Karpathos - Symi (Simi)
Ferry to Dodecanese Islands
Karpathos - Symi (Simi)
Ferry to Dodecanese Islands
See ferry fares and operators from all over the world in one spot, and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking early is usually the surest way to get a good price and plenty of choice.
Discounts are available with Direct Ferries all year round. If a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied for you automatically once the right age bracket is selected in the passenger options.
Students and recent graduates can claim a 5% saving. Register with our partner Student Beans to verify eligibility, then apply your discount code at checkout.
Resident discounts also apply to a number of Spanish and Italian routes — pick the "Residents" option during search and the fare adjusts automatically. Be ready to show proof of address, such as an ID card or residency certificate, at check-in.
Requirements for travel documents change from route to route, so check what's needed ahead of time. A valid passport is usually required for Karpathos to Symi (Simi) travel, plus any visa or national ID relevant to your nationality. Since the rules depend on your citizenship and destination, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is the place to check for the latest guidance and avoid delays at check-in.
To book, just add your departure port, arrival port and preferred date, and you'll see every fare and sailing on offer. You can also compare alternative routes and times to find your best match.
Look out for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket options, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that let you make changes down the line. Entering accurate details — passenger count, vehicle specs and so on — keeps the process running smoothly.
As soon as your booking is confirmed, a confirmation email will land in your inbox. What happens next with your boarding pass depends on the operator you've booked.
Some operators issue boarding passes right away, while others need you to check in at the port itself. Where it's supported, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online in advance.
You'll usually find ticket desks close to the ferry terminal. Giving yourself a little extra time before departure means you can collect tickets and check in without any stress.
Bring your confirmation email and valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, to check in. Pet owners should have vaccination and insurance documents on hand, and anyone with a resident discount should carry proof of address.
There are a few reasons departures from Karpathos to Symi (Simi) might not show for your chosen date — a schedule change, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal lull are the most likely. Try another date or check alternative routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Karpathos to Symi (Simi) ferry well ahead of time generally works in your favour — you'll usually find better fares and a wider choice of departures and cabins.
A few weeks ahead is usually enough notice to catch the best offers, though fares can still fluctuate with the season and remaining space.
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Located in the Dodecanese group of the islands, the Greek island of Karpathos lies in the eastern Aegean Sea and is the second largest of the Dodecanese islands. Its relatively remote location has meant that the island has managed to retain many of its traditions and customs, traditional dress and dialect which resembles the dialect of the Greek island of Crete and of Cyprus.
The island's north has many rugged mountains but in contrast the south of the island is quite fertile, and visitors can see many wildflowers during the winter and spring. The island's coastal areas are characterised by beautiful beaches which tend to be quiet and are often nestled between the island's cliffs. The island's beaches differ quite markedly from each other which is dependent on the beach's location. The east coast beaches tend to be smaller and gravelly, but tend not to be too windy. The beaches on the south coast tend to have fine white sand as do the beaches on the island's west coast, although these are the most exposed to the Meltemi and are only really available when the wind isn't too strong. Finally, the beaches in the north are difficult to get to and are really only accessible by sea or by jeep.
Ferries from Karpathos depart to the ports of Piraeus, Rhodes, Heraklion, Milos, Anafi, Sitia, Santorini, Chalki and Kasos.
The Greek island of Symi is one of the Southern Dodecanese and is located to the north of the island of Rhodes and is close to the coast of south west Turkey. The island is around 13 km in length, north to south, and about 8 km east to west and has a total land area of around 70 sq. km. The four main areas on the island are Yialos, which is where the island's main harbour is located, Chorio is the top town, Pedi Bay is the valley that is located below Chorio and Nimborios is the bay and settlement that lies to the north of Yialos. Also on the island is the small village of Marathounda and the Monastery at Panormitis.
There are a number of popular sites across the island and includes a number of old churches and monasteries with one worth visiting being the Church of Constantinos and Eleni on the southern slopes of the Vigla which has lovely gardens and terraces. Also on the island, and built by the Knights of St. John in the 14th century, is the Monastery of the Archangel Michael at Roukouniotis which was built on the site of a 5th century monastery, which itself was built on the site of a pre-Christian temple.
