If you are staying in Rhodes and have time for just one island-hopping adventure, Symi should be high on your list.
We loved it enough to visit twice.
With its colourful neoclassical houses cascading down the hillsides, waterfront tavernas, beautiful monasteries and ridiculously clear Aegean water, Symi feels completely different from Rhodes despite being easily accessible for a day trip.
On our first visit, we booked a Full-Day Symi & St George’s Bay Cruise for around £50 per person, which included lunch and hotel transfers. The second time, we decided to keep things simple and booked the SEBECO II ferry for around £35 per person, without transfers or lunch.
Both were great experiences, but for very different reasons.
Arriving in Symi
The approach into Symi is arguably one of the highlights of the entire trip.
As the boat enters Gialos Harbour, rows of colourful pastel buildings begin appearing across the hills surrounding the waterfront. The architecture feels almost Italian in places, with elegant neoclassical mansions painted in shades of yellow, peach, blue and terracotta.
It is one of those destinations where you want your camera ready before you have even stepped off the boat.
Once ashore, Symi is wonderfully easy to explore on foot. The harbour is lined with cafés, restaurants and small shops, while narrow streets lead away from the waterfront and into the hills.
Our advice is not to rush it. Symi is best enjoyed slowly.
Climbing the Kali Strata
If you are willing to tackle a few stairs, Kali Strata is one of the best ways to experience another side of Symi.
The historic staircase connects Gialos with the old village of Chorio and consists of hundreds of stone steps winding between traditional houses, courtyards and little churches.
It is certainly a workout, particularly under the Greek sun, but the higher you climb, the better the views become.
Along the way, you will discover beautiful old buildings and monasteries tucked between the streets, giving you a glimpse of Symi beyond its famous harbour.
Take your time, bring water and stop regularly to enjoy the views.
Lunch at Kali Strata Restaurant
After exploring, we stopped at Kali Strata Restaurant for lunch.
Part of the pleasure of visiting Symi is simply finding somewhere to sit, ordering a selection of Greek dishes and enjoying the slower pace of island life.
One thing we particularly recommend trying is Symi shrimp.
These tiny local shrimp are one of the island’s specialities. They are traditionally fried whole until crispy and eaten as they are, shell included.
They are salty, crunchy and incredibly moreish. If you enjoy seafood, they are something you should try at least once while visiting the island.
Pair them with a few Greek dishes and a cold drink and you have the perfect lunch before continuing your exploration.
Swimming at St George’s Bay
Our first trip also included St George’s Bay, and this is where the organised cruise has a clear advantage.
Surrounded by enormous cliffs that plunge almost vertically into impossibly blue water, St George’s Bay is spectacular.
There is something particularly special about swimming here. With dramatic rock faces towering above you and beautifully clear water below, it feels wonderfully remote.
Our cruise stopped for around an hour, giving everyone plenty of time to jump into the water and enjoy the bay before continuing towards Symi.
There was, however, one thing we would change.
St George’s Bay was our first stop of the day.
While jumping into that crystal-clear water first thing sounds perfect, it also means arriving in beautiful Symi afterwards with wet hair and, in our case, makeup that had already seen better days.
Considering how photogenic Symi is, we would have much preferred the itinerary in reverse.
Symi first, St George’s Bay afterwards.
You could explore the island, take your photographs, enjoy lunch and then finish the day swimming beneath the cliffs of St George’s Bay before cruising back to Rhodes.
For us, that would be the perfect itinerary.
Organised Cruise vs SEBECO II Ferry
Having experienced Symi both ways, there are advantages to each.
Our £50 per person Full-Day Symi & St George’s Bay Cruise was incredibly convenient. Transfers and lunch were included, St George’s Bay was part of the itinerary and practically everything was organised for us.
For a first visit, it is an excellent introduction to the area.
However, when we returned for the second time, we travelled aboard the SEBECO II for around £35 per person.
There were no hotel transfers and no lunch included, but we actually preferred the experience overall.
The biggest advantage was simple: more time in Symi.
Rather than feeling like we needed to keep an eye on the clock, we had more freedom to wander around the harbour, explore Kali Strata, stop for food and simply enjoy being on the island.
If your priority is seeing as much as possible in one day, including St George’s Bay, we would choose the organised cruise.
If your priority is Symi itself, we would personally choose the SEBECO II.
Is Symi Worth Visiting from Rhodes?
Without question.
The fact that we returned for a second visit probably says everything.
Symi combines everything we love about the Greek islands. Beautiful architecture, clear blue water, traditional food, historic streets and that wonderfully relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere that makes you want to stay much longer than planned.
Our first visit introduced us to both Symi and the spectacular St George’s Bay, while our second gave us the extra time we wanted to properly enjoy the island.
If we were planning another visit, we would happily return again.
Luxury Traveller Tips
- Visit Symi at least once: If you are staying in Rhodes, it is easily one of our favourite day trips.
- Choose your boat based on your priorities: The full-day cruise is ideal if you want transfers, lunch and St George’s Bay included. The SEBECO II is better if you want to maximise your time exploring Symi.
- Walk the Kali Strata: The steps can be tiring, especially in the heat, but the architecture and views make it worthwhile.
- Try the Symi shrimp: These tiny crispy shrimp are a local speciality and one of the foods you should try while visiting.
- Stop for lunch: We enjoyed stopping at Kali Strata Restaurant and taking some time away from sightseeing to enjoy the local food.
- Bring comfortable shoes: Symi is very walkable, but exploring Kali Strata involves plenty of steps.
- Bring water and sun protection: The Greek sun can be intense, particularly when walking uphill away from the harbour.
- Keep your camera ready when arriving: The approach into Gialos Harbour offers some of the most beautiful views of Symi.
- For the cruise, be prepared to swim early: Our tour visited St George’s Bay before Symi, so plan your hair, makeup and outfit accordingly if you want photographs on the island.
- Our perfect itinerary: Symi in the morning, a leisurely lunch and plenty of time exploring the island, followed by an afternoon swim at St George’s Bay before returning to Rhodes.
