Symi Island from Rhodes: Fast Boat & 4 Hours Ashore

Pastel Harbor & Sponge Workshops: A Quick Escape to Symi

You board a high-speed cruiser in Rhodes, arrive in Symi's pastel harbor in 75 minutes, and have four hours to explore the neoclassical town, eat fresh local shrimp at a waterfront table, and visit traditional sponge workshops. Hotel pickup is included, and the boat's air-conditioned cabin and stability mean the crossing itself is comfortable, not an ordeal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Fast boat to Symi and explore town

• Travel 1 hour 15 minutes to Symi
• Arrive at Gialos harbor
• View pastel-colored mansions
• Visit traditional sponge workshops
• Meet local sponge experts
• Enjoy waterfront Greek lunch
• Try Symi Shrimp specialty
• Spend around 4 hours exploring Symi

The experience

The engine cuts to a low rumble as the bow swings into Gialos harbor, and suddenly the whole hillside appears: rows of apricot, cream, and pale blue mansions stacked like a child's drawing of a town. That's your first four seconds in Symi, and it's the reason the high-speed boat from Rhodes matters. You're not arriving exhausted after three hours on a slow ferry. You're stepping onto the dock with the afternoon still ahead of you. The boat takes 75 minutes to cross, which sounds short until you realize most other operators spend twice that time getting here, eating into your time ashore. You get around four hours to walk the narrow lanes, sit at a waterfront taverna, or duck into one of the sponge workshops where older men still clean and sort sea sponges by hand the way their grandfathers did.

The town itself is small enough that you won't feel rushed, but big enough that four hours doesn't feel like a pit stop. The neoclassical architecture is protected. The whole place is a museum without walls, and the harbor is genuinely photogenic in a way that doesn't need filtering. If you're hungry, the local shrimp (Simiako Garidaki) are tiny, whole, fried, and unique to these waters. You'll find them at almost any taverna along the waterfront. The boat includes pickup from Faliraki, Ialyssos, Ixia, Kolymbia, Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Gennadi, Theologos, or Rhodes Town, so you're not arranging your own transport to the harbor. The vessel itself is engineered for stability. The reference material makes a point of saying no bumpy jumps, which matters if you're prone to seasickness or traveling with children.

Onboard there's air-conditioning, shaded decks, a snack bar, and a restroom. The whole day is straightforward: you're picked up, you're on the water for just over an hour, you have your four hours in town, and then the return journey mirrors the outbound one. No stops elsewhere, no long waits, no surprises. It's the kind of excursion that works because it doesn't try to cram ten things into one day.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from your chosen zone, a one-way high-speed boat ticket to Symi, air-conditioned indoor lounge and shaded outdoor deck access, an onboard restroom, and a snack bar. You have approximately four hours of free time in Symi Town before the return crossing to Rhodes.

Options for this experience

6 options

Speedboat trip to Symi with Half Price Tours10:15Boat tickets only, departing at 10:15 AM. You must make your own way to our meeting point. The departure time is 10:15 AM.

Pickup: Faliraki, Ialyssos09:00This option covers: ✓ Boat tickets. ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Rhodes city, Ixia, Ialysos, Faliraki, Kalithea and Kremasti. Pickup is included.

Pickup: Theologos, Kolymbia08:30This option covers: ✓ Boat tickets. ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off from Theologos, Kolymbia and Afandou. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Pickup from Lindos, Pefkos or Lardos08:00This option covers: ✓ Boat tickets. ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off from Lindos, Pefkos, Kalathos and Lardos. Pickup is included.

Pickup from Kiotari, Genadi or Fanes07:30This option covers: ✓ Boat tickets. ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kiotari, Gennadi and Fanes. Pickup is included.

Pickup: Lachania, Plimmiri07:30This option covers: ✓ Boat tickets. ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Lachania and Plimmiri. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to Saturday5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 10:15Last departure this season: 9 Nov

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 200

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Half Price Tours

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see Symi without spending half the day on a boat or arranging your own transport to the harbor. The short crossing is what leaves you four hours ashore instead of two, and the pickup means you're not figuring out how to reach the dock.

Traveler reviews

4.75★★★★★★★★★★

1,240 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,055

4 ★124

3 ★24

2 ★14

1 ★23

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the boat journey from Rhodes to Symi?

Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes on the high-speed cruiser. Other daily boats from Rhodes typically take 2–3 hours.

How much time do you have in Symi Town?

Around 4 hours. This is the longest free time offered on any daily tour boat from Rhodes.

What's included in the ticket?

Boat passage, air-conditioned cabin access, onboard restroom, snack bar, and hotel pickup (if selected from available zones).

Which hotels offer pickup?

Faliraki, Ialyssos, Ixia, Kolymbia, Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Gennadi, Theologos, and Rhodes Town.

Is the boat suitable for people who get seasick?

Yes. The vessel is engineered for superior stability and is described as smooth, without bumpy jumps on the water.

What should you do in Symi during the 4 hours?

Walk the neoclassical harbor town, eat at a waterfront taverna (try the local Symi shrimp), visit traditional sponge workshops, or photograph the pastel mansions.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the boat is wheelchair accessible.