Symi

The first thing that hits you as you step onto the slipway at the old Rhodes harbour is the scent of salty sea air mixing with the faint aroma of fresh‑baked bougatsa from a nearby kiosk. Boats of all sizes bob gently against the wooden pilings, and the turquoise water stretches toward the horizon, catching the late‑morning sun in a way that makes the whole scene feel almost cinematic. From the dock you can already see the silhouette of the small island of Symi rising in the distance, its white‑washed houses perched on the cliffs like a picture postcard. That view is the perfect prelude to the hour‑long ferry ride that connects these two Dodecanese jewels. Taking the Ferry From Rhodes to Symi # The scheduled service between Rhodes and Symi runs once a day, covering the 30‑kilometre stretch in exactly 1 hour. The ticket price is $8 per passenger, making it one of the most affordable ways to hop between islands. The departure point on Rhodes is the main passenger terminal near the historic harbour, while the arrival dock on Symi is the modest but well‑located harbour that sits just a short walk from the town centre.

Standing on the deck as the engines rumble to life, the whitewashed coastline of Kos slowly recedes, replaced by the deep blue expanse of the Aegean Sea. I always prefer this approach over any other form of travel—the salt spray in the air, the wind catching my jacket, and the anticipation of a new island coming into view on the horizon. If you are planning a trip from the northern Dodecanese down toward the rocky beauty of Symi, the ferry is the only way to travel if you want to experience the islands the way they were meant to be seen.