Do you want to spend your time wandering aimlessly through Rhodes Old Town or follow a route that takes in the highlights, hidden corners and best viewpoints in just a few hours?
On one of our quieter mornings, while my friend’s partner went off to sort the car, the rest of us decided to just walk Rhodes Old Town properly, start to finish, with no real plan beyond following the walls round and seeing what we found.
It ended up being one of the best things we did, and afterwards I went back and mapped out the route we’d more or less stumbled into, so you can follow the same loop without the stumbling part.
This is a self-guided walk through the medieval city, starting and ending near Liberty Gate, taking in the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights, the Jewish Quarter, and finishing along Mandraki Harbour by the windmills.
It’s roughly 3.5 kilometres if you walk it straight through, about 45 minutes without stopping, but realistically you’ll want two to three hours to actually enjoy it, longer if you go inside the Palace and the museums along the way.
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⭐⭐⭐ Ancient Knights Luxury Suites, Best mid-range Rhodes Old Town stay and for families
⭐⭐⭐ 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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mitsis Selection Alila is best for couples or friends or solo travellers who want a polished, all-inclusive base where everything is already handled, food, drinks, beach access and pool access. There’s a public bus to Rhodes old town or a walk if you want to. Check for your availability at Mitsis Selection Alila
Before You Start my Free Rhodes Old Town walking tour
A few things that made this walk easier for us. Wear proper shoes, the cobbles in Rhodes Old Town are beautiful but uneven, and by the end of two hours you’ll feel it in your ankles if you’re in sandals.
Start as early as you can, ideally before 10am, both for the heat (if you are here during Summer time), and because the cruise crowds build steadily through the late morning.
And bring a bit of cash, some of the smaller museums and the toilet near the Clock Tower are coin operated or card unfriendly.
This route works as a loop, so you’ll end up back roughly where you started.
The Rhodes Old Town walking Route
Start at Liberty Gate
Begin at Eleftherias Gate, known as Liberty Gate, one of eleven gates around the walls and one of the easiest to find since it sits right at the edge of the harbour.
If you’re coming from the cruise terminal, it’s about a twelve minute walk along the water.
Walk through the gate and head along Apellou street, past the Municipal Art Gallery.
On your right, behind the taxi rank, you’ll spot the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite, a small but ancient ruin dating back to the third century BC, dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty. It’s easy to walk straight past it, so keep an eye out.
Argyrokastro Square
A little further along, you’ll come into Argyrokastro Square, a pretty cobbled square with a stone fountain in the centre, made from an old baptismal font.
The building overlooking the square used to be the Arsenal of the Knights of St John, and now houses the Decorative Arts Collection, a small museum of Dodecanese folk art including embroidery, woodwork, and ceramics from the 16th to 20th centuries.
It’s a nice quiet stop if museums are your thing, and rarely busy even when the rest of Old Town fills up.
If you are planning on staying few days, here are the best things to do in Rhodes and what you must do and what you can skip as well.
The Archaeological Museum
Carry walking along and you’ll see the turning for the Street of the Knights on your right, but keep going a little further first to reach the Archaeological Museum, housed inside the old Hospital of the Knights, a striking 15th century building in its own right.
Inside, the museum is built around a central courtyard with galleries spread across two levels, covering around seven thousand years of finds from Rhodes and the wider Dodecanese.
The marble statue of Aphrodite bathing is one of the highlights, along with the mosaic floors, do have a look at the floors.
It’s open daily from 8am to 8pm in summer, with reduced winter hours, and entry is a few euros, with combined tickets available that also cover the Palace and a couple of the smaller sites, which work out much better value if you’re planning to see more than one.
Plan for thirty minutes to an hour here, more if you really like museums.
Street of the Knights
Once you’ve finished at the museum, head back to the turning you passed and start up the Street of the Knights, Odos Ippoton.
This is one of the most complete medieval streets anywhere in Europe, and it feels like it. The Knights were organised into groups based on where they came from, England, France, Italy, Germany, and others, and each group had its own inn along this street.
You can still see the carved emblems on some of the buildings as you walk up.
The most elaborate is the Auberge de France, now used by the French consulate, occasionally open for exhibitions if you happen to catch it at the right time.
The street leads you gently uphill, and at the top, the Palace of the Grand Masters comes into view on your right.
I have a post on a full 20 things to do in Rhodes Greece, a mix of beaches, attractions, day trips and more, to give you ideas on what you like to do in Rhodes.
The Palace of the Grand Master
This is the big one. The Palace dominates the skyline of Old Town, built in the 14th century as the residence and administrative centre for the Grand Master of the Knights.
It was badly damaged by an explosion in the 19th century and rebuilt by the Italians in the 1930s, which is part of why the interior feels so grand, with mosaic floors and Byzantine pieces brought in from elsewhere in the Dodecanese.
It’s open daily from 8am to 8pm in summer, closed on Tuesdays through the winter months. Standard entry is a few euros, and combined tickets covering the Palace, the Archaeological Museum, and a couple of smaller sites are good value if you’re doing more than one.
Skip the line options with audio guides are also available if you’d rather not queue, especially useful if there’s a cruise ship in.
Give yourself an hour to ninety minutes here. There’s a fair bit of walking and some uneven floors, so it’s worth pacing yourself.
The Roloi Clock Tower
From the Palace, turn left at the end of the Street of the Knights and walk down Orpheus street toward the Roloi, the Clock Tower.
There’s a small coin operated toilet just before you reach it, worth knowing about since clean toilets in Old Town aren’t always easy to find.
The Roloi doesn’t look like much from outside, but it’s actually the highest point in Old Town.
You climb a steep wooden staircase to a small room with windows looking out in every direction, over the Palace, the Mosque of Suleiman, the city walls, and across the rooftops to the harbour.
Entry is a few euros and usually includes a drink at the terrace café afterwards, which is a lovely way to take a break partway through the walk.
Still considering on where to stay in Rhodes Greece, I got you based on best areas to stay in and hotel /resort suggestions.
Mosque of Suleiman
Right next to the Clock Tower is the Mosque of Suleiman, built after the Ottomans took the city in 1522 and named after the sultan who led the siege.
It’s not open to the public, but you get a good view of the dome and minaret from the top of the Roloi, and the Hafiz Ahmed Agha Library opposite sometimes has displays of old manuscripts and maps worth a quick look.
Gate of St Athanasios
Continue along Orpheus, which becomes Ippodamou, until you reach a junction, then turn right toward the Gate of St Athanasios.
This is one of the more atmospheric gates, partly because of its history, the victorious Ottoman troops marched through here in 1522, after which it was sealed up and not reopened until the Italians did so in 1922.
Walk through the gate for a good view of the walls and the moat below, which was never actually filled with water and is now a park with walking paths through it.
Through the Jewish Quarter
Backtrack to the junction, then continue straight until the next junction, turn right onto Omirou, a pretty arched street lined with shops.
If you fancy a break, the Minos Roof Garden Café sits along here with one of the best terrace views in Old Town, looking out over the rooftops toward the Palace and the sea.
From here, follow the streets through toward the Square of the Jewish Martyrs, the heart of what was once a thriving Jewish quarter, home to around five thousand people before the Second World War.
The square holds a Holocaust memorial and the Sea Horse Fountain, a replica of one destroyed in WWII bombing.
If you want to learn more, the Rhodes Jewish Museum is just off the square, inside the Kahal Shalom Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Greece and still in occasional use today.
It’s a quiet, moving stop and a side of Rhodes’ history that’s easy to miss if you’re only following the big landmarks.
Hippocrates Square
From the square, head toward Hippocrates Square, a busy spot surrounded by cafés, bars, and shops, sitting at the bottom of Sokratous street.
It’s touristy, and you’ll likely find better food a little further off the main strip, but the fountain and stone staircase here are the last remains of the old Castellania courthouse, and you can climb the steps for the view back over the square.
Always make sure to check the prices of the food and drinks before getting lured into the establishment!
Through the Sea Gate to Mandraki Harbour
From Hippocrates Square, head down toward the Sea Gate, also called the Marine Gate, built in 1478 as the main entrance from the harbour.
Walk through it, cross the road, and follow the water’s edge along toward Mandraki Harbour.
And don’t forget to pass by the famous boat selling seashells! You cannot miss it quite literally.
The Windmills and Doe Statue
This is where the walk ends, and it’s a lovely way to finish.
The three remaining Windmills of Mandraki line the breakwater, built by the Knights to grind grain unloaded from ships, and they’re one of the most photographed spots on the island, especially at sunset.
Just beyond them is St Nicholas Fortress, guarding the harbour entrance, and at the end of the breakwater you’ll find the famous statues of a doe and a stag on tall columns, marking roughly where the legendary Colossus of Rhodes is thought to have once stood.
From here, it’s a short walk back to Liberty Gate to close the loop, or about twenty minutes to the cruise terminal if that’s where you’re headed.
FAQs About the Rhodes Old Town Walking Tour
How long does the Rhodes Old Town walking tour take?
The route itself is around 3.5 kilometres and takes about 45 minutes walking straight through, but with stops at the Palace, the museums, and a coffee break, two to three hours is realistic.
Is this walk suitable for kids or anyone with mobility issues?
The route is mostly flat and on cobbled streets, manageable for most people, though the cobbles can be uneven underfoot. The Palace and the Clock Tower both involve stairs, so those specific stops may be tricky for anyone with mobility limitations, though the rest of the route can still be enjoyed.
Do I need to book tickets in advance for the Palace of the Grand Masters?
It’s not essential, but during peak summer and especially on days when cruise ships are in, booking a skip the line ticket in advance saves a lot of standing around.
What’s the best time of day to do this walk?
Early morning, ideally starting before 10am, gives you the coolest temperatures and the quietest streets before the cruise crowds build up through late morning.
Can I do this walk if I’m only in Rhodes for the day?
Yes, this is a great way to structure a single day in Old Town, and it covers most of the major highlights in a logical order without much backtracking.
Is This Rhodes Old Town Walking Tour Worth Doing?
This ended up being one of those mornings that didn’t feel like sightseeing in the usual sense, more like just wandering with a loose plan and letting the city do the work.
The route takes you through pretty much every era of Old Town’s history, Knights, Ottomans, Jewish Rhodes, and the Italian era, all within a couple of hours of easy walking.
Hope this helps you on your trip and enjoy!
Courtney xx
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Check out my other Rhodes Greece Guides
My best things to do in Rhodes Greece, and what you can skip
Is Rhodes worth visiting? My honest guide after spending time here with a local friend
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
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 food worth seeking out, everything here is built to help you spend less time planning and more time experiencing the places you visit.
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