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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