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Ask anyone who's done a Rhodes to Symi day trip what they remember, and almost nobody mentions the boat itself — they remember the harbor. That's worth knowing before you book: this is a genuinely spectacular day built around a genuinely long, unglamorous crossing, and here's the honest version of what that trade-off actually looks like. Symi's neoclassical harbor is easily one of the best day trips out of Rhodes, and, in my honest opinion, worth planning your whole trip around — with a few eyes-open caveats about this specific boat.
There are several Rhodes to Symi day trips to choose from, and I'm breaking this one down in full — from how to book and what to actually expect to exactly what eight and a half hours looks like. Whether you're finalizing your trip to Rhodes or comparing every way to reach Symi, our Symi travel guide has the rest covered.
Why the Rhodes to Symi Day Trip Is So Special
Symi's harbor, Gialos, is one of the best arrivals in the Aegean — the boat turns a corner and the town is simply there, tiers of pastel-colored neoclassical mansions rising straight out of the water, built in the 1800s on sponge-diving wealth. It doesn't look like the whitewashed Cycladic postcard image most people have of Greece, and that's exactly what makes it memorable.
The crossing also stops at Saint George's Bay, a swimming cove reachable only by sea, before continuing on to Symi itself — so the day isn't just the harbor, it's a genuine open-water swim in startlingly clear water plus a few hours to wander Gialos, climb toward Horio if you have the legs for it, and eat lunch at a taverna most tourists never find on their own.
Before You Book: What This Actually Takes (in Time)
This is the slower boat, not the express option, and it's worth knowing that going in. Multiple recent reviewers independently report the same thing: roughly 2 hours each way, 4 to 4.5 hours total just in transit, out of an 8.5-hour day. Reviewer India described it plainly — “the ride took 2 hours there and 2.5 hours back” — and Maximilian noted “the boat is a bit old, so expect it to take roughly 2 hours each way.” Faster speedboat alternatives exist and shave 30 to 40 minutes off the crossing, but as reviewer Adam pointed out, “you don't really need it as you get plenty of time on the island... with this one.”
The trade-off is real: a slower, older, more affordable boat in exchange for one of the longer swim stops and a generous chunk of time in Symi itself. If minimizing time on the water matters more to you than the price, look at the faster options instead. If you'd rather spend less and don't mind a longer, more relaxed crossing, this is the one.
Booking Your Rhodes to Symi Day Trip
There are plenty of Symi day trips to compare, ranging from budget speedboats to premium hotel-pickup options. I booked this one, the Cruise to Symi Island and Saint George's Bay, run by SP Cruises from Mandraki Harbour, and it's rated 4.0 out of 5 across 3,034 reviews, from $52 per person.
A few things to keep in mind when booking this tour:
- Upper deck seating isn't guaranteed. It's first-come, first-served, and reviewer Emily described the boat as “very crowded, only just enough seats for everyone” — arrive at the Mandraki kiosk early if a shaded outdoor seat matters to you. Comfortable air-conditioned seating is also available on the main deck saloon if you'd rather skip the scramble entirely.
- Lunch is genuinely not included. You'll eat at your own expense in Symi — the official listing bundles some general “food and drinks” language, but in practice the only onboard food option is a cash-only shop selling snacks and cold drinks. Bring cash if you want anything on the boat.
- There's no hotel pickup on this listing. You'll need to make your own way to SP Cruises' kiosk at Mandraki Harbour, opposite the Bank of Greece building. If door-to-door pickup matters to you, some competing Symi cruises offer it for a bit more.
- The program can change with the weather. Timings and stops are subject to the captain's judgment on the day, for safety reasons — build in a little flexibility rather than planning anything tight around the exact return time.
Book ahead of time — with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now-pay-later, there's no real downside to locking in a spot early, especially in peak season.
What to Expect on Your Rhodes to Symi Day Trip
Here's the honest, stop-by-stop version of what the full 8.5-hour day actually looks like.
Departing Mandraki Harbour
You board at 10:00 AM at the SP Cruises kiosk, opposite the Bank of Greece building on Mandraki Harbour. Reviewer Rebecca's honest assessment of this stretch: “there isn't really anything to see until you get to the island” — which is a fair way to set expectations. This is transport, not a scenic cruise in its own right.
Saint George's Bay: The Swim Stop
After roughly two hours at sea, the boat reaches Saint George's Bay for about 40 minutes to an hour of swimming and diving in clear blue water. Reviewer Maximilian specifically noted this tour's swim stop runs longer than what most competing tours offer — “most other tours, no matter the speed of arrival, all had 3 hours in Symi and only half an hour to swim, so this was worth it.”
Gialos: Free Time in Symi
The boat departs for Symi at 13:00, arriving at Gialos with several hours of free time before the 16:20 departure. This is genuinely enough time to wander the harbor, eat lunch at a local taverna, and if you're up for it, climb partway toward Horio for the view. Reviewer Nicole described the arrival well: “it looks just like a movie set as the boat pulls into the harbour.”
The Return Crossing
The boat leaves Symi at 16:20 and takes roughly two and a half hours back to Mandraki Harbour, arriving around 18:30. Several reviewers mentioned the sea can get choppy on this leg specifically — Emily noted “lots of people felt seasick” on a rougher crossing, though she and her group were fine. If you're prone to motion sickness, it's worth planning for.
The Harbor Behind the Day Trip
Symi's distinctive architecture dates to the late 19th century, when the island's sponge-diving fleet was one of the most prosperous in the eastern Mediterranean. The captains and merchants who ran that trade built the elaborate neoclassical mansions that now define Gialos — a very different visual language from the whitewashed Cycladic style most visitors associate with Greek islands, and a direct result of Symi's specific maritime economy rather than a broader regional style.
Saint George's Bay itself sits along the same stretch of coastline that made Symi's waters valuable to sponge divers in the first place — clear, sheltered, and easy to navigate, which is part of why this specific route between Rhodes and Symi has been sailed for well over a century.
Is the Rhodes to Symi Day Trip Worth It?
Yes — the destination itself isn't in question. Symi's harbor is genuinely one of the most striking in Greece, and reviewer after reviewer, even the more critical ones, describes the island itself as beautiful. What's worth tempering is the boat experience getting there: this is an older, slower vessel with unassigned seating and a long crossing, not a premium express option.
If you go in accepting the trade-off — a longer, more affordable crossing in exchange for a generous swim stop and real time in Symi — you'll likely have exactly the day most reviewers describe: a bit uncomfortable in the seats, genuinely memorable at the harbor.
Tips Before You Go
- Arrive at Mandraki Harbour early. Upper deck seating isn't guaranteed, and the boat fills up.
- Bring cash for the onboard shop and lunch in Symi. Neither accepts anything but cash on this specific boat.
- Pack comfortable shoes. Symi's harbor streets and any climb toward Horio reward proper footwear over sandals.
- Bring motion sickness remedies if you're prone to it. Several reviewers mentioned a choppy return leg.
- Don't plan anything tight around the return time. Weather can shift the schedule at the captain's discretion.
- Bring beachwear, a towel, and sunscreen. The swim stop at Saint George's Bay is a real highlight — come prepared for it.
Are You Ready for This Bucket-List Experience?
If Rhodes is anywhere on your itinerary, this is the day trip that delivers one of the most photographed harbors in Greece. Check availability for the Rhodes to Symi day trip here — and if you want the fuller picture of every way to see Symi and what to do once you're there, our Symi travel guide covers the rest.
Written by
Athens-born engineer · Coordinates a 5-expert Greek team · 50+ years combined field experience
I write every article on this site drawing on real, first-hand expertise — mine and that of four colleagues who live and work across Greece daily: a Peloponnese tour operator, a transfer specialist across Athens, Mykonos & Santorini, a Cretan hotel owner, and a Northern Greece hotel supplier. Nothing here comes from a single visit or desk research.
Informed by 5 Greek experts
Every destination we cover has been visited and vetted by at least one team member — not for a review, but as part of their daily work in Greek tourism.