Shopping · Rhodes · Greece
Shopping in Rhodes
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Rhodes shopping centres on the Old Town's Sokratous Street and the New Town's shopping streets, with leather, jewellery, ceramics and local food products. Lindos lanes sell linens and lace, and villages sell honey, wine and souma direct. Best souvenirs: Melekouni, Thyme honey and Local wine and souma.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Melekouni
Where to shop
Sokratous Street, Old Town
The Old Town's main shopping street, running from Hippocrates Square to the Suleiman Mosque, packed with jewellery, leather and souvenir shops.
New Town shopping streets
The streets behind Mandraki around Makariou and Griva have Greek fashion chains, pharmacies and everyday shops used by locals.
Lindos village
Lanes of shops selling embroidered linens, lace, ceramics and beachwear between the square and the acropolis path.
Archangelos
A large village on the east coast known for its pottery workshops and hand-made ceramics.
Markets
New Market (Nea Agora)
The heptagonal Italian-era market building by Mandraki Harbour, with cafés, grill counters and small shops around its courtyard.
What to buy
Melekouni
The sesame-and-honey wedding sweet of Rhodes, sold wrapped in bakeries; it travels well.
Thyme honey
Rich thyme honey from Siana and the mountain villages, sold in jars by the producers.
Local wine and souma
Bottles from the wineries of Embonas and souma from Siana.
Lindos-style ceramics
Plates and tiles painted with the floral and ship designs of traditional Lindian pottery.
Embroidered linens
Hand-finished tablecloths and lace from Lindos and the villages; check labels, as imported versions are common.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Pitaroudia, Melekouni, Souma and Rhodes wine. Village tavernas and traditional mezedopoleia in the Old Town; ask for them by name if they are not on the menu. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $$ | Long sandy beach, water park and a busy summer resort strip |
| Lindos | $$$$ | Whitewashed village under the acropolis, car-free lanes and rooftop restaurants |
| Kiotari and Gennadi | $$$ | Long, quiet beaches and large resort hotels in the island's south-east |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Service is not usually added. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good taverna service is appreciated, and a euro or two for hotel cleaners and porters is customary.
- Greet shopkeepers and taverna staff with 'Kaliméra' (good morning) or 'Kalispéra' (good evening).
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in November–February; the busiest months are July–August.
- August: Assumption Day village festivals with music and dancing (15 August)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations in Rhodes Town
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Rhodes?
Melekouni, Thyme honey, Local wine and souma and Lindos-style ceramics.
+Where is the best shopping in Rhodes?
Sokratous Street, Old Town: The Old Town's main shopping street, running from Hippocrates Square to the Suleiman Mosque, packed with jewellery, leather and souvenir shops.
+What are the best markets in Rhodes?
New Market (Nea Agora).