Symi Island Day Trip from Rhodes
4.2
17 Ratings
Panormitis Monastery
Discover Symi Island from Rhodes: guided tours, local shops, traditional dining, and Panormitis Monastery visit. Perfect for photos and cultural exploration.
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Panormitis Monastery - The holy Monastery of the Archangel Michael of Panormitis is situated on the southern tip of the island and it majestically stands in the middle of the bay of Panormitis.It is one of the largest shrines of Orthodoxy in the Dodecanese islands, well known all over Greece.

It dates back at least to the fifteenth century, while the current single space basilica with cross-chaped domes was built in the 1783. It is a large singlevaulted Basilica whose wooden icon screen is a real masterpiece. The wall paintings from the main church date from 1792. Also notable are the impressive bell tower, the carved screen, the icons (most of the in the Cretan Byzantine style), notice offering and the Panormitis icon. The full figure representation was covered entirely in gold and silver in 1724 at the expense of the captains, clergy and community of Symi.

The monastery complex has an Ecclesiastical Museum with rich collections of relics and a Folklore Museum. There is also a Library with post Byzantine manuscripts. It hasalso a hostel for visiting worshippers. The Monastery celebrates on the 8th of November and for Pentecoste.

  • Yialos supermarket - The ship will arrive at Symi Island port and the guests will be having a guided tour along the narrow streets of the village Yalos and the opportunity to visit the local sponges and spices shops. Afterwards the guests can have lunch at traditional restaurants and can have free time to spend on their own, where they can explore the village and take some beautiful photos.
  • Mandraki Harbour - Departs from Rhodes port approximately at 09:00 hrs.
What's Included
  • Boat trip
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Professional Guide
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Lunch/Drinks
  • Personal expenses
Additional Information

The boat departs from tourist port approximately at 09:00. The ship will arrive at Symi Island port after approximately 1+1/2 hour and remains there for 3+1/2 hours. The guests will be having a guided tour along the narrow streets of the village Yalos and the opportunity to visit the local sponges and spices shops. Afterwards the guests can have lunch at traditional restaurants and can have free time to spend on their own, where they can explore the village and take some beautiful photos. Afterwards the ship will sail to the next stop, Panormitis Monastery. They will have about 45 minutes to visit the monastery and also the museum. At 16:45 ship will arrive at Rhodes port and from there coach will transfer the guests back to their accommodation.

  • Comfortable shoes, hat, cameras for photos, enough money for food/ drinks and shopping.
  • Please note that the boat departs from Tourist Port at 09:00 am
Location
Panormitis Monastery
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(17 Ratings)
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1 star
Manfaandsteve
May 9, 2024
Fantastic day out - Just stunning!! We booked with Mary at Sigma Travel and that local knowledge was invaluable. Her advice to bring a jacket or something warm for the ferry turned out to be much needed as sailing at 9am it did become quite chilly. Our first stop at Panormitsis for the monastery was beautiful. The coffee in the cafe on the front was by far the best we’ve had all week. Then onto Symi for a 4 hour stop which gave plenty of time to look around the most beautiful of places. Stavros herbs is a local selling all sorts of wonderful herbs and spices, well worth a look and a piece of information given to us by Mary. We stopped for lunch at bar along the front for the best club sandwich either of us has had (€6.50).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heidicolchester
Jun 24, 2019
Lovely trip - We did this trip last week and it was simply lovely. A nice relaxing day with beautiful views. There is a fair bit of time spent on the ferry but it was lovely and clean with plenty of seating. The monastery is a must see and beautiful. If you have time for a bite to eat or a drink I would highly recommend the Panormio Restaurant at the end of the harbour as it is lovely. V clean, great service and great food. It’s run by a family who took it over recently and we loved our hour spent there. It was less busy then the other cafes as it was a couple of hundred metres further to walk but well worth it x
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fabalas
May 8, 2019
Wow - What a fabulous place. As you turn the corner into the harbour your jaw will drop. It’s just so pretty! Take your camera and enjoy this special place. Plenty of restaurants and little gift shops if that’s what you want or just sit watching the fishermen picking through their net.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Randall
Sep 27, 2018
An Accidental Delight - We spent the night in Rhodes Old Town to take a day cruise to Turkey the next day. There were no boats to Turkey the next day, so we got on what was at dock. We loved walking about Symi and the short stop to the monastery.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dr_mark1985
Jul 1, 2018
stunning - we did this trip with TUI and it was stunning, the boat ride is good hour and a half though so this is not a short day trip. we were picked up at 7am from the south of Rhodes Island. The first stop was the panormitis bay, very small not much to do but worth the visit for the view and history. next we went to the biggest harbour, the entrance is really something else! true holiday photo heaven!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevofkent
Aug 18, 2018
Quaint village by the sea - We did this trip with TUI with a guide who issued wireless headsets so we coud listen to her talking about various info etc. A 2 hour boat trip on quite a large vessel with bar on board ( air conditioned). A little rough at times through the Aegean on the north coast for a while and this is the norm in this stretch. Symi is very beautiful and picturesque but there is very little to do there other than watch the world go by in tavernas. A little expensive at €75 each for what we actually got but nonetheless for the views this sort of made up for it. Recommended to visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Litchon68
May 20, 2024
Mixed review - There is a lot of time spent in the boat (1h30 for the first trip, then another 40 mins and then another 1h30 to return) on a crowded boat. What is nice is the arrival at Simy with its pretty little houses but it is not the best excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Camper66091705743
Sep 28, 2019
Pretty Town - Took a boat trip from Rhodes to Symi. Nearly two hours. Town very pretty to look at, some interesting small shops on the front. Unfortunately too hot to enjoy. Nothing much else to see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theodore_s
Sep 30, 2014
It was not as described. We have... - <p>It was not as described. We have contacted Viator on this and have not heard back.</p>
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
July 2024
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