Symi, Greece, as a day trip from Rhodes
The isle of Symi, in the Dodecanese, is a small island. Colourful houses rise above the harbour of Gialos, which is where most day visitors arrive. You can reach the island by line ferry or by a boat tour, and a day is enough to walk the harbour and have lunch. Panormitis, the monastery in the south-west, needs extra time and a separate transfer.
This page focuses on the crossing, because fares, ships and departure points are the part that visitors get wrong. For packaged boat trips, see the tours page.
Ferry to Symi from Rhodes: operators and fares compared
The main options and what to check. Fares are per person.
| Operator and ship | Type | Fare 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodekanisos Express and Pride | Fast catamaran | €32 one way to Symi, €32 one way to Panormitis | Price list of 2026, subject to seasonal and demand changes |
| Panagia Skiadeni | Conventional ferry | €24 one way to Symi | – |
| SEBECO | Line sailings | Sample sailings on 20 October 2026: €20 at 9:45 and 10:30, €9 at 17:30 | 9:45 to 11:05, 80 minutes |
The numbers differ between operators, ships and dates. SEBECO's own pages show a daily timetable with the figures above and a general price section with other values: €17 one way, €29 for a same-day return and €11.50 subsidised. Treat the figures as a guide and confirm the price for your date when you book.
Our picks: day trips to Symi
Boat trips from Rhodes with free time on Symi, two of them with a swim stop at Saint George's Bay.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
High-speed boat to Symi with a swim stop
A high-speed boat crossing, three hours of free time on Symi, a swim stop at Saint George's Bay and pool noodles. Hotel transfer from Faliraki, Kalithea, Ixia, Kremasti and Kolymbia comes only with the matching option, and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Cruise to Symi and Saint George's Bay
A boat trip with a swim stop at Saint George's Bay, free time in Gialos on Symi, fresh-water showers and lifeguards.
Check availability →Speedboat day trip to Symi
Return speedboat crossing and free time on Symi. There is no guided tour.
Check availability →Symi tours and boat trips
Day trips to Symi by boat, with live prices, durations and what is included.
Booking and getting to the harbour
Practical points for the departure.
Where the boats leave
SEBECO names Kolona as its departure point in Rhodes. Its FAQ gives the tourist harbour for the Tuesday evening sailing at 17:30. Read the departure point on your ticket, because two harbours exist.
Be early
The operator asks you to be at the harbour 30 minutes before departure. Electronic tickets are offered.
Booking online
SEBECO describes direct online booking on its own site without an extra fee. This says nothing about resellers.
Children
SEBECO lists a 100 percent discount from 1 month to 4 years and 50 percent from 5 to 10 years. Do not assume the same discount on another operator's ships, and check the child fare when you book.
The return sailing
Check the time of the last return sailing for your date before you plan the day. It can change with the season, and a fast catamaran and a conventional ferry follow different timetables.
Schedule changes
Operators publish temporary timetable changes, for instance for Dodekanisos Express and Pride from 2 to 18 October 2026. Look at the current timetable shortly before you travel.
Panormitis on Symi: the monastery of the Archangel Michael
The monastery lies in a bay in the south-west of Symi. It has an ecclesiastical museum and a folklore museum. The national tourism organisation mentions a bus connection from the harbour of Symi Town, about 20 km and 40 minutes.
You have two ways to get there. Dodekanisos lists a fast catamaran from Rhodes straight to Panormitis at €32 one way in 2026. Or you take a ferry to Symi Town and add a bus or island tour. SEBECO shows this bus transfer as a separate item, and its pages quote €10 on a daily display and €5 in a static price section. Confirm the price when you book.
Check the opening times of the monastery and its museum with the operator before you go. A day trip to Symi Town does not include Panormitis unless the description says so.
From Rhodes to Symi island by sea
Symi is one of the day trips from Rhodes that runs on a ship timetable, so fares and return times matter more than on a bus tour.
Day trip to Symi from Rhodes
Rhodes to Symi island is a crossing you can book as a package or take on the line ferry. Reaching Symi island from Rhodes is easy to arrange for a single day, as long as you check the time of the last return sailing for your date.
Rhodes to Symi ferry duration
The ferry duration from Rhodes to Symi depends on the ship. A SEBECO sample sailing on 20 October 2026 took 80 minutes, and other ships and dates differ, so read the operator's official timetable for your sailing.
Boat trip from Rhodes with a swim stop
A boat trip from Rhodes can add a swim stop on the way, for example at Saint George's Bay in two of the picks above. Rhodes trips of this kind do not guarantee a stop, so read which stops are named.
Planning the day
Three ways to use it.
Harbour and town only
Take an early sailing, walk around the harbour of Gialos, have lunch and return in the afternoon. Keep a buffer before the last sailing.
Town and Panormitis
Allow for the transfer of about 40 minutes each way and a visit to the monastery. This needs a longer day, so check that your return time leaves room for it.
A boat tour with swim stops
Some boat trips combine Symi with a swim stop, but a stop is not guaranteed. Read which stops are named and how much free time you get on the island.
Symi day trip: frequently asked questions
How much is the ferry to Symi?
In 2026 Dodekanisos lists €32 one way for the fast catamaran and €24 one way for the conventional ferry Panagia Skiadeni. SEBECO shows other figures, so confirm the price for your date.
How long does the crossing take?
A SEBECO sample sailing on 20 October 2026 took 80 minutes, from 9:45 to 11:05. Other ships and dates differ.
Where do I board in Rhodes?
SEBECO names Kolona as its departure point, and the tourist harbour for a Tuesday evening sailing at 17:30. Be at the harbour 30 minutes before departure.
Can I see Panormitis on a day trip?
Yes, with a separate transfer. The bus from Symi Town takes about 40 minutes for 20 km, or you can book a catamaran from Rhodes straight to Panormitis. Check opening times with the operator.
Is Symi a good day trip with children?
It can be. Child discounts depend on the operator. SEBECO lists free travel from 1 month to 4 years and half price from 5 to 10 years.
Is visitrhodos.org a ferry operator?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to any ferry company or tour operator.