Things to Do in Symi: Harbour Walks, Hilltop Views and Coastal Excursions

Symi makes an immediate impression as the ferry approaches Gialos. Colourful neoclassical houses climb the steep hillsides around the harbour, while fishing boats, waterfront cafés and the clock tower give the arrival a distinctive setting.

However, the best things to do in Symi extend beyond the familiar harbour photograph. Stone stairways lead towards the older settlement of Chorio, the monastery at Panormitis occupies a separate bay in the south, and boat excursions reveal beaches beneath dramatic cliffs.

The island rewards time rather than a rushed sightseeing circuit. Staying overnight allows visitors to explore before and after the busiest day-trip hours, enjoy an evening meal and leave room for a coastal outing.

Symi at a Glance

Experience	Location	What to expect
Explore Gialos harbour	Main port	Neoclassical houses, waterfront walks and cafés
Climb the Kali Strata	Between Gialos and Chorio	A long stone stairway with changing views
Wander through Chorio	Upper settlement	Traditional lanes, squares and older houses
Visit the Archaeological Museum	Chorio	Archaeology and island domestic history
Explore the Kastro area	Above Chorio	Historic remains and elevated views
Visit Panormitis Monastery	Southern Symi	An important pilgrimage site beside a bay
Spend time at Pedi	East of the main settlement	A coastal village and relaxed waterside setting
Take a beach boat excursion	Departures vary	Access to bays without convenient road access
Visit Nimborio	Northwest of Gialos	A smaller coastal settlement
Try Symi’s local food	Harbour, villages and town lanes	Small fried shrimps, seafood and Greek dishes

1. Walk Around Gialos Harbour

Gialos, also written Yialos, is Symi’s main harbour and the natural starting point for a first visit.

The waterfront provides a close view of the neoclassical buildings that define the island’s appearance. Their tiled roofs, colourful façades and repeated window patterns reflect the prosperity associated with Symi’s maritime past.

Rather than stopping at the first viewpoint, walk around the harbour to appreciate how the scene changes. The clock tower, stone bridge and small fisherman statue provide recognisable landmarks along the way.

The Harani area adds another perspective, with connections to the island’s boatbuilding history.

Gialos is also worth revisiting at different times. Morning activity, ferry arrivals and quieter evening periods create different experiences within the same setting.

Practical tip: keep clear of working quays and boarding areas, particularly when ferries arrive.

2. Climb the Kali Strata

The Kali Strata is the broad stone stairway connecting Gialos with the upper settlement of Chorio.

It is one of Symi’s most rewarding walks, passing substantial houses and revealing glimpses of the harbour between buildings.

The route is commonly described as having around 500 steps. The important consideration is the sustained climb rather than the exact count.

Take it slowly, pausing to appreciate the architecture and changing outlook. An early start or late-afternoon ascent is more comfortable than climbing during the strongest summer heat.

Reaching Chorio provides an opportunity to stop for refreshments before exploring further.

Practical tip: carry water and wear shoes with a secure grip. Visitors who find stairs difficult can arrange road transport to the upper settlement instead.

3. Explore the Lanes and Squares of Chorio

Chorio, also called Horio or Ano Symi, offers a different atmosphere from the harbour below.

Its lanes connect small squares, churches and traditional houses, some restored and others showing the effects of time. The interest lies in the settlement as a whole rather than a single monument.

Allow time to explore without trying to turn every building into an attraction. Residential streets remain part of everyday island life.

The old pharmacy known as Spetsaria is one of the settlement’s historic landmarks, although visitors should not assume that its interior is open.

A walk through Chorio pairs naturally with the Archaeological Museum or an ascent towards the Kastro area.

Practical tip: do not enter abandoned buildings. Their appearance may be interesting, but their condition and ownership should be respected.

4. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Symi

The Archaeological Museum of Symi is located in Chorio and introduces visitors to the island’s history beyond its harbour architecture.

The museum occupies historic buildings arranged across different levels, including the Pharmakidis House and the Chatziagapitos Sala.

Its collections cover a broad span of island history, combining archaeological material with aspects of later domestic life.

The buildings themselves contribute to the visit. Courtyards, rooms and other architectural features help explain how substantial Symian homes were organised.

This is a worthwhile addition for visitors who enjoy connecting the townscape outside with the people and periods that shaped it.

Practical tip: confirm opening days before climbing up specifically for the museum, and ask about access requirements when booking or planning.

5. Walk Towards the Kastro Area

The Kastro area above Chorio provides another opportunity to appreciate Symi’s steep landscape and historic settlement pattern.

Remains of older fortifications occupy the elevated ground, with views across the town and surrounding sea.

The experience is primarily about the setting and surviving traces rather than entering a complete castle building.

Combine the visit with a wider upper-town walk, allowing time for the approach through narrow lanes and uneven sections.

The outlook helps explain why this position was valuable for defence and observation.

Practical tip: remain on established routes, avoid climbing unstable masonry and check locally for any access restrictions.

6. Visit the Monastery of Panormitis

The Monastery of the Archangel Michael at Panormitis stands beside a bay in southern Symi.

Its prominent bell tower and waterfront position make it one of the island’s principal sights. It is also an important pilgrimage destination, so a visit should recognise its religious role.

Inside, the church and icon of the Archangel Michael are central to the experience. Museum collections associated with the monastery may also be accessible, subject to current arrangements.

Panormitis is separate from Gialos and Chorio. Reaching it requires a planned road or boat journey rather than adding a short walk to a harbour visit.

Some organised excursions include the monastery, but itineraries differ.

Practical tip: dress modestly and check how long the visit allows. If arriving by excursion boat, confirm whether the return departure is from Panormitis or another stop.

7. Spend Time Beside the Water at Pedi

Pedi lies in a bay east of the main settlement and offers a useful change from Gialos’s busier harbour.

Its waterside surroundings suit an unhurried walk, refreshments or a meal. Visitors staying elsewhere can make it a modest outing rather than a full sightseeing day.

The bay also provides access to coastal activities and, seasonally, boat services. Check their actual destinations and return arrangements before making plans around them.

Pedi is worth considering for visitors who prefer to spend part of their holiday near the sea without the main port’s ferry activity.

Practical tip: check the current bus or taxi arrangements. The route from Chorio involves a change in elevation, which matters when planning a return walk in hot weather.

8. Take a Boat to Symi’s Coastal Bays

Boat excursions reveal a different side of Symi, away from the houses and stairways of the main settlement.

Agios Georgios Dysalonas is particularly striking, with a beach beneath a towering cliff. Nanou offers another attractive bay, with a pebbly shoreline and seasonal facilities.

These destinations do not have convenient road access, making a boat the practical choice for most visitors.

Operators offer different experiences. A beach transfer may leave passengers ashore for several hours, while a sightseeing cruise may make shorter swimming stops.

Choose according to the time available, comfort aboard and intended activities rather than only the number of bays advertised.

Practical tip: confirm whether passengers land on a beach or swim from the boat, what supplies are included and how the return journey works. Routes remain dependent on sea conditions.

9. Visit the Smaller Coastal Settlement of Nimborio

Nimborio, also written Nimporio or Emborios, provides a smaller coastal setting northwest of Gialos.

It suits visitors who want an outing centred on the shoreline rather than another climb through town.

The attraction is the combination of houses, sea views and a slower pace. Depending on the season, a meal or refreshments can extend the visit.

Road access makes it possible to organise a relatively straightforward journey, but walking suitability should be assessed against heat and the return distance.

Nimborio works best as somewhere to spend time rather than simply tick off during a drive.

Practical tip: check seasonal services and arrange transport before setting out if a long return walk would be uncomfortable.

10. Try Symi’s Small Fried Shrimps

Food provides another introduction to the island’s identity.

The best-known speciality is Symi shrimp: small shrimps commonly served fried and eaten whole when suitably prepared.

They make a useful dish to share alongside salads and other plates. Availability varies, so ask what the restaurant is serving rather than assuming every menu guarantees a local catch.

Seafood is an obvious attraction around the harbour, but town and village tavernas provide opportunities to explore a wider selection of Greek cooking.

Choose meals according to the kitchen’s current offering, and leave time to eat without rushing towards a ferry.

Practical tip: confirm prices before ordering whole fish or other seafood sold by weight.

How to Get to Symi

Symi has no airport. Visitors arrive by sea, often travelling through Rhodes.

From Rhodes

Rhodes is a convenient gateway, with ferry and excursion services operating according to the season.

Scheduled ferries and sightseeing boats serve different purposes. Compare arrival points, time ashore and return arrangements before choosing.

Travellers flying into Rhodes should allow a comfortable connection to the port. An overnight stay may be preferable when flight and ferry times do not align.

From Other Islands

Connections with other Dodecanese islands may be available, but they should be checked for the intended dates.

Do not assume that a route operates daily or that the same timetable applies throughout the year.

Getting Around Symi

Gialos and Chorio reward exploring on foot, but steps and steep gradients are central to the experience.

Local buses and taxis provide alternatives for journeys involving Chorio, Pedi and Panormitis, subject to current services.

Boat transfers are useful for beaches without practical road access.

A hire vehicle can help with selected outings, but it does not remove the need to walk within the older settlement. Check accommodation access before arriving with luggage.

Is a Day Trip Enough?

A day trip provides time for Gialos and, for visitors comfortable with the climb, part of Chorio.

Trying to include the harbour, upper town, Panormitis and a separate beach excursion can make the visit rushed. Some organised tours combine selected stops, but that is different from having time to explore independently.

Three or four nights allow a more relaxed introduction, including town walks, a monastery visit and a coastal outing.

Staying overnight also reveals the harbour after many excursion passengers have departed.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

May, June, September and early October are useful periods to consider for combining walking with coastal time, depending on weather and seasonal services.

July and August bring busy harbour periods and strong heat, making early starts particularly valuable for stairways and longer walks.

Spring and autumn can suit exploring, but boat services and tourist businesses require closer checking.

For broader advice, see Best Time to Visit the Greek Islands.