Symi harbour

Pastel-coloured houses grouped around the harbour basin, colourful fishing boats bobbing up and down in a soft swell, small ouzerias where you can enjoy your ouzo accompanied by soft bouzouki sounds and in between lots of large and small yachts. Symi is just as popular with the yachties as with people holidaying on land. Yachts can moor at the northern side of the quay. You will often hear a whistle from somewhere and then the harbour master will assign a berth to someone. When it is too full, it looks somewhat disorganised but still endearing. The water depths decline rapidly, which is why you have to let out a lot of chain. The anchorage is dirty, some areas are rocky and it has a moderate hold. At the vertex of the harbour bay, anchors can easily get entangled in the old chains and lines lying around on the seabed. Watch out for the swell, sometimes heavy, generated by the many ferries. Many taverns, bars and various small food stores are lined up along the waterfront.