Getting from Volos to Symi

If you are heading to Symi from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula to one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. The colorful neoclassical mansions stacked up the hillside above the port make for one of the most striking harbour approaches in the Greek islands.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Volos to Symi. Volos is the main departure point for the Sporades group and has no connection to the Dodecanese ferry network. Getting there by sea means driving from Volos to Piraeus, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via the E75 motorway, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Symi taking around 1 to 1.5 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Volos has a small airport at Nea Anchialos with limited connections from Athens. Driving from Volos to Athens and flying from Athens to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Symi, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Volos to Athens and fly from Athens to Rhodes, then take the local ferry across to Symi. It is the most practical approach. Give yourself at least two nights on Symi. The island reveals itself completely once the day visitors leave and the harbour becomes entirely your own. If you are traveling with a car, note that Symi is car-free so your vehicle would remain in Rhodes.