Rhodes to Symi Ferry
🚢 Rhodes → Symi — this week
59 sailings over the next 7 days · usually 9/day (8 on weekends)
Tomorrow (Fri 7 Aug): 9 ferries — first at 08:00
Rhodes to Symi Ferry
Rhodes to Symi -- At a Glance
- Season: Sailings are scheduled into the winter, with timetables published through 25 October 2026.
- Frequency: Typically 1 ferry per day in winter, increasing to multiple daily departures (8 per day) in summer.
- Sailing days: Daily service.
- Journey time: 45 minutes to 4 hours 20 minutes.
- Operators: Dodekanisos Seaways, Sebeco Lines, Blue Star Ferries, SAOS Ferries.
- Tickets from: €7 – €32 per person.
- Book tickets: Check prices at Ferryscanner
The Rhodes to Symi ferry is one of the great short hops in the Dodecanese – a crossing that connects two islands with very different characters, separated by a sliver of Aegean sea. Rhodes is busy, cosmopolitan, and rich in history; Symi is intimate, unhurried, and instantly memorable. The route sails daily and usually runs year-round, though you will find a much fuller timetable once the season builds. Most crossings dock at Gialos, Symi’s main harbour beneath the town’s tiered mansions, but a handful of sailings instead call at Panormitis, on the opposite side of the island near the monastery of the same name – a separate arrival point, so it is worth checking which port your ticket names before you travel.
Summer is when the route really comes alive, with multiple daily departures giving you plenty of flexibility if you are island-hopping through the Dodecanese. Outside the main season the service eases back to roughly once a day, so it pays to plan ahead if you are travelling in the quieter months. The schedule box above and the monthly table below show the current confirmed frequency for whichever month you are travelling in.
Monthly Schedule Overview
Here is a month-by-month overview of ferry service from Rhodes to Symi:
| Month | Available | Avg. Ferries/Day |
|---|---|---|
| January | Not yet published | – |
| February | Yes | 1.4 (1–3) |
| March | Yes | 1.7 (1–4) |
| April | Yes | 5.2 (3–7) |
| May | Yes | 5.4 (3–8) |
| June | Yes | 7.4 (6–8) |
| July | Yes | 8.9 (6–10) |
| August | Yes | 8.4 (7–9) |
| September | Yes | 7.1 (5–9) |
| October | Yes | 5.5 (4–7) |
| November | Not yet published | – |
| December | Not yet published | – |
Book ferry port and airport transfers here: Welcome Pickups →
Rhodes to Symi — next 14 days
Actual sailing dates and departure times for the next two weeks (last updated 2026-08-06):
| Date | Sailings | Departure times |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 6 Aug | 8 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00 |
| Fri 7 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 |
| Sat 8 Aug | 8 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00 |
| Sun 9 Aug | 7 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:20, 16:00, 16:30 |
| Mon 10 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 |
| Tue 11 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00 |
| Wed 12 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00 |
| Thu 13 Aug | 8 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00 |
| Fri 14 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 |
| Sat 15 Aug | 8 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00 |
| Sun 16 Aug | 7 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:20, 16:00, 16:30 |
| Mon 17 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 |
| Tue 18 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00 |
| Wed 19 Aug | 9 | 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 12:20, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00 |
Check availability & book on Ferryscanner →
Ferry Companies
The Rhodes–Symi route is served by 4 companies:
- Dodekanisos Seaways – approximately 45 minutes
- Sebeco Lines – approximately 1 hour 20 minutes
- Blue Star Ferries – approximately 1 hour
- SAOS Ferries – approximately 1 hour 40 minutes
Tips for the Rhodes–Symi Ferry
- Rhodes has two separate ferry ports: large car ferries such as Blue Star Ferries use Akandia, while Dodekanisos Seaways catamarans and small boats to Symi depart from Kolona, just outside the Old Town walls – check your ticket for the correct one.
- Akandia port is roughly a 20-minute walk from the Old Town and has no shelter, seating or toilets while you wait, so it is more comfortable to wait in town and take a taxi straight to your ferry.
- Arrive at least one hour before departure to allow time to check in, since boarding for ferries from Rhodes typically closes around 20 minutes before the scheduled sailing time.
- Winter nights on deck are cold; long crossings in January or February in the northern Aegean can feel genuinely harsh – dress warmly.
- In Symi, the neoclassical mansions in shades of ochre, terracotta, and gold rising above the harbour of Gialos form one of the most striking port scenes in the Dodecanese. St Georges Bay on the island's east coast offers some of the best swimming in the area, and the island is a short ferry ride from Rhodes.
Useful Resources for Your Greek Island Trip
- Find accommodation in Greece – hotels, apartments and villas on Booking.com
- Book tours and activities in Greece via Viator
- Find guided experiences and day trips via GetYourGuide
- Compare car hire prices in Greece via DiscoverCars
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do ferries run from Rhodes to Symi?
Typically 1 ferry per day in winter, increasing to multiple daily departures (8 per day) in summer. Service runs year-round.
Are there ferries from Rhodes to Symi today?
Yes – 8 sailings today. See the 14-day timetable above for departure times.
How many ferries run from Rhodes to Symi this week?
Around 59 sailings over the next 7 days (typically 9 per day, 8 on weekends).
What time is the first ferry from Rhodes to Symi?
The first departure is usually 08:00.
How long is the ferry from Rhodes to Symi?
The fastest crossing takes approximately 45 minutes, while the slowest takes around 4 hours 20 minutes. Journey times depend on the ferry type and company.
How much does the Rhodes to Symi ferry cost?
Ticket prices start from €7 per person for a standard seat. Prices can go up to €32 depending on the company, seat class, and time of year.
Which ferry companies operate the Rhodes–Symi route?
The route is served by Dodekanisos Seaways, Sebeco Lines, Blue Star Ferries, SAOS Ferries.
Is it worth hiring a car in Rhodes?
Worth it if you're staying more than a couple of days, since the island is large and its two bus companies (Roda in the west, KTEL in the east) don't make it easy to combine both coasts in a day. The port is a 10-minute walk from Rhodes Old Town, with paid parking nearby. Compare local suppliers at Discover Cars.