Travel tips · Rhodes · Greece
Rhodes travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas Berwing, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Rhodes has layers of history visible in its streets: ancient Greek cities, the Knights of St John from 1309 to 1522, nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule and an Italian period from 1912 that left art deco buildings and a road network. The island joined Greece in 1947–48. Island life is relaxed and family-centred, and Orthodox festivals shape the calendar.
Key facts
- Language
- Greek
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated, but its taste varies around the island and many visitors…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet shopkeepers and taverna staff with 'Kaliméra' (good morning) or 'Kalispéra' (good evening).
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and monasteries; wraps are sometimes provided at the door.
- Topless sunbathing is tolerated on many tourist beaches, but cover up away from the beach, including in Lindos village.
- Lunch and dinner are long and social; it is normal to linger at the table and the bill comes only when you ask.
- Do not flush toilet paper; small-bore island plumbing means it goes in the bin provided.
- Book hire cars and Lindos accommodation early for July and August, when both sell out and prices rise.
Tipping
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.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kaliméra | Good morning |
| Kalispéra | Good evening |
| Efcharistó | Thank you |
| Parakaló | Please / you're welcome |
| To logariasmó, parakaló | The bill, please |
| Yamas | Cheers |
What to wear
Light summer clothing is fine everywhere, with a cover-up for churches. Bring sturdy sandals or trainers for the Old Town cobbles and the climb to the Lindos acropolis.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated, but its taste varies around the island and many visitors drink bottled water, which is sold everywhere.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Hotels, cafés and beach bars widely offer Wi-Fi; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and Greek prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
- Time zone
- Europe/Athens
Rhodes is generally relaxed for visitors. Take care with heat and sunburn in July and August, strong currents on windy west-coast beaches, and scooter and quad-bike accidents on narrow roads. Keep an eye on bags in the crowded Old Town lanes when cruise ships are in port.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Greece's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Rhodes?
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.
+Can you drink the tap water in Rhodes?
Tap water is treated, but its taste varies around the island and many visitors drink bottled water, which is sold everywhere.
+What plugs are used in Rhodes?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Rhodes?
Greek.