Getting from Symi to Folegandros

If you are heading to Folegandros from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a small clifftop island in the southern Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a Chora perched on the edge of a sheer drop above the sea and an atmosphere of genuine calm.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Folegandros. 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 Piraeus to Folegandros ferry, which runs several times daily in summer and takes around 4 to 8 hours. Alternatively fly from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Santorini and take the short ferry from Santorini to Folegandros, which takes around 45 to 50 minutes.

Getting there by air

Folegandros has no airport. The nearest airport is Santorini. 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 Santorini, followed by the short ferry to Folegandros, 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 to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Santorini and take the short ferry across to Folegandros. It is the 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 conventional Piraeus to Folegandros ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.