Getting from Symi to Fournoi

If you are heading to Fournoi from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a cluster of small fishing islands between Ikaria and Samos in the eastern Aegean, on the opposite side of Greece. It has excellent seafood, quiet beaches and almost no tourist infrastructure.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Fournoi. 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 Samos ferry, followed by the local ferry to Fournoi taking under 1 hour and running daily in summer. Alternatively fly from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Samos and take the local ferry to Fournoi.

Getting there by air

Fournoi has no airport. The nearest airports are Samos and Ikaria, both 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 Samos, followed by the local ferry to Fournoi, 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 Samos and take the local ferry across to Fournoi. It is the most practical approach. Give yourself at least two nights on Fournoi and come prepared as facilities on the island are limited. 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 Piraeus to Samos ferry.