Getting from Symi to Milos

If you are heading to Milos from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most visually striking islands in the western Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a volcanic coastline of white and ochre rock formations and beaches that look like nowhere else in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Milos. Getting there by sea 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 boarding the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry in reverse, arriving at Piraeus and then boarding the Piraeus to Milos ferry, which runs several times daily in summer and takes around 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the fast boat. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Milos has its own small airport with 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 Milos takes around 40 to 45 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 to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Milos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, note that Symi is car-free so your vehicle would already be in Rhodes, from where you can board the overnight Piraeus ferry in reverse and then board the conventional Piraeus to Milos ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Adamas port.