Slow Travel in the Dodecanese: Islands Where Time Stands Still

Arriving in Symi feels like stepping into a watercolor painting. Pastel neoclassical houses cascade down toward a perfectly curved harbor, where fishing boats sway gently in turquoise water.

There isn’t much to “do” here — and that’s the beauty of it.

Mornings begin with a swim from a rocky platform. Afternoons are for wandering uphill staircases to panoramic viewpoints. Evenings revolve around long seafood dinners by the water. Symi is not about sightseeing; it’s about atmosphere.

With no airport and a limited pace of life, Symi naturally filters out hurried travel. You adapt to its tempo — slow, sun-warmed, and deeply relaxing.