3 Best places to stay in Symi

Built in 1895, this three-storey neoclassical landmark enjoys an unbeatable waterfront location.

Decorated with family heirlooms and vintage photos, the 15 rooms have parquet floors, painted ceilings, and lashings of period charm – even if the amenities are relatively basic.

Run by an Italian family with roots on Symi, the Aliki is refined yet relaxed. Soak up the scene over breakfast by the sea or sunbathe in secret on the roof garden where there are lovely views.

The owners also run La Vaporetta restaurant next door, which offers fancy Italian cuisine in a magical harbourside setting.

Once a Jewish market, this 19th-century monument overlooking Symi’s dreamy harbour reopened as a boutique bolthole in 2011. The adjacent Captain’s Mansion, with an indoor pool, was added in 2016.

With just 10 rooms, featuring original flagstone floors, stone arches, and decorative ceilings, this charming hotel is designed with romance in mind. The staff strike just the right note between laid-back and deferential.

Pampering is a given, with cocktails served on your terrace and massage therapists on call. Even the Champagne breakfast has a gourmet touch – eggs benedict, homemade granola and peach smoothies.

Limani means ‘harbour’ in Greek, and harbourside living is exactly what this small, stylish hotel is all about. All six sun-kissed rooms look onto Symi’s picture-perfect port, an incomparable backdrop for boat- and people-watching, day and night.

While the views are expansive, the well-appointed bedrooms are relatively compact. The neoclassical building has been restored with sensitivity, but interiors have a more contemporary feel, with wooden floors, rain showers, and coffee machines.

For a first-time visitor to Symi, this is an ideal base, right in the handsome heart of the action. But if you’re after privacy and peace, look elsewhere.