Rhodes: Speedboat Trip to Symi with Free Time to Explore

Symi makes an easy escape from Rhodes. This $35 round-trip speedboat trip gives you a striking approach to Symi’s colorful harbor, about three to five hours to explore, and a comfortable ride with both air-conditioned seating and an open sundeck. I especially like the water views of Rhodes Old Town and the freedom to choose your own lunch, shops, and walking route.

The price is excellent for a full-day outing, and the boat is generally praised for running on time and making the crossing in about 80 minutes. The main drawback is the boarding rush, especially if you want one of the limited top-deck seats. You should also expect some spray, noise, or motion on the open deck.

Key points to know before booking

• The boat leaves from Kolona Harbor: Look for the Sebeco Lines boat and allow extra time to find the correct ticket desk and boarding area.
• The crossing takes about 80 minutes each way: The ride is fast, scenic, and sometimes bumpy, depending on the sea.
• Symi’s harbor is the main attraction: Colorful houses, waterfront cafés, shops, cats, and steep lanes are all close to the arrival point.
• Free time can vary: Some departures allow about three hours, while others provide four to five hours. Check the exact schedule before booking.
• Top-deck seats go quickly: Arrive early if you want open-air views. The enclosed lower deck has air conditioning and more protection from spray.
• This is transport, not a guided tour: Food, drinks, entrance fees, and activities on Symi are not included.

The short crossing from Rhodes to Symi

You board at Kolona Harbor, close to Rhodes Old Town. The boat is a modern Sebeco Lines vessel with an enclosed air-conditioned area, outdoor seating, and a small bar selling drinks and snacks. The boat is sometimes referred to as a ferry, but it feels quicker and more streamlined than a traditional large ferry.

The crossing takes roughly 80 minutes each way. That is long enough to enjoy the scenery, but short enough to make Symi practical as a day trip. The sea can be smooth, though several departures have been bumpy, especially on the return journey. If you suffer from motion sickness, sit inside or toward the center of the boat and keep medication close at hand.

The best views begin as you leave Rhodes. From the water, you can see the medieval walls of the Old Town, the minarets, the clock tower, and the Marine Gate. These familiar sights look different from offshore, where the fortifications form one impressive sweep along the harbor.

Keep watching as the boat passes the 46-meter Naillac Tower, the windmills of Rhodes, Saint Nicholas Fortress, and the Aquarium of Rhodes. If you sit outside, you get the clearest view and the freshest air, but the front and outer seats may receive seawater spray. In hot weather, that can be pleasant. If you want to stay dry, choose the enclosed deck.

Boarding at Kolona Harbor

Finding the harbor is not usually difficult, but the exact meeting instructions deserve attention. The stated meeting point is Kolona Harbor, and you should look for the Sebeco Lines boat and ticket kiosk. A few passengers have found the directions confusing because the boat or boarding area may be in a nearby part of the harbor.

I would arrive early, find the kiosk first, and collect any required return ticket before joining the queue. Do not assume that a digital booking confirmation alone is the final boarding pass. Clear instructions are normally provided, but the harbor can feel hectic when several people arrive at once.

Boarding is the least polished part of the outing. People may crowd forward, and the open-air seats fill quickly. If you are traveling as a group, queue together and board promptly, since passengers have sometimes ended up separated on the return trip.

The boat has a bar with reasonably priced drinks, including beer. It is useful on the ride home, although bringing water is sensible, especially during the hot months.

Arriving in Symi Bay

The approach to Symi is the visual high point. The town rises around the bay in a broad amphitheater, with rows of colorful neoclassical houses climbing the hillsides. Their pale walls, painted shutters, and bright details reflect in the water on calm days.

Try to be outside as the boat enters the harbor. This is the moment for your best photographs. The view is compact but dramatic, and you can understand immediately why Symi is such a popular day trip from Rhodes.

The arrival point places you near the main harbor area, where cafés, restaurants, shops, and waterfront seating are easy to reach. This is not a remote island drop-off requiring complicated transport. You step off close to the part of Symi most day visitors want to see.

The downside is that the harbor is not the same as a beach resort. You will find places to swim elsewhere on the island, but there is no proper beach immediately beside the boat arrival area. If swimming is your priority, you may need to arrange local transport and allow enough time to return to the harbor.

How to spend three to five hours on Symi

Your free time is unstructured. There is no guide leading you from one sight to another, which is both the strength and weakness of this trip.

For an easy visit, stay around the harbor. Walk along the waterfront, browse the small shops, stop for coffee or lunch, and take photographs of the houses above the bay. This relaxed plan works well if you want to avoid rushing and still have time for a swim or a long meal.

If you want more exercise, walk uphill through the narrow streets and climb part of the Kali Strata, the historic stairway leading toward the upper town. One detailed account described walking all 500 steps, then enjoying the views from above before returning for food. You do not need to climb the entire route to get good views, but sturdy shoes and water are wise.

A climb to the old castle area gives you a wider view over the harbor. It is a better choice for walkers than for anyone seeking a completely flat, easy afternoon. In the summer heat, those steps can be demanding, so start early in your free period rather than leaving the climb until the last hour.

Food is another good reason to visit. Restaurants and cafés line the harbor, making it easy to stop without spending time searching far from the boat. Local specialties mentioned by visitors include Symi shrimp, often fried, and curried goat. Pastries, cakes, coffee, and milkshakes are also popular choices for a lighter stop.

Cats are common around the harbor and side streets. If you enjoy animals, you will notice them quickly, but do not let that distract you from keeping track of the departure time.

Beaches, swimming, and the limits of a day trip

Symi can work as a swimming stop, but you need realistic expectations. The main harbor area does not offer a broad sandy beach directly beside the boat. Some visitors find small swimming spots, while others arrange a taxi or local ride to a beach such as St. George’s Bay.

That plan requires care. You need enough time to travel out, swim, return, and board the boat. With only three hours on the island, an ambitious beach visit may leave little time for lunch or walking around town. With four to five hours, you have more flexibility, but you still need to watch the clock.

The trip is best for seeing Symi’s harbor town, not for covering the whole island. If you want several beaches, mountain walks, or a quiet overnight stay, a day trip will feel too short. If you want a first look at Symi and a taste of its food and scenery, the schedule is enough.

The return ride to Rhodes

Return times are firm, and the boat has left promptly on most departures. I would be back at the boarding point early rather than attempting one final shopping stop. A late departure from Symi can mean missing the return boat, and there is no reason to test the system.

The return crossing offers another chance to sit outside, though the boat may be noisier than expected. The front and outer seats can also get wet from spray. The air-conditioned indoor deck is the safer choice if you are tired, sunburned, or carrying shopping bags.

Some departures have arrived back at Rhodes later than planned, and occasional delays have reduced free time on Symi. Most trips run smoothly, but the schedule is not so loose that you should book an important evening activity immediately afterward. Give yourself a little breathing room.

On a clear evening, the return ride may include warm sunset views over the water. That can be a pleasant final touch, especially if you spend the afternoon around the harbor rather than racing from one end of the island to the other.

Is $35 good value?

At $35 per person, this is one of the more affordable ways to add a Greek island to a Rhodes holiday. The price includes the round-trip boat and free time in Symi, which is exactly what many people need. You are not paying for a guide, a set meal, or a package of activities you may not want.

The value depends on how you use your time. If you stay near the harbor, have lunch, take photographs, shop, and walk uphill for views, the fare feels very fair. The speedboat also saves you from arranging separate tickets and figuring out an independent island connection.

You should budget extra for food, drinks, local transport, and anything you buy in Symi. Since the boat has a bar, you can purchase refreshments onboard, but food and drinks are not included in the trip price.

For a family, couple, or solo visitor who wants a simple day out, the cost is attractive. For someone hoping for a fully guided cultural tour or a beach excursion with equipment included, this is the wrong product.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would recommend this outing to you if you:

• Want to see Symi without changing hotels
• Prefer free time to a fixed guided program
• Enjoy harbor views, photography, cafés, and small shops
• Can manage a boat ride that may be bumpy
• Are happy to plan your own lunch and walking route
• Want a reasonably priced full-day activity from Rhodes

It is also a good choice for families, provided everyone understands that the day includes a long boat ride and some walking in the heat. The air-conditioned cabin gives you a useful break from the sun.

I would hesitate if you dislike crowds, need guaranteed quiet seating, or want a full beach day. Boarding can be pushy, the top deck is limited, and Symi’s main arrival area is better for exploring than for lying on the sand.

The trip also suits repeat visitors to Rhodes who have already seen the Old Town. The water approach gives you a fresh angle on Rhodes, then the island setting changes the pace completely.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Arrive early at Kolona Harbor, especially if outdoor seating matters to you. Confirm the boat name and collect any return ticket or boarding information at the kiosk.

Bring sunscreen, water, a hat, and comfortable shoes. Symi has little shade in some areas, and the climb toward the upper town can be hot. A swimsuit is useful if you plan to find a swimming spot, but do not assume the harbor arrival point has a proper beach.

Sit inside if you are prone to seasickness or do not want spray. Sit outside if your priority is photography, but protect phones and cameras from water around the front and side seats.

Check the exact free-time schedule before you book. The advertised itinerary allows up to five hours, while some departures provide closer to three or three and a half hours. Both can work, but they create very different days.

Hotel transfers may be offered separately by email, sometimes for an added charge. This can be convenient if your hotel is far from Rhodes harbor, but check the pickup time carefully so you are not left waiting at the port for a long period.

Should you book the Rhodes to Symi speedboat?

Yes, if you want a simple, good-value day trip with beautiful scenery and control over your own time. The strongest parts are the approach into Symi, the comfortable boat, the low price, and the chance to enjoy lunch and walking without being tied to a guide.

Book it with sensible expectations. This is not a quiet private cruise, a guided history tour, or a guaranteed beach day. Arrive early, check the precise schedule, protect yourself from the sun, and treat the free time as your own little island afternoon.

If that sounds right, Symi is one of the most rewarding outings you can make from Rhodes for the money.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat leave from?

The boat leaves from Kolona Harbor in Rhodes. Look for the Sebeco Lines boat and check the ticket kiosk for the correct boarding information.

How long is the boat ride from Rhodes to Symi?

The crossing takes about 80 minutes each way.

How much free time do you get on Symi?

The schedule can provide around three to five hours of free time. Check the exact departure and return times when booking.

Is this a guided tour of Symi?

No. The experience includes transport and free time only. You explore Symi independently.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but the boat has a bar. Symi also has cafés, restaurants, and shops around the harbor.

Does the boat have air conditioning?

Yes. The boat has an enclosed air-conditioned deck as well as outdoor seating and a sundeck.

Can you sit outside on the boat?

Yes. Outdoor seating is available, but top-deck seats can fill quickly. Arrive early if you want one.

Is Symi suitable for swimming during this trip?

You may find swimming spots, but there is no proper beach immediately beside the boat arrival point. A beach visit may require local transport and careful time planning.

Are the return tickets included?

The round-trip speedboat is included. Check at the kiosk whether you need to collect or confirm a return ticket before boarding.

Can you cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.