Getting from Symi to Paxos

If you are heading to Paxos from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a small island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of Greece. It has ancient olive groves, turquoise coves and a Venetian harbour at Gaios that is one of the most charming in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Paxos. No Dodecanese island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. 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 then Athens to Corfu, followed by the ferry from Corfu to Paxos taking around 1 hour 30 minutes and running several times daily in summer. Alternatively fly from Rhodes to Athens and drive northwest to Igoumenitsa for the car ferry to Paxos.

Getting there by air

Paxos has no airport. The nearest airport is Corfu. 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 Corfu, followed by the ferry from Corfu to Paxos, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. Note that the Corfu to Paxos ferry does not carry vehicles. 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 Corfu and take the ferry across to Paxos. It is the most practical approach. 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 Igoumenitsa for the car ferry to Paxos.