Travel - SYMI

Getting There - Flights

Dublin – Rhodes – AerLingus

LGW – Rhodes – Thompson?

Rhodes

Old Town is nice and worth spending a night there. Most flights land in the evening so you must wait for a ferry the next morning. There is a museam and some achient ruins to explore and well as shopping and lots of little places to eat and drink. The old Town is at the top of the island. The area around Falraki on the East side is just All-inclusive Hotels and not worth visiting. If you want to spend more time exploring Rhodes, hire a car and head off, its a very small Island and takes about 1 hour to drive the full lenght of it. Lindos is a nice village. The very south of the island has a huge flat beach, two currents meet at the point and there is lots of windsurfing. We spent a few nights in the small village of Gennadi and drove around each day.

Hotels in Rhodes –

- Stathis, Old Town €32 – simple, spotless, right in the old town, but close to a town gate. About 4 bedrooms. No breakfast but just beside a small café. Perfect for one night in transit.

- Camelot Traditional & Classic Hotel €290 – gorgeous simple hotel in Old Town, small but comfortable room. Good breakfast. A nice treat but not necessary to spend so much.

- Rhodian Sun Hotel €30 Very close to the Airport but on its own land, not walking distance to anything. Family run, quiet, ok as a base for touring the island in a hire car.

- Petasos Apartments €40 – simple apartment just beside the small town of Gennadi – half way down west coast. Good spot if you want to tour around the island. Couple of good restaurants in the tiny village.

Restaurants in Rhodes

Lots of them in the town, which is very small. Good value. Can’t go wrong. Little wine bar in main square good for a glass of wine and people watching.

Ferry - Rhodes to Symi

There are several ferries to Symi, they go from the tourist harbour at the old town or the bigger terminal about 1km out of the town. More HERE

ANES Ferry – from Tourist terminal, small - Rhodes to Symil boat. Good price. Departs about 11 am Takes 1 hour 15mins. This is the one I like to use.

BLUE STAR – Bigger boat, from Main Terminal. Couple of departures.

SYMI ISLAND

Accomidation

SYMI SUN HOUSE – The house is traditional built but modernized. Located in Symi's heart, 3 mins. from the harbour, right across from a grocery store, the cafes, bars and the ferry boats station. There are no long steps to climb in the summer heat. Very spacious, 2 Bed and large open plan living area. More HERE There is a one Bed house below also.

Sun Spots

Petalo – about a 2km / 20 min walk from Town centre, lovely four poster sunbeds and waiter service for drinks and food. Easy access to the sea (two steps!) and a shower. More HERE

Nimborio Beach – Small beach with a simple family run taverna. Get there by walking 30 mins (never walked!!) or water taxi. Sunbeds and small shingly beach. Quiet spot. More HERE and HERE

Pedi - Narrow beach, good sunbeds, very nice Taverna, they serve drinks to you. Can get there by Bus or water taxi. Many people get bus from town to top of hill and then walk down the far side (15 min walk) More HERE

Agia Marina Taverna – My favourite. Tiny beach but a big deck platform with sunbeds. Sea is fantastic. Loos and showers. Great Taverna. Some of the posh boats come in and anchor for lunch. Only accessed by water taxi. Peter gets embarrassed when I bring a packed lunch!!

Tuna, Tazikki and Greek salad - Lunch for a King!

Restaurants

Los - The restaurant is ideal for gourmet fish lovers (it serves sashimi and an exquisite lobster soup) Its on the waterfront beside where the Posh yachts moor stern in and you get to look right into their yachts! This is our treat place! More HERE

To Spitiko – simple Greek taverna, fresh fish, really nice girl runs this.

Kali StrataTaverna – Family run taverna at the top of the steps. The Granny cooks the traditional meals. Very tasty and good value. The rest of them wait the tables … and about 9.00 they start playing traditional music and dance. Good fun. Our big night out on a Friday.

Dolphin Pizza - Small 15 seat place with great pizza.

Kebab Place - Diner for 2 with 2 kebabs, drink and Greek salad €10 You woud be amazed how often this was diner!! Totally fresh, they sell out each day. The meat is hand made by the Georgous Butcher!

These are the ones we go to ... there are lots more. Food is simple. Fresh and good value.

Pubs and Cafes

There are many small pubs and cafes around the waterfront. The sell good coffee and local beer €2 a big bottle. There is no disco music and they close before midnight.

Things to do

Panormitis Monastery – One of the big ferries stops here. You can get the bus. Very old monastery, worth a visit…. Particularly if you get bored sitting in the sun. More HERE

Poseidon – Boat Day trip around the island with stops at 5 bays. Time for a swim in each bay. Morning Coffee and ouzo served …. Along with an excellent BBQ lunch on a beach. Great day trip. More HERE

Kali Strata – A path or highway of steps – suggest walking down not up!! Really nice little street bar at the top, good for people watching. Seats about 20 people. After a busy day sunbathing we get the bus from Pedi Beach up, have a sundowner then walk down the steps. More HERE