Getting from Symi to Astypalaia

If you are heading to Astypalaia from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a butterfly-shaped island sitting between the Cyclades and the same island group, to the northwest. It has a Chora topped by a Venetian castle that is one of the finest in the Aegean.

Take the ferry

There is a ferry connection from Symi to Astypalaia via the Dodecanese network. Getting there means taking the ferry from Symi north to Kos and then connecting west to Astypalaia on the Blue Star route, which takes around 2 to 3 hours from Kos and runs several times a week. This keeps the journey within the broader Dodecanese network and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days vary by season.

Getting there by air

Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. 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 Astypalaia takes around 1 hour in the air on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. Check the schedule carefully as flights run a limited number of times per week. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese to Kos and then connect west to Astypalaia. It keeps the journey within the Dodecanese network and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days vary by season. Give yourself at least three nights on Astypalaia as the island rewards those who stay long enough to explore both its Cycladic and Dodecanese sides. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes, from where the conventional ferry takes it north and west to Astypalaia.