Discover Symi:
7 Scenic Hiking Trails in Symi the Jewel of the Dodecanese
Large and deep bays, lacy coasts, high and steep mountains, rocky islets and islets, crystal clear sea, impressive capes, cypress and pine forests – the landscape of Symi is full of surprises and peculiarities. Its centuries-old history is reflected in the architecture of the settlements, with the capital of the island having been designated entirely preserved. Two- and three-story houses with roofs and courtyards with pebble compositions on the floor, tiled roofs, elaborate ironwork on the balconies, vivid colors.
The materials alone bear witness to the cosmopolitan character of the island, since the shipwrights of Symia , without counting the cost, brought marble from Paros and Penteli for their stairs and balconies, theraic earth for the needs of masonry and timber from Trieste for the roofs of their houses. Its ports tell the story of the great maritime past, the folk music echoes the memories of sailors and moppers, the calm rhythms transport you to a Greek island unlike any other. And of course, the best way to "travel" to the magic of Symi is by hiking its paths.
1) Xissos – Church of Agios Vasilios and Lapathos beach, 2.1 km / 45'
Follow the cement road that goes south of the Xisos settlement . The path to Agios Vasileios starts to the left of the fence of the house you will meet at the end of the road. There is a wooden sign there as well as red and blue signs marking the entrance to the trail. When entering, be sure to keep the fence on your right. At its end you cross the gully and follow the signs that lead you to a smooth path without particular slopes, on the right (northern) slope of the mountain. You will come across clumps of cypress trees and before long the path begins to descend.
At this point the beach should be visible on your left. You follow the cuckoos and the red and blue signs until you reach a point where you see the sea on your right. A little further down, always on your right, you will see the steps that lead to the chapel of Agios Vasilios . Continuing towards the idyllic beach, you should carefully descend, following the red and blue markings from rock to rock, as the path becomes very steep.
2) Agios Georgios Ptochos – Agios Nikitas Kotika – Lappatoni Castle, 2 km / 30'
The starting point of the path is in the courtyard of Agios Georgios the Poor, at the end of the dirt road that leaves west from the village of Xisos. You leave your vehicle outside the chapel and head towards an iron door. You open it and straight ahead there is another one that puts you on the path. It is marked with red dots that lead you parallel to the fence of Agios Nikitas. You continue following the red markings on smooth ground and parallel to the ridge, until you enter an area overgrown with cypress trees. The path ends at the remains of the old castle of Lappatoni.
3) Pedi - Agios Nikolaos beach, 1 km / 20'
The path starts in front of the church of Agios Thomas, on the eastern edge of the coast of the Field. At its beginning it is paved with cement and follows the coastline. The signage is dense and the path passable, making the route a pleasant walk that ends at the beautiful beach with the homonymous church. On the coast there is a jetty for mooring boats and a beach bar.
4) Mylos (Upper Symi) – Pontikokastro – Agia Marina – Pedi, 4.6 km / 1 hour and 45 minutes
You will find its starting point in the area of Mylon, on the main asphalt road east of Chorio, at the point where the road meets the cobblestone road that leads to the settlement (there is also a sign "toward Pontikokastro"). With the mills on your right, follow a smooth path until you come to an iron door. You pass the ruins of some mills and reach Pontikokastro (prehistoric mound). From this point you go uphill, following the red signs on the well-marked path on the north side of the Noulia hilltop. A little further down you cross a plateau with a slight downhill slope for the next 800 m . where on your left you will see some ponds. From here onwards the path descends steeply, while you can see the islet of Agia Marina .
Follow the fence on your right until, a few meters before you reach the shore, you come across a door that leads to the beach bar and restaurant area. Go through this area and turn right on the cobblestone until you come to an identical door that leads you out of the enclosure. From here you climb smoothly for about 200 meters and face the chapel of Agios Nikolaos, on the opposite side of the protected bay in Pedi. The path continues smooth and clear until Pedi.
5) Towards Nanou beach, 2.2 km / 50'
From the asphalt road that leads from Symi to Panormitis , directly opposite the chapel of Panagia Strateri , a path starts, marked with red paint, that descends steeply towards the ravine. You immediately enter a dense cypress forest and descend, always steeply and parallel to the gully, which you cross and continue on its right (south) side for about 45 minutes, always in dense vegetation following the red signs. Just before you go to the beach, on your right, you will come across the Skordalos cave , where traces of Neolithic habitation were discovered. After 20 l seven you reach the beach of Nanou, which has wonderful waters.
6) Village - Dragon's Fort, 1.2 km / 25'
Following from Gialos the central asphalt road towards Panormitis, at the southern end of the Village, just before the chapel of Agia Evdokia , you will see a bench at a point with a nice view. Right there, the path begins on your left, the first few meters of which is paved with cement, while it is marked with red paint. About 250 m further down you will come across an Archaeological Service sign that reads " Ancient Dragon Fortification ". The path continues between dry stones until you meet two doors. Open the one directly in front of you, because the right one leads to the adjacent fields. A little further down you meet another door, and at this point the path forks: its left branch leads to farmhouses behind Pedi, and the right branch is also the one you are interested in. You continue on smooth ground, you pass another iron door and about 150 m . further down you will find on your left a black metal door which is the entrance to the archaeological site.
7) Gialos – Agios Fanourios, 1.5 km / 30'
You take the concrete road that leads from Gialos to the cemetery of Elikoni. Just before the cemetery there is a path that turns left, parallel to the cemetery paddock, marked with blue and red paint. About 50 m after the cemetery you come across the ravine which you cross. From here the path climbs smoothly. You pass a stable on your left and three wooden doors and then follow the iron pipe which rests on a cobblestone base, until you meet a house and the concrete road that will bring you in front of the chapel of Agios Fanourios .
