Getting from Mykonos to Symi

Symi stops people in their tracks the moment they arrive. The harbour at Gialos is one of the most striking in the entire Aegean, neoclassical mansions in ochre and terracotta stacked up the hillside above the water, the result of a wealthy sponge trading past that left the island with an architectural legacy completely out of proportion to its size. It is small, it is beautiful and despite being a popular day trip from Rhodes it has managed to retain a genuine island life that disappears when the day trippers head back in the evening.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry between Mykonos and Symi. The connection goes via Piraeus and the total journey by sea is long, around 14 to 16 hours depending on the service and the stops along the way. Most people who visit Symi do so as part of a Dodecanese trip, often coming across from Rhodes which is just an hour away by boat. If you are travelling specifically from Mykonos, flying to Rhodes and then taking the ferry across to Symi is the most practical approach.

What about flying?

Symi does not have an airport so you cannot fly directly to the island. The nearest airport is Rhodes, from where ferries and day boats run to Symi regularly. The journey would be Mykonos to Athens, Athens to Rhodes, and then the short ferry crossing to Symi. It adds a step but it is manageable and considerably faster than the overnight ferry from Piraeus.

Your best option

Fly to Rhodes and take the ferry across. It is the way most people reach Symi and it works well. Try to stay at least one night rather than doing it as a day trip from Rhodes. The harbour in the evening after the day visitors have left is a different place entirely and worth staying for.