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How to get from Bodrum to Symi
Bodrum and Symi are close across the water, but regular direct sailings are rare. The usual route is a ferry from Bodrum to Kos (about 30–60 minutes) and then a Greek boat from Kos to Symi (about 1 h 30 to 2 h), so allow most of a day; schedules are seasonal.
Best option: Ferry. There is no airport on Symi, so boats are the only way, and connecting via Kos is the most reliable option.
All the ways to make the trip
| How | Time | How often | Price* | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ferry Ferry or fast boat from Bodrum to Kos, then a Dodekanisos Seaways catamaran or other Greek ferry from Kos to Symi | about 3 to 5 h in total including the wait in Kos | Bodrum–Kos several times a day in summer, fewer in winter; Kos–Symi a few times a week, more in summer | about €25–40 Bodrum–Kos, plus about €20–35 Kos–Symi | Check both timetables before you go; the two legs are run by different companies and do not always connect on the same day. |
| ferry Via Rhodes: drive or take a bus from Bodrum to Marmaris (about 2 h 30 to 3 h), ferry from Marmaris to Rhodes, then a boat from Rhodes to Symi | most of a day | seasonal | about €50–80 for both crossings | Rhodes–Symi boats run daily in summer, about 1 h to 1 h 30. |
*Approximate prices and times for 2026. Timetables change by season: check with the operator before you travel.
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Tips
- Carry your passport: Kos is the entry point to Greece and the Schengen area.
- Turkish citizens should check the current Greek island visa scheme before travelling.
- Book the Kos–Symi leg first, then choose a Bodrum–Kos crossing that fits it.
- Symi's harbour, Gialos, is the arrival point; there is a small bus and taxis to Chorio and Pedi.
Common questions
Is there a direct ferry from Bodrum to Symi?
Regular direct sailings are rare and, where they exist, seasonal. Most travellers go from Bodrum to Kos and then take a Greek boat from Kos to Symi. Check with Bodrum harbour agents and Greek ferry booking sites close to your date, since timetables are published late and change from year to year.
How long does it take from Bodrum to Symi?
Allow three to five hours, or longer if the connection in Kos is poor. The Bodrum–Kos crossing takes about 30 to 60 minutes and the Kos–Symi catamaran about 1 h 30 to 2 h. Because the two legs belong to different companies, you may need to wait in Kos or stay a night there.
Do I need a passport for Bodrum to Symi?
Yes. You leave Turkey and enter Greece, which is in the Schengen area, so passport control happens at Kos harbour or wherever you first land in Greece. Check whether your nationality needs a Schengen visa. Turkish citizens should check whether the express visa scheme for some Greek islands applies on your dates.
Can I fly to Symi?
No, Symi has no airport. The nearest airports are Rhodes and Kos, both with flights from Athens and many European cities. From Rhodes, boats to Symi take about an hour to an hour and a half and run daily in summer. From Kos they take longer and run less often.
Compiled by TonyPlan from operator and transport information and travel knowledge; updated 2026-10-05. Anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.