From Lindos: Rhodes Old Town and Speedboat Trip to Symi

The best thing about this excursion is that it joins two very different Greek experiences in one day: the medieval streets of Rhodes Old Town and the colorful harbor of Symi. You get hotel pickup from the Lindos area, transport to Rhodes, a boat crossing, and the return journey for $55, which is hard to beat if you want to see Symi without arranging several separate tickets.

I like the freedom to explore both places on your own, and I like the convenient pickup from hotels around Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Kiotari, and Gennadi. The main drawback is the length: this is a serious 12-hour day, sometimes closer to 13, and late pickups can reduce your time in Rhodes Old Town.

Key points to know before booking

• Two famous stops in one day: See Rhodes Old Town in the morning and Symi in the afternoon.
• Usually around two to three hours in Rhodes: Enough for a taste of the old city, but not enough for every major sight.
• Symi is the star for many visitors: Colorful waterfront buildings, clear water, restaurants, and a relaxed island setting.
• The boat may feel more like a fast ferry: It is not always the small speedboat suggested by the description.
• Bring a place to sit in the shade: The upper deck can be wet from sea spray, while the return boat can be crowded.
• You are on your own at both stops: A map and meeting instructions are provided, but there is no guided sightseeing or included admission.

Why this Lindos day trip works

This is a transport-focused excursion rather than a traditional guided tour. That distinction matters. You are not led through Rhodes Old Town by a local guide, and nobody escorts you around Symi explaining every building. Instead, the company handles the complicated parts: hotel pickup, the drive north, boat connections, and the return to your accommodation.

At $55 per person, that arrangement offers strong value. A private taxi to Rhodes, separate boat tickets, and return transport to Lindos would likely require far more planning and expense. Here, you can sit back and let the driver deal with the long road journey.

The trade-off is independence. You need to keep track of the meeting points and departure times yourself. At the Rhodes harbor, you may need to collect a paper boat ticket from the kiosk before boarding. Keep that detail in mind, because it is not always obvious where you should queue.

The early pickup from Lindos and the road north

Pickup is available from a large number of hotels and designated points in Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Kiotari, Gennadi, and nearby areas. You are asked to wait on the main road 10 minutes before your scheduled time. Look for the Sebeco Tours bus, and do not wander off, because the driver may wait only five minutes.

The coach drive to Rhodes takes about one hour once the vehicle is on its way. The total morning transfer can feel longer if the bus is collecting people from several resorts. This is where punctuality matters most. A late pickup or a second run for missing passengers can take time directly from your visit to Rhodes Old Town.

The buses have generally been described as comfortable, and the drivers have received warm praise for being friendly and helpful. One driver, Mr. Ivan, was singled out for clear and useful assistance. That kind of practical help is valuable on a day with several handoffs between coach, harbor, boat, and coach again.

If you are staying farther south near Kiotari or Gennadi, expect an especially long day. That is also where the excursion makes the most financial sense, since reaching Rhodes and Symi independently is more awkward from the southern resorts.

Three hours in Rhodes Old Town, with a short sightseeing list

The morning stop gives you free time in UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town. The planned allocation is around three hours, but actual time on site can be closer to two or two and a half hours once the drive, late pickups, and meeting arrangements are taken into account.

That is enough for a good first look. You can walk the medieval lanes, see the harbor area, browse the main shopping streets, and make your way toward the Castle of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master. The clock tower and the main squares are also within reach if you keep moving.

I would not plan a slow museum day here. If you want to enter several attractions, pause for a long meal, and wander every side street, this schedule will feel tight. Entry tickets are not included, so allow time and money for admission if you want to go inside the paid sights.

A practical plan is to choose one main attraction, then use the remaining time for an unhurried walk. The Palace of the Grand Master is an obvious choice for first-time visitors, while the old streets and harbor give you the atmosphere without requiring an admission ticket.

You receive a map or information pack for Rhodes, which helps you find the main sights quickly. That is useful because the excursion gives you freedom but not a walking tour. Mark your meeting point before setting off, then keep an eye on the time.

The old city is also the place where delays hurt most. If your bus leaves Lindos late or spends too long collecting passengers, you may have only a couple of hours. That is still enough to get a taste, but you should not book this excursion expecting a full day in Rhodes.

Boarding the boat at Rhodes harbor

After Rhodes Old Town, you return to the harbor for the crossing to Symi. The instructions are usually clear about the departure time, but the ticket process can cause confusion. You may be given return information and then need to collect paper tickets from a kiosk under the booking name.

Allow a little time for this rather than arriving at the last minute. Queues and boarding can feel unorganized, especially when several groups are trying to find the correct line. The boat departs on time, and missing it would create a serious problem for the rest of your day.

The boat ride takes about 80 minutes each way. Despite the word speedboat, this may be a large passenger boat or fast ferry rather than a small open craft. One positive feature is that you can usually choose between different seating areas, though seats are not necessarily assigned.

The upper deck gives you open views, but sea spray can make it very wet. If you want to stay dry, sit inside or on a lower covered deck. The spray can be part of the fun on a calm day, but it is not ideal if you are carrying cameras, phones, or small children without protection.

Families should also try to board together if sitting next to one another matters. Seating can be a free-for-all, particularly on busy crossings. The return boat may be more crowded than the outward trip, and some departures have required people to stand or use temporary chairs.

Three hours around Symi harbor

Symi is the highlight for many people on this excursion. Its harbor is lined with colorful houses climbing the hillsides, and the setting feels very different from the broad medieval streets of Rhodes. The island stop is less about ticking off monuments and more about enjoying the waterfront, views, food, and water.

You have roughly three hours, sometimes more depending on the day’s exact timing. That is enough to walk along the harbor, stop for lunch, look through the shops, and find a place to sit by the water. Restaurants and bars are plentiful around the waterfront, and there is a beach where you can relax.

You may also choose to climb the steps toward the castle area, as one visitor did, but keep the heat and the return time in mind. Symi is hilly, and a quick walk can become tiring in the afternoon sun. Comfortable shoes, water, and a hat will serve you better than dress shoes or heavy beach bags.

The island has fewer major activities than Rhodes Old Town. You can eat, stroll, swim, visit the beach, browse shops, and take in the harbor views. Watersports have also been available at the beach. If you need a packed sightseeing schedule, three or four hours may feel long. If you like a slow lunch and time by the water, it can feel just right.

There is not much destination information provided for Symi beyond the meeting time, so you need to do a little planning before you leave home. Decide if your priority is lunch, swimming, the harbor walk, or the castle steps. Trying to do all of them may make the stop feel rushed.

For lunch, a quayside table near the fish market is an appealing option, but remember that food and drinks are not included. Prices will vary, and you should leave enough time to pay, collect your belongings, and reach the boat without rushing.

The return crossing and late ride back to Lindos

The return boat is scheduled after the afternoon on Symi. Watch the time carefully. The departure is not flexible, and people have missed the boat after losing track of the hour. Your driver cannot solve that problem once the vessel has left.

A late afternoon or evening crossing can be especially pleasant, with changing light over the sea and the chance of seeing the sunset from the boat. It is also a good time to rest, though a full boat can mean less room than on the outward journey.

Once back in Rhodes, the coach takes you south. The drive itself is about one hour in the basic itinerary, but hotel drop-offs can stretch the return considerably. Some people have arrived back around 8 or 9 p.m., while others have reported a day closer to 13 hours.

That variation is not necessarily a flaw, but it is important when planning dinner or another evening activity. If you are staying near Kiotari or Gennadi, expect to be among the later drop-offs. The advantage is that the bus brings you close to your hotel or designated local stop instead of leaving you to arrange a taxi from Rhodes.

What the $55 price really covers

The price is particularly good if you are staying south of Rhodes and want Symi without hiring a car or piecing together separate transport. It includes the hotel pickup and drop-off, coach transfers, driver, boat transportation, and free time in both destinations.

You still need to pay for attraction tickets, meals, drinks, and anything you buy on Symi. Since the day is self-guided, you are also paying for transport rather than personal interpretation.

I see that as a fair exchange. Rhodes Old Town and Symi are both easy to explore independently, and the boat connection is the part many people would find difficult to arrange from Lindos. The value is strongest for couples, friends, and families who are comfortable making their own plan.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a detailed historical tour of Rhodes. In that case, a guided Rhodes excursion with more time in the old city may suit you better. It is also less suitable if you dislike long coach rides, fixed departure times, or crowded boats.

Who should book this excursion

You should consider booking it if you:

• Want to see Symi while staying in Lindos or farther south
• Prefer free time to a tightly scripted guided tour
• Are happy with a long day and several transport changes
• Want a low-cost way to combine Rhodes and Symi
• Enjoy harbor walks, scenic boat rides, swimming, and a relaxed lunch
• Can keep track of meeting points and departure times

You may want another option if you want a full day in Rhodes, a personal guide, or plenty of time for museums and monuments. The same applies if you need a quiet, predictable schedule. Delays at pickup can cut into your old-city time, and the return journey can run late.

The excursion is wheelchair accessible, although the practical ease of boarding a busy boat and moving around Symi may depend on the day’s conditions. The listed driver language is Greek, so do not expect a multilingual guided commentary.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility while finalizing your holiday plans.

Final verdict: a strong value day with limited time in Rhodes

I would book this trip if Symi is high on your list and you are staying around Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Kiotari, or Gennadi. The logistics are much easier than arranging the road transfer and boat independently, and the price is excellent for a full day of transport and sightseeing.

The best part is the contrast: medieval Rhodes in the morning, then Symi’s painted harbor and clear water in the afternoon. The cost is time. You will not see all of Rhodes Old Town, and you may return tired and late.

Go with realistic expectations, arrive early for pickup, protect your phone from sea spray, collect your boat ticket carefully, and set an alarm for the Symi departure. Do that, and this is a practical, memorable way to add two major sights to a Lindos holiday.

FAQ

How long does the Rhodes and Symi day trip take?

The advertised duration is 12 hours. Depending on pickup delays, hotel drop-offs, and the route, the day can sometimes last closer to 13 hours.

How much free time do I get in Rhodes Old Town?

The planned free time is about three hours, though delays and transport arrangements can reduce this to around two or two and a half hours.

How long is the boat ride from Rhodes to Symi?

The boat crossing takes about 80 minutes each way.

Is a guide included?

No. You explore both Rhodes Old Town and Symi independently. Transport and a driver are included, but there is no guided sightseeing or included attraction tour.

Are meals and attraction tickets included?

No. Food, drinks, and entry tickets for attractions such as the Palace of the Grand Master are not included.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from many hotels and designated points in Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Kiotari, Gennadi, and nearby areas. You should wait on the main road 10 minutes before the scheduled time and look for the Sebeco Tours bus.