Getting from Symi to Chios

If you are heading to Chios from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most overlooked islands in the northeastern Aegean, on the opposite side of Greece. It is famous above all for its mastic trees in the south of the island that produce a resin found nowhere else on earth.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Chios. Getting there by sea means taking the ferry from Symi to Rhodes, which takes around 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and runs multiple times daily, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry in reverse, arriving at Piraeus and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Chios ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 9 hours. The total journey by sea takes the better part of three days. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Chios has its own airport with daily 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 Chios takes around 35 to 40 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Chios. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes, from where you can board the overnight Piraeus ferry in reverse and then board the overnight Piraeus to Chios ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.