Boat Trip to Symi Island with Swimming Stop at St George Bay
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rhodes, Greece
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Boat trip
- Restroom on board
- Shower
- LunchLunch is not included. You will have free time in Symi island, where you can have lunch.
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
Symi
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Saint George Bay
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Our trip to Symi Island and St. George Bay was absolutely amazing! The crystal-clear waters were breathtaking, and swimming there felt like a dream. Symi itself is stunning – it honestly feels like stepping into a movie set, with colorful houses and such a unique atmosphere. The food was delicious, and the staff were very professional, making sure everything went smoothly from start to finish. We also had transport provided, which was very convenient and made the whole experience stress-free.
The only downside (and kind of a funny one) was the boat itself – a bit rusty, crowded, and not the safest-looking. But when you’re young, you just want to enjoy the adventure, and it definitely added to the experience! Still, it would be nice if the boat got a little update for comfort and safety.
Overall, it was a long trip but totally worth it. I’d highly recommend it for anyone visiting Rhodes and wanting a special day out!
Reviews
4.6
based on 2,080 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Both St George Bay & Symi Island were stunning places to visit. Not the fastest vessel to get to Symi Island, but was fine for our day out.
Beautiful island with plenty shops and restaurants
The boat trip does take a while but there is a swim stop on the way
Easy to pick up tickets in the morning, boat left on time - St George’s bay was great, staff were friendly and helpful. There are floaty/ noodles to swim with as well. Boat took longer than expected - it is probably just under 2 hours there and the same back. There is a snack bar on the boat where you can buy drinks/ crisps etc. - card machine was not working the day of our trip, so potentially bring cash. Symi was amazing, very well worth the visit if you are in Rhodes! Overall a great service with helpful staff - definitely eat at O Lyris in Symi (5 min walk from drop off point) and skip the tourist restaurants near the harbour. Great day out!
we booked this with you in good faith. The whole trip turned out to be an 13 hour long! Due mainly to the fact that the tour operators put us on a rust bucket of a ship which took 2.5 hours each way!
We weren't told at the time of. booking this was the cheap option and if we had paid more we could have traveled in a more modern boat which took less then half the time.
We were supposed to get 3 hours in Symi but but in the ens we were also 10 minutes short on that.
We wouldn't travel again via this method.
Great day trip.
St George bay was beautiful and simi island was amazing! Recommend this outing if you want to see a small section of Greece away from the most popular destinations.
A lovely trip to Symi Island, so picturesque. The swimming stop was much needed in the heat. Bar on board was good.
There was zero communication from the crew. NO life preservers were given out to the people who said they could not swim. Only noodles were provided. I was so scared an accident drowning was going to happen.
Myself and the other swimmers were keeping a close eye on anyone in the water who mentioned they could not swim. The crew were not watching at all.
Other than the safety issues and the crew not providing any communication, the actual excursion was wonderful.
Easy to book through the Viator website. Easy to find the ticket pick up and staff were lovely. Easy to find the boat. Boat trip to symi island was longer than we expected and it advertises a 1 hour stop at st georges bay but we only had 25 minutes. Also advertises a 3 hour stop at symi island but we only had 2 hours and 20 mins. Long boat ride back to Rhodes. Even tho the stops are shorter than advertised, they’re still long enough.
Lovely day, boat captain and everyone were really helpful. Left on time. Beautiful experience. Would do it again.
The whole experience was fantastic, no stress at pick up and an amazing day all round! The island is beautiful and definitely worth the trip Would highly recommend
Friendly and clear communications. Easy check in, but be aware, if you want a seat on one of the decks, you need to be there super early, we got there 30 mins before departure and were out of luck!
The journey to St George’s bay was much longer than I expected it to be and the we were really disappointed by how short the swimming was given how beautiful and clear the water is. You weren’t allow to swim to the beach and the little bit of water designated for passengers to swim in meant it was pretty crowded.
30 mins after leaving the swim point we got to Symi, which is beautiful.
We had lunch and a wander around and then it was time to head back to the boat. We left Symi at 2.30pm and arrived back in Rhodes at 5 pm, we had no idea it was going to take that long on what’s a pretty boring boat journey.
We spent more time on the boat than anything else and that wasn’t what I was expecting.
Crew were friendly enough but overall I’m disappointed.
St.George Bay & Symi Island are beautiful. The water is crystal clear. We had 3 hours of free time at Symi Island, which was a little rush. We didn’t have enough time to explore but was still a nice trip.
We participated on a boat trip to Symi island, with a swim stop to St. George's Bay which was amazing. After the swim it was around 15 minutes to arrive, so I advice not to queue for the WC to change, just get dry and enjoy the sea breeze. The crew was very helpful, the boat was perfect for this short trip, and it also had a bar. We were given 3 hours free time, it is absolutely enough for Symi. Make sure to arrive early to the boat so you can have the best sitting places. In Symi, there are only two mini beaches if you want to swim, without any wc and changing cabin.
It was good and safe. Seats were a bit uncomfortable and some points noise levels were rly high due to groups which staffs could control a bit better. Sufficient amount of time was given for the swimming at bay and at symi island. Great activity to do!
I would just like to say that we came on to the boat and walked right off because it was in complete unacceptable condition. The idea of spending that many hours on something that looked so rusty and broken and like the bottom section of a ship should never be used to transport tourists around. It is extremely misleading that they dont show pictures of the boat. I would recommend nobody book this tour. It is unfortunate that all the options for this day trip seem overcrowded no matter what option you go with. We had 10 tickets booked for our family and unfortunately couldn't get a refund because it was obviously too late. Which is fine. We still preferred not to go on such a boat.
Simi Island and St George's Bay are absolutely beautiful, and the scenery alone makes for an unforgettable day. The only female member of the crew was lovely, friendly, and welcoming, which we really appreciated.
Unfortunately, there were several serious safety concerns that overshadowed the trip.
First, please be aware that St George's Bay has extremely strong currents. We were not warned about this beforehand, despite the significant risk it poses.
We booked through Viator with Half Price Tours on the M/V Zeus D. Once onboard, we were never informed that purchases were cash only, nor were we given any safety briefing, including where the life jackets were located or what to do in an emergency. The boat itself was also very cramped, with limited space for passengers.
The most concerning part of the trip occurred at St George's Bay. A gentleman got into serious difficulty in the water and came dangerously close to drowning due to the strong current. Despite the obvious emergency, none of the crew appeared to notice or respond until I shouted for help.
Even then, it took several minutes for a crew member to retrieve a life buoy—valuable time in a life-threatening situation. When the buoy was finally thrown to us, it landed nowhere near where we were and, incredibly, it was not attached to a rope or secured to the boat. As we tried to help the man back, the loose rope became tangled around our necks and legs, creating another dangerous situation.
My partner, myself, and two other passengers were left to rescue the man with virtually no assistance from the crew. While we were struggling against the current to bring him back to the boat, other passengers were still being allowed to jump into the water in the exact area we were trying to reach.
When we finally got back alongside the boat, the crew's priority seemed to be retrieving the life buoy rather than helping the man onboard or checking on his condition. They did not ask if he was okay, offer assistance, or acknowledge what had just happened. When we requested some water for him, they sent a young child to fetch it instead of assisting themselves.
The overall attitude of several crew members was disappointing. Instructions were delivered abruptly (such as "Move feet"), with little courtesy or concern for passengers. At another point during the trip, a young girl became seasick onboard. The crew simply walked around the sick without checking if she was okay or attempting to clean it up.
A few things future passengers should know:
* You cannot swim at Simi Island itself.
* St George's Bay requires you to either jump from the boat or climb back onboard using a ladder.
* Simi Island involves a lot of walking and can be very busy, so I would not recommend this excursion for anyone with mobility issues or those who are not comfortable climbing or jumping into the sea.
Simi Island and St George's Bay are genuinely stunning destinations.
Finally, if the gentleman who was in distress happens to read this, I sincerely hope you are doing well. I am so sorry that you were left in such a frightening situation and that the crew showed so little urgency, care, or support. No one should have to experience that.
Thank you to everyone who stepped in to help. The passengers who assisted in getting him safely back to the boat acted quickly and selflessly, and without their efforts, the outcome could have been very different.
I cannot overlook the way this emergency
We had a fantastic day out! The boat trip was smooth and well organized, with plenty of time to explore the island at our own pace. We also stopped for a swim in a stunning bay with crystal-clear blue water, which was a real highlight. Highly recommended for a relaxing and enjoyable day!
Private pick-up from your accommodation well organized and on time!
They take you to their office to collect the tickets and then you're all set for the tour!
On the boat there is also a toilet, and a shower (which is crucial after swimming in St George's Bay).
The staff is amazing and well organized!
To reach Symi it is about 1h30/2h by boat, but it is well worth it! Symi is amazing, don't miss the Kali Strata stairs!
Great trip, definitely worth doing.
Would have preferred the swim on the way home.
Really nice bus picked us up from hotel, bar on the boat, and several hours to wonder round symi.
I think if I was to re-book this trip I'd probably go with a fast boat as the journey was very long and there also wasn't really enough room for everyone. We were picked up by the transfer service promptly, everyone was really friendly and we got to the ferry 30 mins before it was due to leave and only just managed to get a seat on the top deck. I would also note the shop on the ferry only takes cash so make sure you have some if you're wanting to purchase anything. Symi itself was incredible - I think 3 hours there was a good amount of time.
Very nice trip swimming stop at St George bay was fantastic , boat crew is so friendly no complaints
The boat trip to Symi Island was amazing. From the beautiful turquoise sea to the colourful buildings on the island. Everything about it was picturesque and left me in awe. It felt like walking through a postcard! If ever in Rhodes, I highly recommend booking the boat trip to Symi Island.
This was a nice trip , however the boat felt very crowded on the way back we struggled to find a seat . symi was very pretty and we enjoyed the swim at st George's bay. I think with hindsight I would have booked one of the faster boats
Amazing trip, start to finish, from the tour shop to the Crew and the women serving at the bar outstanding service and picturesque destination. Highly recommend.
Not enough places to sit had to sit on floor (literally) overbooked and packed people fighting for a seat other than that everything ok
I was so impressed. They gave me the pick up time the night before. Arrived at my hotel on time. So informative and friendly. The boat was great with the swimming spot and there was plenty of time to explore Symi. Thank you!
The boat took longer than expected but was calm crossing & relaxing.
It did get quite cool out at sea so wished I brought more layers.
Snacks available to purchase onboard.
Board early for better seats - downstairs deck chairs faced backwards which I would’ve have liked.
Great value trip
We booked this a few months in advance of our trip to Rhodes, it had good reviews and traveller photos and was a decent price in comparison to similar tours, the stop at st George's bay really sold us, although like many it would have been nice if it was after Symi but that being said its later and cooler in the day particularly for Mid May when our trip was. It is very cold at sea everyone on board was wrapped in their towels or hooded jumpers etc. Its also very windy/chilly and the sea can be very choppy at times! We felt the ride was long personally but the staff were lovely and had a snacks and drink bar on board. The stop at St George's Bay was stunning but because it was so cold at sea we didnt want to go in to avoid being wet and cold on our final journey to Symi which is a shame but stunning stop none the less (its not cold when the boat is stationary at st georges bay). Symi is another 15mins or so from St George's bay so not too bad. Symi itself is abs beautiful, so picturesque and there is beach areas you can also swim or just jump in from the marina, we just explored both sides got some refreshments and lunch locals were lovely too. Its busy but didnt feel like it impacted negatively, 3 hours was enough for us to explore both sides and stop for a rest. It is a long day we were shattered afterwards. Its a worth while trip albeit quite a long trip.
We unfortunately picked the most overcast windy day to go so the boat trip going over was extremely cold coming back wasn’t as bad so definitely do pack some extra layers for travel. Staff were all friendly and makes life so much easier that hotel pickup and drop off is also offered.
We found out a day before, at 5.30pm that the trip would not include St. George Bay due to bad weather. Did not have any other choice but accepting to go only to Symi since it was the only day we had available. On our trip day it rained only 5 minutes, on our departure from Rhodos. Anyway, we missed the St. George Bay. Ferry trip was very, very bumpy. Motion sickness pills are a must.
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