Must visit: the island of Symi in Greece

The Greek locals looked at me with a frown and repeated what I said: so you are here for the fourth (!) time and you have never been to Symi? For a moment I thought they would roughly push me off the island. But it was so and apparently there had to be a change in that. Off to Symi and once I was there, I didn't want to leave anymore.

The very first tip: take your time for Symi. Excursions are offered to the special Symi via the surrounding islands, which is almost touching the coast of Turkey, where you can do a thousand-and-one things. To Symi, via the holy Panormitis and then you should actually also immediately go to St. George’s Bay. Don't try to do it all in three hours, that's my advice. Take your time, book a night on Symi and just stay there for a while. At the end of the afternoon, when the last boats are boarding and leaving, a calm falls over the little town with the colorful facades.

The Greeks take it a step slower and you can only absorb the beauty of the town. The island, and especially the architectural style, has quite a bit of Italian influence and by now you may only build according to the neo-classical style. Logical, because what is beautiful you want to keep beautiful. If you stay for dinner, walk all the way around the harbor and a bit further to the farthest point for the beach. At the little restaurant Tholos, order the Dodokanese salad and a pot of mussels, which you enjoy with a view of the town. I promise you that you will want to come back every year.

P.S.: By the way, leave those sponges on the island as they are. They originally come from Symi, yes, but the sea has long been overfished and the specimens that are now there are imported from the Caribbean. It takes away a bit of the charm.