Symi Island journey: a clear guide to its colorful architecture, old fortress paths, coastal villages, secluded beaches, transport options, monasteries and practical advice for visitors
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A trip to Symi is one of the most popular tours from Rhodes. But the island doesn’t remain in the shadow of its neighbor, captivating visitors with its distinctive character. In this article, I’ll tell you about all the attractions of Symi, as well as how to get to the island, what you can do there, how to get around the island, and more.
Among dozens of Greek islands, Symi stands out for its architecture. Its colorful houses create a special character that’s hard to forget, even after visiting this piece of land in the Aegean Sea just once. But besides traditional houses, Symi has many other attractions.
Symi Island in Greece: what this place is and why it's worth visiting
I’d like to note right away that Symi has the most beautiful harbor in Greece. On both sides of the steep fjord rise tiers of houses, some white, some pastel yellow, but almost all with neoclassical-style facades – a reminder that just 100 years ago this was one of the most prosperous islands in Greece.
There was practically no modern concrete construction here, and now these beautiful old houses are being revived for visitors. The spirit of the island remains untouched.The island is a rock, a Greek Venice, an advanced outpost opposite the Asia Minor coast – Symi Island. Local residents often refer to it as a “toy” or “doll island,” emphasizing the unique character and style of this place.
Unique architectural traditions, crystal-clear water, high cliffs – all this makes Symi one of the most beautiful and unusual islands in the Aegean Sea.
On Symi, there are monasteries, chapels, and churches. The island is a major historical and pilgrimage center. The Panormitis Monastery attracts thousands of pilgrims and is known throughout the Orthodox world. The coastline is indented with numerous natural bays.
Dozens of cozy, secluded beaches with the cleanest water, protected on all sides by rocks, are accessible only from the sea. You can reach them by boat – the island’s original taxi. That’s why Symi has firmly established itself as a land for lovers.
View of the island’s capital – Ano Symi, from the water
Where Symi Island is located and its geography
The island is located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea. This is a border zone of Greece. The distance to the Turkish coast (Asia Minor) is only 5 nautical miles.
Symi is located north of Rhodes Island and is 26 nautical miles away from it.
The distance between Athens and Symi is approximately 255 nautical miles. The island’s dimensions: 11.5 km by 9 km. The landscape is mountainous, most of the island is covered with rocks. The highest point is 616 m above sea level (Mount Vigla).
There are no significant sources of fresh water on Symi; it’s delivered from Rhodes.
The island’s capital is the town of Ano Symi or Yialos, where most of the population is concentrated.
The Symi region includes uninhabited islands: Nimos, Chondros, Diavates, Galezino, Marmaras, Kouloundros, and Sesklia (ancient Teutlussa). These islands, together with Symi, form the so-called Dodecanese archipelago (or Southern Sporades).
Location of Symi Island on the map
Climate on Symi Island
All islands of the Dodecanese archipelago, including Symi Island, are characterized by a mild Mediterranean climate. Also, a very characteristic feature is the large number of sunny days per year (more than three hundred).
The most comfortable months for visiting are May and September; from June to August, the island is very, very hot.
Average air temperature:
- January – +14 °C
- July – +33 °C
Average water temperature:
- May – +19 °C
- July through September – +24 °C
- October – +22 °C
The coldest period, unsuitable for swimming, is considered to be from November to April. During the resort season, air temperature can exceed +40 degrees, water temperature +27 degrees.
How to get to Symi Island
You can reach Symi exclusively by sea transport, or by private helicopter. Still, I believe that most tourists prefer regular sea connections.
Between Rhodes and Symi, service is provided by the Symi II ferry. Dodekanisos Express is a ferry that operates between the archipelago islands, including Symi. Travel time is approximately one and a half hours.
The Tilos SeaStar ferry also makes regular Rhodes-Symi trips, taking about 50 minutes.
How to get around Symi: transport on the island
Air connections. Helicopter pads are located in the upper part of Symi town.
Sea connections. On Symi Island, in addition to regular taxis, there are boat taxis. This exotic transport is not an invention for tourists at all. The fact is that some beaches can only be reached by sea. Steep cliffs don’t allow access to the water from the land side.
Guests can rent a boat to avoid being tied to the taxi schedule. Around 6:30 PM, boat taxis usually depart from the beaches in the return direction.
City “parking” for boats and yachts
Buses. Buses run between the island’s main settlements on a single route. It starts its route in Yialos, then passes through Chorio, arrives in Pedi, and back. Tickets can be purchased from the driver.
Taxis. You can order a regular taxi by phone, hail one on the street, or ask a waiter or bartender to call a car for you.
You can also rent a car on the island. I talked in detail about car rental in Greece in this article.
To find an excellent car rental option on Symi Island and in Greece in general, based on the “price/quality” ratio, I recommend using the following three comparison services for various car rental companies: DiscoverCars, EconomyBooking, AutoEurope.
What to see and do on Symi Island
All arrivals to the island are greeted by the port and the surrounding neoclassical-style part of the city – a legacy from the times when Symi reached its economic prosperity through the extraction and export of sea sponges.
The upper town, Chorio, is permeated with a “web” of narrow, winding, confusing streets. The ascent there begins from Skala Square via a staircase of 500 steps (the so-called “Beautiful Way” – “Kali Strata”). At the top of the hill are the ruins of Kastro fortress, built in the 14th century by the Knights’ Order on the site of an ancient acropolis.
Streets of Symi town
A magnificent circular panorama opens from the foot of Kastro.
In Chorio, the Church of St. George has been preserved from the Byzantine period. There’s also an Archaeological Museum here.
On Symi’s territory, there are more than 500 Orthodox churches and chapels. The island’s main temple, the functioning Panormitis Monastery, built in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, is located on its southern edge. Walking tours are organized on the island, during which a guide will take you through the most picturesque corners.
Yialos (Ano Symi) – The island’s capital. The island’s largest port is located here.
This city has preserved the neoclassical character of its architecture. Cafés, taverns, restaurants, small hotels, and shops are located on the waterfront. In the evening, Yialos comes alive. Music and songs pour from clubs, young people enjoy themselves in bars to modern rhythms.
Waterfront in Ano Symi
Kastro Fortress
Getting to know the island always begins with a walk through the capital – the town of Symi. Above it are the ruins of Kastro fortress, built in the 14th century on the site of an ancient acropolis and Byzantine castle.
Above the main entrance, you can see the emblem of the Knights of St. John, and next to the fortress – ruins of early buildings. From the height of Kastro, breathtaking views of the port and sea open up. At the highest point is the chapel of Kira Panagia. From it, you can see Yialos (the lower part of town) and Chorio (the upper part).
How to get there: you can reach Kastro on foot. The climb up the hill is quite steep, so it’s worth choosing early morning or evening hours for your visit, when the heat subsides.
Additional information: within walking distance of the fortress are taverns, shops, and apartments.
Please note: from Yialos to Chorio, a picturesque old street has been laid – Kali Strata. You’ll face a climb of 500 wide steps with steep turns, but the journey is worth it. You can see unrestored houses and look at Symi from above.
Archaeological and Folklore Museum
Many traditional mansions have been preserved in the island’s capital. Once they belonged to local families. Many of them have been converted into hotels, but one mansion after restoration became a museum of archaeology and folklore. Its collection includes finds from excavation sites: Roman and Hellenistic sculptures, ceramics, weapons. The museum displays a rich collection of Byzantine artifacts: icons, manuscripts, coins.
The most impressive collection is the folklore one. Visitors can see traditional costumes of Symi Island, musical instruments, crafts, household items, and photographs capturing island life several decades ago.
How to get there: the museum is located in Ano Symi, 500 m from Kastro.
Additional information: ticket price – 2 euros, opening hours – from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
Maritime Museum
The museum dedicated to Symi’s maritime history opened on the island in 1983, and in 1990 it “moved” to a picturesque neoclassical mansion.
The Maritime Museum houses old maps, ship models, and a collection of diving suits. A separate hall is dedicated to sea sponges, the extraction of which has long been the main occupation of the island’s inhabitants. The museum’s collection includes carved wooden sailboats and paintings on themes of the sea and navigation.
How to get there: the museum is located in Yialos. You can reach it on foot from the center of the island’s capital.
Additional information: open daily, ticket price – 2 euros
Roukouniotis Monastery
The Monastery of Archangel Michael Roukouniotis is one of Symi’s most famous spiritual places. The monastery was built on the ruins of an ancient sanctuary in the 5th century and is considered the oldest monastery on the island.
It took on its modern appearance in the 15th century, when the Knights of St. John built a small fortress here. By the 17th century, a monastic community was located within the fortress territory. Remote from the shore, it was protected from pirate raids.
Today, the monastery’s two churches house valuable 15th-century frescoes. The main relic that attracts pilgrims is the icon of Archangel Michael. An interesting feature of the monastery is a cypress tree that has been growing at this site for more than 100 years.
How to get there: the monastery is located 5 km from Symi’s capital. It’s best to get there by rented car.
Additional information: open daily, from early morning until sunset
Panormitis Monastery
Among the attractions of Symi Island, Panormitis Monastery occupies an important place. The exact construction date is unknown, but according to old manuscripts, it already existed in the 15th century.
Panormitis Monastery in the bay of the same name
Inside, Panormitis Monastery is decorated with Byzantine-period frescoes, and on one of them, you can distinguish the image of Archangel Michael. The monastery also houses carved wooden icons, and in two monastery museums, there’s a collection of silver icons, church vessels, folk culture items, Byzantine manuscripts (many dating to the 16th century), as well as paintings depicting Panormitis against the background of the island’s surrounding landscapes.
The monastery’s main shrine is considered to be the miraculous icon of Archangel Michael. And of course, they’ll tell you that there are numerous testimonies of pilgrims being healed from various ailments thanks to this icon.
How to get there: Panormitis Monastery is located in the village of the same name, 19 km from Symi’s capital. You can reach it by rented car. Another option is by sea from Rhodes. Ferries always make a stop near the monastery, dropping off pilgrims, and only then proceed to the island’s capital.
Additional information: entrance to the monastery museums – 2 euros. Near Panormitis, there’s a picturesque waterfront. You can drink coffee in a tavern with a sea view and stroll through Panormitis village.
Panormitis Monastery inside
Villages of Symi
There are several villages on the island worth visiting during your stay on Symi:
- Emborios (3 km from the capital) is interesting for its traditional architecture. The village’s surroundings are rich in historical heritage: you can see Roman mosaics and catacombs, the Church of St. Mercurius
- Pedi (2 km from the capital) – a village with the cleanest sea, excellent fish taverns, and a calm atmosphere. It has preserved traditional colorful houses and neoclassical mansions typical of Symi. Boats depart from Pedi to nearby isolated bays
Beaches on Symi
One of Symi’s most popular beaches is Agios Nikolaos – named after the nearby Chapel of St. Nicholas. The beach has well-developed infrastructure; you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds.
Agia Marina is located at the entrance to Ano Symi bay.
Pedi – crystal-clear water. The interesting seabed landscape attracts snorkeling enthusiasts. Safe for holidays with small children. At a short distance, there are several smaller beaches.
Symi also has a pebble beach – Nos Beach.
Vacationers seeking solitude will appreciate Nanou Bay, Nimbrios, and Marathounda beaches.