3 days in Rhodes

Day by day

1. Day 1: Palace of the Grand Master and Street of the Knights

   Palace of the Grand Master, Street of the Knights and Old Town walls and moat, then Mandraki Harbour in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palace of the Grand Master

      The fortress-palace of the Knights' Grand Masters stands at the top of the Street of the Knights.

   2. Late morning

      Street of the Knights

      Come back after dark, when the street is lit and almost empty.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pitaroudia

      Village tavernas and traditional mezedopoleia in the Old Town; ask for them by name if they are not on the menu.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Mandraki Harbour

      Walk the mole to the windmills and the fort at sunset, then eat souvlaki at the New Market stalls.

2. Day 2: Acropolis of Lindos and Lindos village and St Paul's Bay

   Acropolis of Lindos, Lindos village and St Paul's Bay and Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, then Orfanidou Street, New Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Acropolis of Lindos

      Climb as early as the site allows; the path from the village takes 15–20 minutes, has no shade and gets very hot by late morning.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Symi shrimp

      Seafood tavernas in Rhodes Town and on Symi itself, where they are a point of local pride.

   4. Afternoon

      Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

      Combine it with the Palace of the Grand Master on a hot afternoon; the stone halls stay cool.

   5. Evening

      Orfanidou Street, New Town

      Rhodes Town's 'Bar Street', a run of music bars and clubs near Elli Beach that stay busy until the early hours in summer.

3. Day 3: Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes and Rhodes Aquarium

   Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes, Rhodes Aquarium and Kallithea Springs, then Rhodes Old Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes

      On the hill above the west side of town, the ancient acropolis has partly re-erected columns of the Temple of Pythian Apollo, a restored stadium and a small marble theatre.

   2. Late morning

      Rhodes Aquarium

      It takes under an hour, so combine it with a swim at Elli Beach next door.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Melekouni

      Bakeries and sweet shops in Rhodes Town and the villages; it keeps well and travels home easily.

   4. Afternoon

      Kallithea Springs

      About 9 km south of Rhodes Town, this restored 1920s Italian spa has a domed rotunda, pebble-mosaic terraces, palm gardens and a small rocky cove with sunbeds and clear water for snorkelling.

   5. Evening

      Rhodes Old Town

      Courtyard bars and wine bars in the lanes off Sokratous Street and around Hippocrates Square, in medieval settings.

If it rains

• Swap in Kahal Shalom Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter (Rhodes Old Town): Look for the museum's family photographs and records; volunteers can often help descendants trace names.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Rhodes Old Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Rhodes New Town ($$) suits first-timers, budget, nightlife and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.7 hours in December to 14.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Rhodes
• 2 days in Rhodes
• 5 days in Rhodes

Questions travellers ask