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

Symi feels like a postcard come to life. This speedboat day from the southeast coast of Rhodes gives you more time in port, with 3 hours in Symi and a swim break at St. George’s Bay. I especially like the fast ride that helps you skip a bus day, and the freedom to explore Symi at your own pace. One heads-up, the bay swimming moment can look less magical if the sun gets blocked by the big rocks and nearby hills.

You start with a smooth, high-speed cruise, then arrive in a harbor town defined by pastel buildings and church domes you can see from the water. I also like that you get that classic Symi feel without a half-day getting eaten by transfers. The tour is designed for people staying south of Rhodes, but it has specific pickup days and meeting points, so double-check that your beach stop runs on the day you want.

Key things to know before you go

• Fast Symi access from south Rhodes: You’re on a speedboat, not stuck on a long bus transfer.
• About 3 hours on Symi: Long enough for a waterfront wander, plus time for lunch or a swim if you feel like it.
• A dedicated St. George’s Bay swim stop: 30 minutes, with dramatic rocks above the water.
• Pickup depends on the day: Lardos beach has limited days, while Kiotari and Vlycha run more often.
• Mandraki Harbour includes a brief stop: Around 10 minutes for disembarking and re-boarding.
• Season affects the order of stops: Late September and October may switch the bay and Symi sequence.

A fast Symi day from the south side of Rhodes

If your Rhodes holiday is based in Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or Lindos, this is one of the easiest ways to reach Symi without turning your day into a transit marathon. The point of the trip is simple: get you to Symi quickly, give you real time to enjoy it, then squeeze in a swim at St. George’s Bay before heading back.

The payoff is that Symi town is made for walking. Once you step off the boat, you’re in the harbor area framed by pastel buildings, with colorful domes dotting the view. It feels compact and walkable, so you can move at your pace instead of waiting for a tight schedule.

Price and value: what the $147 covers

At $147 per person for a 9-hour day, this trip is not the cheapest way to get to Symi. But the value comes from what’s included and what it saves you.

You get:

• approximately 3 hours free time in Symi
• a 30-minute swim stop at St. George’s Bay
• a high-speed boat ride from the southeast coast of Rhodes
• pickup and drop-off at listed beach meeting points

If you’ve ever tried to plan Symi independently, you know the trick is matching transit times so you don’t lose half your day. Here, the timing is built in: the boat gets you there, then the schedule gives you a meaningful chunk of island time. You also don’t have to build in a bus connection from the south side, which is a real quality-of-life win.

The other subtle value factor is the transport quality. The tour data notes that 89% of reviewers gave it a perfect score for transport. That usually means the boat operations and timing are doing what they should, especially important on a speedboat day.

Getting to the dock: pickup points and day-of-week rules

The biggest practical issue is not the boat, it’s meeting it. This tour has pickup points on the southeast coast, and they vary by day.

Pickup options include locations in:

• Kiotari (including Kiotari Beach and also Vlycha Beach mentioned in the schedule rules)
• Lardos (Costa Lindia Hotel area on Lardos Beach is named)
• Lindos area (pickup described from the red steps on the beach below Rodos Maris Hotel, plus Lindos Imperial Hotel is named)

Important day notes you should actually use when planning:

• The boat stops in Lardos only on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• The boat stops in Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

So if you’re traveling on a Monday or Saturday, don’t assume Lardos works. Pick the option that matches your travel date, and aim to be at the meeting point early enough to handle sun, lines, and the fact that beach steps can be a little chaotic.

Rhodes to Symi on a speedboat: what happens before you arrive

The ride is part of the experience here. You start with a high-speed transfer, roughly 2.33 hours from the first pickup stage to the Symi arrival window. Along the way, there’s also a 10-minute stop in Mandraki Harbour to disembark and embark passengers.

That Mandraki break is short, but it matters. It can affect when you get to sit, where you stand for photos, and how quickly you can settle in for the rest of the trip. If you’re the kind of person who likes front-row views, board early at your pickup and keep a light bag that you can grab fast.

What I’d focus on during the ride is positioning. On speedboats, you want to be where you can see and where the deck feels comfortable for you. Bring sunscreen and plan for sun exposure, since this is a long day with lots of open-air time.

3 hours in Symi town: how to use your time well

When you reach Symi, you’re dropped into the harbor area, where you can take in the turquoise water and the pastel buildings that line the waterfront. From there, you’ll have about 3 hours to explore on your own.

This is the part of the tour that you should treat like free time, not like a checkpoint. Symi rewards slow walking, quick detours, and pauses just to see the domes and the colors changing as you move around the harbor.

Here’s how I’d structure your 3 hours:

• First 30 to 45 minutes: Wander the waterfront and orient yourself. You want to know where the main sights and the easier walking routes are.
• Next block: Choose one direction to explore, then turn around before you feel rushed.
• Food stop: Symi tavernas are your lunch plan, and it’s at your own expense. If you see baby shrimp on the menu, it’s a classic Symi-style local item worth trying.
• Keep a swim option in mind: If you spot a good moment to cool off, Symi’s harbor feel is perfect for a short dip, though your official swim time is already scheduled later.

You don’t need a rigid route. The town is designed for wandering, and the boat schedule is structured so you don’t feel like you have to sprint. Lunch can take more or less time depending on how long you want to linger.

The big advantage of this schedule

That “on your own” window matters because Symi is a place where your mood drives your pace. If you want photos, you can slow down. If you want snacks and quick street wandering, you can do that too.

St. George’s Bay swimming: clear water, big rocks, and timing that matters

After Symi, the plan includes sailing toward St. George’s Bay, then a swim stop of about 30 minutes. The bay is described as having crystal clear water, and the water view includes huge rocks above, which gives the swimming spot a dramatic look.

One practical reason this part of the day can be hit or miss is light. The tour provides a specific seasonal note:

• From the end of September and into October, the itinerary may visit St. George’s Bay first.
• If you go to the bay after Symi during times when the sun is lower or angles change, the bay could be shaded, which affects the water color you see in photos.

A concrete example I paid attention to: one reported experience described arriving at the bay while it was already shaded, and the water looked darker than expected. That matches the basic reality of a sheltered bay and changing sun angle, so I recommend you treat this as a “swim in a gorgeous bay” stop first, and a “perfect photo water moment” second.

What to do to maximize your odds:

• Be ready early when you reach the bay area. Don’t lose time searching for the best spot while others are already cooling off.
• Use the 30 minutes efficiently. Bring sunscreen, and consider that you might want to rinse later when you get back on the boat.
• Don’t overfocus on pictures. The rocks and the water are the point, not the exact shade match.

The return cruise: same speed, fewer decisions

Your return includes another speedboat leg after the swim stop, with roughly 2.33 hours back toward Rhodes. There’s also a short 20-minute segment mentioned in the flow between the Symi visit and the next phase, which is consistent with traveling time between harbor zones and the bay approach.

The return is usually calmer in terms of decisions. You’ve already done your Symi wandering and your swim. At this point, the goal is just to ride, relax, and get back without stress.

If you’re prone to sunburn, this is when you’ll appreciate sunscreen you used earlier. Late-afternoon sun can still sting, especially if you spend time on deck.

Comfort tips that matter on a long, sunny day

This is a 9-hour boat day in open air. That means comfort is not a luxury, it’s a basic requirement.

Here’s what I’d do:

• Sunscreen is non-negotiable. It’s specifically listed as something to bring, and you will use it.
• Plan for water time. You have a scheduled swim stop, so even if you don’t know what you’ll do in Symi, be ready for water fun later.
• Think about shade. Bays can shade quickly depending on season and order, and the boat day itself is sun heavy.
• Stay flexible. This tour has short turnaround moments and a brief Mandraki stop, so don’t pack anything complicated.

Also, the host or greeter is listed in English, Greek, and German, which helps if you want quick clarifications without hunting around.

Who should book this Symi speedboat tour, and who might want something else

I’d recommend this tour if:

• you’re staying on the south side of Rhodes
• you want a simple day plan with minimal inland transport hassle
• you like the idea of walking around Symi on your own, not following a strict guided route
• you care about a scheduled swim stop at a specific bay, rather than trying to guess the best moment on your own

You might want to think twice if:

• you’re very photo-sensitive about water color, because the bay can be shaded depending on timing and season
• you’re worried about being outdoors for long periods, since this is a sun-and-deck kind of day
• you have a hard need for a specific pickup beach, because Lardos runs only on Wednesdays and Fridays

Should you book this Symi speedboat tour?

Overall, I think it’s a strong pick for anyone based in Kiotari, Lardos, Pefkos, or Lindos who wants Symi without turning the trip into logistics homework. The combination of fast transport, a meaningful 3-hour Symi window, and the St. George’s Bay swim break makes it feel efficient in the best way.

Book it if you want the easy day, the harbor-town walking time, and a planned swim stop. If you book for maximum photo conditions at the bay, be aware that the order and sun angle can change the look in late September and October. If that sounds like your priority, just adjust your expectations and focus on the experience of swimming in a dramatic rocky cove.

FAQ

How long is the trip?

The tour duration is listed as 9 hours.

How much time do I get in Symi?

You get about 3 hours of free time to explore Symi.

Is there a swim stop?

Yes. There is a 30-minute swim stop at St. George’s Bay.

Where are the pickup points?

Pickup includes beach meeting points such as red steps on the beach below Rodos Maris Hotel, Lindos Imperial Hotel, Kiotari Beach, and Lardos Beach (Costa Lindia Hotel is named for Lardos).

Are there day-of-week restrictions for pickups?

Yes. The boat stops in Lardos only on Wednesdays and Fridays. The boat stops at Kiotari Beach and Vlycha Beach on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

What languages can the host or greeter speak?

The host or greeter is listed as speaking English, Greek, and German.

What should I bring?

The tour notes that you should bring sunscreen.