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

Symi is the star here: a bright little harbor framed by pastel neoclassical houses, reached by fast boat from Rhodes rather than a long road transfer. I like the generous three hours ashore, and I like that the pickup points serve Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, and Lindos. The drawback is the long ride, with roughly 4 hours and 40 minutes on the boat, plus a possible timing issue at Saint George Bay.

I also like the 30-minute swim stop beneath Saint George’s towering cliffs. If you are staying south of Rhodes, this is a practical way to see Symi without first crossing the island by bus. Just check the day of service carefully, and remember that late-season sunlight can change the look of the bay.

Key points at a glance

• Fast access from southern Rhodes: Board at Kiotari, Lardos, or the Lindos area instead of taking a long bus ride to Rhodes Town.
• Three hours in Symi: Enough time for the harbor, a meal, shopping, photographs, and a short swim, but not a full island tour.
• Saint George Bay swim: Stop for about 30 minutes in clear water beneath huge rock walls.
• Seasonal bay timing matters: From late September and October, the boat may visit Saint George Bay before Symi so the cliffs do not shade the water.
• Simple pickup setup: The Aphrodite Princess collects passengers at beach access points near named hotels in Kiotari, Lardos, and Lindos.
• Useful language coverage: The host or greeter speaks English, Greek, or German.

Why this southern Rhodes boat trip makes sense

Symi sits close enough to Rhodes for a day trip, but the crossing still takes time. If you are based in Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or Lindos, the main advantage is the direct beach pickup. You avoid spending part of your morning on a bus heading north before even reaching the boat.

The Aphrodite Princess serves several points along the southeastern coast. Pickup information names the red steps below Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel at Kiotari Beach, and Costa Lindia Hotel at Lardos Beach. Pefkos is included in the service area, though the exact boarding point should be confirmed when you book.

The schedule is not identical every day. Lardos is served on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach operate Tuesday through Friday. That detail matters if you have only one free day. Check the date before paying, especially if you are arranging other outings around this trip.

The boat ride itself is part of the day, not just a transfer. You spend about 2 hours and 20 minutes heading toward Symi, with a short 10-minute stop at Mandraki Harbour to let people on and off. After your time in Symi, the return journey includes the swim stop and another long ride back to Rhodes.

Arriving in Symi by high-speed boat

The first sight of Symi is the payoff for the crossing. The boat enters a fishing harbor surrounded by rows of pastel-colored buildings, with church domes adding spots of color above the town. The setting is compact and photogenic, and arriving from the water gives you the best first look at the stacked houses around the bay.

You have about three hours on your own. That is enough time to walk along the harbor, choose a taverna, browse the small shops, and take photographs without rushing every few minutes. It is not enough time to see every corner of the island, so think of this as a harbor-town visit rather than a complete tour of Symi.

The waterfront is the easiest place to start. You can stroll beside the fishing boats, stop for a cold drink, and look across the bay at the colorful buildings. If you want a meal, the local specialty to seek out is baby shrimp, a well-known Symi dish. Lunch is not included, so keep some money aside for food and drinks.

You can also use part of the free time for a swim. The outing does not provide a separate guided walk through town, so you set your own pace. That is a plus if you dislike being moved from one sight to the next, but it means you need to watch the time and return to the boat promptly.

Three hours can pass quickly in Symi. I would spend the first 30 minutes getting oriented, then decide whether your priority is lunch, photographs, shopping, or swimming. Trying to do everything may leave you hurrying back to the meeting point.

The Saint George Bay swim stop

Saint George Bay is the visual highlight after Symi. The boat pauses for about 30 minutes in clear water beneath huge rock walls. From the sea, the cliffs rise sharply above the bay, giving the stop a more dramatic feel than a standard beach break.

Bring sunscreen, and pack whatever you need for swimming. The supplied details specifically call for sunscreen, and the stop is short enough that you will not want to spend half of it looking for basic supplies. You can swim or remain on deck in the sun if you prefer not to enter the water.

The order of this stop can change with the season. From the end of September and through October, the crew plans to visit Saint George Bay first, before Symi. The reason is practical: later in the day, the high cliffs can shade the bay, making the water look darker and less like the bright blue scene you may expect.

That is not a minor point if the swim is one of your main reasons for booking. On October 11, 2025, one passenger found that the bay was visited after Symi, when the sun had already gone behind the mountains. The water then appeared dark rather than bright. The crew may adjust the plan, but you should still treat the timing as a possible seasonal variable.

Even in good conditions, this is a short swim rather than a beach afternoon. Thirty minutes allows time for a refreshing dip and a few photographs, but not a leisurely shore visit. The stop is best viewed as a bonus that breaks up the return journey.

How much time do you spend on the boat?

The full outing lasts about nine hours. The published timing shows roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes on the outward speedboat ride, three hours in Symi, 20 minutes of boat travel before the bay stop, 30 minutes swimming, and another 2 hours and 20 minutes returning to Rhodes.

That is a lot of time at sea. The high-speed boat makes the route more efficient than a slower ferry, but fast does not mean short. If you get restless on boats, nine hours may feel like a large commitment for three hours ashore.

The benefit is that the boat goes directly from the south of Rhodes. You trade a long road transfer for a longer sea day. For someone staying in Lindos or Kiotari, that can be a fair bargain. For someone already near Rhodes Town, the value calculation may be different, since other Symi departures could be more convenient.

The 10-minute stop in Mandraki Harbour is mainly a passenger stop, not a sightseeing visit. You may have time to notice the harbor, but do not plan to get off and explore Rhodes Town. Treat it as part of the transport schedule.

What the $147 price includes

At $147 per person, this is not a cheap boat ride. The price covers the high-speed transport, about three hours of free time in Symi, and the 30-minute stop at Saint George Bay. Lunch, drinks, and personal purchases are not included.

The value depends strongly on where you stay. From southern Rhodes, the direct pickup is useful. You do not need to arrange a separate trip to Rhodes Town, and you gain a full day on the water with the main costs grouped together.

I would consider the price reasonable for someone who specifically wants Symi and Saint George Bay, especially if the alternative is arranging several separate transfers. I would be more cautious if you mainly want a quick swim or a short boat ride. The long crossing makes the outing worthwhile only if you are happy spending much of the day at sea.

The rating is 4.7 from 46 ratings, and 89 percent of people gave the transport a perfect score. That supports the idea that the boat service is a major strength, but it does not remove the seasonal concern about sunlight at Saint George Bay. Keep your expectations focused: this is a transport-heavy day trip with a strong destination payoff.

Picking the right day and meeting point

Before booking, confirm both the beach pickup and the operating day. Lardos is served only on Wednesdays and Fridays. Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach operate Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

The pickup instructions point to beach access rather than a large coach station. At Kiotari, the boat collects passengers at the Lindos Imperial Hotel area on Kiotari Beach. At Lardos, the named point is near Costa Lindia Hotel. Another point is the red steps below Rodos Maris Hotel.

Give yourself time to reach the beach access point. The information names several hotels and beach locations, but it does not provide a single universal meeting time in the details supplied here. Check the final booking information carefully so you are standing at the correct beach entrance, not simply outside a hotel.

If you are staying in Pefkos or Lindos, confirm which listed point applies to your booking. The service is advertised for those areas, but the actual boarding locations are specific. This is the sort of small detail that can turn an easy day into a frantic one if ignored.

The host or greeter speaks English, Greek, or German. That should make the basic boarding and return instructions straightforward for many passengers, though this is not described as a fully guided sightseeing tour.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would choose this outing if you are staying south of Rhodes and want one full day centered on Symi. It fits people who enjoy sea views, a scenic harbor, independent exploring, and a short swim in a striking setting.

It also suits couples, families with older children, and anyone who prefers free time to a tightly managed walking tour. You can choose your own taverna and decide how to use the three hours in town.

I would hesitate if you dislike long boat rides, need a long swimming session, or want a guide explaining every street and building in Symi. The town visit is independent, and the bay stop lasts only 30 minutes.

This trip also requires some flexibility. The crew may change the order of Saint George Bay and Symi to suit the season, and the light can affect the color of the water. If perfect midday sun at the bay is essential, this may not give you complete control.

Practical ways to make the day better

Wear sun protection and bring what you need for a swim. The boat ride exposes you to sun for several hours, and the bay stop is too brief to waste time searching for supplies.

Think about lunch before you reach Symi. You can eat at one of the traditional tavernas, but the meal is at your own expense. Baby shrimp is the local food to look for if you want something tied closely to the island.

Use the first part of your Symi time for the harbor views and photographs. The pastel houses and domes are easiest to appreciate from the waterfront, where the whole curve of the bay opens in front of you.

Keep an eye on the return meeting time. Three hours sounds generous, but it includes lunch, walking, shopping, and possibly swimming. The boat cannot wait for a late return.

If you are visiting in late September or October, ask at boarding whether Saint George Bay will come first. That schedule is intended to preserve better light and brighter water, and it may make a noticeable difference to the swim stop.

Should you book the Aphrodite Princess to Symi?

Book it if you are based around Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or Lindos, want a direct sea trip, and are comfortable spending most of nine hours in transit. The combination of Symi harbor, three hours of free time, and a swim beneath Saint George’s cliffs gives the day a clear purpose.

Think twice if you want an extensive tour of Symi or a long, sunny beach break. You will see only part of the island, and the Saint George Bay stop is brief. The late-season light issue is also worth taking seriously.

For the right passenger, the price buys convenience and a memorable arrival into one of the Dodecanese’s prettiest harbors. Choose your operating day carefully, confirm the pickup point, and treat the boat ride as part of the holiday rather than an unavoidable gap between stops.

FAQ

How long does the Symi boat trip last?

The full activity lasts about nine hours, including the boat rides, three hours in Symi, and a 30-minute swim stop at Saint George Bay.

Where can I board the boat?

Pickup is available from beach points serving Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, and Lindos. Named locations include the red steps below Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel at Kiotari Beach, and Costa Lindia Hotel at Lardos Beach.

Which days does the boat stop at Lardos?

The boat stops at Lardos on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Which days does it stop at Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach?

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

How long do I have to explore Symi?

You have approximately three hours of free time in Symi. Lunch, swimming, shopping, and other personal activities are at your own expense.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The boat includes a swim stop of about 30 minutes at Saint George Bay. Bring sunscreen and anything you need for swimming.