Rhodes: Boat trip to Symi island with swimming at St. George

Symi is the real star here. As your boat enters the island’s natural harbor, rows of colorful houses and tall churches rise around Gialos, creating one of the Dodecanese’s finest arrival scenes. The stop at St. George Bay adds a welcome swim in clear green water before you spend about three hours on Symi.

I like the simple pairing of sea time and island time. You get a scenic cruise, a swim and snorkel stop, lunch beside the harbor, and room to browse shops without having to arrange separate transport. At $51, that is a strong day out, especially if you add the optional hotel transfer.

The catch is the long boat ride. You have about 8.5 hours away from Rhodes, and much of that is spent at sea. If you prefer a quick island visit or dislike boat travel, the schedule may feel heavy.

Key points to know before booking

• St. George Bay comes first: Expect about 45 minutes for swimming and snorkeling in a striking, undeveloped bay.
• Symi arrival is the visual highlight: Gialos harbor is lined with colorful buildings, churches, seafood restaurants, and small shops.
• You get roughly three hours on Symi: That is enough for lunch, a harbor walk, photos, shopping, and a relaxed look around.
• The boat ride is part of the experience: The return to Rhodes can take about two hours, with views back toward Rhodes Old Town.
• Hotel pickup costs extra: You can meet at the operator’s office near Mandraki Harbor, or choose an option with transport from your hotel.
• Try Simiako Garidaki: These small local shrimp are cooked in olive oil and make an easy island lunch choice.

Why Symi makes a good day trip from Rhodes

Rhodes has plenty to fill a holiday, but Symi feels different almost from the moment you approach it. The island is smaller, quieter in scale, and known for its carefully painted waterfront homes. The harbor town of Gialos is compact enough to explore on foot, yet it has enough restaurants, stalls, and shops to keep three hours useful.

The best part is that you do not have to choose between a pure boat trip and a land excursion. The day gives you both. You can spend the morning looking out over the Dodecanese sea, swim from the boat at St. George Bay, then walk into Symi for food and shopping.

This works especially well if you are staying in Rhodes for several days. It adds another island without asking you to change hotels or organize ferries, taxis, and meals separately.

Starting from Mandraki Harbor or your hotel

If you are making your own way to the boat, check in at the Half Price Tours office at Gallias Street 6, beside the Benetton shop at Mandraki Harbor. The stated check-in window is 9:15 to 9:40 in the morning, when you collect your boarding pass.

That timing matters. This is not the sort of outing where arriving at the harbor ten minutes late is a harmless mistake. Give yourself enough time to find the office, check in, and walk to the boat.

Hotel pickup is available as a separate option. It can be useful if you are staying outside Rhodes Town, with pickup areas listed around places such as Faliraki, Lindos, Pefki, Pefkos, Ialysos, Ixia, Kallithea, Kolympia, Kiotari, Gennadi, and Theologos. The exact pickup time and place are sent after booking, so check your messages carefully.

The transfer is especially helpful for families, visitors without a rental car, and anyone staying well away from Mandraki Harbor. It also removes the worry of finding a taxi early in the morning. The tradeoff is that the return journey can include several hotel stops, so it may take longer than the outward transfer.

The boat ride from Rhodes to Symi

The cruise is not a short hop. Allow a full day, around 8.5 hours in total, and expect the boat ride to take up a large part of the schedule. That is not wasted time if you enjoy being on the water. The approach to Symi is scenic, and the return offers views toward Rhodes Old Town.

Onboard, drinks and snacks are available to buy, including hot and cold drinks, alcohol, and light food. Food is not included in the tour price, so bring money or a payment method for anything you want during the crossing.

Choose your clothing for the whole day rather than only for the island. You will want swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat for St. George Bay. A dry change of clothes is a good idea after the swim, especially if you plan to eat lunch or walk around Symi in wet swimwear.

The boat ride can feel long for children or anyone who gets restless at sea. I would bring water, sun protection, and something small to read, while still leaving time to look out from the deck. The views are one of the reasons to book this outing, not just a backdrop between destinations.

Swimming and snorkeling at St. George Bay

St. George Bay is the first major stop after leaving Rhodes. The boat pauses for about 45 minutes for swimming and snorkeling, though some departures have allowed closer to an hour. The bay is known for its clear water and steep, wild setting, with no town lining the shore.

This is a swim from the boat rather than a conventional beach stop. You jump into the water, swim and snorkel, then return to the boat. If you are not comfortable with open-water swimming, you may prefer to stay onboard and enjoy the view.

The water is described as clear enough to see the bottom even where it is deep. That makes the stop appealing for confident swimmers who want more than a quick photo stop. Bring your own snorkeling equipment if you have it, since the included features specifically cover the boat ticket and swimming stop, not equipment rental.

Forty-five minutes passes quickly. Have your swimsuit on before the boat arrives, keep your towel close, and do not wait until the final minutes to climb back aboard. A change of clothes will make the second half of the day more comfortable.

St. George Bay is also where the tour earns some of its value. A ferry ride straight to Symi would give you the island, but this adds a proper break in clear water and makes the day feel more varied.

Arriving in Gialos, Symi’s colorful harbor

The approach to Symi is the kind of arrival that rewards a place on deck. Gialos curves around a natural harbor, with brightly painted buildings climbing the surrounding slopes. Churches and large traditional houses add to the view, and the whole setting feels more intimate than Rhodes Town.

Have your camera ready before the boat enters the harbor. The best photographs often come from the water, when the buildings appear together rather than as separate streets and facades.

Once ashore, you have about three hours of free time. This is not a guided walking tour, so you set the pace. You can stay around the waterfront, walk through the harbor streets, stop for lunch, shop, or simply sit with a drink and watch the boats.

Gialos is small, which helps you make good use of a limited stop. You do not need to spend half the afternoon figuring out transport to another part of the island. The main sights, restaurants, and shops are close to the arrival area.

The limitation is equally clear: three hours is enough for a taste of Symi, not a full exploration of the island. You will not have unlimited time for long walks, remote villages, or a leisurely meal followed by extensive shopping. If your main goal is to see Gialos and enjoy the harbor, the schedule works well.

What to eat and where to spend your free time

Food and drinks are not included, but Symi gives you plenty of ways to arrange lunch. The harbor has fish and seafood restaurants, small cafes, and places where you can pause before returning to the boat.

The local dish to look for is Simiako Garidaki, small baby shrimp cooked in olive oil. It is one of the island’s signature foods and an easy way to make your lunch feel tied to the place rather than simply choosing a familiar meal.

You can also use the free time for shopping. The waterfront and nearby streets have handmade jewelry, clothing, gifts, sponges, and spices. These stalls make browsing easy, though you should keep an eye on the clock. It is easy to lose track of time when lunch and shopping are both within a few steps of the harbor.

I would plan your stop in this order: first get a quick look at the harbor and take photographs, then choose lunch, and leave the final part for shopping or another walk. That gives you a buffer before the boat’s departure.

The return cruise and the value of the $51 price

At $51 per person, this is good value if you want a full day rather than a short transfer to Symi. The price includes the round-trip boat ticket and the St. George Bay swimming stop. You still need to budget for lunch, drinks, shopping, and possibly hotel transportation.

The value comes from combining several costs into one day: the boat to Symi, the extra bay stop, and enough free time for an independent island visit. You do not pay for a formal guide, but that also means you are free to spend the three hours exactly as you like.

The optional transfer changes the calculation. It may be worth paying more if you are staying far from Rhodes Town or want the simplest morning possible. If you are already near Mandraki Harbor, meeting the boat yourself keeps the price lower.

Timing is the main cost. A long day at sea is part of the package, and the return trip may take around two hours. I would choose this tour for the destination and the swim, not because it is the fastest way to reach Symi.

Who will enjoy this trip most

This is a good fit for you if you want:

• A straightforward day trip from Rhodes
• A mix of swimming, scenery, food, and shopping
• Free time rather than a tightly guided walking tour
• A colorful harbor that is easy to explore on foot
• Hotel transport from a wide range of Rhodes resort areas
• A reasonably priced way to add another island to your holiday

It is less suitable if you want detailed historical commentary, a private experience, or a slow visit with time to explore beyond Gialos. The tour gives you a taste of Symi, not an all-day island expedition.

Families can benefit from the simple plan, especially with hotel pickup. Still, children need to be comfortable with the long boat journey and the open-water swim. Older visitors should also consider whether boarding the boat and swimming from it feels suitable for them.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Wear your swimsuit under your clothes so you are ready for St. George Bay. Pack a towel, dry clothes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and enough money for food and drinks.

If you are prone to seasickness, sit where you can get fresh air and keep your attention on the horizon. The tour information does not specify a particular boat layout or seasickness service, so bring any personal remedies you normally use.

Keep your boarding details and pickup message handy. If you book hotel transport and do not receive the pickup information, the operator provides a WhatsApp contact number, +30 694 8322505.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later. That gives you some flexibility, but the most important decision is still whether you want a full day built around a boat crossing.

Should you book the Rhodes to Symi boat trip?

Book it if you want the easiest way to combine Symi’s picture-perfect harbor with a proper swim at St. George Bay. The $51 base price is fair for the boat ride, the extra stop, and three hours of island time, especially if you are happy to arrange your own lunch and explore independently.

Choose the hotel pickup if you are staying outside Rhodes Town and value a less complicated morning. Meet at Mandraki Harbor if you are nearby and want to keep the cost down.

Skip it if a long day on the water sounds tiring or if you want a guided, detailed tour of Symi. For most visitors who want a scenic island escape without changing hotels, this is a practical and enjoyable choice.

FAQ

How long does the Rhodes to Symi boat trip last?

The activity lasts about 8.5 hours in total.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the round-trip boat tickets to Symi and the swimming stop at St. George Bay.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is not included in the basic price, but you can book an option with transport to and from your hotel.

Where do I check in if I do not need a transfer?

Check in at the Half Price Tours office at Gallias Street 6, beside the Benetton shop at Mandraki Harbor.

What time should I check in?

The stated check-in window is from 9:15 to 9:40 in the morning.

How long is the swimming stop at St. George Bay?

The planned swimming and snorkeling stop is about 45 minutes. Some departure timings may allow approximately one hour.

How much free time do I get in Symi?

You get about three hours in Symi for sightseeing, lunch, shopping, walking, and photographs.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you can buy drinks and snacks on the boat and have lunch in Symi.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, and sunscreen.