Often compared to Hydra, Symi is more colorful, quieter and in many ways even more enchanting. Elegant neoclassical mansions cascade down the hillsides towards one of the most picturesque harbors in the Aegean, while crystal-clear turquoise waters complete the scene. Some say the island lacks great beaches, but the wild, dramatic beauty of Agios Georgios is one of the Aegean's most breathtaking coastal landscapes.
Translation | Amaryllis Tsegou
There's an unmistakable Italian influence to Symi, along with an elegance unlike that of any other Greek island, attracting visitors equally refined.
You could call Symi a quieter, more discreet Monaco. Celebrities often choose it for its privacy, far from the spotlight, but what truly stays with you is your first glimpse of the island from the sea. As your boat enters the deep turquoise harbor, the colorful amphitheatrical settlement unfolds before you - a view so striking that it will stay with you long after you've left.
How to get there
As the ferry from Piraeus takes between 14 and 19 hours, the easiest option is to fly to Rhodes on the first morning flight and continue to Symi by one of the frequent high-speed ferries or passenger boats. The crossing takes between 50 minutes and an hour and a half, passing dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear waters before arriving at the island's spectacular harbor. Ferry departures are generally timed to connect with the morning flights from Athens.
Panormitis, the other side of Symi
Before you even catch sight of the island's inhabited, gentler side, many boats make a stop at Panormitis, a peaceful, horseshoe-shaped bay on the southern tip of the island. Here stands the famous Monastery of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of sailors and sponge divers, who is deeply revered throughout the Dodecanese.
On his feast day, September 6, pilgrims from across the islands come to venerate the monastery's miraculous silver icon, covered with countless votive offerings. As your boat approaches the quay, the monastery gradually comes into view, dominated by its distinctive colorful Baroque bell tower. Its architecture blends Eastern and Western influences, while the upper galleries offer magnificent views over the bay and a remarkable sense of tranquillity.
Before leaving, stop by the bakery run by the Antoniadis family (tel. +30 224-60.71.581) for one of their freshly baked cheese pies. It's the only permanent business in an area otherwise centered around the monastery, whose monastic cells can be rented by visitors at very reasonable prices if booked well in advance.
Highlights
- One of the great features of Symi is that you can explore almost all of the main town on foot. For everything else, the island's small boats will take you wherever you want to go.
- Nowhere else in Greece blends Italian elegance with such beautifully preserved neoclassical architecture. The colorful mansions built by wealthy shipowners are a reminder of Symi's prosperous maritime past, with their intricate pebble mosaics, grand staircases, ornate balconies, rooftop terraces, cool inner courtyards, sweeping sea views, and vibrant façades. Marble was brought from Paros and Penteli, timber from Trieste, and even volcanic earth from Santorini was used in their construction. The Hatziagapitou, Hatzigiannou, and Farmakidis mansions, now home to the Historical and Folklore Museum, offer a fascinating glimpse inside these remarkable homes.
- Stop by the Municipal Clinic, where a permanent exhibition recreates what a traditional pharmacy once looked like.
- Take a swim in the crystal-clear waters of Agios Georgios, framed by its towering cliffs.
- At Panagia tou Kastrou, be sure to see the icon of the Second Coming, a masterpiece by the celebrated post-Byzantine painter Georgios Klontzas.
- Walk through the island's petrified forest.
- One of the highlights of any visit to Symi is taking a boat to its secluded beaches. Just as memorable is the journey back at sunset, when the harbor slowly comes into view, bathed in the warm evening light.
- Don't be put off by the town's steep streets. The climb is easier than it looks and rewards you with spectacular views and hidden corners waiting to be discovered.
- Walk to Pedi along the old footpath, picking ripe figs straight from the trees as you go.
- Even if you skip everything else, don't miss the beautiful footpath to Nimborio. At the end of the trail, a cold beer awaits beneath the tamarisk trees, with nothing but the sound of the sea for company.
Walking routes that reveal the entire island
- A scenic trail of around 2 km leads from Agios Georgios the Poor to the old Castle of Lappatoni.
- Pedi and Agios Nikolaos Beach are just 1 km apart, connected by a beautiful coastal footpath that ends at one of the island's best-known beach bars.
- Another wonderful 2 km trail, overlooking the Aegean and winding through cypress trees, pine forest, and prickly pear cacti, passes the tiny chapel of Agios Vasilios before ending at the peaceful beach of the same name.
- A walk of around 1 hour and 45 minutes from Ano Symi takes you to the prehistoric burial mound of Pontikokastro, crossing a beautiful plateau with sweeping views of the islet of Agia Marina before descending to Pedi.
- Nanou, with its turquoise waters, dramatic cliffs and wild goats scrambling across the rocks, is one of the Aegean's most spectacular beaches. You can get there by boat, but the 45-minute walk from Gialos is just as rewarding, passing breathtaking scenery and the prehistoric Skordalou Cave along the way.
- A 25-minute walk from Gialos brings you to the Dragon Fortress and its archaeological site.
- Another pleasant 30-minute walk starts at the cemetery and follows a picturesque ravine to the chapel of Agios Fanourios.
Unique experiences
On the eve of the Feast of the Assumption, head to the tiny uninhabited island of Nimos for one of the Aegean's most authentic celebrations. It feels as though you've stepped back into the Greece of the 1950s. There is no electricity - just traditional island music played by local musicians, cold beer, watermelon, and charcoal-grilled souvlaki served under the summer sky.
Join one of the daily boat trips around the island, stopping to swim in the crystal-clear waters of Fokospilia and the spectacular bay of Agios Georgios.
Symi's culinary specialties
The people of Symi have a deep love for everything the sea has to offer. You'll enjoy the island's famous tiny Symi shrimp, caught in the waters between Symi and Karpathos, exceptionally fresh fish and some of the rarest shellfish. Be sure to sample the island's distinctive seafood delicacies, including fouskaolo (sea squirts preserved in seawater), an ideal meze to accompany souma, the local spirit. Try gaelopita, a fried pie made with the local, breaded sand smelt, onion, tomato and fresh herbs; gaelokeftedes (sand smelt fritters) and cuttlefish fried in its own ink. Here you'll also discover germanos, a near-exotic fish with snowy white flesh found only in the Dodecanese and considered a rare and significantly prized catch.
Symi residents are especially fond of yiaprakia (stuffed vine leaves), which are never absent from their table. The same goes for onion fritters and, in autumn, stuffed rolls wrapped in cyclamen leaves. Another favorite local dish is wild local goat slow-cooked in a wood-fired oven with bulgur wheat or chickpeas.
Women of Symi also have a particular love for dough-based treats and traditional biscuits. The latter are made with butter and served with cheese or drizzled with honey; zacharena are flavored with orange blossom water and dusted with icing sugar, whereas ammoniakena scented with vanilla or bitter orange zest. There’s also pastes, flat vanilla biscuits, and akoumi, one of the island's signature sweets: a doughnut made from flour and boiled rice, shaped like a bird or fish and traditionally served at weddings. Another local favorite is misokofti, a refreshing cream dessert made with prickly pears and starch.
The best places to eat
Manos (Tel. +30 224-60.72.429), in Gialos, is the island's most famous fish taverna, where yacht owners and fun-loving Turkish magnates gather for lively evenings accompanied by the very best the sea has to offer, such as rare shellfish, fresh fish, Symi shrimp, lobster pasta and cuttlefish. Along with the island's stunning scenery, the flavors of Manos are sure to be among the memories you take home.
Equally popular is Tholos (tel. +30 694-09.97.916), with its beautiful waterfront setting in Gialos overlooking the colorful mansions. It serves the full range of Symi's seafood specialties as well as exceptionally fresh fish.
You can walk to the small beach of Marathounta from Gialos, where, after a swim, you can enjoy traditional Symian meze, fresh fish and the restaurant's own delicious locally raised goat (tel. +30 224-60.71.425).
Old Markets (Tel. +30 698-64.35.004) is a charming boutique hotel in the restored buildings of the island's old marketplace. Since 2025, Chef Christos Sidiropoulos (Hytra) has been heading the kitchen at its fine dining restaurant, Agora, offering a gastronomic experience that celebrates the island's seafood and local produce alike.
Meraklis, tucked away on one of Gialos' lively streets since 1983 (tel. +30 224-60.71.003), boasts outstanding food, such as seafood, perfectly grilled fresh fish, garlic bread and hand-cut fries.
Charitomeni (tel. +30 224-60.72.771), in Ano Symi, offers the island's most idyllic and most Instagram-worthy views, along with beautifully prepared dishes with an emphasis on seafood.
And if you've had your fill of fish, in a charming corner of the Upper Town, Niki's Mageireio (tel. +30 694-41.57.770) serves spinach and feta lasagna, spetsofai and pork in sweet-and-sour sauce
For dessert at Akoumi
No visit to Symi is complete without a stop at Akoumi (tel. +30 224-60.72.230). This charming traditional pastry shop is the best place to discover the island's sweet side, from its signature akoumia -a local specialty unique to Symi- to homemade jams, handmade pies, misokofti, zacharena, pastes, and buttery biscuits. Whether you're after breakfast, coffee, or something sweet later in the day, it's one of the most authentic and delicious stops in Gialos.
