Getting from Symi to Kimolos

If you are heading to Kimolos from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a small white island just off the northwestern tip of Milos in the western Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has beaches that see a fraction of the crowds found anywhere nearby.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Kimolos. 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 then Athens to Milos, followed by the short local ferry from Pollonia to Kimolos taking around 20 to 25 minutes and running daily. Alternatively take the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry in reverse and board the Piraeus to Milos ferry before crossing to Kimolos from Pollonia.

Getting there by air

Kimolos has no airport. The nearest airport is Milos. 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 Milos, followed by the short local ferry from Pollonia to Kimolos, 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 Milos and take the short local ferry across to Kimolos. It is the 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 conventional Piraeus to Milos ferry and cross to Kimolos from Pollonia on the local ferry.