Getting around · Rhodes · Greece
Getting around Rhodes
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
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. Not for a stay in Rhodes Town or a single resort, as buses and boats cover the main sights.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- RHO
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Bus
KTEL and RODA buses leave from stops beside the New Market (Nea Agora) next to Mandraki Harbour. The east-coast route to Lindos runs frequently in summer and takes about 1 hour; services thin out sharply in winter.
Check the last bus back from Lindos or the south before you set off; evening services are limited.
Car
A small hire car opens up the west coast, Embonas, Siana, Monolithos and Prasonisi, and main roads are in good condition. Parking is tight in Rhodes Town and at Lindos in summer.
Use the paid car parks above Lindos village rather than trying to drive down to the beach.
Walking
The Old Town, Mandraki Harbour, Elli Beach and Monte Smith are all within a 30-minute walk of each other; the Old Town itself is largely car-free.
Taxi
Taxis wait at the main rank by Mandraki Harbour and at the airport. Fares to Lindos and other resorts follow set rates, and taxis are useful for returning late from tavernas outside town.
In peak season, book a return taxi from Lindos or the south in advance through your hotel.
Boat
Excursion boats from Mandraki run to Lindos along the east coast and to Symi, and fast catamarans link Rhodes with Symi, Kos and other Dodecanese islands. Large ferries to Piraeus take roughly 13–18 hours.
Choose the fast catamaran for a longer stay on Symi; excursion boats often stop at Panormitis Monastery and leave less time in town.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Symi | About 1 hour by fast catamaran | Catamaran or excursion boat from Rhodes Town |
| Prasonisi | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car; occasional summer buses |
| Halki | About 2 hours by road and boat | Drive or bus to Kamiros Skala, then a small ferry |
| Monolithos and the west-coast villages | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car |
| Marmaris, Turkey | About 1 hour by ferry | International ferry from Rhodes Town |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Rhodes?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Rhodes?
Bus: KTEL and RODA buses leave from stops beside the New Market (Nea Agora) next to Mandraki Harbour. The east-coast route to Lindos runs frequently in summer and takes about 1 hour; services thin out sharply in winter.