Symi, Greece

Coordinates: 36°36'54.49"N, 27°49'48.85"E

Have you ever heard the term "pretty as a postcard"? It definitely applies to Symi, Greece, the colourful harbour town on the island of the same name in the Greek Dodecanese.

Visits to Symi are featured in our longer cruises through the Dodecanese islands, but can also be incorporated into a week-long adventure with a visit to Rhodes.

This page was updated on Apr 20, 2021 12:50 PM

Overview of Symi

Built into the steep slope of a mountainous island around a natural harbour, the town of Symi (aka Simi) is a colourful Greek settlement that is home to approximately 3,000 people year-round. The island is located 41 KM northwest of Rhodes, and is actually closer to the Turkish communities of Datça and Bozburun than it is to any part of Greece.

Symi's History

According to archaeologists, Symi has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The island's location and large natural harbour made it a convenient way point for trade, so it is believed that Symi played an important role in the transportation of goods throughout the Mediterranean. But surprisingly little is documented about the island's history before the 14th century.

Symi's backstory similar to other islands in the Dodecanese region – with wars and conquests a regular occurrence since the beginning of time. Coming under the rule of the Romans, the Knights of Rhodes, the Ottoman Turks, and the Italians at various points in history, the island has only been a part of Greece since 1948. Each period left an indelible mark on the community, but the Italian occupation is perhaps most obvious. For example:

  • Many compare the rich colours of Symi's homes and businesses to the colours of Italy's Amalfi coast;
  • Many of the buildings on Symi are classified as Venetian in style;
  • And, the Symi police station is a textbook example of Italian architecture.

Painted in rich hues from nature, Symi's buildings are a splendid mixture of Aegean and Venetian architecture. Each has a small footprint, but expands upwards to meet the space needs of its occupants. Some of the larger mansions are five stories tall. Steep stairways and ladders are not uncommon in houses around Symi, which can pose a challenge for those with mobility issues.

In 1971, the communities on Symi were declared protected settlements. This means that, while the old houses and buildings can be restored, renovators must adhere to aesthetic guidelines maintained by the municipality. This is one of the major factors in the island maintaining its feeling of authentic, old-world charm.

The Town's Structure

The harbour town of Symi is made up of two settlements – Gialos (aka Yialos) and Chorio (aka Horio or Ano Symi). They are connected by a long staircase called Kali Strata.

Chorio

Chorio was the original settlement on the island, high on the hill over-looking the harbour. The lofty location was selected to provide some protection from pirates and featured a Byzantine era defensive fortress ("Kastro") which was destroyed in a long-ago battle. The Knights of St. John built a new castle on the same grounds after they conquered the island in 1309. Other notable landmarks in the Chorio settlement include:

  • Windmills used to grind wheat into flour. Most are in ruins, but a few have been restored and are now used as tourist accommodations.
  • Spetsaria (1884) – the island's original municipal pharmacy
  • Archaeology and Folklore Museum
  • Many narrow and winding cobbled streets and passageways
  • A combination of ruins and beautifully restored mansions, plus an abundance of small cafes where many locals while away their days

Gialos

As the threat of pirates declined in the Mediterranean, the citizens of Symi started building homes closer to the water. This area around the harbour is referred to as Gialos. In addition to many beautiful houses and shops, the harbour front is home to:

  • Timiou Prodromou Monastery (1838)
  • The old customs house (now operating as a duty-free shop)
  • Fish market
  • Kalderimi, a stone bridge joining the two sides of the harbour, sometimes referred to as Lovers' Bridge
  • Statue of Michalaki, the little fisherman, by Symiat sculptur K. Valsamis
  • The municipal clock tower (1880) – paid for by a prosperous sponge-fishing family
  • The police station
  • A nautical museum in the old boat yard at Harani
  • An array of boutiques, cafes, tavernas, and bars

The Rest of the Island

Apart from Chorio and Gialos on the northern end of the island, most of Symi is uninhabited. There are a couple of other small settlements (Nimporio, Pedi, Marathounta, and Panormitis) catering to tourists who want to escape life for a while, but otherwise the island is a natural wilderness – a perfect destination for hikers, artists, and photographers.

There are several lovely beaches around the island – many of which are only accessible by boat. There are no amusement parks or water slides, just the basics provided by Mother Nature, including some of the clearest water imaginable! But for anyone seeking peace and quiet, that's what makes the island such a wonderful vacation destination.

The climate and soil of Symi are suitable for viticulture (growing grapes), and the island has a reputation for producing a tasty white wine from its vineyards. The practice goes far back in time and over 100 wine presses have been found around the island.

As with other Greek communities, the Greek Orthodox Church has a large presence on Symi. The Monastery of Archangel Michael of Panormitis is located on the southern tip of the island, and there are dozens of churches and chapels scattered about the island. (There are 13 major churches in Chora alone!)

Modern Day Symi

Nowadays, Symi's main industry is tourism. Each year, from Orthodox Easter until Panormitis Day in early November, thousands of people visit Symi to enjoy the peace and quiet of the colourful community, and soak up the authentic Greek atmosphere. Far from boring - the island hosts several major cultural, music, and religious festivals each year, the bars and restaurants stay open into the wee hours, and there's always gossip about which movie star or royal's yacht has just arrived in the harbour - the overall atmosphere on Symi is laid-back and relaxed.

The island has everything a visitor could need – including banks and ATMs, a pharmacy, markets, souvenir shops, bars and tavernas, a medical clinic, and even a dental clinic. Just be aware that prices are generally higher than you might pay on the mainland because almost all goods are shipped to the island from other points in Greece. (Even drinking water is shipped in to meet peak demand during the summer!)

As there is no airport on the island, Symi is only accessible by boat. Many visitors fly into Rhodes and then take the short boat trip over, while others arrive by ferry from mainland Greece or Turkey. It is also a popular yachting destination, so it is quite common to see private yachts of all shapes and sizes in the harbour area. The harbour town is also a port of call for massive cruise liners who manage to navigate the relatively small harbour with amazing skill.

Whether you visit on a quick day-trip from Rhodes, or stay longer to unwind from the pressures of every day life, if you're seeking a peaceful Greek escape, then Symi may be the destination of your dreams!

Click on any image to enlarge.

Greek flag painted onto to rock walls of St. George Bay, Symi
Small cross erected on the cliff at the mouth to Saint George Bay, Symi
Traditional Greek buildings in cream and ochre hues on a hillside
Traditional Greek houses, mostly painted in shades of yellow and gold, built into the hills around Yialos
Afternoon sun highlights the front of a Greek Orthodox church on Symi island
Huge passenger ferry on the sea
Lights from the buildings around Symi town harbour reflect in the water after sunset
Motor boats line a harbour surrounded by brightly painted Greek-style buildings
Yellow and white church in the Horio area against a brilliant blue Greek sky
Symi's Lemonitisa Church on a bright sunny day in Greece
Elaborately carved, yet very weathered wooden doorway to a Greek house
Litter behind a gate to building ruins
Close up of Lemonitisa Greek Orthodox Church surrounded by pine trees
Overlooking neo-classical Greek houses from Horio above the harbour at Symi
The Greek island of Symi's harbour and surrounding buildings
The houses of Symi Greece and Nimborios Bay beyond as seen from Horio
Orange tabby cat sleeping on the seat of a red motorcycle
Bird's eye view of the buildings and clock tower around Symi harbour
Marble inlay on the side of a building of the mythological Greek god, Hermes
Yellow and white church with an terra cotta domed roof
Yellow and white church with terracotta domed roof built into a cliff side on the Greek island of Symi
Shops facing the harbour in the Yialos section of Symi island
Panorama of buildings facing the harbour on the Nos peninsula at Symi
The colourful houses of Symi built into the hills overlooking the harbour
Sunshine highlighting the bright colours of the traditional Greek houses painted pastel hues of cream and ochre built on the hillside
Dramatic sunset at Symi, Greece
Panorama of a brilliant sunset at Symi harbour as the ferry approaches in the distance
The Symi harbour on a lazy summer day
Small fishing boats and motor yachts anchored at the pretty Symi harbour
Greek flag flying in front of a backdrop of neo-classic Greek houses
Greek flag flying in a harbour surrounded by Greek buildings
A prickly pear cactus laden with fruit
Grey stone church with red roof on the top of a hill
Huge ship's anchor and chain on display in the harbour at Symi, Greece
Statue of a heroic sponge diver who located and re-tied a lost anchor to a warship in World War 1
Small fishing boats anchored in the Symi harbour in front of a Greek flag
Pleasure boats anchored in front of Greek buildings at the Symi harbour
The municipal clock tower at Symi, Greece
Turkish gulet anchored in front of the clock tower at Symi, Greece
Approaching the Greek island of Symi from the sea
View of the clock tower and harbour when approaching Symi island from the sea
Neoa-classic Greek buildings and homes as seen when approaching Symi by boat
Yellow and white Greek Orthodox church with red clay domed roof on the top of a hill
Ochre-coloured Greek Orthodox church surrounded by traditional houses on a peninsula at Symi, Greece
Panorama of Greek buildings and clock tower when approaching Symi harbour
Municipal clock tower and police station at the harbour on the Greek island of Symi
Neo-classic Greek building surround the harbour on Symi Island in Greece
Neo-classic Greek building surround the harbour on the Greek island of Symi
The Symi clock tower is front and centre, surrounded by colourful Greek buildings which line the harbour
Panorama of the harbour at Symi with the clock tower at the centre point of focus
A Turkish gulet is dwarfed by the massive passenger ferry anchored in front of the Symi clock tower
Pink bougainvillea line the stairway approaching Simi's Evagelismos (Church of the Annunciation)
Pink bougainvillea provide a an eye-catching foreground to the yellow and white Greek Church of the Annunciation at Symi
View of a beautiful blue Aegean Sea with pink flowers in the foreground
Church crosses silhouette against the afternoon sky
Ochre and white church with terracotta domed roofs surrounded by a tall white wall
Yellow and white church with ornate votsaloto mosaics in the courtyard
Gold and white church with ornate votsaloto mosaics in the courtyard
Symi's harbour-side bars and restaurants
Statue of a young boy fisherman, Michalaki (Little Michael), at Simi harbour
The massive ferry serving Symi each week carries passengers, cars, and cargo anchored in front of the clock tower
Turkish gulet anchored in front of the clock tower at Symi
Colourful Greek Orthodox church surrounded by neo-classic Greek buildings facing the harbour at Symi
Gulet anchored in front of the municipal clock tower at Symi
Passenger ferry dwarfs the other boats in Greek harbour
Looking though a bougainvillea bush to a gulet anchored in the harbour
Gulet anchored in front of the Symi clock tower while dozens of tourists wander along the nearby road
Greek houses in various pastel shades of yellow and cream around the harbour on Symi island
Crowded Symi harbour - hosting a ferry, a small cruise liner, and several recreational boats at the same time
A cruise ship dwarfs the buildings around the harbour at Symi
A huge passenger ferry on the sea

Useful Maps of Symi

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