Do you want to spend your Rhodes trip discovering the best things to do in Rhodes or waste precious holiday time on overrated attractions? After exploring the island myself, these are the experiences I’d prioritize and the ones I’d skip.
I recently spent some time exploring Rhodes and quickly fell in love with the island. Between wandering through the medieval Old Town, relaxing on beautiful beaches, and discovering hidden spots around the island, there was never a shortage of things to do.
Most of all, I was very excited to visit Rhodes with my best friend. She was born and raised here so who better to show a first timer like me around than a local.
In my head, I had pictured Rhodes to be very touristy, beach villas, sunbeds, brilliant sunsets, which yes, it has all of that but after over 4 days here, Rhodes has so much more to offer than this.
If you’re short on time, my three favourite things to do in Rhodes are:
- Explore Rhodes Old Town
- Visit Lindos and the Acropolis
- Visit the Acropolis of Rhodes, Monte Smith and the cats
Whether you’re visiting for a few days or planning a longer stay in Rhodes, I hope my guide will give you a better idea of what Rhodes has to offer and help you make the most of your trip.
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
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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
My Favourite Thing to Do in Rhodes
As I mentioned previously, my favorite things to do in Rhodes would be the Rhodes Old Town, the Lindos Acropolis, and Acropolis of Rhodes.
The Old Town gets written about constantly and as it should. It’s located inside the medieval walls, and depending when you go, it can get crowded during lunchtime but during the evenings, it’s still busy but more of a chill vibe.
Greeks tend to come out when the sun sets when it’s cooler and the kids off school to enjoy their evening.
Took this activity 3-Hours Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner, and it was quite the evening experience and you can snorkel as well.
Lindos is what most people picture when they think of Greece, the whitewashed village, clifftop ancient temple, and turquoise bay.
We arrived around 9am, when it wasn’t too hot, and had most of the climb to ourselves. We didn’t rush through Lindos and spent few hours here, wandering around, checking out the shops and of course taking pictures.
And Visiting the Acropolis of Rhodes, Monte Smith is the one that surprised me most. We visited in the afternoon, it was quite empty aside from a small tour group.
We wandered everywhere, visited the acropolis, ran around the gym area, and fed the stray cats (which is a personal choice of course).
But if there’s one thing I could do in Rhodes again, it would be getting more pastries and Filo pies from the local bakery inside the Rhodes Old Town for breakfast and a freddo espresso.
My Rhodes Travel Tips Before You Start
You might have to rent a car
Rhodes is quite a big island, and yes we did travel around Rhodes using a rented car and it was much easier to explore using one.
We went to random beaches and also popular beaches and in the heat of the summer, we had AC in the car which was a godsend.
The island does have public buses as well and taxis but if you or someone in your group are able to drive, I would suggest renting a car for convenience.
or you could get a hop on an hop off bus ticket, which you can use on the daily.
Book tickets in advance
If you are planning on doing day trips to other islands then Symi day trips tend to sell out fast so it’s better to book in advance.
Lindos Acropolis can have long queues without pre-booking in peak season but you can also take a gamble and queue for a ticket which we did and got in alright.
Get an eSIM before you land
This would be without saying much, it is much easier if you have local esim, to get the gps on your phone especially if you are to drive.
But also for local buses and bus times, though for this, check the bus stop for the times and take a picture of it, its reliable but also not so much.
Learn two words of Greek
“Efharisto” means thank you and “kalimera” means good morning.
My friend spoke Greek to a restaurant tout and he literally turned and walked away mid-sentence after he was trying to get us in to his restaurant quite persuasively.
Sometimes even a badly pronounced attempt gets a different response. But they do mostly speak some English so you will be alright especially in the touristy areas.
My Best Things to Do in Rhodes, Greece
Explore Rhodes Old Town
I loved walking around Rhodes Old Town, you never know what you will find as you explore, a hidden independent cafe, a bakery with filo pie and pastries (not a chain), cats at every corner, ancient ruins, a man with a parrot.
Rhodes old town is in a fully intact medieval walled city built by the Knights of St John in the 14th century.
Four kilometres of fortification walls still completely intact with over 6,000 people living inside them today. The oldest continuously inhabited medieval city in Europe.
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.
Walk in through the Liberty Gate at Mandraki Harbour for the best entrance. The Street of the Knights, a 600-metre straight road of perfectly preserved medieval inns, runs from the Knight’s Hospital up to the Palace of the Grand Master.
The Jewish Quarter, one block east of the main tourist routes, is the part most visitors walk straight past. The Kahal Shalom Synagogue, built in 1577, is the oldest synagogue in Greece still in use.
The square outside it, Plateia Evraion Martyron, is quieter than anywhere else in the Old Town and has one of the best small cafes on the island right on the corner.
I have created a free Rhodes Old town walking guide with a map which you can use and wander around at your own pace.
Visit the Palace of the Grand Master
The Palace of the Grand Master is the most important monument from the Knights’ period and the most impressive building on the island. Built in the 14th century as the administrative centre of the Order of Saint John, it was heavily restored in the 1930s under Italian occupation.
The first floor has a remarkable collection of mosaic floors brought from other Dodecanese islands, plus medieval furniture and armour. The ground floor runs two permanent exhibitions covering Rhodes’ history from its founding in 408 BC through to the Ottoman conquest in 1522.
Entry is €20 for adults (€10 reduced). EU citizens under 25 get in free with ID. Open daily April to October 8am to 8pm. Book tickets online in advance if you are going in peak season.
Walk the Street of the Knights
The Street of the Knights is a 600-metre medieval road running from the Palace of the Grand Master to the old Knights’ Hospital at the bottom. It is the most intact medieval street in Europe and feels like walking through a film set, except that the buildings are from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Each section of the street was built and maintained by a different national chapter of the Knights’ order, and the carved coats of arms on the facades mark which section belonged to which chapter.
It is freely accessible at any time of day or night. Walking it early in the morning or in the evening after the tour groups have gone gives you the most atmospheric experience.
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.
Visit the Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum is housed in the old Knights’ Hospital at the bottom of the Street of the Knights. The building itself, a Gothic two-storey structure with a colonnaded courtyard is one of the finest medieval buildings on the island.
The collection covers Mycenaean grave goods, Classical and Hellenistic sculpture, ancient pottery, and medieval artefacts. The standout piece is a marble statue of Aphrodite from the 1st century BC, found in the harbour district of Rhodes Town. Entry is €10 (€6 reduced), open 8am to 8pm.
Walk Mandraki Harbour in the evening
Mandraki is the main harbour of Rhodes Town and one of the better places on the island to be in the early evening.
The two bronze deer statues on columns at the harbour entrance, the stag and the doe are the symbols of Rhodes, and the windmills along the mole are the classic Rhodes photograph. The Saint Nicholas Fortress at the end of the mole was built in the 15th century to guard the harbour mouth.
The Italian-era buildings around the harbour are worth a look if you are interested in early 20th century architecture, the National Theatre, the market building, and the Archbishop’s Palace are all from this period and are unusually grand for an island.
The harbour road has cafes and restaurants with water views and is busy in the evening with both locals and visitors.
Visit Filerimos Monastery
Entry around 6 euros | about 15 minutes west of Rhodes Town |
Filerimos is on a wooded hill 15 minutes from Rhodes Town and is the attraction that almost none of the resort coach tours include, which makes it one of the more peaceful places on the island.
The monastery at the top is an active religious site on a location that goes back to the 3rd century BC, originally the Acropolis of Ialyssos.
The Italian colonial-era building standing today is from the 1930s, built over the ruins of a Byzantine basilica that was built over the ancient acropolis. Peacocks wander the grounds freely, which is disarming the first time you see it.
The Golgotha path runs from the monastery to a large cross at the hill’s summit. At the top, the cross has a staircase inside that you can climb for views over the Aegean and the west coast on a clear day. Worth the walk entirely.
Eat at a Proper Taverna in the Old Town
The food in the Old Town requires some navigation. There are a lot of restaurants catering to cruise ship visitors, laminated menus in six languages, someone standing outside calling you in. Those are not the places.
The good tavernas are in the side streets away from the main pedestrian routes. Shorter menus, no one standing outside, usually busier in the evening once the day visitors have left. My friend took us to a small place near Hippocrates Square on our second evening and the difference was immediate. Fresh grilled octopus, fava from Santorini, lamb slow-cooked in a clay pot.
Sokratous Street is the main shopping street and the restaurants directly on it are working almost entirely on tourist footfall. One block off it in any direction, the quality goes up immediately.
Visit the Acropolis of Rhodes, Monte Smith
Not to be confused with the Acropolis of Lindos, the Acropolis of Rhodes is on Monte Smith hill and just a few kilometres from Old Town and is a completely different kind of site.
It has a stadium, an odeon, and the partially restored Temple of Pythian Apollo, spread across an open hillside rather than a single clifftop monument. Entry is free, and it’s one of the quietest ancient sites on the island.
We ended up staying far longer than planned, partly for the ruins, and partly because of the resident cats, who are clearly well looked after by a local woman who comes to feed them regularly.
Cross the main road from the temple area and there’s also a viewpoint with no barriers if you go through the trees and bushes, so please becareful.
The views over the sea are some of the best we found anywhere on Rhodes, especially around sunset.
I’ve written a full guide to the Acropolis of Rhodes if you want more detail before you go.
Best Day Trips from Rhodes
Lindos and the Acropolis
For me, this is a must visit. Lindos is 50km south of Rhodes Town and a full day’s worth of visiting on its own.
Lindos village is built on and around a 116-metre-high rock with an acropolis that has been occupied for over three thousand years.
The current ruins include the Temple of Athena Lindia from around 300 BC, the Hellenistic stoa, the Propylaea, and the fortifications added by the Knights of Saint John in the 15th century.
The village below the acropolis is equally worth time, narrow lanes with traditional pebble mosaics on the floors, small shops selling hand-made linen and ceramics, and several rooftop restaurants with good sunset views.
Below the village on the eastern side, St Paul’s Bay is a small clear-water cove with sheltered swimming.
Entry to the Lindos acropolis is €20 (€10 reduced), open daily April to October 8am to 8pm. Go early. By mid-morning the path up is significantly more crowded and hotter.
Day trip to Symi Island
Symi is a small island about an hour by ferry from Mandraki Harbour, and it is one of the most visually impressive places in the Aegean.
The harbour is lined with neoclassical houses in shades of ochre and terracotta, stacked on a steep hillside above a deep, clear bay.
Symi island became wealthy through sponge diving in the 19th century, which explains the quality of the architecture for such a small place.
Symi Day trips leave from Mandraki most mornings and give you four to five hours on the island.
That is enough to explore the harbour, climb the Kali Strata steps to the upper village of Chorio, and have a long seafood lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants. One of the most enjoyable days of my trip.
Ancient Kamiros
Kamiros is one of the three ancient city-states of Rhodes, on the western coast about 35km from Rhodes Town.
Unlike Lindos, which has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, Kamiros was abandoned in antiquity and not rediscovered until the 1850s.
This makes the archaeological remains unusually legible, the city is laid out on three levels down a hillside and you can see clearly how it was planned and how people would have lived in it. Entry is €6.
The views from the top of the site down to the sea are incredible.
Best Beaches in Rhodes
Anthony Quinn Bay
Anthony Quinn Bay is named after the actor who filmed The Guns of Navarone on Rhodes in 1961 and reportedly bought land on the island because he loved it.
The bay is a small pebble cove about 14km south of Rhodes Town, with turquoise water clear enough to see the bottom from the road above.
The snorkelling here is some of the best on the island, with underwater rock formations and good fish life.
Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for hire. There is a beach bar and cafe on site. Bring your own snorkel equipment if you have it as hiring gear here is limited.
Swim the Traganou Caves
Traganou is one of those places that sounds like a nice beach stop and turns out to be something much better.
The beach itself is pebbly and relatively quiet,, and at the far end of it are a complex of five natural sea caves carved into the cliffs, with water so clear inside that you can see straight down through it.
You can swim into them directly from the beach.
Most people reach Traganou as part of a boat trip that combines it with Anthony Quinn Bay and Kallithea Springs, which is honestly the best way to do it since you get the caves from the water side as well, swimming in through the entrance with the cliff walls above you.
If you’d rather just drive there and swim in from the beach, it’s a straightforward stop on the east coast with parking nearby and a taverna on site.
Either way, bring water shoes since the pebbles and the rock surfaces inside the caves are uneven underfoot, and a snorkel if you have one.
Tsambika Beach
Tsambika is the best sandy beach on the east coast and one of the better beaches on the island. It is a wide stretch of soft golden sand with calm, clear water backed by low hills.
Above it on a steep rock sits a small white monastery, the Tsambika Monastery, with views over the coastline that are worth the climb.
Sun loungers, umbrellas, a beach bar, and several tavernas nearby make it a comfortable option for a full beach day.
About 26km south of Rhodes Town, reachable by KTEL bus for around €4 each way. Arrive before 10am in high season for a good position.
Elli Beach
If you are staying in Rhodes Town and want a beach without travelling far, Elli Beach is on the northeastern coast a short walk from the Old Town.
It is a long stretch of pebbles with sunbeds, beach bars, and a diving platform offshore.
The water is calm most days because of its protected position. More local in feel than the resort beaches further south and good for an evening swim.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
Seven Springs (Epta Piges)
Seven Springs is a shaded valley about 27km from Rhodes Town, completely different in character from the beaches and historical sites.
Cool springs feed a small lake through a network of trails under old pine trees. The main attraction is a 150-metre tunnel through the hillside that you walk through in complete darkness, through running water ankle-deep, which comes out at the lake.
Entry is free. There are peacocks wandering freely around the site, which tend to be popular with visiting children.
Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes)
Between June and September, thousands of Jersey tiger moths gather in this valley in the interior of the island, attracted by the resin of the Oriental sweetgum trees.
The butterfly valley is cooler and more humid than the coast, with wooden walkways over streams. It is a pleasant walk regardless of whether the moths are out in force, but the spectacle is best in July and early August.
25km from Rhodes Town, entry costs around €5. Please keep voices down as loud noises disturb the moths significantly.
Kallithea Springs
The Kallithea Springs complex is a set of 1920s Italian-era spa buildings about 10km south of Rhodes Town, built around the site of ancient therapeutic springs.
The architecture is an unusual mix of Moorish and Italian styles with curved arches, mosaic floors, and white domes.
It was restored in the 2000s and now functions as both a cultural site and a small beach with clear water good for snorkelling. Entry is around €3 to €5. Worth a stop for the architecture alone.
A boat tour of the east coast sea caves
Several operators run boat trips along the east coast that include sea caves, hidden coves, and swimming spots not accessible by road.
These range from a couple of hours to a full day and are a good way to see parts of the coastline that most visitors miss.
Some trips combine the sea caves with a stop at Anthony Quinn Bay. Snorkel equipment is usually provided.
Recreational activities
Take a Catamaran or Boat Trip
If there is one thing I would add to a Rhodes trip without hesitation, it is a day on the water.
The catamaran cruises departing from Mandraki Harbour are the most popular option, typically running six hours with swimming stops at three or four bays along the east coast, lunch included, and drinks flowing throughout.
It is an easy, enjoyable day, catamarans are stable enough that even anyone slightly nervous about boats tends to have a good time, and seeing the coastline from the sea rather than from a car window gives you a completely different sense of the island.
Book early if you’re going in July or August since the good ones sell out weeks ahead. If you’d rather have something more private, smaller boat charters and wooden traditional boats are also available from both Mandraki and Faliraki.
Visit a Nearby Island for the Day
Rhodes is surrounded by smaller islands that are easy to reach and completely different in character. Symi is the one most people come back raving about, around an hour by ferry from Mandraki, with a tiered neoclassical harbour and the kind of seafood lunch you’ll still be talking about at dinner.
Halki is the quieter alternative for anyone who wants an even smaller, slower island without the day trip crowds. Both are easy half-day or full-day trips, and ferry tickets are cheap enough that there’s no real reason to skip them.
Farma of Rhodes Petting Zoo
This one is squarely aimed at families, but genuinely worth knowing about if you’re travelling with children or just someone who cannot walk past an animal without stopping.
Farma of Rhodes is a petting zoo on the island with ostriches, lemurs, porcupines, donkeys, and a range of other animals that you can actually feed and interact with rather than just look at through a fence.
There are educational talks, a playground on site, and it consistently comes up as one of the better family-friendly stops on the island, especially for a slower half day when everyone needs a break from beaches and history.
3 Things I Would Skip in Rhodes
The Faliraki Water Park
If you have kids then this is probably a great idea to do unless of course you really fancy it and have a spare day or 2.
You are on an island with some of the best natural swimming locations in the Aegean, a UNESCO medieval city, and a whitewashed hilltop village with an ancient acropolis.
If I was personally staying longer or maybe my second time in Rhodes, I would consider a water park to spend half a day here.
Organised Resort Coach Tours
The coach tours that leave from the large resort hotels on the west coast cover Lindos, the Valley of Butterflies, and Filerimos as a single long day is great if you don’t want to rent a car or perhaps use the buses which may or may not be on time.
However, if you or someone in your group can drive, then renting a car for a day costs a similar amount, gives you twice the flexibility, and means you can stay at Lindos until the early afternoon when the coach parties have left.
Parking was not too bad when we drove around, there’s always a spot or two open and prices are reasonable.
Compare car hire rates at Rhodes Airport
Riding a donkey at the Acropolis
I understand the appeal, I really do especially for those who are not very mobile, but personally I wouldn’t and I know I am blessed to be able to go up on my own.
FAQs About Things to Do in Rhodes
How many days do you need to see Rhodes properly
Four days is the minimum. That covers the Old Town properly, a full day in Lindos and the south, a day on the east coast beaches, and a day for the interior or Symi. A week is better and very easy to fill without padding.
What is the single best thing to do in Rhodes
The Old Town, visited before 9am. It is free, it is extraordinary, and it is the reason Rhodes is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Everything else on the island builds on top of that.
Is Lindos worth visiting from Rhodes Town
Completely worth it. It is the best single day trip on the island. Allow a full half-day. Go early. The acropolis, the village, and St Paul’s Bay are three different experiences in one place and none of them should be rushed.
What is the best beach in Rhodes
Depends on what you want. Tsambika for families and golden sand. Anthony Quinn Bay for snorkelling and dramatic scenery. St Paul’s Bay in Lindos for photographs and enclosed calm water. Agathi for quiet and the best all-round swimming. All four are on the east coast.
Do you need a car in Rhodes
Yes, if you want to see more than the Old Town. Public buses cover Rhodes Town to Lindos and a few resort strips, but the east coast bays, Filerimos, and the Valley of Butterflies are not reachable without a car or a hired taxi for the day.
Is the Valley of Butterflies worth visiting
Yes, in summer when the moths are present. A pleasant shaded walk on a hot day with a unusual natural phenomenon at the end of it. Go in June or July for the best density of moths. Outside summer it is still a nice walk but the main attraction is gone.
My Final Thoughts on the best things to do in Rhodes
I had four days in Rhodes with someone who grew up there and I still came home thinking I had not seen enough of it. That is the measure of the island.
The Old Town is extraordinary. Lindos on a quiet morning is one of the best experiences in Greece. The east coast beaches are beautiful in the way that makes you stop talking.
Symi is great for a day trip to another island when you want to see something completely different. The Valley of Butterflies is one of those places that sounds minor and turns out to be quietly remarkable.
I suggest getting up early and going for certain attractions especially during peak summer season in July and August. Especially when the cruise ship people comes, then it can get quite busy.
The one thing I was grateful for was my friends partner can drive and he drove us around with a rental car which we shared the cost for. The flexibility was incomparable, the buses would have been fine but the freedom was wonderful.
If you are still deciding whether to go, I wrote a full review that answers that question directly.
Read: Is Rhodes Worth Visiting? My Full Review
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
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
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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