Symi Island Day Trip from Rhodes: Yalos & Panormitis Monastery

Yalos village and a 15th-century monastery in one boat journey

A day trip from Rhodes to Symi Island by boat, with a guided walk through the narrow streets of Yalos, time to browse local sponge and spice shops, lunch at traditional restaurants, and a stop at Panormitis Monastery. The boat leaves Mandraki Harbour at 9am, spends 3.5 hours on the island, then sails to the monastery for 45 minutes before returning to Rhodes with coach transfer back to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Symi Island1h
2. Mandraki Harbour30m

Symi Island day trip from Rhodes

• Depart Rhodes port at 09:00
• Arrive Symi Island port
• Guided tour of Yalos village
• Visit sponge and spice shops
• Lunch at traditional restaurants
• Free time to explore village
• Sail to Panormitis Monastery
• Visit Panormitis Monastery
• Return to Rhodes port
• Coach transfer to accommodation

The experience

Yalos is the main port village on Symi Island, built into a steep hillside with narrow streets that open onto the waterfront. The guided tour takes you through these lanes to the local shops where sponge diving, still a working trade here, and spice merchants set up. After the tour, you have free time to eat at one of the traditional restaurants lining the harbor or to wander and photograph the pastel-colored houses and fishing boats. The boat stays for 3.5 hours, so there's room to sit with a coffee and watch the water or climb higher into the village if you want to move around.

Panormitis Monastery sits on the southern tip of the island in its own bay, a single-vaulted basilica built in 1783 with a wooden icon screen and wall paintings from 1792. The monastery is one of the largest Orthodox shrines in the Dodecanese and includes an Ecclesiastical Museum, a Folklore Museum, and a library of post-Byzantine manuscripts. You'll have 45 minutes to walk through the complex and the courtyards. It's a working monastery, not a ruin, so the scale and the detail of the decoration come as a surprise to most visitors.

The full day runs 9 hours from pickup at your hotel to return. The boat departs Mandraki Harbour at 9am and takes 1.5 hours to reach Symi. The return journey is the same length. An air-conditioned coach brings you back to your accommodation after the boat docks. Bring comfortable shoes for the uneven streets of Yalos, a hat and camera, and cash for lunch and any shopping. Those aren't included, and the restaurants and shops don't always take cards.

What’s included

• Boat trip to Symi Island and Panormitis Monastery.
• air-conditioned coach transfer from your hotel to the port and back.
• professional English-speaking guide for the Yalos village walk.

Before you book

Lasts 9h, from € 68 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Apr 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 200

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by MTM Experiences

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to visit two islands in one day with a guided village walk on Symi and free time to explore at your own pace, plus a monastery stop: all without staying overnight.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): 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.

What is Panormitis Monastery like when you get there?

Panormitis Monastery is a working Orthodox shrine built in 1783 on the southern tip of Symi Island, with a single-vaulted basilica, an icon screen carved in wood, and wall paintings from 1792. The complex includes an Ecclesiastical Museum with relics, a Folklore Museum, and a library of post-Byzantine manuscripts. You'll have 45 minutes to walk through the courtyards and interior.

How much time do you actually spend in Yalos village?

You have 3.5 hours on Symi Island, which includes the guided walk through the narrow streets of Yalos and the sponge and spice shops, plus free time to have lunch at a traditional restaurant, explore on your own, or take photos. The boat doesn't leave until mid-afternoon.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included. You can eat at one of the traditional restaurants in Yalos during your free time there, and you'll need to bring cash or check ahead about card payments. Drinks and any shopping are also on your own.

What time does the boat leave Rhodes, and when do you get back?

The boat departs Mandraki Harbour at 9am. The full day is 9 hours, so you'll return to Rhodes in the late afternoon or early evening. A coach will transfer you from the port back to your hotel.

Is pickup from your hotel included?

Yes, pickup is included from designated hotel locations. You'll receive an email before your tour with your pickup location and time, which will be early enough to reach the port for the 9am departure.