General Information & Reviews

Reviews

• gjhote66 18 Oct 2011
  Worth the long ferry trip

  Simi is not an island to party but a perfect place to explore the natural paths and fantastic landscapes. It has monasteries worth visiting, pristine beaches and fantastic architecture. Pedi, Panormitis and Eborio are nice and clean beaches, easily accessible. However, if you get a boat from Gialos you can access some pretty small coves of Simi and you will probably be alone for the whole day.
  
  In Ano Simi we found a couple of charming bars to enjoy a cold drink and great music. There are taverns offering delicious traditional recipes and unforgettable mezedes. We also enjoyed their local wine and actually took some with us back home. Most of the taverns you will find them at Gialos and Ano Simi.
  
  The trip to Simi was actually long and tiring by ferry from Piraeus but the beauty of this place is much more. I hope that this short review will urge you to visit this great island.
  
• taniatg33 04 Apr 2011
  Fell totally in love

  It was on TV the first time I heard of Simi during a special broadcast dedicated to Greek islands. I was astonished by the beauty of this place. Finally, the following year I managed to take my friend and visit this tiny tiny island.
  
  We stayed in a great double room in Gialos, the port of Simi, nice service and not very expensive. The village is built amphitheatrically offering a perfect view from the highest point. The colorful houses, the small churches and the Neoclassical buildings are some of the characteristics that the island is worth to visit. We had no doubt that the beaches would be great, with green clear waters and vast vegetation, a landscape beautiful and challenging to put on canvas.
  
  Most places in Simi are a short walking away, or few min boat ride. Have good feet and trainers to walk, and also you will need much breath to climb the 300 or more steps from the port to the top of the Town.
  
  The beaches in Simi are fine, maybe a bit rocky for some tastes, and certainly do not expect the long sandy beaches of Rhodes. I personally loved the small coves located between Nimporio and the town. Pedi is nice, organized and crowded. The last day we visited the Monastery of Panormitis, a place of great significance for the locals.
  
• cattyd 11 Nov 2010
  Obsession with the place

  This is our third trip to Simi and we would never ever tire of the place. If you have been a day-tripper to Simi, you might never understand our obsession with the place. Simi as seen by the day-trippers is nothing like the Simi you get to experience if you stay a few days on the island. The secret is to get out of Gialos when the day trippers arrive! We made it a point to visit the beaches (some on foot, some by taxi boats) and dine at the lovely beachside tavernas. At Nimborio, we even watched the tavern keeper haul in the day's catch and by the time we returned from a swim, the fish was cooked and ready at our table! Now, isn't that cool?
  
  One morning we took the long staircase, the Kali Strata, (brace yourself! I counted more than 450 steps!) from Gialos to Chorio, the old town, which is a maze of charming streets lined with lovely churches. A twenty-minute hike on a steep track swathed in greenery brought us to Pedi Bay, a lovely sand and shingle beach, with two beautiful coves on the southern end. The next day, we took the winding track out of Gialos that led us to the small monastery of Zoodochos Pigi Vrisi. Painted in white and built in stone, it was singularly beautiful and we saw one of the prettiest sights on the island: a tiny natural spring irrigating an orange tree that stood alone in the monastery garden.
  
  Deserted bays abound all round Symi and taking a caique during the day helps you avoid the swarms who arrive from Rhodes. We also took an excursion caique (offered only on saturdays) to Datca, a short distance from the Turkish coast. A fabulous experience of a different culture and we also got to visit the local market there.
  
• abigail 08 Jul 2010
  Avoid the day trippers and enjoy

  Simi is a beautiful mountainous island dotted with sandy beaches and silent coves. It has a truly unspoilt ambience unlike many other Greek isles where tourism has swallowed up the naturalness of the place. We took a hydrofoil from Rhodes and booked ourselves into a pension in Chorio, the beautiful village above the harbor. We were keen to avoid the throngs of day trippers and what better way to do than to escape into the interior of the island.
  
  We hiked the dark woods filled with the pleasant aroma of herbs and summer blooms, and the view of imposing Neoclassical mansions set amphitheatrically on the barren mountainside was truly remarkable. We also discovered another way to avoid the day trippers- took a day excursion on a cute boat (I think the name was Triton) and visited some fabulous swimming spots and deserted islands. On one of the days, we took a taxi boat from Pedi Bay to visit some of the isolated beaches on Simi. Some of them were lovely and peaceful, save for a single taverna. In fact, we watched the tavern owner catch the fish at 12 am, which was cooked for our 2 pm lunch!
  
• harryburn88 24 Feb 2010
  Enjoy yourself

  We went to Simi in 2008 and had a wonderful time.
  
  Organising the holiday was easy, we booked our flights in the UK so we were covered if anything happened to the airline, but the rest of the holiday we booked through a travel agency on Simi, where we found Frances and George and the rest of the staff to be most helpfull. They organised everything for us:accommodation, ferries, transfers, car hire, hotel for the night in Rhodes, because our flight landed too late to catch the last ferry they booked us into the Plaze Hotel (very nice).
  
  We stayed at the Kyklameno Studios in Horio which was typically Greek lovely, we had a wonderful view over the harbour from our balcony, watching the comings and goings of the ships and ferries over a glass of cool Ouzo. We hired a car and did some exploring, not that it took long to get anywhere. We found Pedi beach to be our favourite. When we eventually had a stroll around the harbour, we found the Platia cafe/bar to be the perfect place to relax. Don't sit on the left hand seat at the front! that's mine! Everyone was so generous and kind.
  
  Prices were not too bad either, considering a lot of cruise ships come in from Rhodes. I must mention the Kala Strata, we missed the taxi one night and had to climb the 462 steps to to the village, but we had some refreshement on the way up at the Kala Strata bar near the top very nice indeed.
  
  So for anyone thinking of going to Simi for the first time, we would say go and enjoy yourself!
  
  Cheers Harry and Pam
• binst 13 Jan 2010
  Only for a day

  We went for only a day in Simi as a tour from Rhodes. The ferry ride took only an hour and at first it landed in a small port to visit a Monastery. Then we continued to Simi Town, a lovely place where the dominatting colurs were more earthy, mostly brown, yellow and red. All houses were made of stone and they have red roofs. They looked nice as they were built on the slopes of a hill. I didn't see many hotels in the town, maybe more were located close to the beaches. We went a bit swimming in a small beach close to the port, but the shore was a bit rocky. The water though was clean. I can't say more about Simibecause we were there only for a day, so our feedback will not be complete. I can just say that I liked it and that we had some really fresh fish in a tavern at the port. I saw many boats coming from Rhodes and one side of the port was full of yatchs and private ships.
  
• irini27 27 Sep 2009
  Traditional and cozy

  Can this small review describe this island? I'm afraid no... Traditional cozy and beautiful although the lack of flora, quiet in the morning but so joyful after sundown. Hire a boat so as to visit exotic beaches all round Simi(Disalonas is an excellent choice) and of course taste the local little shrimp that I was told is only available in Symi’s sea. It is only an hour from Rhodes and coasts of Turkey. If you get the chance to visit festivals in churches (spot the excellent pebble artwork on yard ground) you will be treated a sweet brown bread (gosh with excellent smell), a traditional sweet like donut with sugar and cinnamon over it in a shape of a finger and strong coffee with milk. All houses are in the same architecture style and there is whole village area with ruins from the bombardment of the English and Italian army I strongly suggest it to all kind of tourist that you may be and of course if you love scuba diving the underwater experience strikes hard! Corrals, sponges, fishes and I have noticed a small sea creature like a turtle or something like that, it has a star on it of thorns. Nimos, Seskli and Agios Emilianos definitely worth a visit.
  
• bbenjimen 26 Jul 2009
  Rugged and picturesque

  Sadly this beautiful island has fallen victim to the get rich traders and restauranters who wait for the unsuspecting tourists on a day trip from Rhodes pressurising them into their dens.
  However if you avoid Yialos which is the port and base yourself up in the town of Horio, then you will see the true locals and dine with them at some excellent restaurants and tavernas that still have that magical Greek athmosphere. The island itself is very rugged and picturesque so if you can ignore the tourist traps down by the harbour you will have a great holiday.
  
• sahara_610 29 May 2009
  Loving Symi

  Hello,
  I'm back today from the marvelous Greece and I gone to love Symi much.
  Many people was telling me that I could go there by cruise boat because 4 hours are enough for to visit Symi.
  Well, I'have been in Symi 7 days and I loved it.
  Symi is a fantastic island, there are many things to descover on it, like beachs. From Yalos or from Pedi, you can take the taxi boat and every day, you can go in a different beach and I'm sure, you will love it too.
  Please, don't let yourself to go in Symy only for 4 hours, let yourself to descover it, let yourself to listen only the sea and bird noise,relax and peace for the mind.
  
  
  Kamar
• rania32 25 Apr 2009
  Special for its architecture

  I believe its special architecture is what distinguishes Simi from other islands and makes it more special. The town, built along a cliff, has tall stone houses in soft yellow and brown colour. Really matching with the barren and mountainous ambience! Small gift shops are found along the narrow streets of the town and the port has a couple of good cafeterias. Otherwise, the beaches are not so good (very narrow, bad connected to the town). Simi is a great island to eat Greek and walk but do not expect organized beach resorts. Note this: I read in a newspaper that Silvio Berlusconi is looking for a house to buy on Simi!
• stepbbr 25 Feb 2009
  Picturesque architecture

  I have seen almost all the big islands of Greece, so now I want to see as many of the smaller islands as I can. Last summer, I went on a tour on the small islands of the Dodecanese (Simi, Tilos, Chalki and Astypalea). The island of Simi doesn't have a good beach in the harbor area, it was very small but there was no charge for the use of the sunbeds. We had two meals in Symi and the restaurants were very clean. The whole island is so beautiful and picturesque. The architecture is very nice. I felt authorities are doing their best to keep new buildings in line with the existing buildings. Simi is simply a must see.
• andershal 06 Oct 2008
  Love this island

  My wife's parents both emigrated from Simi to New York. This was my third visit on the island as we are restoring the house of mother-in-law, which she abandoned 70 years ago. Fell in love with the island from the first time I arrived. The ferry heads for what looks like barren rock, turns around the corner and the port opens up before your eyes. Unlike other Greek islands, the houses in Simi are yellow and red with the odd lavender accents here and there. The port is lined by small shops and restaurants, good choices (no Chinese or Thai). Coffee shops with internet connections. Very relaxed, nice people.
  
  
  Take a taxi boat and visit the little bays, pebble beaches, a nice little taverna, nothing fancy, very nice. Drive over the mountain to Panormiti, the old monastery, pretty spectacular. Nightlife - you go out and eat, talk with people, have a good time. For other attractions, Simi has an active cultural program during the summer with performances on the central outdoor stage. During Easter Week (been there twice for Easter), the island starts waking up for the summer season, the streets are hosed down, doors and shutters repainted, ladies are scrubbing the stairs. The church services are well attended, processions and fireworks (and dynamite in the hills), all ending up with free BBQ in the square on Easter Sunday, hosted by Elefteris the mayor. Love it!
• mail 04 May 2008
  Herb Island

  That was the name it was given in 1984, the first time I was there.
  More than 10 yaers later, I was there again. Not for holliday, but for work.
  A Greek-Belgian, filmcrew was shooting a film for several months.
  This is a warm and friendly Island, and it smell so well. Herbs, alover the place. Fresh fish, right from the see.
  Lets hope I can go back, very soon.
• tzina57yut 07 Apr 2008
  Worth a visit

  We went to Simi as a weekend excursion from Rhodes. It was what we expected, a small and quiet island. It was a real paradise after the noise of Rhodes. We stayed in a mansion in Simi town and ate some delicious fresh fish in a tavern at the port. Next morning we visited the
  Monastery of Archangel Michael in Panormitis, tasted some local wine and walked along the quay. I can't speak on the beaches of the island because I don't like swimming, but the landscape and the villages were great. Really worth to visit if you like quiet places.
• Sam_07 25 Jul 2007
  A fantastic island.

  I didn't know what to expect from this island. I was pleasantly suprised with the quiet atmosphere and the friendly people that were there. The landscape is breathtaking and the beaches were fantastic.