Getting from Symi to Kos

If you are heading to Kos from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most popular islands in the same group, to the north. It is the birthplace of Hippocrates, with good beaches, a lively town and ancient ruins that are among the finest in the eastern Aegean.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry connection from Symi to Kos via the Dodecanese network. 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 continuing north through the Dodecanese to Kos, which takes around 2 to 3 hours from Rhodes and runs several times a week. This keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese without going through Athens or Piraeus. Alternatively Dodekanisos Seaways connects Symi directly to Kos on some sailings without stopping at Rhodes first.

Getting there by air

Kos has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Kos is considerably less practical than the direct ferry connection within the Dodecanese. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese to Kos. It keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days and times vary by season. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes, from where the conventional ferry takes it north to Kos.