Ferry from Symi to Kalymnos

Symi Guide

The Greek island of Symi is one of the Dodecanese Islands and is located around 40 km to the north west of the island of Rhodes and 420 km from the Port of Piraeus. Symi's closest neighbours are the Datca and Bozburun peninsulars of Mugla Province in Turkey. The island's terrain is mainly mountainous and its coastline is made up of either beaches and secluded coves, or rocky cliffs. Located on the north east coast of the island is its main town, also called Symi. The lower town is the area around the harbour, called Yialos, and the upper town is called Horio or Ano Symi. There isn't a great deal to see or do on the island, and this is perhaps where its charm is. Apart from lazing on the beach or swimming in its crystal clear waters the Monastery of the Archangel Panormitis, which is an early 18th century Greek Orthodox monastery built on the coast in the south west of the country, is worth visiting. Overlooking Ano Symi is the Kastro which was built by the Knights of St. John as an expansion of a Byzantine castle on the same site. Quite a bit of the structure remains and there are also signs of an ancient citadel on which two later castles were built.

Kalymnos Guide

The Greek island of Kalymnos lies in the south east Aegean Sea and is located between the islands of Kos and Leros, and is one of the Dodecanese group of islands. The island is quite small with a land area of just over 100 sq. km but despite this it is the fourth largest of all the Dodecanese islands. The island's name has changed over its history. It was first named Kalynda, then Kalymna and then finally, Kalymnos. The island's capital is Pothis, although the most of the island's residents live in Chora, and is the island's second largest town.

Kalymnos is known for its sponge divers and sponge fisheries and it's inland terrain is steep and rocky and is popular with climbers. There are over 1,300 different climbing routes on the island that range in difficulty and terrain. Some routes are on slabs, some on big walls or on overhangs. The landscape used to be a curse for the island's residents but as it attracts visitors to the island it is now a blessing, certainly in terms of tourism.

There is a frequent ferry service to Piraeus, Rhodes and to the other Dodecanese islands. There are also ferry routes operating to the Cyclades islands, Samos and, during the summer season, to Chios, Mytilini, and Thessaloniki.