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Guide · Weather
Symi temperature and weather, month by month
Symi has no weather station of its own in NOAA's global records, so the closest guide is Rhodes, across the water. Here is the Symi temperature and rain picture through the year, what it means for a boat day and when the light suits the bays.
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Editorial team, symiboattrip.comUpdated October 18, 2026Reading time 6 min6 sources
Quick answer
- 01Hottest
- July and August, with average highs of 30.2 °C and 30.3 °C.1
- 02Driest
- June to September: not one day reaching 2.5 mm of rain.1
- 03Softer months
- May at 23.6 °C and October at 24.8 °C.1
- 04Wettest
- January, with 185 mm in the month.1
- 05Swim timing
- In October the St George's Bay stop moves to the way out.2
Where the numbers come from
NOAA, the US weather agency that keeps the global climate records used on this page, has no station on Symi itself. The nearest station with monthly records is at Rhodes, across the strait, and every figure below is the 1991 to 2020 average for that station.1 Symi lies close enough that the seasons match, though a small, steep island can feel windier and hotter in its sheltered harbor.
The station records four things a visitor cares about: the average daily high, the average daily low, how many days bring 2.5 mm of rain or more, and the month's total rainfall.1 Alongside them stand the hours of daylight at mid-month, which are not the same as sunshine but tell you how long the evenings last.
The overall pattern is simple. Summers are hot and dry, winters mild and wet, and spring and autumn sit comfortably in between. For a day trip by boat, the question is less whether it will rain and more how hot the harbor will be at noon and how calm the sea is.
The year
How the season runs
High summer: June, July and August
Summer is reliably dry. In June, July and August the Rhodes station records not one day reaching 2.5 mm of rain, and the monthly rainfall rounds to 0 mm.1 Clouds are rare, and the light on the water is at its most intense, which is why the photographs of Symi you have seen were almost certainly taken in these months.
It is also hot. The average daily high is 27.7 °C in June, 30.2 °C in July and 30.3 °C in August, and nights stay warm, with average lows above 21 °C.1 On the stone quays of Gialos and the 500 steps of the Kali Strata, the midday heat feels stronger than the number suggests.3
Plan around it. Climb early, eat in the shade, carry water and wear a hat. On the water the breeze helps, and the swim at St George's Bay is the best part of the day in this heat. Book early in high summer, and expect the harbor at its liveliest.
Month by month
Daylight and rain at Rhodes, the nearest station
Hours without sunDays with precipitationSeason
The numbers
Highs, lows and rainy days, April to November
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 19.8 °C | 14.3 °C | 4 |
| May | 23.6 °C | 17.9 °C | 1 |
| June | 27.7 °C | 21.7 °C | 0 |
| July | 30.2 °C | 24.2 °C | 0 |
| August | 30.3 °C | 24.9 °C | 0 |
| September | 27.8 °C | 22.6 °C | 0 |
| October | 24.8 °C | 19.5 °C | 1 |
| November | 20.7 °C | 15.2 °C | 5 |
NOAA averages 1991 to 2020 for the Rhodes station; rainy days have at least 2.5 mm.1
The shoulder months: May, September and October
For many travelers the best time to visit Symi island is either side of high summer. May averages a high of 23.6 °C with 1 rainy day, and September still reaches 27.8 °C with no days of 2.5 mm of rain or more.1
October is a quieter, softer month. The average high is 24.8 °C and the low 19.5 °C, with 1 day of 2.5 mm of rain or more in the month.1 Daylight shortens to 11.2 hours at mid-month, and Rhodes Sea Lines changes its program to match.1 In October the bay at St George's falls into shadow early in the afternoon, so its boats swim there on the way to Symi rather than on the way back.2
The season for the day boats has edges too. Rhodes Sea Lines dates its first Faliraki to Symi trip of 2025 to 22 May and its first Kolymbia to Symi trip to 17 June.4 If you are traveling early or late in the year, check that your chosen departure point is already running.
Checklist
What to pack for the season
01
Summer
- Hat, sunglasses, high-factor sun cream
- Water bottle and swimsuit under your clothes
- A light layer for the fast boat
02
Spring and autumn
- A warm layer for the evening
- Shoes with grip for wet steps
- A spare day in case of wind
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Spring and late autumn
April and November are cooler and less predictable. April averages a high of 19.8 °C with 4 rainy days, November 20.7 °C with 5.1 November also brings 86 mm of rain in the month, the first sign of winter.1 Walking weather is excellent, and the lanes of Chorio are at their quietest.
Sea crossings depend more on the wind in these months. Rhodes Sea Lines writes that all its trips need suitable weather as defined by the captain and the Harbor Police, and that a trip it cancels is offered on another date or refunded in full.5 Ferry schedules can change for weather or operational reasons, so check them close to the date.
If you visit in spring or late autumn, think of Symi as a walking island rather than a swimming one. The steps, the castle, the museum in Lieni and the long road to Panormitis are all more comfortable without the summer heat.
Winter on the island
Winter is mild but wet. January is the wettest month at the Rhodes station, with 185 mm of rain and 9 rainy days, and December brings 152 mm with 9 rainy days as well.1 Average highs stay between 15.1 °C and 16.6 °C, mild by northern standards.1
Daylight is shortest in December, at 9.7 hours at mid-month.1 The island is at its most local, with the harbor given back to its residents. It is a beautiful time for walking and photography, but not for a classic day trip with a swim.
If you want to see Symi in winter, a scheduled ferry is the way. Dodekanisos Seaways runs catamarans and the ferry Panagia Skiadeni in its network, and a ferry ticket lets you choose your own days.6
Choosing your month
If swimming is the goal, choose June to September. Rain is close to absent at the Rhodes station in those months, and highs run from 27.7 °C to 30.3 °C, perfect for a swim stop.1 The St George's Bay stop on this site's boat comes after Symi in summer, with the sun still on the water.2
If walking matters as much as swimming, May and October are the sweet spots. You still get warm days and dry weather, but the climb up the Kali Strata is easier and the harbor less crowded at midday. In October, remember that the swim stop moves to the outward leg.2
Whatever the month, keep a spare day. Wind can change the order of the stops or cancel a crossing, and a free day lets you move the trip. On this site's boat a cancellation is free until 24 hours ahead, so a late change is painless.
Packing by season
In summer pack for sun first. A wide hat, sunglasses, high-factor sun cream and a refillable water bottle matter more than anything else, along with a swimsuit worn under your clothes so the swim stop wastes no time. A light layer helps on the fast boat, where the wind feels cool even in August.
In spring and autumn add a warmer layer for the evening and the boat, and shoes with grip for the steps, which can be slippery after rain. In October the days are still warm enough for a swim, so keep the swimsuit, but expect the bay to be in shade sooner.
In winter pack a rain jacket and proper walking shoes. The island is quiet and green after the rains, and the walks to the castle and the windmills are at their best, but the sea crossing can be rough, so check the forecast and the ferry timetable together before you go.
Book your seat
Symi's harbor and the bay are waiting.
Pick a departure, swim at St George's Bay and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
What is the hottest month?
August, just ahead of July. Average highs are 30.3 °C in August and 30.2 °C in July.1
Does it rain in summer?
Hardly ever. From June to September the average is zero days reaching 2.5 mm.1
What is the wettest month?
January. 185 mm of rain in the month at the Rhodes station.1
Is October still good for a boat trip?
Yes, often. At Rhodes, the nearest station, October averages highs of 24.8 °C; the swim stop moves to the way out.12
Why Rhodes data for Symi?
No station on Symi. The nearest NOAA station with monthly records is at Rhodes.1
When do the boats start?
It varies by departure. Rhodes Sea Lines started Faliraki to Symi on 22 May in 2025.4
Can weather cancel the trip?
Yes. The captain and the Harbor Police decide if conditions are suitable.5
Sources
What this guide is based on
- 1↩
- 2Rhodes Sea LinesFAQ: Rhodes to Symi↩
- 3Municipality of SymiΑξιοθέατα (Sights)↩
- 4Rhodes Sea LinesFAQ: Rhodes to Symi↩
- 5Rhodes Sea LinesExpress boat Rhodes to Symi with swim stop↩
- 6Dodekanisos SeawaysSymi - The island of Nireus↩
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