Guide to Symi

With its pastel neoclassical buildings rising up from the sea like an amphitheatre into the dusty green hills, Symi’s port is a picture-perfect setting. It was once famed for its wooden shipbuilding and today has continued to welcome superyachts of kinds to its shores, not only for its lining of romantic waterfront bars and eateries but also for its scenery and laid-back culture.

Symi is also well-known for its beaches, such as the popular Nos beach which is nearest to the centre and Agios Georgios Dysalonas – world renowned for its white sands and 300 metre high cliff-backed scenery. Other beaches can only be reached by boat including Marathounda and Disalonas but with only one proper road on the island, this is a place built for those with sea legs.

It is this road that leads to the Panorimitis Monastery, an important pilgrimage site and one of more than 100 monasteries scattered amongst the rugged pine and cypress covered hills. 500 steps lead you up to a crumbling acropolis that watches over the island but little else of this place has been disturbed, leaving you to find your place along the coast and enjoy the private pleasures of a rental yacht vacation.

Symi’s southern location means that the peak summer months here are particularly hot, making its beaches all the more tempting to cool off in the calm waters. Its close proximity to Rhodes ensures you can get your fix of more developed coastline, shopping and resorts before retreating back to the serenity of the island. However it isn’t lacking in modern facilities, with a harbour full of great restaurants (flash-fried shrimp is the speciality) and a mixture of galleries and tavernas in town. The annual Symi Festival is also a highlight - held between July and September - and features theatre, cinema, dance, music and art exhibitions.

If you are interested in a private fully-crewed luxury yachting vacation in waters of Symi and the surrounding Greek Islands view all Greece Charter Yachts which are available to rent.