Getting from Symi to Igoumenitsa

If you are heading to Igoumenitsa from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a port city on the Epirus coast in the far northwest of Greece, the main departure point for ferries to Corfu, Paxos and Italy, on the opposite side of the country.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Igoumenitsa. Getting there 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 flying from Rhodes to Athens and either flying to Ioannina and taking a bus or taxi to Igoumenitsa, which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, or driving northwest via the E65 motorway to Igoumenitsa, which takes around 5 to 6 hours from Athens.

Getting there by air

Igoumenitsa has no airport. The nearest airport is Ioannina, around 83 kilometres to the east. 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 Ioannina, followed by a bus or taxi to Igoumenitsa, 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 Ioannina and take the bus or taxi to Igoumenitsa. It is the most practical approach. From Igoumenitsa you have direct ferry connections to Corfu, Paxos and Italy. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes, board the overnight Piraeus ferry in reverse and drive northwest via the E65 motorway to Igoumenitsa.