Travel guide · Greece
Rhodes travel guide
A walled medieval Old Town, the Lindos acropolis and two very different coasts
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas Berwing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands, about 80 km long and closer to the Turkish coast than to Athens. At its northern tip, Rhodes Town wraps around the walled medieval Old Town built by the Knights of St John, with the Palace of the Grand Master and the cobbled Street of the Knights. The sheltered east coast has sandy bays, family resorts and the whitewashed village of Lindos under its clifftop acropolis, about 50 km south; the windier west coast has the Ixia hotel strip, ancient Kamiros and Knights' castles. Most visitors combine a few days in or near Rhodes Town with a beach base further south. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Greece
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 7 days
- Main airports
- RHO
- Mid-range daily budget
- $130–$250 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Medieval Old Town, Knights of St John, Lindos Acropolis and Palace of the Grand Master
Why visit Rhodes
- The Old Town of Rhodes is one of the largest inhabited medieval walled towns in Europe, with Knights' inns, mosques and a 16th-century synagogue inside its walls.
- Lindos pairs a whitewashed village with an acropolis 116 metres above the sea and St Paul's Bay directly below.
- The east coast has long sandy beaches such as Tsambika and Faliraki with calm water, while Prasonisi on the southern tip is a windsurfing and kitesurfing hub.
- Day boats reach the neo-classical harbour of Symi in about an hour, and the island is a short hop from the Turkish coast.
- The swimming season runs from May to October, with sea temperatures around 24–27°C from July to September.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Palace · Rhodes Old Town
Palace of the Grand Master
The fortress-palace of the Knights' Grand Masters stands at the top of the Street of the Knights.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Lindos
Acropolis of Lindos
On a sheer rock 116 metres above the sea, the acropolis combines the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, a Hellenistic stoa and the walls of a Knights' castle.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours with the climb
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Lindos
Lindos village and St Paul's Bay
Lindos's whitewashed lanes hold captains' houses with carved doorways and black-and-white pebble-mosaic courtyards, and the Church of the Panagia with its frescoed interior.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- Iconic
Waterfront · Rhodes New Town
Mandraki Harbour
Rhodes Town's old harbour is guarded by bronze statues of a stag and a doe on columns at its entrance, where legend places the Colossus.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Kids
Street · Rhodes Old Town
Street of the Knights
Ippoton, the cobbled street running downhill from the Palace of the Grand Master, is lined with the inns where the Knights of St John lodged by language group, or 'tongue'.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Historic site · Rhodes Old Town
Old Town walls and moat
The Knights' fortifications run for about 4 km around the Old Town, with massive gates such as the d'Amboise Gate and the Marine Gate.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Rhodes Old Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for couples, culture and first-timers
Rhodes Old Town
Car-free medieval lanes, Knights' inns and boutique hotels in restored stone houses
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Rhodes New Town
Mandraki Harbour, Elli Beach and the island's main bar streets
$$$ · Best for families, couples and luxury
Ixia and Ialyssos
West-coast hotel strip with steady winds and sunsets over the sea
$$ · Best for families, nightlife, budget and beach
Faliraki
Long sandy beach, water park and a busy summer resort strip
What to eat
- Pitaroudia — Rhodes's signature fritters, made with mashed chickpeas or with tomato, onion and mint, fried until crisp outside and soft within.
- Symi shrimp — Tiny red shrimp from the waters around neighbouring Symi, deep-fried and eaten whole, shell and all, with lemon.
- Melekouni — A chewy bar of toasted sesame seeds and almonds bound with thyme honey and flavoured with orange and spices.
- Souma — Rhodes's clear grape spirit, distilled from pomace after the wine harvest, similar to tsipouro.
- Rhodes wine — The island's PDO wines are made mainly from the white Athiri grape and the red Mandilaria, known locally as Amorgiano.
- Grilled octopus — Octopus sun-dried on lines, then grilled over charcoal and dressed with olive oil, vinegar and oregano.
When to go
The best time to visit Rhodes is late May to June and September to early October, when the sea is warm, days are sunny and the Old Town and Lindos are less crowded than in July and August. High summer is hot and busy, and rain is very rare from June to September. From November to March most resorts close, though Rhodes Town stays open for mild-weather sightseeing.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Green hills, wildflowers and Orthodox Easter, with comfortable walking temperatures; hotels reopen during April and the sea becomes swimmable by late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, dry and sunny with a warm sea; peak crowds at Lindos and the Old Town, strong winds on the west coast and the highest prices. |
| Autumn | September–November | The warmest sea of the year in September and settled weather into October; resorts close from late October and rain returns in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild but often wet, with most beach resorts closed; Rhodes Town remains lively with locals and is good for quiet history visits. |
Getting there and around
Diagoras International Airport (RHO) is at Paradisi on the west coast, about 14 km south-west of Rhodes Town. RODA buses run to the town in about 30 minutes, and taxis take about 20 minutes. Lindos and the south-east resorts are about 50–70 km away, roughly an hour or more by road.
Rhodes Town and the Old Town are best explored on foot. Two bus networks link the town with the rest of the island: KTEL buses cover the east coast as far as Lindos and the south, and RODA municipal buses serve the town, the west coast and the airport. A hire car is the easiest way to reach the castles, villages and quieter beaches.
Plan your days
Three days covers the Old Town, Lindos and a beach day. A week lets you add Symi, the west-coast castles and Kamiros, and slower days on the east-coast beaches; with ten days you can explore the quiet south as far as Prasonisi.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Greek
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated, but its taste varies around the island and many visitors drink bottled water, which is sold everywhere.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is not usually added.
Rhodes is generally relaxed for visitors. Take care with heat and sunburn in July and August, strong currents on windy west-coast beaches, and scooter and quad-bike accidents on narrow roads. Keep an eye on bags in the crowded Old Town lanes when cruise ships are in port.
Flights to Rhodes
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Rhodes?
Three days covers the Old Town, Lindos and a beach day. A week lets you add Symi, the west-coast castles and Kamiros, and slower days on the east-coast beaches; with ten days you can explore the quiet south as far as Prasonisi. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Rhodes?
The best time to visit Rhodes is late May to June and September to early October, when the sea is warm, days are sunny and the Old Town and Lindos are less crowded than in July and August. High summer is hot and busy, and rain is very rare from June to September. From November to March most resorts close, though Rhodes Town stays open for mild-weather sightseeing.
+What is Rhodes known for?
Medieval Old Town, Knights of St John, Lindos Acropolis, Palace of the Grand Master, Sandy east-coast beaches, Windsurfing at Prasonisi and Colossus of Rhodes legend. The Old Town of Rhodes is one of the largest inhabited medieval walled towns in Europe, with Knights' inns, mosques and a 16th-century synagogue inside its walls.
+Is Rhodes expensive?
Rhodes is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $130–$250 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Rhodes?
Not for a stay in Rhodes Town or a single resort, as buses and boats cover the main sights. A car for two or three days is the best way to see the west coast, mountain villages, castles and the far south.