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

Symi is a postcard that floats. This high-speed boat trip is a smart way to reach the island from southern Rhodes, with three hours to explore the harbor town and a 30-minute swim at Saint George Bay. I like the fast crossing and the fact that you can board near Kiotari or Lardos instead of riding a long bus north.

I also like the simple shape of the day: scenic boat ride, free time in Symi, then a swim in clear water. The main caution is timing at Saint George Bay. From late September into October, the boat may visit Symi first, leaving the bay in mountain shade later in the day. That can make the water look much darker than it does in sunny photographs.

Key points to know before booking

• Three hours in Symi: Enough time for lunch, a walk around the harbor, photographs, and perhaps a quick swim, but not enough for a slow island tour.
• A faster route from southern Rhodes: You can board at Kiotari or Lardos, avoiding a bus trip to Rhodes Town.
• Saint George Bay is the visual highlight: Tall rock walls frame the clear sea, making the 30-minute swim stop especially memorable in good light.
• Pickup varies by day: Lardos is served on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach operate Tuesday through Friday.
• The boat pauses at Mandraki Harbour: A 10-minute stop allows passengers to get on or off, adding a small delay to the crossing.
• Strong overall rating: The experience carries a 4.7 rating from 46 reviews, and 89 percent of ratings give the transport a perfect score.

Why this Symi trip works well from southern Rhodes

Symi is one of the Dodecanese islands most often seen on postcards, with a tight harbor lined by pastel houses and traditional neoclassical buildings. From the southern resorts of Rhodes, the practical problem is getting there without wasting half a day on a coach transfer to Rhodes Town.

This trip solves that problem. The Aphrodite Princess picks you up at beach access points near the Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel, Costa Lindia Hotel, and the listed Kiotari and Lardos stops. The exact pickup point matters, so check your confirmation carefully. The boat does not simply collect you from every resort entrance.

At $147 per person, this is not a bargain boat ride. Still, the price includes the long return crossing, three hours on Symi, and a swim stop. If you are staying in Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or nearby Lindos, the value improves because you avoid the extra transport cost and hassle of reaching a northern departure point.

The tour lasts about nine hours. That makes it a full day rather than a quick outing, but the schedule gives you more useful time on Symi than a slower ferry can provide. You should still expect a substantial part of the day to be spent at sea.

Boarding near Kiotari, Lardos, or Lindos

The pickup arrangement is one of the strongest reasons to choose this option. You can board at Kiotari Beach or Lardos Beach, depending on the day, rather than beginning with a long road transfer.

Lardos departures operate only on Wednesdays and Fridays. Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach departures operate Tuesday through Friday. The available locations are listed around beach landmarks, including the red steps below Rodos Maris Hotel, the Lindos Imperial Hotel area in Kiotari, and Costa Lindia Hotel in Lardos.

That schedule has two practical effects. First, you need to match your hotel location with the correct day. Second, Pefkos and Lindos visitors may need to reach one of the listed beach stops themselves, even though the experience is advertised for those areas. The pickup information says pickup is included, but it does not mean every hotel receives a door-to-door collection.

The host or greeter can communicate in English, Greek, or German. Bring sunscreen. You will spend many hours exposed to sun on the water, and the return ride can feel long if you arrive unprepared.

The high-speed crossing to Symi

The ride to Symi takes roughly two hours and twenty minutes, with a similar return crossing. A high-speed boat makes this much more practical than a slow ferry for a day trip. You get less time sitting on the water and more time on the island.

The ride is part of the experience, not just transportation. You see the open sea and the rocky coast as Rhodes falls behind. The boat also makes a 10-minute stop at Mandraki Harbour, where passengers can disembark and board. This is a functional stop, not a sightseeing visit, so do not count on having time to explore Rhodes Town.

Boat conditions can affect how comfortable the crossing feels, but no specific boat facilities or seating arrangements are provided in the tour information. If you are sensitive to sun or motion, choose your seat with care and keep sunscreen close at hand.

The schedule lists about 2 hours and 20 minutes for each speedboat section, plus three hours in Symi and 30 minutes at Saint George Bay. That adds up to a little over eight hours, while the advertised duration is nine hours. The difference likely allows for boarding, the Mandraki stop, and the movement of passengers at the beach pickup points. Plan on giving the whole day to this trip.

Arriving at Symi’s fishing harbor

Symi’s harbor is the main visual reward. The water is turquoise, and pastel-colored buildings climb the slopes around the bay. Neoclassical houses give the waterfront a distinctive look, while colorful church domes add small points of color above the rooftops.

You arrive independently, without a guided town walk or a fixed meal. That freedom is useful because three hours can be spent in different ways. I would use the first few minutes to get your bearings, then choose between a relaxed lunch, a harbor walk, photographs, and a swim.

Symi is especially suited to slow looking. The harbor itself supplies the drama, so you do not need a packed sightseeing plan to enjoy the stop. Walk along the waterfront and study the different house colors and details. Then step away from the busiest section if you want a quieter meal.

You will need to watch the clock. Three hours sounds generous, but it passes quickly once you sit down for lunch. Allow enough time to return to the boarding point. The boat will not wait for a late diner or a last-minute photograph.

Eating on Symi: try the baby shrimp

Lunch is not included, but you have numerous traditional tavernas from which to choose. The local specialty singled out for this trip is baby shrimp, a dish worth considering if you want to try something associated with Symi rather than ordering a familiar Greek standard.

Because the meal is at your own expense, the tour price does not cover drinks, food, or anything you buy on the island. The fair way to judge this is to think of the $147 as transport plus access to the island, not as a full package.

Three hours gives you enough time for a proper lunch, but you may need to choose between a leisurely meal and a swim. If food is your priority, eat early enough to leave room for the return boarding process. If the water matters more, keep lunch simple and spend more of your free time near the harbor.

There is no guided explanation of Symi included. That is good news if you prefer your own pace, but less helpful if you want local history or a planned walk. You are paying for access and freedom, not a lecture.

Saint George Bay and the 30-minute swim

Saint George Bay is the most dramatic stop on the route. Huge rocks rise above a narrow stretch of clear sea, creating a strong contrast with the open water around the boat. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, so it is designed for a quick swim and a little time in the sun, not a full beach afternoon.

The boat pauses for swimming after leaving Symi in the standard outline of the day. You can take a refreshing dip in the water or stay aboard and enjoy the view from the deck. Since no beach visit is described, expect to enter the water directly from the boat rather than walk onto a sandy shore.

The timing of this stop deserves special attention. From the end of September through October, the crew may visit Saint George Bay before Symi instead. The reason is sunlight. If the boat waits until after the island visit, the surrounding mountains can cast the bay into shade, changing the color of the water.

That seasonal adjustment is sensible, but it also means the exact order may change. One October booking had the bay after Symi, when the sun was already behind the cliffs and the water looked dark rather than bright. If the color of the bay is a major reason you are booking, late-season timing is something to weigh carefully.

Bring sunscreen even if you plan to swim. The boat ride and stop expose you to direct sun, and you may spend much of the day outside.

The return ride to Rhodes

After the swim, the boat returns toward the same southern Rhodes pickup area. The return crossing takes about two hours and twenty minutes, and you can use it to rest after your time in Symi.

The journey gives you another look at the coast, but the return is also when the length of the day becomes clear. Nine hours is a serious commitment, especially for children or anyone who finds long boat rides tiring. The high-speed service helps, but it does not turn the trip into a short excursion.

The trip ends at the Kiotari or Lardos drop-off points listed for departure. The same locations are used in reverse, including the beach areas near the named hotels. Confirm where you will get off before boarding, especially if your accommodation is in Pefkos or Lindos.

Who will get the most from this $147 outing?

I would choose this tour if I were staying south of Rhodes and wanted to see Symi without first traveling to Rhodes Town. The included swim stop also adds something a standard island transfer may not offer.

It is a good match for you if:

• You want a full-day island outing from Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or Lindos.
• You prefer three hours of independent time instead of a guided sightseeing program.
• You enjoy boat travel and want a swim in open sea.
• You are happy to pay separately for lunch.
• You value a faster crossing over a slower, possibly cheaper ferry.

I would think twice if you dislike long boat rides or need a highly structured day. The crossing takes several hours in total, and the time in Symi is free time rather than a guided tour.

The experience also suits independent visitors more than those seeking constant commentary. You decide where to eat, how far to walk, and how long to spend near the harbor. That freedom is a benefit, but you must manage your own time.

The strong 4.7 rating from 46 ratings and the 89 percent perfect transport score suggest that the boat service is a major strength. Still, the seasonal Saint George Bay issue shows why a high rating does not remove the need to read the schedule closely.

Small details that make the day easier

Check the operating day before you book. Lardos is available only on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach run Tuesday through Friday. This is one of the most important practical details for matching the trip to your hotel stay.

Keep your sunscreen in a small day bag rather than buried in luggage. You will need it during the crossing, at the bay, and while walking around Symi.

Wear something suitable for a boat and swimming. The tour information confirms a swim stop but does not specify changing rooms or beach facilities, so do not count on the comforts of a full beach club.

Leave enough time to find the meeting point at the beach. The listed landmarks include red steps and hotel areas rather than one central terminal. A few extra minutes can save a rushed start.

The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Rhodes schedule is still shifting, but they do not change the need to select the right pickup day.

Should you book this Symi speedboat trip?

Book it if you are based in southern Rhodes, want a direct route to Symi, and like the idea of combining a harbor town with a short sea swim. The fast boat, three hours of free time, and nearby pickup points make this one of the more practical Symi choices for Kiotari and Lardos.

I would book with realistic expectations. You are not getting a guided island tour or a long beach stay. You are getting a full day on and around the water, three independent hours in a beautiful harbor, and a 30-minute swim stop whose appearance depends on sunlight.

For the best chance of seeing Saint George Bay at its brightest, pay close attention to the season and the order of stops. If you are visiting in late September or October, ask how the crew expects to arrange the bay and Symi visit. For everyone else, this is a well-shaped day trip with a clear strength: it gets you from southern Rhodes to one of the Dodecanese’s most photogenic islands without sending you on a long bus ride first.

FAQ

How long does the Symi speedboat tour last?

The tour duration is approximately nine hours, including the boat rides, three hours on Symi, and a 30-minute swim stop at Saint George Bay.

How much free time do I have on Symi?

You have approximately three hours to explore Symi independently. You can walk around the harbor, eat at a traditional taverna, or use some of the time for swimming.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. Lunch and other food or drinks on Symi are at your own expense. Baby shrimp is suggested as a local specialty to try.

Where does the boat pick up passengers?

Pickup is available at listed beach locations in Kiotari and Lardos, including areas near Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel, and Costa Lindia Hotel. Some departures also use Vlycha Beach.

On which days does the boat stop at Lardos?

The boat stops at Lardos on Wednesdays and Fridays only. Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach operate Tuesday through Friday.

How long is the swim stop at Saint George Bay?

The swimming stop lasts approximately 30 minutes. You can swim in the clear water or remain on the boat and enjoy the surrounding rocks and sea views.

What languages are available from the host or greeter?

The host or greeter can communicate in English, Greek, or German.