Symi keeps one of the calmest nightlife scenes in the Dodecanese. The island builds its evenings around the harbour of Gialos, not around clubs or beach bars. Waterfront tavernas, ouzeri and a small set of relaxed bars carry the night, set against the lit mansions that ring the bay. This guide covers how a Symi … Read more
The clock tower and the nautical museum stand together on the Gialos waterfront of Symi. The tower, known as the Roloi, rises at the entrance of the harbour. It is a tall white neoclassical tower, topped by a clock and a statue. The tower dates from the age of the island’s sponge and shipping wealth. … Read more
Nos beach is the closest beach to the harbour of Symi Town, the swimming spot for visitors staying in Gialos. The pebble cove sits north of the port, reached by a flat coastal path in ten to fifteen minutes on foot. No boat or bus stands between the quay and the sand, since the walkway … Read more
Symi Town is the main settlement of Symi, a Dodecanese island set between Rhodes and the Turkish coast. The town divides into two linked parts. Gialos rings the harbour at sea level, and Chorio crowns the hill directly above it. Neoclassical mansions in ochre, pink and pastel rise in tiers around the bay, a legacy … Read more
The Kali Strata is the broad stone stairway that climbs from Gialos, the harbour of Symi, to Chorio, the old town on the hill above. The name means the good steps. Roughly 500 wide treads of stone and marble carry residents and visitors between the two levels of the town. The stairway passes neoclassical mansions, … Read more