Sými
From CruisersWiki
| Sými There are Port(s) of Entry here
| |
     
| |
 Entering Yialós, Sými's Harbor |
Sými or Sími or Syme (Σύμη) used to be off the beaten track and its harbor Yialos, is a jewel of a town with colorful houses built up the steep slopes. Unfortunately this lovely island has been "discovered." Now it is an "in" place and in the summer it is crowded and the lovely harbor now sports the usual bars with their loud music. On the other hand, many of the abandoned houses have been restored. In the last few years, however, the level of tourism has been upgraded, featuring some upscale restaurants and less loud bars, along with more restorations.
Symi along with Kalymnos and Chálki is famous for its sponge divers and at the height of the sponge trace in the early 20th century was very wealthy. Sponge diving in Symi has been going on since ancient times.
Charts
- BA
- 1055 Rhodes Channel and Gökova Körfezi
- Imray-Tetra
- G35 Dodecanese and Coast of Turkey
- NIMA
- 54400 Samos to Rodhos
- Greek
- 451 Leros to Rhodos
Weather
See Aegean Sea.
Passages
Islands
Seskli Island
Communication
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
- Olympia Radio - no signal
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
All approaches to Sými are without danger.
Entrance
Symi is a port of entry in/out Greece. Clear formalities at Yialós.
Berthing
Sými has one good harbor, Yialos, and several very attractive anchorages.
Ports
Yialós
Yialós or sometimes just Symi, is a beautiful harbor. While it is well protected from the meltemi, it can become problematic with strong S winds. It is also a busy harbor and subject to considerable ferry wash. It is not an easy harbor for yachts because it is deep and its bottom of mud and rock does not always provide good holding.
It is best to moor side-to, if there is room, although this is unlikely in busy periods. Otherwise drop the anchor in around 15-20 m and after testing its holding come stern-to. Stay clear of the ferry and hydrofoil area. Anchor west of the Coast Guard on the north side or on the south side. >2.5m alongside. Often, there is an attendant who will direct you, catch your stern lines, and collect 5€ for his trouble. The harbourmaster office is 1/2 mile east on the south side of the harbour. The port is managed by the town hall, so normal Greece costs apply.
Water is provided by a Water man (his phone number is on the pillars). Sillcocks are locked and will be opened for 5€ (no matter the quantity). Electricity is provided by IP44 connections (red connector).
There are several good restaurants and good provision shopping.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Anchorages
Ayia Marina
Pédi
Pédi or Péthi or Pédhi is a deep inlet S of Ayia Marina and Yialos. It affords good shelter from the meltemi although it can be gusty. You can either dock either side at the pier or anchor off in 6-10 m.
Note: Cargo Ships berth regularly on the starboard side of pier looking to the land. Free to use. Alternatively, also free to use is anywhere along the northern sea wall. The bottom is sand and weed, good holding once through the weed.
There is a new (2015) cement pier in the north with about 4m depth: it is not completed (pillars are missing).
There is a bus to to Yialós which seems to depart at half past each hour in summer (last from Yialos at 0:00). There is a mini market at the end of the pier and fuel tankers can deliver. Taverna.Thessalona
Nanou-Maria
Marathouda Bay
Marathouda Bay is about 3 nM S of Pédi. It is subject to gusts from the hills, but it is very attractive with just a small hamlet with bar. Anchor in 4-5 m on patchy sand and weed. June 2017 - weekends extremely busy with 20+ boats anchored on both N & South shore with long lines.
UPDATE 2018 - JULY 2018 - No boat anchored from 18:00 to next morning around 10:00. Excellent taverna on the beach if you do not mind 6-7 goats that come begging for some food ;-) The taverna owner allowed me to use either of his two moorings, which he claimed are secure (I also used anchor though). --IoannisFaneromeni Bay
Panormitis
Panormitis is a bay on the SW of the island. It is almost completely enclosed and offers good shelter in the prevailing northerly winds in a very pleasant environment. However, strong winds from W round to WNW can send in an unpleasant short swell and gusts will be experienced in the anchorage. Anchor wherever there is space in 5-7 metres. The bottom is sand and weed and once the anchor has penetrated it provides good holding. It is also possible to take a line to the N shore. Beware of bees. Water is not so clean.
Be aware that in the summer the pier is used by a big Ferry and another smaller Ferry.
The monastery is very famous but its buildings are not very attractive. There is a bad taverna ashore, a small market, and a good bakery. June 2017 - Taverna was inexpensive and served simple (and delicious) food. It's not haute cuisine but found it to be very good
Ayios Emilianos
Nimborios
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Water | N/A (Not Available) |
| Electricity | Yialós: Community box a bit short on connections |
| Toilets | N/A |
| Showers | N/A |
| Laundry | ? |
| Garbage | There are bins around the harbors and in several anchorages |
| Supplies | |
| Fuel | Yialós: fuel dock on south side of harbour. Also tanker ready to re-fuel |
| Bottled gas | ? |
| Chandlers | None, except a fishing supply store |
| Services | |
| Repairs | N/A |
| Internet | In Internet cafés |
| Mobile connectivity | 3G in most of the island |
| Vehicle rentals | Yialós motorbikes can be rented there |
Provisioning
There are several stores in Yialós.
Eating out
-
Ellinikon [[Sými#Ellinikon|Ellinikon]] recommended.
- Manos [[Sými#Manos|Manos]] (expensive) - total ripoff --Summercruise 10 July 2009 (UTC).
- 'Les Katerinettes [[Sými#'Les Katerinettes|'Les Katerinettes]] recommended.
- Neraida [[Sými#Neraida|Neraida]] recommended.
Transportation
There are twice a week ferries to Athens and daily hydrofoils to Kos and Rhodes.
Tourism
History
According to the mythology the island was named after princess Symi, the daughter of the king of Rhodes Ialysos. She was abducted by Glaukos the famous builder of Jason's Argo who brought her to the island. Her descendants were renowned ship builders. According to another myth, the Titan Prometheus modeled a man from clay from the island. This angered Zeus so much, that he turned Prometheus into a monkey. Since then the word "simian" is connected with monkeys.
Pelasgian walls found in Chorio attest to the long history of the island. In the Iliad, Homer tells how Symi mastered three ships which were led by king [Nireus Nireus]. In later times the island was part of the Dorian Hexapolis (six cities) and dominated by Rhodes. The Romans fortified the acropolis at Chorio and the Byzantines converted it into a fort. Later this fort was renovated by the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John, Foulques de Villaret. During the knight period the island prospered.
When the Ottoman sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, attacked Rhodes, the Symiotes avoided the attack by offering their most precious sponges for his harem. He granted the island some independence and made it into a free port. The island continued to prosper under the Ottomans and the islanders in turn sent to Istanbul sponges every year. After the Greek revolution, some of the privileges were withdrawn but the island still remained prosperous.
The island was occupied by the Italians from 1912 until the second World War. During this period because the Italians closed the island to the Asia Minor markets and because of the competition from steam ships, the fortunes of Symi declined. Its population dropped from 23,000 to 600.
On May 8 1945 the treaty granting all of the Dodecanese to Greece was signed in Symi, and the island became part of Greece in 1948. Today, with tourism and with wealthy Athenians and Rhodians buying and reconstructing it old houses, the island is regaining its former wealth.
Places to Visit
 Chora in Sými |
 The Panormites Monastery |
 To the Bakery in Panormites |
Yialós and Chorio
Yialós is a very picturesque town with many colorful neoclassical buildings. Unfortunately, the Nautical Museum has been closed since the financial problems.
Nearby Chorio has many older houses. It can be reached from Yialós by climbing the 375 steps. At Chorio there is a Museum (open Tues -Sun, 10-2).
On top of Chorio is the Kastro, the site of the ancient and Byzantine acropolis. Within the Kastro there is a post-Byzantine church with some icons and frescoes.
The Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael Panormites
The Monastery of the Archangel (Taxiarchis) Michael at Panormites is famous throughout the Dodecanese. It is believed that when a seaman is in danger, wherever that may be, all he has to do is pray to Michael put some money in a bottle and toss it into the sea. Michael will protect the seaman and his boat while the bottle will eventually wash ashore here at Panormites. There thousands of bottles on display that have come from all over the world to attest this.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
References
See Greece.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Sými and this page's details validated:
- September 2002 (Yialós, Ayia Marina, Thessalona, Nanou-Maria) --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
- July 2005 (Pédi, Yialós) --Istioploos
- June 2008 (Yialós) --Athene of Lymington
- July 2009 (Yialós, Marathouda Bay) --Summercruise 08:08, 14 July 2009 (UTC)
- August 2009 (Panormitis) --Istioploos
- May 2010 (Panormitis) --Athene of Lymington 18:40, 12 May 2010 (UTC)
- July 2011 (Pédi) --Nereus
- June 2014 (Yialós) --Monterey
- April 2015 (Panormitis) --israeldenefraim
- August 2015 (Yialós, Pédi, Panormitis) --Francescor
- June 2017 (Panormitis, Pédi, Nanou-Maria, Marathouda Bay) --Speedbird
- June 2019 (Panormitis) --Io
| This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
 Contributors to this page |
|---|
|
Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington, Summercruise, Nereus, Monterey, Francescor |
