Outdoors · Rhodes · Greece
8 best outdoor things to do in Rhodes
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Old Town walls and moat, Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes and Kallithea Springs. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 11–15 hours across 7 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 11–15 hours
- Areas
- Rhodes Old Town, Rhodes New Town and Kallithea
Outdoors in Rhodes
Historic site · Rhodes Old Town
1.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
2.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
Architecture · Kallithea
3.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
4.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
5.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
6.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
Nature · Kolymbia
7.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
Aquarium · Rhodes New Town
8.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
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodes Old Town | Old Town walls and moat | 1 hour |
| Rhodes New Town | Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes and Rhodes Aquarium | 1–1.5 hours + 45 minutes |
| Kallithea | Kallithea Springs | 2–3 hours |
| Faliraki | Anthony Quinn Bay | Half a day |
| Petaloudes | Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) | 1–1.5 hours |
| Ialyssos | Filerimos | 1.5 hours |
| Kolymbia | Seven Springs (Epta Piges) | 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 5 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Anthony Quinn Bay; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Rhodes Old Town and Rhodes New Town): Old Town walls and moat → Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes → Rhodes Aquarium, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Kallithea): Kallithea Springs, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Faliraki): Anthony Quinn Bay, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Petaloudes, Ialyssos and Kolymbia): Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) → Filerimos → Seven Springs (Epta Piges), at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 3 rainy days, moderate crowds. One of the best months: warm, sunny days, comfortable for climbing to Lindos and swimming from the second half of the month.
- June: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and dry with long evenings; the sea is warm, beaches fill up and the high season gets going.
- July: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season, with highs often above 33°C in Lindos and strong winds on the west coast; the Butterfly Valley moths are at their peak.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Rhodes Old Town — Car-free medieval lanes, Knights' inns and boutique hotels in restored stone houses
- Rhodes New Town — Mandraki Harbour, Elli Beach and the island's main bar streets
- Ixia and Ialyssos — West-coast hotel strip with steady winds and sunsets over the sea
- Faliraki — Long sandy beach, water park and a busy summer resort strip
More of Rhodes
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Rhodes?
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.
+Which of these are free in Rhodes?
Old Town walls and moat, Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes and Seven Springs (Epta Piges).