Symi Island Day Trip from Rhodes Including Panormitis Bay

Start your day with a pickup from your Rhodes hotel, and then travel by air-conditioned coach to Mandraki Harbour. Here, meet your tour guide and then hop aboard your ferry boat to begin your day trip.
Relax on deck and take in the stunning views as you cruise through the neck of the harbor and onto the open, azure waters of the Aegean Sea.
Make your first stop at the idyllic island of Symi. Depart your boat and then enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront promenade with your guide. Hear about the island’s sponge diving history, a practice that dates back to Ancient Greece, with works by Aristotle, Plato and Homer all mentioning the use of sponges for bathing.
Then, enjoy free time to explore the island at your leisure. Wander through the hive of cobbled streets, dropping in at charming shops to browse the local wares. Perhaps refuel with lunch at a traditional Greek taverna (restaurant) or indulge in a traditional coffee and a sweet treat in an airy cafe (own expense).
After exploring Symi, meet back up with your guide and return to your ferry boat for a short cruise to Panormitis Bay. Time in this tiny village is spent at your leisure. Maybe visit the Monastery of the Archangel Michael (own expense); this 18th-century Venetian-styled monastery boasts the world’s highest baroque bell tower and is thought to have been built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo.
Head inside the main gate and make your way into the church. Here, marvel at the elaborate chandeliers, and then admire the exhibits at the two museums — one that houses ecclesiastical art and the other that displays folk art and items relating to fishing and agriculture.
When the time comes, cruise back to Rhodes where your tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel.
Please note: On occasion, the cruise is done in reverse, with your first stop at Panormitis Bay and then Symi Island.