Getting from Symi to Arki

If you are heading to Arki from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the smallest inhabited islands in the northern part of the same group, between Patmos and Lipsi. It has no cars, no proper roads and an atmosphere of complete isolation.

Take the ferry

There is a ferry connection from Symi to Arki via the Dodecanese network. Getting there means taking the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese via Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Lipsi to Arki, which runs a few times a week and takes around 6 to 8 hours in total. It keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese without going through Athens or Piraeus. Check the schedule very carefully before booking as the Arki call runs only a few times a week and departure days vary considerably by season.

Getting there by air

Arki has no airport. The nearest airports are Leros and Kos. Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Symi to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Leros, followed by the local ferry to Arki via Lipsi, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese to Arki. It keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule very carefully before booking as the Arki call runs only a few times a week. Come entirely self-sufficient as the island has almost no facilities and the isolation is the whole point of being there. Note that no cars are permitted on Arki itself and Symi is also car-free, making the transition feel entirely natural.