Rhodes: a Medieval Walled City and the Island of the Sun

A big, green island built around a living medieval city

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands, out in the southeastern Aegean near the Turkish coast, and it feels different from the whitewashed Cyclades. Its centerpiece is one of the great sights of the Mediterranean: the walled medieval Old Town of Rhodes, built by the Knights of St John in the 14th and 15th centuries and still lived in today, a UNESCO World Heritage maze of honey-colored stone, cobbled lanes, grand gateways, and the imposing Palace of the Grand Master. Walking into it through the massive gates is like stepping into the Middle Ages.

Beyond the Old Town, Rhodes is big, green, and varied, with a warm, sunny climate that has earned it the nickname the Island of the Sun. There are long sandy beaches on both coasts, a wine country in the interior, ancient sites like the Acropolis of Lindos, and pretty inland villages, all easily reached on a relaxed island stay. The island's size and its excellent road and bus network mean you can base once and see a great deal without rushing.

And it is easy to reach. Rhodes has its own international airport with direct seasonal flights from many European cities, plus quick domestic connections from Athens, so it does not require a long ferry to get to. That accessibility, combined with the medieval Old Town, the storybook village of Lindos, and a season that stays warm well into October, makes Rhodes one of the most rewarding and relaxed of all the Greek islands for an unhurried visit.

The most important thing to know: the Old Town, Lindos, and getting around

Two of the island's star sights are also its two accessibility challenges, and knowing how to approach them is the key to a comfortable Rhodes trip. Both the medieval Old Town and the clifftop village of Lindos are utterly beautiful and both involve cobbles and climbing, but both can be enjoyed with a little planning.

Getting around the rest of the island is easy. Rhodes has a good public bus network from Rhodes Town along both coasts to Lindos, Faliraki, and the beaches, plus plentiful taxis and organized day tours. You do not need a car unless you want to explore the remote interior, and basing in or near Rhodes Town keeps the Old Town, the beaches, and the bus station all close.

The best things to do in Rhodes

Getting around Rhodes

Rhodes is large but well-connected, and car-free travel is easy: a good bus network, plentiful taxis, and organized day tours reach everything most visitors want to see.

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  The island buses, Rhodes has a reliable public bus network running from the two stations in Rhodes Town down both coasts, to Lindos, Faliraki, Kallithea, and the beach resorts, plus inland routes. Buses are cheap and frequent in season; buy tickets at the station kiosk or on board, and check the return timetable, as evening services thin out.
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  Taxis & private drivers, Taxis are plentiful and metered in Rhodes Town and are a comfortable way to reach Lindos or a beach, especially in a small group. For a full day of sightseeing, hiring a driver or joining an organized tour removes the logistics and lets you see the far corners of the island at a relaxed pace.
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  Organized day tours, Because Rhodes is big, guided day tours are a popular, low-effort way to see the highlights: Lindos and the east coast, the west-coast ancient sites and wine villages, or a boat trip to the nearby island of Symi. The coach or minibus handles the driving and the timing, which suits travelers who would rather not navigate.
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  On foot in the Old Town, You will explore the walled Old Town entirely on foot. The main streets are flat but cobbled; side lanes can be uneven and a few are stepped. Wear sturdy, grippy shoes, take it slowly, and use the many cafes and squares to rest. It is compact enough to see comfortably in gentle stages over a day or two.
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  Arriving in Rhodes, Rhodes International Airport (RHO) is about 15 minutes west of Rhodes Town, with direct seasonal flights from across Europe and quick domestic hops from Athens (about 50 minutes). Ferries also link Rhodes to Athens (a long overnight) and to other Dodecanese islands. A pre-booked transfer or a metered taxi is the easy way from the airport into town.

Where to stay in Rhodes

Read before you go: Rhodes & the Dodecanese

A few books to bring the island, its knights, and the wider Greek world to life before you travel.

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Best time to visit Rhodes

May-June, Our top recommendation

Late spring is Rhodes at its finest: warm, sunny days at 75-84°F, a sea warm enough to swim, wildflowers in the interior, and the Old Town and Lindos pleasant to explore before the summer heat and crowds. Everything is open and prices are moderate. The best all-round window.

September-October, Equally excellent

Rhodes stays warm remarkably late. September is hot and glorious with a warm sea and thinning crowds, and even October is pleasantly warm at around 72-80°F, one of the longest beach seasons in Greece. Prices ease and the island relaxes. A superb, calmer time to visit, especially for the Old Town.

July-August, Peak season

High summer is hot, busy, and expensive, when Rhodes fills with beach holidaymakers and the Old Town and Lindos are crowded and warm. It is still enjoyable if you plan around it: sightsee early, rest through the midday heat, book ahead, and expect peak prices. The sea and long evenings are glorious.

November-April, The quiet season

Winter is mild but quiet: many coastal resorts and beach facilities close, though Rhodes Town, as a real working city, stays open year round with its Old Town, museums, and restaurants. Days are cool and sometimes wet at 55-62°F. A calm, inexpensive time for a city-and-history break, less so for the beaches.

Rhodes know-how: shoes, the Lindos climb, and the long season

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  Wear sturdy, grippy shoes, Both the Old Town and Lindos are paved in worn, uneven cobbles and stone that can be slick, and Lindos adds steps. Comfortable walking shoes with good grip make the difference between enjoying the medieval lanes and watching your feet the whole time.
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  Make the Lindos summit optional, The acropolis of Lindos sits atop a steep rock reached by a stiff, stepped climb. You do not have to make it: ride a donkey or take a taxi partway up, enjoy the village, the bay, and the lower viewpoints, and treat the very top as a bonus rather than the goal. A guided tour paces it for you.
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  Sightsee around the midday heat, Rhodes is one of the sunniest, warmest islands in Greece, and summer middays are hot. Explore the Old Town and Lindos in the cooler morning and late afternoon, seek shade or a long lunch through the hottest hours, wear a hat, and carry water. The Old Town's cafes and squares are made for a restorative pause.
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  Choose your coast for the beach you want, The east coast (Faliraki, Kallithea, Tsambika) has the calmest, sandiest, most sheltered beaches, ideal for an easy swim; the west coast is breezier and pebblier, better for windsurfers than for gentle bathing. Pick your base and your beach days by the coast that suits you.
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  Explore beyond the Old Town, Rhodes rewards those who venture out: the Art Deco spa at Kallithea, the ancient ruins of Kamiros, the Valley of the Butterflies, and the wine villages of the interior are all gentle, uncrowded, and easily reached by bus, taxi, or tour. They show a greener, slower side of the island most day-trippers miss.
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  Medical care and the basics, Rhodes has a general hospital in Rhodes Town and pharmacies across the island, so care for most needs is close at hand, a real plus for a larger island. English is very widely spoken. The Europe-wide emergency number is 112, and travel insurance covering medical care is always wise abroad.

What travelers say about Rhodes: our review roundup

We read recent traveler reviews across TripAdvisor, Rick Steves forums, and Greek-island travel resources and summarized what visitors keep saying about Rhodes.

4 to 5 days in Rhodes: a relaxed plan

Day 1, the medieval Old Town

Ease in with the walled city. A morning through the great gates to the Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master, a long lunch in a shaded square, and a slow afternoon wander through the honey-colored lanes and the old Jewish quarter. Return in the golden evening once the day crowds have gone.

Day 2, Lindos

A day trip south to Lindos by bus, taxi, or guided tour. Explore the dazzling white village, ride a donkey or take a taxi partway up to the clifftop acropolis for the staggering views over St Paul's Bay, and enjoy a long lunch with a view. A beautiful, storybook day at a gentle pace.

Day 3, beaches & Kallithea

A relaxed coast day: the restored Art Deco spa and sheltered cove at Kallithea Springs, then an easy afternoon on one of the calm east-coast beaches such as Faliraki or Tsambika, with a swim and a seaside taverna. Little walking, lots of sun and sea.

Day 4, the greener island

Explore the quieter side: the ancient ruins of Kamiros on the west coast, the Valley of the Butterflies in summer, and a tasting in the wine villages of the interior. A guided tour or a driver makes it effortless. With a fifth day, add a boat trip to the pretty nearby island of Symi.

Getting to Rhodes: direct flights and connections via Athens

Rhodes is one of the easiest Greek islands to reach because it has its own busy international airport (RHO), about 15 minutes west of Rhodes Town. In the summer season there are direct flights from many European cities, so travelers coming from the UK and Europe can often fly straight to the island without changing in Athens. From North America, the usual route is a flight to a European hub or to Athens, then a short domestic hop.

From Athens, domestic flights to Rhodes take about 50 minutes, with frequent daily services on Aegean, Sky Express, and others, which is the fast and easy way to add Rhodes to a wider Greek trip. Ferries also connect Rhodes to Athens's port of Piraeus, but it is a long overnight voyage, so most visitors fly; ferries are more useful for hopping between Rhodes and the other Dodecanese islands. From the airport, a metered taxi or a pre-booked transfer reaches Rhodes Town or the resorts quickly.

Rhodes FAQ