Rhodes Travel Guide: Old Town, Lindos, Beaches, Getting Around

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Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, is one of the easiest Greek islands to combine with Turkey: Marmaris is about an hour away by fast ferry. Most visitors split their time between Rhodes Town, with its walled medieval Old Town, and the beaches and villages of the east coast, above all Lindos. This guide covers how to get there and around, what to see, where to base yourself and which day trips fit, including a day in Marmaris.

Short answer

• Top sights: the Old Town of Rhodes (UNESCO World Heritage since 1988) with the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights, the acropolis of Lindos, ancient Kamiros and the Valley of the Butterflies.
• Getting there: Rhodes airport (Diagoras) is about 14 km from Rhodes Town and has many summer flights from the UK. Fast ferries link Rhodes Town with Marmaris and Fethiye in Turkey.
• Getting around: KTEL buses run down the east coast to Lindos; municipal RODA buses cover the town, the west coast and the airport. A hire car is the easiest way to reach the west and south.
• Where to stay: the Old Town or the New Town for sightseeing on foot, Faliraki or Ixia for a resort holiday, Lindos for a quieter, scenic base. See where to stay in Rhodes.
• Day trips: Symi by boat, and Marmaris in Turkey on a same-day return ferry. Take your passport, or an ID card if your country is on Türkiye’s list.
• Prices (as of October 2026): the Palace of the Grand Master and the Lindos acropolis cost €20 each, the Archaeological Museum €10. Summer opening hours run until 31 October.

Where to stay

For a short stay, Rhodes Town is the most practical base. The Old Town puts you inside the walls, a short walk from the ferry harbour, in small hotels in restored stone buildings. The New Town around Elli beach has bigger hotels with pools and lifts and is still walkable to the sights. Ixia and Ialysos on the west coast and Faliraki on the east coast suit resort holidays of several nights, and Lindos suits a quiet, scenic stay away from town. Our where to stay in Rhodes guide compares the areas and lists more hotels.

Getting there

By air

Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras” lies near the village of Paradeisi, about 14 km southwest of Rhodes Town, and is run by Fraport Greece. In summer it has direct flights from many European cities; easyJet’s route pages listed eight UK departure airports for Rhodes in October 2026, with a flight time of 4 h 05 min from London Gatwick. The UK nonstop routes we could date are summer routes. Our flights guide lists the airlines and seasons in detail.

You can also fly into Dalaman in Turkey and cross by ferry from Marmaris or Fethiye, which makes for an easy two-centre trip.

By ferry from Turkey

• From Marmaris: passenger-only fast ferries take about an hour and land in Rhodes Town, right by the Old Town walls. Sea Dreams sells the crossing in Rhodes and Yeşil Marmaris Lines in Marmaris. According to Yeşil Marmaris (email, 25 October 2026), the catamarans belong to Yeşil Marmaris, and Sea Dreams is a Greek agency working with it that also runs its own catamaran in season. See the Marmaris to Rhodes ferry guide.
• From Fethiye: Tilos Travel’s Sea Star catamarans take roughly 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes depending on the source. See Fethiye to Rhodes ferry.

None of these boats carry cars. Long-distance ferries also connect Rhodes with Piraeus, but Discover Greece gives two different journey times for them (around 13 to 17 hours, usually overnight), so check the operator’s timetable.

Entry rules for UK visitors

GOV.UK says a British passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and must be valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the Schengen area. UK citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully in force at Schengen borders, but GOV.UK’s Greece page says Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers under EES, and advises following officials on the ground. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered in EES.

Getting around

From the airport

According to the airport, the public bus stop is between the old and new terminals, and RODA, the municipal bus company, handles questions about the service. The taxi rank is in front of Arrivals (T1). A January 2026 bus guide says the airport bus usually takes about twice as long as the roughly 25-minute drive into town.

Buses

Rhodes has two bus networks. The municipality describes them like this:

The main bus station is in the New Town, near the New Market and a short walk from Mandraki and the Old Town gates. Visit Greece puts the bus ride from the Central Bus Station to Lindos at about 1 hour 40 minutes. The municipality also runs a free journey-planner app, Rhodes Public Transport (mobility.rhodes.gr), with bus arrival estimates. KTEL publishes its timetables at ktelrodou.gr. Timetables change by season, so check them close to your travel date.

Taxis

Taxis are easy to find. Discover Greece warns they can be expensive over longer distances. We could not confirm current fares from an official source, so ask for an estimate before you set off.

Car hire

You don’t need a car in Rhodes Town: the Old Town is best on foot, and parking inside the walls is very limited. A car makes sense for Kamiros, the west coast, the Valley of the Butterflies and the beaches of the far south, which are slow to reach by bus. Ask the rental company which licence and documents it accepts before you book.

Car hire

Car hire: Rhodes

DiscoverCars compares offers from several rental companies in one search. Check the pick-up point, deposit and insurance terms before you book.

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Things to see

The Old Town of Rhodes

The medieval town has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1988. The Knights of St John held Rhodes from 1309 to 1523, and the walls they built run for about 4 km around the town. UNESCO describes two parts: the Upper Town, built entirely by the Knights, with the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Great Hospital and the Street of the Knights; and the Lower Town, where Ottoman mosques, baths and houses stand alongside Gothic buildings. Many churches were turned into mosques after 1523. Most lanes are cobbled and car-free, so wear comfortable shoes.

Palace of the Grand Master

The Knights’ seat, restored under Italian rule in the 1930s, holds mosaic floors and exhibitions on the town’s history.

As of October 2026, the Greek Ministry of Culture lists summer hours (1 April to 31 October) of 08:00 to 20:00 and winter hours (1 November to 31 March) of 08:30 to 15:30, closed on Tuesdays. Tickets cost €20. Last admission is 20 minutes before closing. Free-admission days include 28 October and, from November to March, the first and third Sunday of each month. The walk along the city walls (€5, reduced €3) is closed all winter, according to the ministry’s ticketing site hh.gr (checked 22 October 2026).

Street of the Knights

The street climbs from the Archaeological Museum up to the palace and is lined with the inns of the Order’s “tongues”, its national groups. There is no ticket; you walk along it on the way to the palace.

Archaeological Museum

The museum occupies the former Hospital of the Knights at the bottom of the Street of the Knights. As of October 2026, the ministry lists the same summer and winter hours as the palace (winter closing day Tuesday) and a full ticket price of €10.

Mandraki harbour and the Süleymaniye Mosque

Mandraki, the old harbour just north of the walls, with its bronze deer statues, marks the line between the Old and New Towns. The Colossus of Rhodes is thought to have stood near the harbour entrance before an earthquake brought it down in about 226 BC. Inside the walls, at the top of Sokratous Street, the Süleymaniye Mosque was built after the Ottoman conquest of 1522 and rebuilt in 1808. According to Wikipedia it is not used for regular worship; we could not confirm whether visitors can go inside.

Acropolis of Rhodes (Monte Smith)

About 3 km southwest of the centre, the hill holds the partly restored Temple of Apollo, a stadium of the 3rd century BC and a small odeon. It is a popular spot at sunset.

Lindos

The acropolis of Lindos sits on a rock above a whitewashed village on the east coast, about 50 km from Rhodes Town. On top are the Temple of Athena Lindia, a Hellenistic stoa, the 13th-century church of Agios Ioannis and a building from the Knights’ era. You walk up from the village. As of October 2026, Visit Greece lists admission at €20 and summer hours of 08:00 to 20:00. For winter (1 November to 31 March), the ministry’s ticketing site hh.gr gives 08:30 to 15:30, closed on Tuesdays, with a reduced ticket of €10 (checked 22 October 2026); Visit Greece gives 08:00 as the winter opening time. Go early in high season, before the coaches arrive.

Kamiros

Ancient Kamiros on the west coast was one of the island’s three Dorian cities, with Lindos and Ialysos. It was rebuilt on a larger scale after the earthquake of 227/226 BC, and its remains spread across a quiet hillside. As of October 2026, the Hellenic heritage agency lists tickets at €10 (reduced €5) and hours of 08:00 to 18:30 from 1 to 15 October and 08:00 to 18:00 from 16 to 31 October; in winter it opens 08:30 to 15:30 and closes on Tuesdays.

Valley of the Butterflies and Filerimos

Petaloudes, the Valley of the Butterflies, is a wooded gorge with a marked path, wooden bridges and steps. The Jersey tiger moths it is named after are most numerous from June to September, according to Discover Greece. A regional tourism site says the valley closes in winter, and sources disagree on opening hours, so we don’t give them. Filerimos hill, with remains of ancient Ialysos, a Byzantine fortress and a monastery, is often combined with the valley on half-day tours.

Beaches

Discover Greece names these beaches, among others:

• Elli: the town beach, about 15 minutes’ walk from the Old Town.
• Anthony Quinn Bay: about 16 km away, a favourite with snorkellers.
• Faliraki: a long resort beach with beach bars and water sports.
• Kallithea and Pefkos: calm, clear water and a quieter atmosphere.
• Agathi: a golden beach with shallow water, good for families.
• Lindos beach: a long sandy beach below the acropolis. Tsambika and St Paul’s Bay are also on the east coast.
• Prasonisi: at the southern tip, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean; popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers.

Day trips

Marmaris in Turkey

A day in Marmaris is easy to do on your own. As of October 2026, Sea Dreams lists a 09:00 departure from Rhodes and a 17:15 return from Marmaris up to 24 October; from 25 October the boat leaves Rhodes at 08:30 Greek time and returns at 16:00 Turkish time. The crossing takes 60 minutes. Sea Dreams lists a same-day return at €67 per adult, including €20 port tax, for the 09:00 sailing. Sea Dreams’ timetable page gives no check-in time; allow about an hour for ticketing and passport control.

Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year, while Greece puts its clocks back on 25 October 2026, so from then until late March Marmaris is one hour ahead. UK citizens need a passport valid for at least 150 days after arrival in Turkey, according to GOV.UK. Türkiye accepts national ID cards from 21 countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Timings, the castle museum and the bazaar are covered in our Rhodes to Marmaris day trip guide, and entry rules by nationality in day trips to Turkey from the Greek islands.

Fethiye is not a day trip in October: Tilos Travel’s 2026 timetable has a morning boat from Rhodes only from 22 May to 20 September.

Symi

Symi is a domestic route, so there is no border control. Excursion boats from Mandraki give you about three to four hours in Gialos, and the classic trip adds about an hour at Panormitis Monastery. Scheduled ferries are cheaper but need more planning. Details in our Symi day trip from Rhodes guide.

Kastellorizo

Greece’s small island off Kaş is not a day trip from Rhodes. Ferryscanner shows a fastest crossing of 2 hours 20 minutes and about one sailing a week from October to May. Plan at least one night; see our Kastellorizo travel guide.

Organised tours

Most of Rhodes is easy to see independently: Lindos is on the KTEL network, and a direct ferry ticket to Marmaris is usually simpler than a package if you can walk to the port. Tours help if you are staying in a resort and want a hotel pickup.

⏱ 7.5 hoursGetYourGuide

From Rhodes: Lindos Round-Trip Bus Transfer with Free Time

Hotel pickup, a coach to Lindos and about five hours of free time; acropolis entry is an optional extra, so compare the price with the KTEL bus.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 50 minutes - 1 dayGetYourGuide

Rhodes: Palace of the Grand Master E-Ticket & Audio Tour

Pre-booked palace entry with a self-guided audio tour on your phone; it is not a skip-the-line pass, and reduced or free tickets are only sold at the palace.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 9 hoursGetYourGuide

Rhodes: Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat

Boat from Mandraki with about an hour at Panormitis and about 3.5 hours in Symi town; optional transfer from several resorts.

Check price & availability →

⏱ 8 hoursGetYourGuide

Rhodes: Marmaris Day Trip by High-Speed Boat

Sea Dreams' own return crossing with port tax included and an optional shopping tour; suits first-timers who want it all booked in one place.

Check price & availability →

When to go

• May, June, September and October: Discover Greece recommends these months for smaller crowds and warm sea temperatures.
• July and August: the busiest months, especially in the Old Town and at the best-known beaches. Moths in the Valley of the Butterflies are most numerous from June to September.
• Winter: mild but rainy, with fewer services. From 1 November museums and sites close at 15:30 and on Tuesdays, the city walls walk is closed, and state sites are free on the first and third Sunday of each month. The Marmaris ferry still runs, but on fewer days, and the UK nonstop flights we could date were summer-only.

The ferry season calendar shows which crossings run in which months.

Trip toolkit

Before you go

Hotels in RhodesHotels, rooms and apartments free on your dates, on Booking.com.Check availability ↗

Where to stay, island by island

RhodesLesvosChiosSamosKosKastellorizo

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FAQ

How many days do you need in Rhodes?

Our suggestion is two days for Rhodes Town and Lindos. With three or four you can add a beach day, Kamiros or the Valley of the Butterflies, and a day trip to Symi or Marmaris.

Can you get to Lindos by bus?

Yes. KTEL buses leave from the main bus station in the New Town; Visit Greece puts the ride at about 1 hour 40 minutes. Check the seasonal timetable on ktelrodou.gr.

How much is the Palace of the Grand Master?

€20 as of October 2026, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture. Summer hours, until 31 October, are 08:00 to 20:00; in winter it opens 08:30 to 15:30 and closes on Tuesdays.

Can I visit Turkey from Rhodes for the day?

Yes, Marmaris is about an hour away by fast ferry. You need a passport, or a national ID card if your country is on Türkiye’s list. UK passports must be valid for at least 150 days after you arrive in Turkey.

Do I need a car in Rhodes?

Not for Rhodes Town or a trip to Lindos, which you can reach by bus. A car is worth it for the west coast, Kamiros and the far south. Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.

Sources

• UNESCO: Medieval City of Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Palace of the Grand Master (accessed Oct 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture: Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage (ODAP): Kamiros (accessed Oct 2026)
• Discover Rhodes: Archaeological sites on the island (accessed Oct 2026)
• Visit Greece: Lindos (accessed Oct 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Lindos (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
• Hellenic Heritage: Palace of the Grand Master & Rhodes Fortification Walls (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
• Discover Greece: Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
• The Aegean Islands: Valley of the Butterflies (accessed Oct 2026)
• Wikipedia: Rhodes (city) (accessed Oct 2026)
• Wikipedia: Suleymaniye Mosque (Rhodes) (accessed Oct 2026)
• Wikipedia: Acropolis of Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
• Wikipedia: Rhodes International Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
• Rhodes Airport: by public bus (accessed Oct 2026)
• Rhodes Airport: by taxi (accessed Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Rhodes: Rhodes Public Transport app (accessed Oct 2026)
• The Mediterranean Traveller: Rhodes bus guide (Jan 2026) (accessed Oct 2026)
• easyJet: Flights to Rhodes (accessed Oct 2026)
• GOV.UK: Greece entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
• GOV.UK: Turkey entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
• Republic of Türkiye MFA: Countries whose citizens may enter with national ID cards (accessed Oct 2026)
• Sea Dreams: Rhodes–Marmaris timetable and fares (accessed Oct 2026)
• Sea Dreams: October 2026 Marmaris schedule (accessed Oct 2026)
• Tilos Travel: Fethiye–Rhodes timetable 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
• Ferryscanner: Rhodes to Kastellorizo (accessed Oct 2026)
• To Vima: Clocks go back on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide: From Rhodes: Lindos Round-Trip Bus Transfer with Free Time (accessed Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide: Rhodes: Palace of the Grand Master E-Ticket & Audio Tour (accessed Oct 2026)
• Yeşil Marmaris Lines, email, 25 October 2026