Getting from Symi to Meteora

If you are heading to Meteora from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most extraordinary places in Greece, a complex of Byzantine monasteries built on top of rock pillars in the plain of Thessaly in central Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry to Meteora. It is an inland destination with no sea connection. 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 driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Kalambaka, the town at the base of the Meteora rocks, which takes around 3.5 to 4 hours from Athens. Note that as of 2026 the direct train service between Athens and Kalambaka remains suspended due to track damage and the KTEL bus is currently the main public transport option, taking around 4 to 4.5 hours from Athens Liosion terminal.

Getting there by air

Meteora has no airport. The nearest town is Kalambaka, around 3.5 to 4 hours by road 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 taking the KTEL bus to Kalambaka gives a total journey time of around 8 to 9 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 take the KTEL bus from Athens Liosion terminal or drive northwest to Kalambaka. Plan at least two nights in Kalambaka as the monasteries and viewpoints deserve more than a rushed visit. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes, from where you can board the overnight Piraeus ferry in reverse and drive northwest to Kalambaka.