Symi Island by Fast Boat (High-Speed: ~1hr journey & ~4hrs Symi)
Description
Maximize your Aegean adventure with our High-Speed Express Cruiser, the fastest and most stable way to reach Symi Island. While other boats spend hours at sea, we get you there quickly and smoothly, giving you around 4 hours of free time to discover every hidden corner of Symi Town. ⚓ Quick Facts ● The Vessel: A premium high-speed cruiser engineered for superior stability on the water — no “bumpy” jumps on the water, keeping you comfortable and nauseas-free. ● Travel Time: Only 1-hour 15 min journey time — No time wasted on the way! ● Time in Symi: ~4 Hours — The longest stay of any daily tour from Rhodes. ● Hotel Pick-up: Available from Faliraki, Ialyssos, Ixia, Kolymbia, Lindos, Pefkos, Lardos, Gennadi, Theologos & Rhodes Town. ● Onboard Comfort: Shaded outdoor decks, Fully Air-Conditioned indoor lounges, and a snack bar. ❤️ Why Book With Half Price Tours? ● Unbeatable Value: We offer a premium experience at a "half-price" rate, making the beauty of Symi accessible to everyone.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We get you to the harbor faster than any other boat, you have around 4 hours to experience the town without the rush. ❤️ The Amphitheater of Color As we glide into the harbor of Gialos, have your camera ready. You will see rows of pastel-colored mansions rising up the hillside. This is one of the best-preserved neoclassical towns in Europe and a protected architectural site. ❤️ The Heart of the Sponge Trade Symi was once the world center for deep-sea sponge diving. Use your extra time to visit the traditional sponge workshops along the waterfront. Meet the local experts who still use traditional methods to clean and prepare authentic sea sponges—the perfect natural souvenir. ❤️ Gastronomy & The Famous Symi Shrimp Four hours is plenty of time for a long, relaxed Greek lunch. We recommend finding a table at a waterfront taverna to try "Simiako Garidaki" (Symi Shrimp). These tiny, flavorful shrimp are unique to this island’s waters and are traditionally served fried and eaten whole.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pick-ups from all the hotels in Rhodes island. Transfer service is available for a small additional supplement, which depends on how far is located your hotel (visible during checkout). It includes both ways: pick-up from your hotel, and after the trip drop off back. When booking select an option that covers the area where is located your hotel. For example: if you stay in Faliraki, select option "Pickup: Faliraki, Ialyssos". ❓ What if my hotel isn't on the list? Don't worry! We pick up from almost everywhere in Rhodes. If you don't see your hotel in the dropdown menu, you have two easy options: ● During Booking: Simply type your hotel name into the "Special Requirements" field. Once we receive your booking, we will manually confirm your exact pick-up time and location. ● Contact Us Directly: Send us a quick message with your hotel name, and we will let you know the closest meeting point and pick up time within 24 hours. ❓ Arriving on Your Own? (Parking & Tips) If you are staying in Rhodes Town or have a rental car, you can meet us directly at our office at 09:15-09:30 AM. ● Important Note on Parking: Please be aware that parking in Rhodes Town near the harbor can be very challenging, especially during the summer months. ● The "1-Hour Rule": If you choose to drive, we strongly recommend arriving at least one hour early to search for a parking space. ● Paid Parking: Most spots near the port are paid zones and fill up quickly. ● Our Recommendation: To avoid the "parking headache" and ensure a stress-free start to your holiday, we highly recommend booking a transfer with us. Let us handle the driving and drop you off right at the check-in point!
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(1,116)
We are so glad we booked our ferry through Half Price Tours! We were traveling as two families with teenage sons, and booking through Half Price Tours made the entire experience easy and stress-free for all of us. While it's sometimes possible to buy tickets at the dock if they're still available, having everything arranged in advance gave us peace of mind. Their communication was excellent both before and after our journey, so we always knew what to expect. Our trip to Symi was one of the highlights of our vacation. It is an island that should not be missed! The harbor is absolutely stunning, the shopping is wonderful, and the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea are breathtaking. One tip for future travelers: this is a high-speed ferry, so if you choose seats on the outer decks, be prepared to get a little wet from the sea spray. We actually found it to be part of the adventure, but it's worth knowing before you board. We would definitely book through Half Price Tours again and highly recommend them to anyone planning a visit to Symi.
My mum can’t swim so we figured this tour was the best option for us. Technically, it’s juts a ferry ride to Symi and back with no guide at all, but we stay in Lindos and needed a transfer back and forth which they provided for a very affordable price. The pick up was on time, the ride was smooth and we got at their office for the ferry tickets with no issues. They gave us the tickets and then took us to our boarding dock by van. The ride was about 1.30 min to get there, and we had about 3 and a half hours on the island before heading back. The ride back took 1 hour and 20 min and somebody was already at the port waiting for us to take us back at the hotel with a comfortable car. Kind drivers, good organization and smooth day! I highly recommend them as we saved at least 20€ each versus other operator’s price for the same exact trip!
Me and my partner were extremely pleased with our experience. The company ensured that we were picked up and dropped off at our hotel- which was really easy and convenient. The boat trip was very comfortable and there was lots of space for the other passengers to sit. Symi itself was absolutely beautiful, with lots of restaurants and shops. Overall a great experience and would definitely recommend. Thank you again for a great day out.
Overall, this was a relatively well-organised trip. However, the pick-up time felt a little too early, as we ended up waiting around for 30–45 minutes before the boat departed. Despite being advertised as a fast or high-speed boat, I wouldn't describe it as such. It was more of a standard ferry journey, although it was still an enjoyable and comfortable trip, with a bar and toilets available onboard. Symi Island itself is absolutely beautiful. The colourful harbour buildings, authentic atmosphere and traditional boating culture make it an incredibly picturesque place to visit. That said, we found the island to be quite small, so four hours was a little longer than we needed. Even after stopping for lunch, drinks, ice cream and some shopping, we still struggled to fill the time. It can also become very busy, and there are only a limited number of sandy beaches. I would definitely recommend visiting Symi because it is a stunning island, but if I were to go again, I'd probably arrange the trip independently so I could spend less time there and have a bit more flexibility.
Very easy to pick up tickets and company was simple to find. Boat ride was good, clean. We were delayed in leaving, ~25min, and weren't told why but otherwise good experience.
Amazing experience very helpful staff
Amazing price, which included our transfer from Pefkos which was significantly cheaper compared to other providers or taking a taxi to the Harbour. The staff were very lovely and clear with their instructions, which made the experience seamless. We were picked up from our hotel and dropped off to the fast boat and then picked up as soon as the boat arrived back to the harbour. Everything was on time! The boat was nice and fast. Would definitely recommend!
First time using half price tours but wouldn’t hesitate to use again. Great communication and easy collection of tickets and the boat was easy to find. Lovely island to visit and boat was good.
Direct pick up from hotel reception. Seamless transfer to agency office, with tickets issued on final balance paid. Friendly, informative. Direct transfer from the office with a very friendly driver direct to the port. Ferry took longer than we expected. Make sure you have € coins to pay for the public toilet. My family all loved Symi and it was better in reality. Plenty of time to walk & explore the many lovely souvenir shops. Great for photo opportunities too. The ferry coming back was a little less smooth but nothing too scary and the sea spray was very welcomed as Symi was exceptionally hot when we departed. Arrive back into Rhodes port and met by the same driver who then took us directly back up our hotel in Pefkos. The ride home was less scary than our experience with a local taxi driver 😱 Brilliant service from your company and your staff. Thank you. Would definitely use your services in the future
Excellent service from getting picked up to dropped off. Staff very friendly and helpful driver phoned when he was 5 mins away to let me know he was on way. The company kept me updated from booking on times and pick up points. The boat was clean and had a bar and toilets on board. Symi island was beautiful will definitely use this company again when I am back in September thankyou
