Simi Island: A Jewel of the Dodecanese Islands

Part of the Dodecanese Islands, Simi Island awaits you with its unique architecture and stunningly vibrant colors. Simi, located just across the coast of Turkey, is one of the Dodecanese Islands and lies a short distance northwest of Rhodes. Simi, historically known as Sömbeki, is a small but historic island where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. Geographically, it is part of the Dodecanese chain. It is only 8 km from Turkey's Datça port and 6.5 km from Bozburun port.

Once one of the wealthiest islands due to sponge diving, shipbuilding, and woodcarving, Simi has two main settlements: Gialos and Horio (or Upper Simi). In Gialos, you can admire the municipal clock tower built in 1881, the statue of "Mihalaki" by sculptor K. Valsami, and the historic Kampsopoulos building, where the Treaty of the Dodecanese was signed. This treaty marked the surrender of the islands by the Germans to the Allies.

Beaches and Nearby Islets

Daily tourist boats depart from the Gialos harbor, taking visitors to the island’s beaches and surrounding islets. All the beaches are renowned for their pristine waters. Yachts can dock at Gialos harbor, Niborio, Pedi marina, Panormitis, and Agios Emilianos.

Must-Visit Places on Simi

Upper Simi

• St. John's Knight's Castle
• Old Pharmacy (Neoclassical building)
• Prophet Elias Monastery (formerly the Temple of Apollo)
• Pontikokastro - Mili region

Gialos

• Municipal Clock
• "Mihalaki" statue by K. Valsami
• The Old Library (the second-largest library in Greece)
• Shipyard
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Churches and Monasteries

• Archangel Michael Panormitis Monastery
• Agios Ioannis Church
• Archangel Michael Roukouniotis Monastery
• Church of the Virgin Mary of the Castle
• Evangelismos Church of the Virgin Mary
• Saints Constantine and Helen Church (on the way to Panormitis)
• Stavros Monastery
• Kokkimidi Monastery and Agios Emilianos Church

Pedi Village

Pedi is just 5 kilometers away from Simi. It boasts some of the island's best beaches. A bus departs every 30 minutes from the town to this charming village, which features a few houses, two or three restaurants, and a small grocery store. Pedi offers a serene escape for those looking to unwind, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Panormitis Bay

One of the most notable spots on Simi is Panormitis Bay. Boats from Rhodes often stop here. Panormitis is particularly special for Greek sailors as it is home to the "Moni Taksiharki" Church, a pilgrimage site.

Marathounda Beach

One of the most frequently visited beaches on Simi, Marathounda Beach is rarely crowded, offering tranquility and relaxation. Surrounded by friendly goats, the beach has crystal-clear waters and a nearby restaurant known for its delicious seafood pasta and chicken souvlaki.

Agia Marina

One of the most beautiful beaches in Pedi, Agia Marina Beach is accessible by boat from Pedi. Its pristine waters and fresh air will captivate you.

Symi in Brief

Symi is the smallest of the famous Dodecanese Islands. The islands, which were part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912, were ceded to Italy during World War I. After World War II, the islands were handed over to Greece as part of Italy's war reparations. With a population of approximately 2,500, Symi is 24 nautical miles from Rhodes and only 4 nautical miles from Datça.

Symi's Ottoman-era name, Sömbeki, comes from Turkish sponge divers who used “sümbek” boats to collect sponges. Back in the day, the island's shipyard produced 500 ships annually, making it the wealthiest of the Dodecanese Islands.

The name Symi is derived from Nymph Syme, the wife of Poseidon in Greek mythology. The island's pastel-toned neoclassical houses distinguish it from other Greek islands. Homeowners cannot change the color of their houses without permission from the monument committee.

Getting to Symi

Unfortunately, there are no ferries from Datça to Symi. Regular ferries operate from Rhodes. Previous routes from Bodrum and Marmaris to Symi have been discontinued due to insufficient demand.

The streets of Simi are colorful

Rhodes-Symi Ferry Information

You can also include Symi island in your Rhodes trip. Symi is only 24 nautical miles away from Rhodes and since it is an island connected to Rhodes, there are regular ferries. I am not writing one by one because there are so many alternatives at different times every day of the week, but there are also ferry alternatives that arrive directly to the harbour in 50 minutes with a fast catamaran, in 1 hour 10 minutes or in 1 hour 45 minutes. Prices vary depending on the duration. In the short ones, you arrive directly to the centre of Symi, that is, to the port. In the other one, you stop at the Panormitis area, which is accepted as the place of the cross, and you are given time (30 minutes) for a visit and then you arrive at the centre.  For those who will pass through Rhodes, I recommend that they should definitely choose the option to visit Panormitis because it is a bit troublesome to go there by land after setting foot on the island because it is at the back of the island and the time is not enough when you go for a day.

Panormitis

Accommodation in Symi

We had decided to go to Symi island for a day trip from Bodrum, but when we saw the island, we wished we had more time to spend at least 1 night on this romantic island. Therefore, I strongly recommend you to stay on this island for 1 night. Considering that most of the famous Greek tavern entertainment is not left on the island, you should stay on the island for 1 night just to see this fun night, to watch the plate breakers, to do sirtaki and to spend a night of fun. If you want to see more beaches and have a quieter and quieter trip, then the ideal would be to stay for 2 nights.  For accommodation, you have many alternatives on booking. I list the beautiful Symi hotels for you at this link. 

Places to Visit in Symi

Despite being a very small island, Symi offers plenty of attractions to explore. If you visit for just a day, you might feel like you've only scratched the surface. I wish I had stayed for at least one night to fully soak in the serene pastel tones and the tranquility they bring to the soul. For those with the time and budget, I highly recommend staying overnight.

Symi Island is divided into two main areas: Gialos (the port area) and Chorio (the old settlement located on the hill).

When you arrive in Symi, you’ll land in the Gialos port area. To avoid long waits, try to be among the first to disembark from the boat and head quickly to the right to get in the passport control queue. When we arrived, we realized we were on the island without any checks in place. We could have wandered around freely, but we decided to get our passports stamped as a souvenir of Symi. After some initial confusion, we found the line and joined it.

Here's a tip: avoid standing in the heat for too long by getting in line as soon as possible. Passport checks, performed at a leisurely pace by the Greek authorities, took about an hour. On your return, there’s no need to worry about queues since your passports are collected upon arrival and handed back to you when boarding the ferry. This eliminates the need to wait in line or arrive early for passport control on your way back.

Symi Passport control