Free things to do · Rhodes · Greece
7 free things to do in Rhodes
Rhodes without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Rhodes without paying an entry fee: Lindos village and St Paul's Bay, Mandraki Harbour, Street of the Knights and Old Town walls and moat are all free. Book hire cars and Lindos accommodation early for July and August, when both sell out and prices rise.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 10
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- November–March
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Lindos
1.Lindos village and St Paul's Bay
Stay for the evening if you can: once the tour buses leave, the lanes are calm and the acropolis is floodlit.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- Iconic
Waterfront · Rhodes New Town
2.Mandraki Harbour
Walk the mole to the windmills and the fort at sunset, then eat souvlaki at the New Market stalls.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Kids
Street · Rhodes Old Town
3.Street of the Knights
Come back after dark, when the street is lit and almost empty.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Historic site · Rhodes Old Town
4.Old Town walls and moat
Enter the moat near the d'Amboise Gate by the Palace of the Grand Master and follow it south; go in the morning or late afternoon in summer.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Historic site · Rhodes New Town
5.Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes
Walk up from the Old Town in about 30 minutes or take a short taxi ride, and arrive an hour before sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · Kolymbia
6.Seven Springs (Epta Piges)
Bring shoes that can get wet and a phone light if you plan to walk the tunnel; it is not suitable for anyone uneasy in tight, dark spaces.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Religious site · Kolymbia
7.Tsambika Monastery
Climb in the early morning or towards sunset and bring water; there is no shade on the steps.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lindos | Lindos village and St Paul's Bay | Half a day |
| Rhodes New Town | Mandraki Harbour and Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes | 1 hour + 1–1.5 hours |
| Rhodes Old Town | Street of the Knights and Old Town walls and moat | 30 minutes + 1 hour |
| Kolymbia | Seven Springs (Epta Piges) and Tsambika Monastery | 1–2 hours + 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Palace · Rhodes Old Town
Palace of the Grand Master
Visit early in the morning before cruise-ship groups arrive, then walk down the Street of the Knights while it is still quiet.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Rhodes Old Town
Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Combine it with the Palace of the Grand Master on a hot afternoon; the stone halls stay cool.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Architecture · Kallithea
Kallithea Springs
Bring a mask and snorkel; the cove's rocks are full of small fish, and the water is calm most mornings.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Outdoors
Beach · Faliraki
Anthony Quinn Bay
Arrive before 10am in July and August, or come late in the afternoon when the morning crowd leaves.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Couples
Nature · Petaloudes
Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes)
Do not clap or shake branches to make the moths fly; disturbing them drains the energy they need to breed.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Ialyssos
Filerimos
Walk the Way of the Cross path in the late afternoon for shade and the best light over the coast.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · West coast
Ancient Kamiros
Pair it with lunch at the fish tavernas of Kamiros Skala and a stop at Kritinia Castle a few kilometres south.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Castle · West coast
Kritinia Castle
Come for sunset; the west-facing ramparts catch the last light, and the road is quiet on the way back.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Aquarium · Rhodes New Town
Rhodes Aquarium
It takes under an hour, so combine it with a swim at Elli Beach next door.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Religious site · Rhodes Old Town
Kahal Shalom Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter
Look for the museum's family photographs and records; volunteers can often help descendants trace names.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Book hire cars and Lindos accommodation early for July and August, when both sell out and prices rise.
- Eat a gyros or a bakery pie at lunch and keep sit-down meals for the evening.
- Many beaches have free areas beside the sunbed concessions; bring your own umbrella from a supermarket.
- Travel in late May, June or late September for summer weather at noticeably lower hotel rates.
- Buses to Lindos and the east coast cost a fraction of a taxi; use taxis only for late returns.
- Some state archaeological sites offer free entry on certain national holidays and winter Sundays; check the Ministry of Culture's list.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Rhodes expensive to visit?
Rhodes is moderately priced for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Rhodes?
Lindos village and St Paul's Bay: Stay for the evening if you can: once the tour buses leave, the lanes are calm and the acropolis is floodlit.