Ferry from Symi (Gialos) to Nisyros (Mandraki)

Symi to Nisyros takes between about two and a half and three and a half hours, worked by Blue Star Ferries on the Blue Star Patmos and by SAOS Ferries on the Saonisos and the Stavros. All are conventional ferries rather than fast craft, so there is deck space and room to move about on what is a straightforward run west across the southern Dodecanese. Some sailings call at other islands on the way, which accounts for the longer end of the range.

Nisyros is a volcanic island and the caldera, with its steaming Stefanos crater, is what nearly everyone comes to see. Ferries dock at Mandraki, the main village on the north-west coast, a compact whitewashed place backed by cliffs, from where buses and taxis run up to the volcano. The island is small and quiet outside the middle of the day, when the Kos day-trip boats are in.

Sailings run three or four times a week across the operators, so there is reasonable choice in season. Current departures and fares are shown in the timetable below, with fares from around €10.50. Nisyros has frequent short links to Kos, which is the practical hub for flights and onward ferries.

Symi to Nisyros Ferry Fares

Weekly Symi to Nisyros Ferry Schedule

The repeating pattern behind the dated timetable, without dates. Each row is one scheduled departure and the days it runs.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Symi to Nisyros between 24 October 2026 and 6 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Symi to Nisyros ferry

• Symi's harbour has two separate docking points: Dodekanisos Seaways catamarans use the clock tower, while larger conventional ferries dock at the New Port, a shadeless 15-minute walk away with no shops or taxis – confirm which one applies before you set off.
• Buy or confirm ferry tickets at the Symi Tours office on the harbour front, the long-standing general agent for Dodekanisos Seaways and Blue Star Ferries, rather than assuming online booking alone will guarantee your allocated departure point.
• Don't confuse the scheduled Dodekanisos Seaways or ANES catamarans with the organised day-trip excursion boats from Rhodes, which fill the harbour around midday and typically call passengers back for a fixed afternoon return sailing.
• The meltemi is a reliable, predictable wind – sailors and ferry operators know its pattern well. It blows hard in the afternoon but often eases overnight.
• Seasickness wristbands (acupressure) help some travellers and have no side effects – worth trying if you prefer not to take tablets.

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