Symi Island from Rhodes with transfers from Ialysos and Ixia

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Rhodes, Greece

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Experience Symi, one of the most striking islands in the Aegean, on an all-day cruise. Enjoy sightseeing at the St. Michael Panormitis monastery and exploring Symi village. This convenient, budget-friendly outing includes hotel pickup and drop off in Ialyssos and Ixia and offers plenty of free time for relaxing and swimming or shopping and dining.

Set sail on an affordable, full-day cruise to beautiful Symi Island
Enjoy free time for exploring, relaxing, swimming or shopping
Visit the historic St. Michael Panormitis monastery
Save time with convenient hotel pickup and drop off in Ialyssos and Ixia

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only - Ialyssos, Ixia, and Rhodes City)
Boarding cards for the day trip
Map & Information about Symi Island
Brief 1-hour visit to Panormitis Monastery
3.5 hours free time in Symi village

Food and drinks
Tour guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off from other resorts than Ialyssos, Ixia

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

After booking, you will be contacted by email and provided with the precise pickup time & place. If you are not sure which pickup point is best for you, write your hotel name in the comments so we can suggest the nearest pickup point.

Meeting point

Evangelismos Church
Ekklisia Evaggelismos, Pl. Eleftherias 11, Rodos 851 00, Greece
A Manos Going staff member will wait for you at the Mandraki Port (Elefterias Avenue) in front of the FOUNTAIN outside the Church of the Annunciation. You can arrive at 8:30 AM. You will have to present your booking confirmation to receive your boarding cards and a map with information.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

04/21/2026 - 10/31/2026
Monday - Sunday : 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Itinerary

Mandraki Marina & Port (Pass By)

Holy Monastery of Taxiarch Michael of Panormitos

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Agios Georgios Dysalona Beach (Pass By)

Takis leather fashion

3 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Children must be accompanied by an adult
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 350 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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Gordon_M

Very well organised day out to Symi. Collected from our hotel on time, correspondence beforehand was excellent, driver was friendly and polite. Arrived at Rhodes and was met by a guide who explained where to meet our boat and times, again friendly and efficient. Boat was busy but trip was good, were able to sit on deck in the sun and enjoy the views. Firstly stopped at the monastery in Panormitis which was really lovely, had plenty time to wander round and enjoy the place before heading to the town of Symi on the boat. Docked in Symi and the place is breathtaking, wandered around and saw the majority of highlights. The small shops are lovely and it was really nice to visit some of them, we had pizza in a small place just off the Main Street and it was really good. After a few hours it was time to head back to the boat and make our return to Rhodes. It was easy to find your way around Symi, we never felt lost, but we never travelled out of the town itself as it was a particularly hot day. But to be honest, we didn’t feel we needed to as we were having such a nice time in the town. Return boat trip was equally as good and enjoyable, and our transport was waiting for us exactly where he said he would be, driver was again very welcoming and escorted us back to our hotel. Overall, it was a very enjoyable day, and we would do it all again in a flash. What a lovely experience, we would really recommend it.

Reviews

4.6

based on 185 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great Transport, some awkward timing.

Kurtis_S, Sep 2025

Can’t fault the pick up and drop off from Ialysos. The minibus was comfortable and efficient. Symi was very very pretty; just be prepared that first and foremost it is a tourist destination. Everything you’re buying at Symi has a premium. 3 1/2 hours is also a funny length of time, realistically it’s 3 hours as if you’re getting on the ferry just before departing you’re not going to get a seat. There were things like the museum but it was up a steep hill and, after eating lunch, we didn’t feel like we had enough time. That meant we just sat with an ice cream and enjoyed the view which was nice, but it did drag a little. The swimming stop on Saturdays is also at a very weird spot and 20 minutes isn’t long enough. If you want to go to Symi, this is a great choice. Just be aware that once you’re there, it can be a little awkward!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the comfort of the transfer and found Symi as beautiful as we do. We appreciate your honest feedback about timing and the swimming stop—it helps us improve and also gives future guests a realistic idea of what to expect. Symi is indeed a popular tourist destination, and while the charm of its views, colors, and atmosphere are part of the experience, we understand it can feel a little limited at times depending on how you choose to spend your stay. We’re glad you still found a moment to relax with ice cream and take in the scenery—it really is a special view. Thank you again for choosing us, and we hope we can welcome you on another excursion soon!

Symi Island

Alan_R, Aug 2025

Never 1 to forget from getting on the boat lovely breeze as soon as we set sail which made which made it bearable was very warm Symi Island is stunning no other words.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that your trip to Symi Island was such a memorable experience. There's truly nothing like that refreshing sea breeze and the stunning beauty of Symi — we're so glad you enjoyed it all from the moment you stepped on board. We hope to welcome you again for more unforgettable moments in the future!

Communication was poor....

Kat_P, Aug 2025

Communication was poor. You are paying for the bus transit to the harbor and the boat. Other groups (with guides) are on the boat. We were not told anything about departure times from the monastery or Symi. All other passengers who didn’t use this tour were, so I’m thankful for them. From reading other reviews it didn’t seem like that was the case so it may have been an off day when I went. Symi is beautiful but hot and there is little shade. Would recommend bringing a bathing suit to cool off at the beach. I actually think the day could have been cut a little shorter since there wasn’t a swim stop (which was noted since I went on a weekday). Symi is beautiful, definitely recommend going! Having the opportunity to do this self guided was very appreciated as a solo traveler but there were definitely missing organizational points throughout the day that would have been appreciated.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. While we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the beauty of Symi and appreciated the flexibility of a self-guided experience, we would like to clarify several important points regarding the organization and communication of the tour. From the moment a reservation is made, we are in contact with our guests, providing all necessary details. Upon arrival at the port, every guest is personally received and checked in by our team before boarding. As clearly stated in our tour description and acknowledged in your review, this is a self-guided tour. This gives travelers—especially solo travelers—the freedom to explore at their own pace. The schedule, including the absence of a swim stop on weekdays, is fixed and cannot be altered due to factors such as port authority permits, busy anchoring slots, and logistical coordination at each stop—especially during the high season on an island as popular as Symi. To ensure clarity, departure times are announced both by the ship's crew and displayed on a large sign at the exit at each stop (Panormitis Monastery and Symi Town). This system is in place precisely to help all guests, including solo travelers, stay well-informed throughout the day. We’re sorry if you felt there were missing organizational elements, but rest assured that every effort is made to maintain clear communication and structure. If any detail was unclear at the time, we would have gladly assisted—guests are always welcome to speak with our team or the ship crew during the day. We appreciate your feedback and are happy you were still able to enjoy the charm of Symi.

Excellent Symi trip

Gordon_M, Jul 2025

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. We're really glad to hear that everything ran smoothly for you from start to finish — from the hotel pickup to the return journey. It’s great to know you felt well taken care of by both our team on land and on the boat, and that you had plenty of time to enjoy both Panormitis and the charm of Symi town. It sounds like you made the most of your time there — the pizza spot off the main street sounds like a great find! We're especially happy to hear that even on a hot day, the experience felt relaxed and enjoyable. Thanks again for your kind words. We'd be delighted to welcome you back anytime!

Symi

Rob_E, Jun 2025

We had a fantastic day, the boat got away all on time and took us to the first stop of the day the “monastery” the setting was beautiful. From there we continued our journey onto Symi where the day just got better, its a great trip and we were very impressed with the day we had.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you had such a fantastic day exploring the stunning monastery and charming Symi. It’s great to hear our punctuality and itinerary made your experience memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you aboard again soon for another exceptional adventure!

A lovely place to visit...

Sophie_T, Apr 2025

A lovely place to visit and explore the area around the harbour with lots of small shops and places to eat. The nearest beach to the harbour was a bit disappointing though as it was mainly bits of concrete and broken pots and tiles. The Monastery was lovely to visit on the way and the boat ride was smooth with great views of Turkey as we passed.

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're so glad you enjoyed exploring the area around the harbor—there's always something charming about those little shops and cozy places to eat. We’re sorry to hear the nearby beach didn’t meet your expectations; we truly appreciate your feedback and will keep that in mind. It’s wonderful to hear that the Monastery and the boat ride, with its stunning views of Turkey, were highlights of your trip. Thank you again for your review, and we hope to see you on another adventure soon!

Beautiful quaint little village

Keith_H, Oct 2024

The boat trip was lovely and it took around 90 minutes to get there from Rhodes. The stopping at the monastery was a welcomed stop and beautiful part of the island. Was also nice to be able to get a free/donation only candle to be able to light for my late mother. Symi itself is quite small and a fit paced walker can cover the island in about 1-2 hours but there’s plenty of time there to cover all the sites you’d want to see. Beach was the only letdown as it’s tiny with mainly stones and no sand there. Overall a pleasant trip and worth the money to visit.

Full day experience to beautiful Symi

Ian_D, Sep 2024

Symi was a beautiful island, with colourful houses and an abundance of restaurants. The cruise company was efficient and the crossing from Rhodes was smooth luckily. However if a cruise ship is visiting Rhodes it will be busy and suggest booking a few days before. The first stop at the Monastery was about an hour. Worth the short visit to look round and visit the local bakery. Couple of eateries as you get off the boat too. Chose this particular tour as we didn’t want to swim at St George’s bay. Viator used Manos and the coach turned up on time and at the stop directly outside our hotel (Shereton) Souvenirs appeared a little more expensive than on Rhodes itself. Good value for money

Beautiful island!

Ernest_T, Sep 2024

Excellent trip! Nice boat ride. Monastery visit was just OK. I don't swim but those who did had fun. Symi was beautiful and I love that I could visit independently rather than with a guide. Free to explore with time for lunch.

Very long day....

Mark_V, Aug 2024

It felt a very long day at 9 hours. Symi Island was beautiful to look at but there wasn't much more than you saw on the approach. The person taking the boarding passes insulted us with a fat joke before we got on but just ignored it. We took the boat to the monastery first for a one hour stop which was done in far less. We were back on the boat to Symi. We used the little train like the ones at the seaside to take us 20 minutes around the coast waited 5 minutes and came back. There wasn't anything to see. There was the remains of a castle/Fort on the hill but wasn't sure if you could visit, the leaflet we were given said it had been destroyed in 1944 and there seemed to be a gate across. There weren't any people walking up the hill which was quite a track to find out. The harbour had very little shade except for the restaurants and gift shops that covered the front of the harbour. We went to one overly priced restaurant and looked through the menu. It was several pages of obviously what they served some history then the very last pages was service charges that weren't included in the price which was 13% on food and 24% on alcohol. Everyone is different and may really enjoy the experience, we were looking for a distraction from the poolside but it wasn't worth a 9 hour round trip. There are other trips like Lindos that are so more engaging than this one.

Fabulous tour to Symi

Helen_M, Jun 2024

Fabulous tour to Symi. Lovely boat and great journey across, clean toilets and nice cafe onboard. Plenty of time to explore Symi before heading back. Would highly recommend.

Good trip but not in very hot weather

Rodger_C, Jun 2024

Meeting point was clear and Manos staff were on hand to hand out ferry tickets and maps for Symi. The ferry was crowded but there were seats for everyone. The monastery visit was worthwhile. Unfortunately our time at Symi town was tainted by the heatwave with temperatures close to 40 degrees. No restaurants with a/c so even sitting in the shade we were sweating. Like many others we retired early back to the ferry to recover in the air-conditioned section.

Excellent trip 💕

karen_S, May 2024

Fabulous trip from start to finish, prompt pick up at hotel, lovely boat, choppy on the way back but the lady behind the cafe was great, checking that everyone was ok, Monastery visit was lovely and Symi is definitely a must, definitely recommend 💕

Great Island to visit

Christopher_L, Oct 2023

Great day, lots of places to explore. Lots of nice shops. Beautiful Monastery! Nice little beach to do some snorkeling.

Do not go in bar with...

Phil_r, Oct 2023

Do not go in bar with handmade roses on walls opposite where ferry docks, they don't have a drinks menu nd charge you €12 for one aperol spritz

Amazing Symi

FruzsinaRkczi, Oct 2023

The transfer is done by comfortable buses. The boat is comfortable and well-equipped, clean. The staff is informative, precise organization. I got exactly what I expected. Symi was amazing, very good tour.

Fantastic day out

Ruth_W, Oct 2023

Very well organised transport, great communication and Symi itself is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend.

Beautiful island

RUDY_M, Oct 2023

Well organised and plenty of time to see the island. Very good day out. Beautiful coloured buildings and fresh sea food restaurants on symi.

Overall a good trip, enjoyed the high speed boat, really comfortable seats.

Jayne_S, Sep 2023

Very good and enjoyable trip. Panoramas Monastery was a beautiful building, obviously if you are of Greek Orthodox Faith you would appreciate it more. Symi Island is lovely with it’s colourful houses and buildings. Maybe a half hour too long if you weren’t going to have lunch.

Great!

Natalie_K, Aug 2023

The Travel operator we’re fab, great communication from pick up direct to another tour guide who provided boarding passes and then directed us to Our boat. When on the boat, there were frequent information announcements and the boat operators held signs with timings to advise our departure time at each stop.

Great day on the water

Petra_H, Aug 2023

Very timely and organized. I wouldn’t recommend to go on a super hot day as there is virtually no shade on the actual island but otherwise a great tour. The best spot for photos is on the top deck towards the front.

Symi, must see island

Jennifer_S, Aug 2023

We really enjoyed our day trip to Symi. Symi is a must see if you are visiting Rhodes. This tour was good. There was two additional stops at the monastery of archangel Michael on the other side of the island and a second stop for a swim in the sea. We were given a leaflet about Symi but there was no tour guide which we we’re aware of before booking.

A great day out

Judith_H, Jul 2023

Excellent experience from start to finish. Coach pick up from hotel to Marina. Excellent choice of drinks and snacks on board boat at very reasonable prices. Swim stop at St Georges Bay is beautiful, Crystal clear turquoise waters. Symi Island is spectacularly beautiful with so many choices of restaurants to eat in.

Perfect day trip

Christine_H, Jul 2023

The bus pick up was punctual and very clean and nice. Very professional service and the boat was real clean and kept us all informed on times. Great boat ride. It was wonderful. Love the stop at the museum beautiful church. Perfect day trip. Thanks for the memories

Good schedule but self...

ashraf_m, Jun 2023

Good schedule but self guidance within the town. Go up the hill by bus but walk down the stairs with beautiful views

Amazingly beautiful...

Jean_W, Jun 2023

Amazingly beautiful island. Recommend visiting the monastery within your trip. Truly peaceful place for contemplation. Symi town itself is very picturesque and even though it was busy there's numerous taverns where you'll always find a table for lunch. The boat trip there andback proved somewhat bracing! Extremely windy even on a calm day and would definitely recommend a jacket . Overall a wonderful day that shouldn't be missed.

Far too long a time in Symi Island in scorching heat

Carol_M, Jun 2023

Pick up/drop off from hotels by Mannis tours was excellent, very friendly driver and bang on time. Too long spent on boat (1.50 hrs each way). Trip to Monastry was excellent, however 4 hours in Symi Island was far too long. We were dropped off at the hottest part of the day.