Ferries to Symi
Yesterday I was talking about making sure you’ve got a ferry connection when you arrive in Rhodes for your Symi holiday. Today, I wanted to answer another question that people ask me, usually via email or on the Symi Dream Facebook page. The question is, ‘Where do I find the ferries to Symi?’
Many returning visitors already know this information, but things can change, so it’s always worth checking. Probably the easiest thing to do is ask your travel agent, a good search engine online or the company website where you booked the ferry tickets. That’s going to be either Blue Star Ferries or Dodekanisos Seaways if you’ve gone directly to the ferry operator. (See yesterday’s post for links.) Here’s an image I pulled from somewhere that might be of use and, below, is how to use it.
Rhodes harbours for Ferries to Symi
Mandraki harbour is where you now find the day-trip boats, the Symi II, the Nikolaos X and others that operate trips across for the day, via Panormitis and on to Yialos, and back. It’s a great day out if you are holidaying on Rhodes and want to see Symi. Mandraki is the harbour with the arrow at the top of the image (above), and it’s right next to the old markets area, police station, courts, National Bank, etc. It’s very easy to find, and the bus stop from the airport is up at the top of the road. But…
If you’re coming to Symi, then the Dodekanisos Pride and Express, the catamarans, leave from Kolona Harbour, just a bit further along the shore from Mandraki. If you look at the second arrow down, on the image above, where it says ‘Large Yachts’, it’s actually pointing right to where the Dodekanisos Seaways boats are. You can get off the bus, walk to the seafront at Mandraki and then follow the path/road, heading right (if you’re looking at the sea), past the coffee shops, through St Paul’s Gate (beware of people trying to sell you things, ambushing gipsies, etc.). Or follow the main road around and back out again, and along the boardwalk. You will see the Dodekanisos kiosk across the water with a large display board. Follow the boardwalk to the entrance and, well, it’s easy from there, you can’t miss it.
However, if you are booked onto the Blue Star Ferry (currently the Blue Star Patmos), or the Panagia Skiadeni (Dodekanisos Seaways’ larger ferry) then you will need to go to the Commercial Harbour. That’s the third arrow on the map above, where it, strangely, says ‘commercial harbour’.
If you’re walking, it’s about 30 to 40 minutes to get from Kolona, even though you can see the boats not too far away. Follow the new boardwalk around the outside of the old town, past Akandia Gate and Akandia Harbour (where the larger cruise ships call in) and to the bend in the road. You will see a boatyard on your left, between you and the harbour. Use that entrance and follow the signs. The Panagia is (or at least, was last year) sailing from the quay closest to the entry of the harbour. The Blue Star ferries are down at the other end, and this can add five or ten minutes to your walking time, depending on how fast you walk. My advice is, always, to get there early. In fact, I think everyone should be slightly early for everything apart, perhaps, from their own funeral. You may see a couple of large Blue Star ferries waiting, so make sure you check which one you are meant to be getting on. I doubt anyone will let you on the wrong one, but you never know.
Airport to harbours
And the easiest way to get from the airport to ferry? Well, jump in a taxi for about €25.00 (it may have gone up by then, and you might have to pay extra for luggage, cabbie’s chat, use of a seatbelt, etc. (only joking, the seatbelts are included)) and the journey is roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Or you can take the bus to Mandraki and walk from there, but leave plenty of time. The bus, on a clear run, only takes a little longer than the taxi (let’s say, 45 minutes) and is one-tenth of the price (€2,20 last time I used it, last year), but you will have to walk to the harbour at the other end.
So, Airport to Mandraki by bus, roughly 45 minutes (add on waiting time as the bus is about every 30 minutes), add on walking time to Kolona at, say, 15 minutes and, for the commercial harbour, add on another 30 at least. Taxi to Kolona, roughly 30 minutes and add another 10 to get you to the Commercial harbour, to be safe.
Finally, by the way, you can book ferry tickets online before you travel and collect them at the kiosks by the boats when you get there. In peak season, it’s always best to book in advance, but on quieter days you usually don’t need to worry.
