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Symi Town Walk
This Symi Town Walk links the two great stone staircases of Chorio and visits Symi’s two museums and several churches.
Distance
2.5 km (1.6 miles)
Time
3 hours allowing for visits to museum and churches
From Skala Square on the harbour, climb the broad steps of the Kali Strata. Follow prominent signs (blue arrows) to the town’s two museums, through a series of alleyways. You’ll eventually find your way to the Archaeological Museum and the Symi Folklore Museum, which are side by side.
The museum contains an excellent collection of Byzantine and medieval artefacts. Right by the Archaeological Museum is the handsome restored 18th-century Chatziagapitos Mansion. Check whether it’s open for visitors to look round, as it has been closed for repair work.
Walk straight ahead from the Archaeological Museum doorway past a telegraph pole. Go beneath an arch, then climb steps by a sign for ‘Castle’. Follow a narrow alley.
The Church of Ágios Athanosios
At a junction keep right, go down two steps to an open square in front of the handsome Church of Ágios Athanosios. Like all of Symi’s churches, St Athanosios is brightly painted and immaculate.
Go down curved steps on the far side of the square, then turn left. Keep straight ahead at the telegraph pole, then at a T-junction go left. At the next junction go right to reach another immaculate church.
Symi’s Castle
Go up the steps to the left of the church, then turn right, then left. Keep ahead to where a sharp turn right leads up some steps. Go up left to reach the castle (Kastro).
The site of the old castle is dominated by the Church of Megali Panagia, a replacement of a previous church destroyed during World War II. One of the church bells is the nose-cone of a bomb.
Don't miss our YouTube video: Let's Visit Symi!
Retrace your steps from the church, then go down left to reach another church with a tall bell tower. Turn right down more steps, then go left. Follow a road round the hillside to reach another church, from where steps lead down to the top of the Katarraktis, Chorió’s second great stone stairway that leads back down to Gialos.
Download the Walk
We've prepared a PDF file of the walk so that you can download it and print it out, if you want to take a printed copy with you to help follow the directions.
Where to Stay on Symi
Our Symi pages
Easter on Symi
Easter on Symi is a wonderful Greek celebration and one of the best times to visit the little gem of an island a short ferry-ride from Rhodes in the Dodecanese.
Best Things to Do on Symi
The best things to do on Symi include visiting the several museums, climbing to Symi Castle for the view and taking an excursion to the Monastery of Panormitis.
A Holiday on Symi
Mike Gerrard wasn’t sure what to expect from a holiday on Symi, in the Greek islands, but what he found was lots of local feasting, dancing, and music.
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