Getting from Symi to Crete

If you are heading to Crete from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to the largest island in Greece, with ancient Minoan sites, mountain gorges, excellent food and a coastline that stretches for hundreds of kilometres.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Crete. 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 Crete ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives in Heraklion or Chania in the early morning. The total journey by sea takes the better part of two to three days. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Both Heraklion and Chania have airports 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 Heraklion or Chania takes around 50 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 Crete. Choose Heraklion for central and eastern Crete, Chania for the west. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and board the overnight Piraeus ferry in reverse, then board the overnight Piraeus to Crete ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island and arrives in the morning ready to go.