Getting from Symi to Tilos

If you are heading to Tilos from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to a volcanic island in the southern part of the same group, just a short distance away. It is the first island in the Mediterranean to run entirely on renewable energy with good walking trails and a wild coastline.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry connection from Symi to Tilos via the Dodecanese network. 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 continuing on the Dodekanisos Seaways or Blue Star route to Tilos, which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes from Rhodes and runs 4 to 7 days per week. This keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese without going through Athens or Piraeus.

Getting there by air

Tilos has no airport. The nearest airports are Rhodes and Kos. Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. The direct ferry connection via Rhodes is considerably more practical than flying for this short within-Dodecanese connection. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and then continue on the local ferry across to Tilos. It keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days and times vary by season. The two islands make a natural pairing given their shared commitment to sustainability and distinctive characters. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes, from where the conventional ferry takes it across to Tilos.