# Symi Travel: Getting to Symi by Ferry

> Symi has no airport, so you reach it by sea. The easiest way is to fly to Rhodes and take a regular ferry to Symi; ferries also run less often from Piraeus.

| | |
|---|---|
| Airport | None |
| Arrive via | Rhodes |
| From Piraeus | Few times a week |
| On Symi | Water taxi |

**Symi has no airport, so you can only reach it by sea, and the easiest way is to fly to Rhodes and take a regular ferry across.** Ferries also run from Piraeus a few times a week, but that crossing is long, so most travellers arrive via Rhodes. [Once there, the beaches are reached by water taxi.](https://fly2greece.net/symi-beaches.html) Hire a car to explore Symi at your own pace, covered in our [Symi car hire guide](https://fly2greece.net/car-rental/symi.html).

_Photo: Ferry routes to Symi, Dodecanese, Greece_

 

_Photo: Ferry routes to Symi, Dodecanese, Greece_

## Getting to Symi

Symi has no airport, so the only way to reach the island is by sea. Ferries run from Piraeus to Symi a few times a week, but the journey takes a long time. The best option is to fly to Rhodes and travel on from there, where regular ferries and plenty of day-trip tours serve Symi and the other Dodecanese islands.

## Ferries from Rhodes

From Rhodes there are regular ferries to Symi with Dodekanisos Seaways and Anes-Symi Lines, which run fast hydrofoils. Anes-Symi Lines has a small fast boat that carries no cars, sailing straight to Symi and back, and another ferry on the route Rhodes - Symi - Tilos - Nissyros - Kos. Check the operators' websites for current times.

## Ferries from Piraeus

For the trip from Piraeus (Athens) to Symi, GA Ferries runs a boat to the Dodecanese a few times a week that stops at Symi, on the route Piraeus - Patmos - Lipsi - Leros - Kalymnos - Kos - Symi - Rhodes. You can check itineraries and book online through Ferries in Greece, which is worth doing in advance for a fast ferry in high season.

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Source: [Symi Travel: Getting to Symi by Ferry from Rhodes & Piraeus](https://fly2greece.net/symi-travel.html) — fly2greece.net, an independent guide to Greece written and photographed by Hans Huisman since 2000.

Reviewed July 2026.