Getting from Symi to Porto Heli

If you are heading to Porto Heli from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a sheltered harbour on the Argolic Gulf in the northeastern Peloponnese, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a marina, good beaches and Spetses visible across the water.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Symi to Porto Heli. 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 taking the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Porto Heli, which runs 4 to 5 times daily and takes around 2 hours. Note that the Piraeus to Porto Heli ferry is passenger only and does not carry vehicles.

Getting there by air

Porto Heli has no airport. The nearest airport is 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 Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Porto Heli gives a total journey time of 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 take the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Porto Heli. It is the most practical approach for foot passengers. 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 south through the Peloponnese to Porto Heli via Corinth and the eastern Peloponnese coast, as the Piraeus ferry does not carry vehicles.