Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, & Lindos: Speedboat to Symi Island

Symi’s harbor is the star here: pastel neoclassical houses climb the hills above bright fishing boats, and the fast Aphrodite Princess gets you there from southern Rhodes without first sitting on a long bus ride. You get three hours in Symi, enough for lunch, a walk, and a look around town.

I like the direct coastal departure from Kiotari or Lardos, and I like the 30-minute swim at Saint George’s Bay, where towering rocks frame clear water. The main catch is timing. In late September and October, the bay can sit in mountain shade if the boat visits Symi first.

Key points to know before booking

• A fast southern Rhodes departure: Leave from Kiotari or Lardos instead of taking a long overland transfer to Rhodes Town.
• Three hours in Symi: You have enough time for the harbor, a waterfront meal, and a short walk through town.
• A striking swim stop: Saint George’s Bay is backed by huge cliffs and offers about 30 minutes in the water.
• Small local food to try: Symi is known for baby shrimp, a useful lunch tip if you want something linked to the island.
• Seasonal timing matters: From late September and through October, the crew may visit Saint George’s Bay before Symi to catch the best light.
• Good flexibility: The tour costs $147 per person, allows cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, and offers reserve-now, pay-later booking.

Why this boat trip works well from southern Rhodes

Symi is one of the Dodecanese islands that feels made for arrival by sea. Its main harbor opens like a grand amphitheater, with rows of pale, neoclassical houses and colored church domes rising above the water. You see the best part before you even step ashore.

For people staying around Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or the southern side of Rhodes, the starting point is a real advantage. The boat picks up at beach locations rather than requiring a long ride north to Rhodes Town. That saves time and avoids turning a full-day island visit into a day dominated by road transport.

The service is provided by Rhodes Sea Lines on the Aphrodite Princess. The host or greeter speaks English, Greek, and German. No individual guide names are provided, and this is not a guided walking tour of Symi. Once you arrive, the three hours are yours.

The price is $147 per person. That is not a bargain-basement boat ride, but it can be fair if you value the direct southern departure, the fast crossing, and the included swim stop. Lunch, drinks, and personal spending in Symi are extra, so you should treat the price as transportation and free time rather than a fully hosted island tour.

Meeting the Aphrodite Princess at Kiotari or Lardos

Pickup is listed at the Aphrodite Princess from the red steps on the beach below Rodos Maris Hotel, at Lindos Imperial Hotel on Kiotari Beach, and at Costa Lindia Hotel on Lardos Beach. The exact departure point depends on the date and stop schedule, so check your booking details carefully before setting out.

The boat stops in Lardos only on Wednesdays and Fridays. Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach are served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The available meeting points are important because the tour title includes several resort areas, but the boat does not appear to operate from every location every day.

This is a beach departure, not a conventional city harbor departure. Give yourself enough time to find the red steps and reach the beach access point. Bring sunscreen, and plan for sun exposure on both the outward and return rides.

The listed duration is nine hours. The sea crossings take roughly two hours and 20 minutes each, with a short stop at Mandraki Harbour to let people get on or off. Add three hours in Symi and a 30-minute swim stop, and you have a full day on the water.

The fast crossing to Symi

The outward ride is listed at about two hours and 20 minutes. That is a substantial stretch on a speedboat, but the fast service is the reason this trip can give you three hours on Symi while still returning to Rhodes the same day.

The sea may be the main event for you, or it may simply be the price of reaching the island. Either way, prepare for an open-water ride rather than a quiet ferry crossing. The boat offers coastal views along the way, and you can spend part of the journey looking back toward Rhodes or out across the Dodecanese sea.

There is a 10-minute stop at Mandraki Harbour for disembarking and boarding people. This is a brief operational stop, not a sightseeing visit, so do not count on time to explore Rhodes Town or the harbor.

A speedboat also makes the schedule more useful for anyone based in the south. You are not spending the first and last parts of your day on a bus, then adding a slower ferry ride. The tradeoff is that a faster boat can feel less relaxed than a large ferry, especially if you prefer a calm, spacious crossing.

Arriving at Symi’s picture-book harbor

Symi’s harbor is the visual payoff. The water is turquoise, fishing boats sit close to the shore, and the houses around the bay have the pastel colors and neat lines associated with the island’s old neoclassical style. Church domes add small flashes of color above the buildings.

You will have approximately three hours to explore independently. That gives you time to walk along the waterfront, look at the harbor from different angles, stop for lunch, and perhaps swim if you prefer the town’s water to the later bay stop.

Do not expect three hours to cover every corner of Symi. The practical choice is to stay near the harbor and enjoy the setting rather than try to force a long inland walk into a short visit. The tour is best for a first taste of the island, not for a full study of Symi’s villages and back roads.

The free time also gives you control over the pace. You can sit at a taverna and watch boats come and go, browse the waterfront, or keep your meal short and spend more time walking. There is no included lunch, so budget separately for food and drinks.

What to eat during your three hours

Symi is particularly associated with baby shrimp, often served as a local specialty in the island’s tavernas. If you want a food experience tied to the place, this is the dish to look for.

You will find numerous traditional tavernas around the harbor. The supplied information does not specify a particular restaurant, so you should choose based on the menu, setting, and how much time you want to spend at the table.

A long lunch can easily use most of your free time. I would first walk enough to get your bearings, then decide if you want a full meal or a quicker stop. If swimming matters more than food, keep lunch simple and protect time for the coast.

Because the meal is at your own expense, the $147 price does not cover one of the day’s main pleasures. That is worth remembering when comparing this trip with a package that includes lunch, even if that other option involves a longer transfer.

Saint George’s Bay and the 30-minute swim

Saint George’s Bay is framed by huge rock walls that rise sharply above the water. The setting is dramatic, and the clear sea is the reason this stop is included. The boat pauses for about 30 minutes, giving you time for a refreshing swim or a short break on deck.

This is not a full beach afternoon. Thirty minutes goes quickly once you account for getting ready, entering the water, and returning to the boat. Still, it is enough for a proper dip if you arrive prepared.

Bring sunscreen, and consider wearing swimwear under your clothes. The supplied information lists sunscreen as the key item to bring, but practical planning also means keeping your transition quick so you do not lose much of the stop.

The water color depends on the light. In late September and October, the boat may visit Saint George’s Bay before Symi because the bay can be shaded later in the day. That seasonal change matters. When the sun drops behind the tall rocks, the water can look much darker than it does in bright midday conditions.

One October departure followed the town-first order and reached the bay after the surrounding mountains had cast shade. The setting was still attractive, but the water did not have the bright appearance shown in promotional photographs. If you are traveling in autumn, ask about the order of stops at the start of the day and pay attention to the crew’s plan.

The return ride and the shape of the day

After Symi and the swim, the boat returns to Rhodes. The final crossing is listed at about two hours and 20 minutes, so the ride home is long enough to feel like a distinct part of the outing rather than a short transfer.

You may be ready for a quiet stretch by then. The day includes an early beach pickup, a fast crossing, walking in Symi, lunch or swimming, another boat ride, and the bay stop. It is a full schedule, but the free time in Symi prevents the visit from feeling like a rushed photo stop.

The route gives you two different views of the Dodecanese. Symi provides the carefully built harbor town, while Saint George’s Bay provides exposed rock and open water. That contrast is one of the tour’s best features.

The overall duration is about nine hours, though the exact starting time depends on availability. Leave room in your plans after returning, since this is not a short morning activity.

Is $147 a fair price?

At $147 per person, this trip makes the most sense when you are staying south of Rhodes and want a direct way to reach Symi. The price includes the boat service, about three hours of free time on the island, and the 30-minute swim stop.

You are also paying for convenience. A separate trip that requires reaching Rhodes Town first may cost less in some cases, but it can add road time and make the day harder from Kiotari, Lardos, or Pefkos. Here, the boat comes closer to your base.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a short swim or a guided tour. You spend several hours on the boat, and your time in Symi is self-guided. Lunch is not included, and there is no stated entry ticket, private guide, or organized walking route in town.

The rating is strong at 4.7 from 46 ratings, and 89 percent of ratings give the transport a perfect score. I would read that as a sign that the boat service and general day plan work well for most people, while still keeping the seasonal swim-stop issue in mind.

Who should book this Symi trip?

I would recommend it to you if you are staying in Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or nearby southern Rhodes and want to see Symi without first taking a bus north. It also suits anyone who likes a mix of independent exploring, sea views, and a short swim.

It is a good fit for couples, families who can manage a long boat day, and independent sightseers who prefer choosing their own taverna and walking route. The three hours in town provide useful freedom without requiring you to plan a full island visit yourself.

I would think twice if you dislike long open-water rides, need a slower and quieter ferry, or want a detailed guided tour. You should also be cautious about booking solely for the bright Saint George’s Bay photographs if you are going in late September or October. The stop order and afternoon shade can change the look of the water.

Practical details that affect your decision

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Rhodes plans are still moving around.

The host or greeter speaks English, Greek, and German. The activity includes pickup, but you need to use the specified beach meeting points and the correct day for your area.

The most important planning points are these:

• Confirm whether your date uses Lardos, Kiotari Beach, or Vlycha Beach.
• Check the pickup point below the relevant hotel or at the red beach steps.
• Bring sunscreen and arrive ready for a beach departure.
• Set aside money for lunch and drinks in Symi.
• If visiting in autumn, ask whether Saint George’s Bay comes before or after Symi.
• Keep your return evening fairly open because the activity lasts about nine hours.

Should you book the Aphrodite Princess to Symi?

Book it if the direct southern Rhodes departure saves you a long transfer and you want a well-balanced day of harbor scenery, independent time, and swimming. The three hours in Symi are generous enough for a first visit, while Saint George’s Bay gives the boat ride a clear purpose beyond simple transportation.

Skip it if you want an intimate sailing trip, a fully guided tour, or a guaranteed sunlit swim in the bay. For most people based near Kiotari or Lardos, though, the combination of convenience and classic Symi scenery makes the $147 price reasonable. Just confirm the departure beach and seasonal stop order before paying.

FAQ

Where does the boat depart from?

Pickup is provided from the red steps on the beach below Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel on Kiotari Beach, and Costa Lindia Hotel on Lardos Beach. The available location depends on the date.

Which days does the boat stop in Lardos?

The boat stops in Lardos on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Which days does the boat stop at Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach?

The boat stops at Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

How long is the full activity?

The experience lasts about nine hours. Starting times vary, so you should check availability for your chosen date.

How much free time do I get in Symi?

You get approximately three hours of free time to explore Symi independently.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at one of Symi’s traditional tavernas is at your own expense.

How long is the swimming stop?

The boat stops at Saint George’s Bay for about 30 minutes.

What languages does the host or greeter speak?

The host or greeter speaks English, Greek, and German.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking option also allows you to reserve your place and pay later.