Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Several excursion boats do trips from Gialos Harbour to Moni Taxiarhou Mihail Panorm-
iti (€25), and Sesklion Islet (€25), where there's a shady beach. Check the boards for the
best-value tickets. There are also boats to Agios Emilianos beach, on the far west side of
Symi.
The small
water taxis
( 22460 71423)
Konstantinos
and
Irini
go to many of the is-
land's beaches (€12 to €16), leaving at 10.15am and 11.15am respectively.
BUS & TAXI
The bus stop and taxi rank are on the south side of the harbour in Gialos. The bumble-
bee- coloured
minibus
( 6945316284)
makes hourly runs between Gialos and Pedi
Beach (via Horio; flat fare €1). The turquoise
minibus
( 22460 71311)
departs Gialos at
10am and 3pm daily for Panormitis (€6 return). Taxis depart from a rank 100m west of
the bus stop and cost €25 (each way) to Panormitis.
CAR
Glaros
( 6948362079, 22460 71926;
www.glarosrentacar.gr
;
Gialos; scooters/cars €25/45)
hires cars for around €45 and very new-looking scooters for €25. It's near the Gialos
clock tower.
TOP OF CHAPTER
GialosΓιαλός
POP 2200
Neoclassical Gialos is worth all the hype thrown at it by glossy editorials. Indeed, with
the colourful harbour punctuated by its basilica and clock tower, its excellent tavernas
and crayon-colour scheme, it may be the most stunning harbour in Greece. A great place
to spot famous actors hiding under hats, half the fun is wandering about the backstreets
spilling with sponge stores and aromatic bakeries.
Leaving the harbour behind, wind your way up vertiginous Kali Strata past traditional
sea captains' houses - your calves will hate you but your memory won't. Settled as an
antidote to marauding pirates, Horio clings to the sheer hillside in a warren of variously
crumbling and gloriously restored villas. Crowd-free and peaceful, there's a couple of
tavernas at the summit to reward your Herculean climb up the 500 steps.
Sights
