Getting from Symi to Leros

If you are heading to Leros from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most atmospheric islands in the northern part of the same group. It has a striking Art Deco Italian colonial port at Lakki and a medieval castle above the main town of Platanos.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry connection from Symi to Leros via the Dodecanese network. Getting there means taking the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese, with Blue Star Ferries and Dodekanisos Seaways connecting several times a week via Kos and Kalymnos and taking around 4 to 6 hours in total. This keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese without going through Athens or Piraeus. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days vary by season.

Getting there by air

Leros has its own small airport with daily 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 Leros takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese to Leros. It keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days vary by season. If you prefer to fly, take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens then Athens to Leros. 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 through the Dodecanese to Leros.