Getting from Symi to Naxos

If you are heading to Naxos from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to the largest island in the Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a medieval Venetian town above the port, long sandy beaches on the west coast and a mountainous interior of marble villages.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Naxos. 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 Naxos ferry, which runs up to 7 daily departures in summer and takes around 3.5 to 5.5 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Naxos 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 Naxos 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 Naxos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. The arrival by sea with the Portara temple doorframe visible from the water is one of the great Cycladic arrivals, so if time allows the Piraeus to Naxos ferry is a rewarding alternative after flying to Athens. 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 then board the conventional Piraeus to Naxos ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Naxos Town port.