Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, & Lindos: Speedboat to Symi Island

Symi’s harbor is the star here: a steep bowl of pastel houses, church domes, and bright blue water reached by high-speed boat from southern Rhodes. You get about three hours ashore, enough for lunch, a walk, and a swim near town, though not enough for a slow island-wide outing.

I like that you avoid a long bus ride from the south of Rhodes, and I like the 30-minute stop at Saint George Bay, where huge rock walls rise above clear water. The main caution is timing: in late September and October, the bay can be shaded if it comes after Symi, making the water look darker than expected.

Key points

• Three hours in Symi town: Enough time for the harbor, a meal, shopping, and a swim, but not a full island tour.
• Fast boat from southern Rhodes: A practical choice if you are staying around Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or Lindos.
• Saint George Bay swim stop: Thirty minutes in clear water beneath tall cliffs.
• Seasonal route change: From late September and through October, the boat may visit Saint George Bay before Symi for better light.
• Pickup details matter: Lardos is served only on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Kiotari and Vlycha operate Tuesday through Friday.
• Good value for a full day: At $147 per person, the price covers the boat ride, free time on Symi, and the swim stop, but lunch is extra.

Why this southern Rhodes boat trip works

This is a day built around two very different pleasures. First comes the boat ride across the Dodecanese sea to Symi, one of Greece’s most photogenic harbor towns. Then comes free time, where you decide how to spend your three hours instead of following a guide from one sight to the next.

I especially like the departure point for anyone staying on the southeastern side of Rhodes. Reaching Symi independently often means arranging transport to another port, while this trip brings the boat closer to resorts around Kiotari and Lardos. That saves effort, though you should check the exact pickup point and operating day before booking.

The boat is called Aphrodite Princess. Pickup information names the red steps on the beach below Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel on Kiotari Beach, and Costa Lindia Hotel on Lardos Beach. The schedule also refers to Vlycha Beach, so confirm your departure location rather than assuming every southern resort uses the same stop.

The high-speed crossing from Kiotari and Lardos

The listed sea journey takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes each way. That is still a substantial amount of time on the water, but the speedboat format gives you a direct route and avoids a separate bus transfer from the south of Rhodes.

There is also a short, roughly 10-minute stop at Mandraki Harbour for passengers to get on or off. It is a practical pause rather than a sightseeing visit, so do not plan on exploring Rhodes Town during it.

The crossing is part of the experience, not just transportation. You can watch the coast recede, feel the wind, and see the color of the sea change as the boat moves away from Rhodes. At the same time, a high-speed ride may feel long if you dislike open-water travel, and the day gives you limited control over the schedule.

Bring sunscreen. You will want protection during the crossing and while standing or sitting outside at the bay. The supplied information lists sunscreen as the key item to bring, and you should also plan your clothing around sun, wind, and water.

Arriving at Symi’s pastel harbor

The approach to Symi is the visual payoff. The fishing harbor curves between hills, with neoclassical buildings stacked around the water in soft colors. Church domes add bright points above the rooftops, and the whole scene is compact enough to take in from the boat before you step ashore.

Symi is not presented as a guided museum visit. You leave the boat and have approximately three hours to make your own plan. That freedom is useful because the harbor can suit several kinds of day.

You can walk along the waterfront, stop for a meal, look at the buildings, or swim near town. The local specialty to look for is baby shrimp, a well-known Symi dish and one of the more distinctive food choices available during your free time.

Lunch is not included, so keep part of the $147 price in mind for food and drinks. You might find traditional tavernas along the harbor, but the tour does not reserve a table or provide a set meal. Three hours gives you enough room for a relaxed meal, but a long lunch will reduce your time for walking and swimming.

How to spend three hours on Symi

I would begin with a slow walk along the harbor before sitting down to eat. The waterfront is the easiest part of town to enjoy within a fixed schedule, and it lets you get your bearings without using precious time on a long uphill route.

If you want to try the local baby shrimp, lunch is the natural opportunity. The dish gives you a taste of Symi rather than a standard meal you could order anywhere on Rhodes. Since food is at your own expense, check the menu and prices before ordering.

You can also use the free time for a swim in the glittering water near the harbor. That may appeal if you would rather spend the day outdoors than sightseeing on land. Still, you should not expect three hours to cover every corner of Symi, especially if you want a long meal and a swim.

The schedule is best for independent visitors who can choose one or two priorities. It is less suitable if you want a detailed guided explanation of the island, a long inland walk, or a carefully timed list of many sights.

Saint George Bay and the 30-minute swim

The stop at Saint George Bay is the trip’s most dramatic natural moment. The boat approaches a cove with clear water and enormous rock faces above it. You get about 30 minutes to swim, which is enough for a refreshing dip but too short for a long beach stay.

The setting matters here. You are not swimming beside a developed resort with a full range of facilities. The appeal is the contrast between open sea, tall cliffs, and bright water. If you prefer a quick swim in a striking place, this stop adds something a standard Symi ferry would not.

Timing can change the quality of the stop. From late September and through October, the crew may visit Saint George Bay before Symi because the cliffs can shade the cove later in the day. An October outing reached the bay after the town visit, when the sun had already slipped behind the high rocks. The water then looked dark rather than bright.

That does not mean the bay is always disappointing late in the season. It means sunlight is important to the view, and the order of stops can affect your photos and swimming experience. If you are booking in autumn, ask which sequence is planned for your date.

The return ride and the day’s rhythm

After the bay stop, you return to the boat for the ride back to Rhodes. The final crossing takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes, so the total day runs close to nine hours.

That long return is the main tradeoff for seeing Symi from the southern coast. You spend roughly half the day on the boat and the other half between Symi and Saint George Bay. The benefit is that the trip is direct and includes two worthwhile stops instead of only dropping you at a port.

I would think of this as a full-day outing, not a quick side trip. You need energy for the boat, sun exposure, walking, lunch, and swimming. Families and couples who enjoy a clear schedule may find the format easy to manage, while anyone seeking a slow, flexible island day may feel pressed for time.

The boat returns to the southern Rhodes drop-off points, including the Kiotari and Lardos locations listed for departure. Keep your return arrangements simple, since the day ends at the same general area rather than at a separate Rhodes attraction.

Is $147 a fair price?

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day in Greece. The value depends heavily on where you are staying.

For someone based near Kiotari or Lardos, the price includes the main boat transportation, approximately three hours in Symi, and the Saint George Bay stop. Avoiding a separate trip to another port adds practical value, especially if you do not have a rental car or do not want to spend part of the day on a bus.

For someone already staying near Rhodes Town or another convenient port, the calculation may be different. You would need to compare the shorter route and any alternative ferry options. This trip earns its price mainly through southern pickup points and the speedboat access, not through included meals or guided touring.

The rating is 4.7 from 46 ratings, and 89 percent of the scores are perfect. That points to a strong overall experience, while the lower score connected to the shaded autumn bay stop shows why seasonal timing deserves attention.

Remember that lunch is extra. Add food, drinks, and any personal purchases in Symi to the booking cost. You should also confirm the pickup day: Lardos operates only on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach operate Tuesday through Friday.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this boat trip to you if you are staying south of Rhodes and want to see Symi without arranging your own transport. It suits people who like scenic boat rides, independent sightseeing, a short swim, and a full day with a fixed return.

It is also a good match if you want to sample Symi rather than spend several days there. Three hours lets you see the famous harbor, eat a local dish, and take a swim, giving you a useful first impression.

You may want another plan if you need a quiet, slow pace. The crossing is long, the time in town is fixed, and the Saint George Bay stop lasts only 30 minutes. It is also less suitable if you do not enjoy speedboat travel or strong sun.

The best practical choice is to book for a day when your nearest pickup is operating. Check the exact beach access point, especially if your accommodation is around Lindos or Pefkos, since the listed pickup details focus on specific hotels and beaches rather than every resort entrance.

Should you book the Aphrodite Princess to Symi?

Book it if you are staying around Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or the Lindos area and want a direct, active day at sea. The pastel harbor, local baby shrimp, and Saint George Bay swim make a good combination, and the free time lets you set your own pace in Symi.

Think twice if your priority is full sunshine at the bay in late autumn, a guided tour, or a great deal with lunch included. For the strongest version of this outing, check the stop order, choose an operating pickup day, bring sunscreen, and treat the three hours in Symi as a focused visit rather than an attempt to see the whole island.

FAQ

How long is the Symi boat trip from southern Rhodes?

The full activity lasts about nine hours. The listed route includes roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes by speedboat to Symi, about three hours on the island, a 30-minute swim stop at Saint George Bay, and about 2 hours and 20 minutes back to Rhodes.

How much free time do I get in Symi?

You get approximately three hours to explore independently. You can walk around the fishing harbor, eat at a traditional taverna, look for local baby shrimp, or swim in the water near town.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and other food or drinks in Symi are at your own expense.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup information names the red steps on the beach below Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel on Kiotari Beach, and Costa Lindia Hotel on Lardos Beach. The schedule also lists Vlycha Beach, so confirm the exact location for your date.

Which days does the boat stop in Lardos and Kiotari?

The boat stops in Lardos on Wednesdays and Fridays. It stops at Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

How long is the swim stop at Saint George Bay?

The swim stop lasts about 30 minutes. The bay has clear water and large rocks rising above it. From late September and through October, the boat may visit the bay before Symi to avoid the cove being shaded later in the day.