I went to Rhodes to experience this beautiful Greek island with a local. My best friend who was born, raised and lived in Rhodes. I mean who better to experience a new Greek island with a local. If you are wondering is Rhodes worth visiting, I will break it down to you in this guide.
We spent four days exploring around Rhodes and taking us around her favorite spots and restaurants using a rental car as Rhodes is one of those islands, if you can drive it will be easier to get a car.
Before the trip I had a vague idea that Rhodes was a popular beach island and especially popular with cruise ships.
Rhodes Old Town is one of the nicest places I have seen in Europe. Lindos is unlike anywhere else in Greece. The beaches on the east coast are beautiful, and the water was blissful with heat.
And because I had a local (my best friend) showing me around, I got to see the parts that most visitors on package holidays never reach.
In this guide, I will include what I love about Rhodes Greece, what local knowledge I have attained, what I didn’t like so much, and then also some of my favorite things to do.
My top hotel picks in Rhodes
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lindos Grand Resort and Spa , Beach front location with an airport shuttle, spa and about 3miles to Lindos Acropolis Check rates and your availability
⭐⭐⭐ Cava d’Oro, Located within Rhodes Old town, its so aethetic inside, Elli Beach a 19-minute walk away and The Street of Knights less than 1 km nearby. Check rates and your availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Elysium Resort & Spa, beachfront location in Kallithea, an amazing resort, my friends mother in law got married here and it was stunning including the ammenities. Check rates and your availability
⭐⭐⭐ Porolithos Boutique Hotel, located inside a historic building in Rhodes town, has ac and wifi, near the attractions and beaches. Check rates and your availability
Is Rhodes Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer
Yes, 100%. Rhodes is one of the most complete Greek islands you can visit and I say that having been to a a number of them.
You will have the history with the Rhodes Old Town, which is the largest and best-preserved inhabited medieval city in Europe and on the UNESCO World Heritage list. And I have a post on the best things to do in Rhodes Old town you want to do a day trip here.
You have all the stunning beaches with the east coast, which has some of the best swimming in the Aegean.
You get the Greek village experience with Lindos. And if you have rental car, you can go beach hopping, or explore the valley of the butterflies and the small churches dotted around the island.
I feel like people do come to Rhodes as part of a cruise or to go for the resort experience which I find both very valid as Rhodes resorts are exactly what you think a resort would be and more and some with private beaches.
But there’s more to Rhodes, there’s nightlife, the food, the ancient ruins, acropolis, and also it’s a cooler island, a windy island that is so much cooler than Athens in the Summer.
Rhodes vs Santorini vs Crete vs Corfu: Which Should You Visit
This is the question everyone asks before booking Greece. and it is worth answering directly.
Santorini is one of the most iconic Greek island and the one most people picture when they think of Greece.
The caldera views, the white buildings, the sunsets over Oia. You must also realise that Santorini is expensive, quite small, and built almost entirely around that one image, and insanely crowded during peak times
Santorini is known for their sunsets and romantic vibes, and I would say it depends on the type of trip you want.
If you can fit both islands in, then definitely, or if you fancy a romantic but mnore chill vibe though more expensive, then Santorini is a good shout.
Crete is the closest comparison to Rhodes in terms of what it offers. It is bigger, has more archaeological sites including Knossos, and the Samaria Gorge is one of the great hikes in Europe.
If you have two weeks, Crete is the better island. If you have four to seven days, Rhodes is easier to do properly because it is more compact and it’s one of the biggest island and highly underrated.
Corfu is greener and more Venetian in character. It is a beautiful island and the old town of Corfu is worth seeing.
The beaches are mostly pebble on the east coast and the west coast gets more wind. For a mix of history and beaches, Rhodes edges it.
My personal take is that Rhodes is the best all-rounder in Greece for a first-time visitor on a week-long trip.
You get medieval history, ancient history, very good beaches, a charming village in Lindos, a great day trip to Symi island which is generally not too crowded.
What I Loved About Rhodes
The Old Town
The Rhodes Old Town is such a great vibe on the island and one of the most impressive places I have visited in Europe.
It is a fully intact medieval walled city built by the Knights of St John in the 14th century. Four kilometres of fortification walls, still complete.
Over 6,000 people still living and working inside them, and if you explore deeper, you’ll find small independent shops and coffee shops.
You will also find The Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Master, the Jewish Quarter with the oldest surviving synagogue in Greece.
Also it’s free to walk around on your own and you can use my Free Walking Route Tour of Rhodes Old Town, and you can do it at your own pace.
If you can come in early during peak summer times, before the Cruise ships dock in Rhodes most summer days and the passengers head straight to the Old Town.
To be fair, it was alright in late June when we visited, it was crowded but not heaving as they said, I’m not sure about August because that is also when the Greeks go on holiday too.
Lindos
Lindos is about 50 minutes south of Rhodes Town by car and it is a village in it’s own right. A car-free whitewashed village built around a hill with an ancient acropolis at the top and a bay at the bottom.
The village itself looks more Cycladic than Dodecanese. Flat-roofed buildings with black and white pebble floors, narrow alleys, the occasional captain’s house with painted ceilings.
The acropolis above has the ruins of the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, Crusader fortifications from the Knights of St John, and views straight down to St Paul’s Bay that are some of the best in Greece.
The climb can take maybe 20 minutes to the Acropolis and it costs about 20 Euros entry for over 25 years and non EU citizens, we took longer as we had shop breaks, water breaks and lunch, and something to keep in mind, the steep sections have no handrails, so make sure to wear good shoes.
St Paul’s Bay is directly below and it is a cove with turquoise water, with a tiny chapel on the western side that is the most popular wedding venue on the island, and the ruins looking down from above.
It is calm even on windy days because the bay is almost completely enclosed. One of the most beautiful places I have seen in Rhodes.
If you are debating where to stay in Rhodes, I have curated a post on where to stay in Rhodes, the best areas and also budget to help you decide.
The East Coast Beaches
The east coast is the best side of the island for swimming. It faces away from the Meltemi wind that affects the west coast in summer, which keeps the water calm and clean.
Though keep in mind, I find most of these beaches tend to be rocky, so not quite the sandy beaches I was expecting. My friends and partner are quite used to this, and they do have water shoes, so I have to buy one next time.
Tsambika is the main family beach with wide golden sand, very shallow water, good facilities, and the Monastery of Panagia Tsambika on the cliffs above with 300 stone steps up to it for the views.
Anthony Quinn Bay is smaller, rockier, and has extraordinary emerald water that is the best snorkeling on the east coast.
The name comes from the actor who reportedly fell in love with it while filming The Guns of Navarone here. Agathi is the one my friend rates most highly. It’s much quieter, calmer water with fewer people which we love.
Normally there are areas with sun beds which you can hire by buying a certain amount of drinks, perhaps 10 euros or sometimes more. But if you don’t use the beds, and go along the side on the open areas, they are usually public and free to use like a normal beach.
The Food
Rhodian food is not the same as generic Greek food. Pitaroudia are chickpea fritters that are a local specialty and very good.
Marides, tiny fried whitebait eaten whole with lemon, come as a starter in almost every taverna and you should order them everywhere. Fresh octopus grilled on a charcoal fire is different to the frozen rubbery version you get in tourist restaurants and worth asking about specifically.
There are a lot of restaurants catering to cruise ship day visitors with laminated menus in six languages and normally someone standing outside calling you in especially in the Old Town.
If you get off the main pedestrian routes, the quality tends to be better and less touristy and sometimes the prices come down.
Find bakeries, Grigoris is a famous chain here and they have vegan option, but also there’s local bakeries where it might not look pretty inside but you get the best pastries and bread inside such as the Corner Bakery in Rhodes Old Town.
You will have to get them when you are here. We bought some for our breakfast and lunch and snacks!
Day trip to Symi
Symi Island is a 50-minute ferry from Mandraki Harbour and it is the best day trip from Rhodes. The harbour at Symi is lined with neoclassical houses in ochre and terracotta stacked up the hillside, almost no cars, and waterfront tavernas that serve very good fish.
They have daily ferries run in summer and it’s worth visiting, and don’t forget to have their fish and Symi prawns while you are here.
Book your day trip to Symi from Rhodes
What I Did Not Love About Rhodes
It is very Touristy in Peak Season
Rhodes receives millions of visitors every year and in July and August. The Old Town is overcrowded on cruise ship days. Lindos fills up by mid-morning. Anthony Quinn Bay can be packed by 10am. The main tourist areas have all the usual problems that come with very high footfall and restaurants that do not need to be good to stay full.
This is manageable with some timing. Going to the Old Town before 9am, getting to Lindos early, staying a little further down the east coast than the main resort strips. But if you are visiting in August and expecting to have the medieval city to yourself at noon, you will be disappointed but you carry on, wear your sunscreen and enjoy.
The West Coast Resort Strip
The stretch of resort hotels running south from Rhodes Town on the west coast, Ixia, Ialyssos, Theologos, is not pretty. Large package holiday hotels, one after another, facing a beach that gets afternoon wind from the Meltemi.
If this is where you are staying, the island looks completely different to how it looks from the east coast or the Old Town. The prices are lower, but the experience is closer to a generic Mediterranean package holiday than to what Rhodes is actually capable of.
Stay in Rhodes Town or Lindos if you can.
Where to Stay in Rhodes
Rhodes Town is the best base for exploring the north of the island. You are next to the Old Town, close to Mandraki Harbour for the Symi ferry, and within reach of the east coast beaches with a rental car.
Lindos is the best base for the south and the east coast beaches. Both work well for different parts of the island.
For a week-long trip, I would split the stay between the two. Three nights in Rhodes Town, four nights in Lindos or nearby. That combination covers the island properly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lindos Grand Resort and Spa , Beach front location with an airport shuttle, spa and about 3miles to Lindos Acropolis Check rates and your availability
⭐⭐⭐ Cava d’Oro, Located within Rhodes Old town, its so aethetic inside, Elli Beach a 19-minute walk away and The Street of Knights less than 1 km nearby. Check rates and your availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Elysium Resort & Spa, beachfront location in Kallithea, an amazing resort, my friends mother in law got married here and it was stunning including the ammenities. Check rates and your availability
⭐⭐⭐Porolithos Boutique Hotel, located inside a historic building in Rhodes town, has ac and wifi, near the attractions and beaches. Check rates and your availability
Read my full guide to where to stay in Rhodes
FAQs About Visiting Rhodes
Is Rhodes worth visiting for the first time in Greece
Yes, it is one of the best choices for a first Greek island trip. It has better infrastructure than most smaller islands, a wider range of accommodation and price points, and enough variety that you do not need to leave to have a complete experience. The Old Town alone justifies the trip for anyone interested in history.
How many days do you need in Rhodes
Four days is the minimum to see the main things properly. A week is better and very easy to fill. Three days leaves you rushing and missing the east coast or Symi entirely.
Is Rhodes better than Santorini
For most people planning a week-long trip who want more than just the iconic views, yes. Rhodes has more variety, costs less, and gives you a fuller experience.
Santorini is the better choice if the caldera photographs are specifically what you want. For everything else, Rhodes wins.
Is Rhodes safe
Yes. It is a very safe island. Tourist areas are well-lit and busy day and night. The main things to watch for are standard travel common sense, keeping an eye on your belongings in busy areas, staying hydrated in the summer heat, and being careful on the narrower inland roads if you are driving.
Is Rhodes expensive
Mid-range for Greece. Cheaper than Santorini and Mykonos, similar to or slightly above the smaller less-developed islands. Budget travellers can do it on 60 to 90 euros a day including accommodation. A comfortable mid-range trip runs around 110 to 170 euros per day. The big cost drivers are accommodation in peak season and the tourist restaurant prices in the Old Town and Lindos, both of which are avoidable with a little effort.
What is the best time to visit Rhodes
May, June, and September are the best months. The weather is very good, the sea is warm enough for swimming, and the crowds are significantly smaller than July and August.
September in particular is my pick. The water is at its warmest, the light is beautiful, and the island has noticeably more space. July and August are peak season and the temperatures regularly hit 35 degrees. Worth coming then only if you book everything well in advance.
Do you need a car in Rhodes
Yes, if you want to see more than the Old Town and the resort beaches. The buses cover the main route to Lindos and a few stops, but Anthony Quinn Bay, Agathi Beach, the Valley of Butterflies, Filerimos, and most of the quieter spots on the island are not reachable without a car.
Pick one up at the airport when you land. Rates there are cheaper than in Rhodes Town.
Compare car hire rates at Rhodes Airport
Final Thoughts on Whether Rhodes Is Worth Visiting
Rhodes surprised me completely and I went there with my best friend which already is perfect for me. I already had better access than most visitors for which I am grateful for.
The Old Town is amazing, I love the shops and the vibe around the old town. Lindos on a quiet morning is one of the best experiences in Greece. The east coast beaches are beautiful. And Symi is great for a day trip.
Eat one block off the main streets. Stay in Rhodes Town or Lindos rather than the west coast resort strip. Do those four things and the gap between what most visitors experience and what the island is capable of closes almost immediately.
Courtney xx
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend places I have personally researched and would recommend. Thank you
Check out my other Rhodes Greece Guides
My best things to do in Rhodes Greece, and what you can skip
Rhodes Old Town or Beachfront? Where to Stay in Rhodes, The Best Areas and Budget
Mini Guide to Rhodes Old Town: What to see, do, and what to miss
Only Have One Day in Rhodes Old Town? This is my Free Rhodes Old Town Walking Tour
WhatsupCourtney
Hey! I’m Courtney, creator behind the travel and food site WhatsupCourtney and @heywhatsupcourtney on socials.
If you want trips that feels good while you’re there without the stress and to find a way to go on trips more often, you’re in the right place.You will find detailed travel itineraries to destination guides and local food, everything here is built to help you spend less time planning and more time experiencing the places you visit.
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