Getting from Chania to Symi

If you are heading to Symi from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. The colorful neoclassical mansions stacked up the hillside above the port make for one of the most striking harbour approaches in the Greek islands.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Chania to Symi running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects Crete with the southern Dodecanese. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes many hours with stops along the way through multiple islands before reaching Symi. Alternatively take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and then fly to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Symi taking around 1 to 1.5 hours.

Getting there by air

Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Symi, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Chania to Athens and then fly to Rhodes and take the local ferry across to Symi. It is the most practical approach. If you prefer to travel by sea, check whether the seasonal direct ferry from Chania aligns with your dates as it avoids Athens entirely. Give yourself at least two nights on Symi. The island reveals itself completely once the day visitors leave and the harbour becomes entirely your own.