Getting from Symi to Lipsi

If you are heading to Lipsi from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a small island in the northern part of the same group. It has a pretty harbour village, uncrowded beaches and an atmosphere of complete calm.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry connection from Symi to Lipsi 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, Kalymnos and Leros, taking around 5 to 7 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

Lipsi has no airport. The nearest airport is Leros. 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, followed by the short ferry from Leros to Lipsi taking around 20 to 40 minutes, 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 north through the Dodecanese to Lipsi. 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 and take the short ferry across to Lipsi. 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.