Symi Island, Greece
Classic greek architecture on Symi Island in Greece
Symi, A Perfect Greek Island Getaway
The Albatros Inn
There are a myriad of hotel choices on Symi Island, but we could not have chosen better. Nicholas, the owner of the family-run Albatros Inn, was waiting patiently for us at the dock. He immediately offered to help with our luggage.
We did not have much luggage, but it was a nice gesture. We instantly felt welcome! We paid $430.00 for a six-night stay at the Albatros Inn and gave them a five-star rating.
Arriving to Symi Town, Greece
Mamma Mia
We arrived by ferry from Bodrum, Turkey, at the port in Symi town around mid-morning. We had forgotten about passport control and were in no hurry to leave the ferry—another rookie mistake. The line moved pretty quickly, and Nicholas appeared with bottles of cold water to battle the heat.
He told us about the inn, his family, and his upcoming wedding, which was just a couple of weeks away. It was to be a typical Greek wedding with about 350 guests.
Di checking out the quaint town of Symi
Had we arrived for a sequel to the Mamma Mia movie? It felt that way as Nicholas led us through the cozy town center to the quaint four-room inn.
Nicholas had a detailed map of the island ready, pointed out his favorite beaches, and shared helpful information about the island with us. We were all set.
Symi Beaches
There are no beaches in Symi Town, so you'll need to walk for about 15 or 45 minutes, take a bus or cab, rent a scooter, or take a water taxi to get to the beaches. We did not mind.
The town center is cozy, featuring colorful neoclassical houses, restaurants, and cafes. It's a bit touristy, but not over the top. Below, we will list our favorite Symi beaches.
A twenty minute hike to St. Nicholas Beach, Symi Island, Greece
The Key To an Authentic Greek Island Vacation
Diana had read that the key to a quaint and authentic Greek experience is to visit an island without an airport.
We were met with smiles, professional service, and a welcoming atmosphere wherever we went on Symi Island.
I especially hit it off with the owner of the local grocery store. He had visited Vancouver in the seventies and loved it. On our last day, he gave us a bottle of local wine to take home. Opa!
A nice day for a swim, Symi, Greece
St. Nicholas Beach
On day one, we opted for the bus to St. Nicholas Beach. The hike to the beach is roughly 20 minutes from the bus stop. The trail allows you to take in the scenery along the way, making the cooling swim a well-deserved reward once you reach the beach.
In the photo above, we are hiking to St. Nicholas Beach. We hung out all day and took a water taxi back to town at the end of the afternoon. Sorry to rub it in, but we were all smiles.
St. Nicholas Beach, Symi Island, Greece
Round-the-Island Day Cruise With “The Poseidon”
On day two at Symi Island, we signed up for a day trip with “The Poseidon,” a cruise around the island that included lunch. It was an excellent day, and we also visited the Archangel Michael of Panormitis Monastery. We warmly recommend this cruise.
Check the photo essay for the Day Cruise around Symi with “the Poseidon”.
Lunch break on the beach on our Round The Island Cruise with “The Poseidon”
Nimborios Beach, Symi
Life’s a beach in Symi; on day three, we decided to start the day with a walk. Nimborios Beach, a large bay with a pebble beach, is about a 45-minute walk from town.
There is a taverna with sunbeds, but there are no shops nearby, which makes for an almost surreal, quiet day. We enjoyed a good lunch and dove into our books and the crystal-clear water.
The 5 p.m. water taxi took us back to town. Early in the evening, I headed out on a photo walk in the hills above Symi while Di stayed back in the air-conditioned room with the book she couldn’t put down.
Check out the blog post with photos from The Hills above Symi.
The shoreline from our hike to Nimborios Beach
St. George Beach and Nanou Bay, Symi
For day four, we had two beaches on the program. A couple of days earlier, we visited St. George on our cruise around the island.
This cove, with its steep rock face, took our breath away. During the cruise, the bay was in the shade in the late afternoon, and we had a mesmerizing swim from the boat.
This time around, we arrived via water taxi mid-morning, and the beach had a different feel. There was nowhere to hide from the scorching sun.
Arriving at St. George Beach onboard “The Poseidon”. Round the island cruise.
The daily temperatures of 30°C (which felt like 40°C) were an enduring challenge. We stayed for a couple of hours and then took a water taxi to Nanou Bay, where we rented sunbeds and followed the same read, swim, and lunch pattern as the day before.
We hopped on another water taxi at 5 pm, heading back to our room for cooling showers and air conditioning.
Couples Massage, Dinner Out, and Packing
Day five was relaxing. We hung out and got things ready for our next move. We had a couple’s massage and started packing. We booked an 8 a.m. ferry because we discovered we could catch up with our good friend Alice and family, vacationing in Rhodes, before our 10 p.m. flight to Copenhagen.
Dinner at Tholos, a famed Symi restaurant with harbor views, was a fitting end to a fantastic visit.
Beautiful boats were constantly arriving to and departing from Symi Island
Thanks to Everyone At The Albatros Inn
Last but not least, we cannot forget to mention Fabien. Fabien is Nicholas’s mother. She and her husband originally built the Albatros Inn about thirty years ago. She is of French and Greek descent and now lives in Athens.
Fabien was in town for the wedding, and we met her every morning during breakfast. Thank you for the wonderful conversations about children and your experiences running the inn. We had a wonderful stay and hope the wedding went well.
The colorful homes in the hills at Symi Island, Greece
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Photos in this article were made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 23mm f/1.4 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Capture One Express. I have used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos.
