Ferry from Rhodes to Symi

Ferry from Rhodes to Symi at a glance

The ferry from Rhodes to Symi in numbers, as operated by Dodekanisos Seaways, Sebeco Lines, Blue Star Ferries, SAOS: around 50 minutes at sea, about 45 km, several a day, on high-speed catamaran (45-50 min) or conventional ferry (1h 10m-1h 40m). Departure from Rhodes port (Kolona / Mandraki); arrival at Gialos harbour, Symi. We offer foot-passenger tickets, vehicle tickets and cabins or reserved seats where the ship has them.

• Route: Rhodes to Symi (about 45 km by sea)
• Operator: Dodekanisos Seaways, Sebeco Lines, Blue Star Ferries, SAOS
• Crossing time: about 50 minutes
• Vessels: high-speed catamaran (45-50 min) or conventional ferry (1h 10m-1h 40m)
• Frequency: several a day
• Departure port: Rhodes port (Kolona / Mandraki)
• Arrival port: Gialos harbour, Symi
• Vehicles: cars and motorbikes carried on the car ferries
• Booking: form on this page, confirmation in the WhatsApp chat, e-ticket by message

Symi is the most popular sea trip from Rhodes, with some 60 sailings a week in summer; many day-trip boats also stop at Panormitis monastery before Gialos.

Ferry or flight from Rhodes to Symi?

Ferry versus plane between Rhodes and Symi comes down to time, luggage and the view: the ferry has the deck, the luggage and the town-centre arrival; the plane has speed. On this route the ferry is the option Haqqi Tours recommends first for families and anyone with a car.

Return ferry from Symi to Rhodes

We book the return crossing from Symi to Rhodes just as easily, generally on the same confirmation. Round-trip fares and open returns are cheaper on many operators, so booking both directions together saves money. Let us know the day you want to come back on the form and we send both directions with the cost.

How much does the ferry from Rhodes to Symi cost?

The cost of the ferry from Rhodes to Symi depends on the ferry company, the type of vessel, the date, whether you travel as a foot passenger or with a car, and the seat or cabin you choose. A conventional ferry is cheaper than a high-speed one; a summer Saturday costs more than a weekday in May; a car adds a vehicle fare; a cabin on an overnight sailing adds more. That is why Haqqi Tours does not print a price: we verify the live fares for your exact date and send the real cost on WhatsApp, with the options side by side.

The figure we send is the total: passengers, vehicle, seats or cabin and port fees. If a slower sailing an hour later is cheaper, we say so; on this route the conventional ferry is frequently the best value for a family.

Cheapest ferry ticket from Rhodes to Symi: how to pay less

The cheapest ferry ticket from Rhodes to Symi is typically on the conventional ferry, booked early, on a weekday outside the peak weeks. These are the rules our staff applies:

• Book the return with the outbound - open returns and round-trip fares are cheaper on many operators
• Ask about children's, student and resident fares, and about vehicle offers outside high season
• Choose the conventional ferry over the high-speed boat when time allows - it is cheaper, steadier and often more scenic
• Book early for July, August, Easter and holiday weekends, when sailings sell out and fares rise
• Travel on a weekday - Friday and Sunday sailings carry the highest fares
• Tell us if your dates are flexible; moving by a day frequently changes the fare

We answer "what is the cheapest way to get from Rhodes to Symi by ferry?" many times a day; the answer for your date comes back by WhatsApp with the booking ready to confirm.

How to book ferry tickets from Rhodes to Symi with Haqqi Tours

The easiest way to book a ferry from Rhodes to Symi is to let a person do it. The form asks for the essentials; the details - a car and its length, a cabin, a pushchair, a pet, a connection on arrival - you let us know through WhatsApp when we message you to confirm. We provide the ticket, explain check-in at Rhodes port (Kolona / Mandraki) and stay reachable during the crossing.

• Step 1 - send the form: date, one-way or return, adults and children
• Step 2 - we message you in the WhatsApp chat with the sailings, vessels, seats or cabins and the cost
• Step 3 - you confirm the sailing you prefer and we arrange payment in the same chat
• Step 4 - we issue the e-ticket and send it; we stay in touch until you land in Symi

Because a person books it, we can line the Rhodes to Symi ferry up with a flight or a train the same day, choose the sailing that leaves a safe margin, and warn you if the weather forecast makes the fast boat a risk.

Timetable and season of the Rhodes to Symi ferry

The Rhodes to Symi ferry timetable is seasonal: high summer brings the fullest schedule and the earliest sell-outs; spring and autumn have fewer boats and better fares; winter runs a reduced service on many crossings. The crossing itself takes about 50 minutes. Tell us the day and we send the sailings, and we flag the ones most exposed to a cancellation in bad weather.

Sea conditions matter on this route: strong winds can delay or cancel high-speed boats while the conventional ferries keep sailing. When the forecast is poor we tell you and, if you prefer, book the steadier vessel.

Departure: Rhodes port (Kolona / Mandraki)

Your crossing starts at Rhodes port (Kolona / Mandraki). Large ports have several gates and the boarding gate is announced on the boards and on the ticket; we send the gate and the check-in time with your confirmation. Public buses run from the airport to Rhodes Town, and from there along both coasts, which suits a hotel in the capital; for Lindos, the south-east resorts, families with luggage or late arrivals a private car from the terminal is simpler and far quicker.

• Haqqi Tours offers a private transfer from your hotel in Rhodes to the port on request
• Just ask which gate or terminal your sailing uses - big ports have several
• Foot passengers: at the port 45-60 minutes before departure; vehicles 60-90 minutes
• Keep the e-ticket and the ID or passport used for booking together

Arrival: Gialos harbour, Symi

Arrival is at Gialos harbour, Symi. Symi is a small Dodecanese island north of Rhodes whose harbour of pastel neoclassical mansions is one of the prettiest in Greece. We can have a Haqqi Tours driver at the pier with your name, or tell you the best way to your hotel by bus or taxi. If you brought the car, the road out of the port is signposted for the main routes.

Many travellers continue from Symi to another island or city. We provide those tickets too, so one WhatsApp conversation covers the whole itinerary.

On board the Rhodes to Symi ferry: seats, cabins, cars and luggage

What is the Rhodes to Symi ferry like on board? High-speed catamaran (45-50 min) or conventional ferry (1h 10m-1h 40m), with airline-style seats, lounges, a café or restaurant and open decks on the larger ships; overnight vessels add cabins with beds and showers. Cars, motorbikes and bicycles travel on the vehicle deck and you go up to the passenger decks for the crossing. Luggage is not weighed; you keep it with you or on the racks. Haqqi Tours explains the seat and cabin options for the exact ship you are booking so you pay for what you will use.

• Cabins with beds and showers on overnight sailings - two to four berths
• Café, bar or restaurant on most vessels; open decks on the conventional ferries
• Vehicles on the car deck - give us the car's length and height when booking
• Children's fares by age; infants usually free

Things to do in Symi after the ferry

Symi is a small Dodecanese island north of Rhodes whose harbour of pastel neoclassical mansions is one of the prettiest in Greece. Arriving by sea puts you in the middle of it: Gialos harbour, the Kali Strata steps, Panormitis monastery and boat trips to the beaches are all reachable from Gialos harbour, Symi.

We offer tours and transfers in Symi as well as the ferry ticket - one conversation, one plan for the whole trip.

Best time to take the ferry from Rhodes to Symi

The ferry from Rhodes to Symi runs all year on most operators, but not equally: summer brings the most sailings and the highest fares, shoulder months the best balance, winter a reduced service. Whatever the month, booking early is the single biggest saving, especially with a car or a cabin.

Why book your Rhodes to Symi ferry ticket with Haqqi Tours

What we offer on the ferry from Rhodes to Symi: live fares checked across every operator for your travel date, fast boat and slow boat explained plainly, seats and cabins reserved, vehicles booked with the right dimensions, the e-ticket delivered on WhatsApp and a team that answers at any hour if the weather changes the plan. Send the form and let us take the ferry off your list.