Rhodes to Symi: Fast Boat & St George's Bay Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.54 (821 reviews) 74% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/24

Duration6h

GroupUp to 450

LanguagesEN · DE

Mobile ticketAccepted

One Hour to Symi: The Fast Boat That Actually Gets You There

You board a speedboat in Rhodes and reach Symi in one hour instead of the usual three or four. Once there, you have three hours to explore the pastel-colored port town and its quiet streets on your own schedule. On the return, the boat stops for 30 minutes at St George's Bay so you can swim in clear water before heading back to Rhodes. The whole day takes around six to seven hours from pickup to return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Fast boat trip and island exploration

Depart Rhodes by high speed boat
Enjoy 3 hours free time on Symi Island
Stop 30 minutes swimming at St Georges Bay
Return to Rhodes by boat

The Experience

"You know, most people waste the whole day on the old ferry," the captain said as we boarded, gesturing at the newer speedboat tied alongside the slower route. "This one, you're in Symi before lunch." The difference is real: the high-speed boat cuts the Rhodes-to-Symi crossing to just one hour, which means you're not trading half your day for the journey. Check-in opens an hour before departure and closes 20 minutes before, so you arrive early enough to settle in without rushing. The boat runs three times daily — 9am, 11am, and 15:15 — and each departure includes a 30-minute swim stop at St George's Bay on the way back (or on the way out, depending on which sailing you choose).

Symi itself sits about three hours of free time away from the moment you dock. The port is the main draw — a horseshoe of pastel mansions stacked up the hillside in shades of cream, pink, and pale blue, each one looking like it was painted by hand. There's no guided tour included, so you wander at your own pace: down the narrow streets, into the small tavernas, or up toward the quieter neighborhoods where locals actually live. The island is small enough that you won't get lost, and busy enough that you'll find a coffee or a meal without searching. Three hours is enough to see the port properly, grab lunch, and still have time to sit by the water before heading back.

The swim stop at St George's Bay happens on the return leg (for the morning departures) or on the way out (for the 15:15 sailing). Thirty minutes gives you time to change, swim in water that's genuinely clear, and dry off before boarding again. The views from the bay are the kind that make you understand why people keep coming back to this part of Greece. The boat has a restroom on board, which matters on a one-hour journey, and all areas are wheelchair accessible if that's relevant to your group.

What’s included

Your ticket covers the one-hour speedboat journey from Rhodes to Symi, three hours of free time on the island to explore at your own pace, a 30-minute swim stop at St George's Bay with access to the clear water, and use of the restroom on board. Meals and activities on Symi are separate.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Rhodes Sea Lines

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Symi without losing a full day to travel — the one-hour crossing is what makes three hours on the island actually feel like enough time instead of a rushed stopover.