Getting from Symi to Paros

If you are heading to Paros from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to the hub of the Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has one of the most beautiful small harbour villages in Greece at Naoussa, long sandy beaches on the west coast and a position at the centre of the island ferry network.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Paros. 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 Paros ferry, which runs multiple times daily in summer and takes around 3 to 5 hours from Piraeus. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers. Note that Paros National Airport has no commercial scheduled flights operating in 2026.

Getting there by air

Paros has a small airstrip but no commercial scheduled flights in 2026. 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 Piraeus to Paros ferry 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 to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then take the Piraeus to Paros ferry. Book ahead in July and August as Paros is one of the most popular islands in the Cyclades and both ferries and accommodation fill up fast. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and board the overnight Piraeus to Paros ferry via Piraeus, which takes your vehicle directly to Parikia port.