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Rodos Palladium, Rhodes

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Rhodes

Updated 1 October 2026 · 17 things to do

Pictured: Rodos Palladium

Rhodes has been fought over by ancient Greeks, crusading knights, Ottoman sultans and Italian governors, and every one of them left their mark. The result is an island where you can wander the battlements of a medieval walled city in the morning, climb to a clifftop acropolis after lunch and swim in an emerald cove before dinner.

It is also one of the sunniest islands in Greece, with long sandy beaches on the sheltered east coast and wilder, windier shores to the west. Most of the sights are within an hour or so of Rhodes Town, so a hire car or a few organised trips will show you a lot.

Don't miss

  1. 1Rhodes Old Town
  2. 2Palace of the Grand Master
  3. 3Acropolis of Lindos
  4. 4Anthony Quinn Bay
  5. 5Symi

Rhodes Old Town

A UNESCO-listed medieval city, still lived in, behind a ring of mighty walls.

  1. Rhodes Old Town

    Neighbourhood

    A stone-paved street in the medieval Old Town of Rhodes
    Photo: Mstyslav Chernov, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Knights of St John ruled Rhodes for two centuries from 1309, and the walled city they built is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Inside the walls, cobbled lanes twist past stone archways, Ottoman mosques and fountains, the old Jewish quarter and tiny squares full of tavernas.

    Sokratous Street is the busy shopping strip; step a few lanes away and you'll have the quiet, bougainvillea-draped alleys almost to yourself.

    Tip: Explore early in the morning or in the evening, when the cruise passengers have gone and the stone glows in the low sun.

  2. Palace of the Grand Master

    Landmark

    The towers and walls of the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes
    Photo: Julian Lupyan, CC0

    The knights' leader ruled from this mighty fortress-palace at the top of the Old Town. It was wrecked by an explosion in the 19th century and rebuilt by the Italians in the 1930s, so the grand halls you walk through today, paved with ancient mosaics brought from Kos, are partly a fantasy, but a very impressive one.

  3. Street of the Knights

    Landmark

    The cobbled Street of the Knights lined with medieval stone inns
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Running downhill from the palace, this broad cobbled street is lined with the stern stone 'inns' where knights from each nation of the order lodged, their coats of arms carved above the doors. It looks much as it did five hundred years ago, and it is especially atmospheric at night.

  4. Mandraki Harbour

    Landmark

    Just outside the walls, Rhodes' old harbour is guarded by bronze statues of a stag and a doe on tall columns, standing where legend places the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A row of old windmills and the fort of St Nicholas line the harbour wall, and day-trip boats leave from here.

Lindos and ancient Rhodes

  1. Acropolis of Lindos

    Landmark

    The Acropolis of Lindos on its rock above the whitewashed village
    Photo: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0

    High on a rock above the whitewashed village of Lindos, the ancient Temple of Athena Lindia and a columned stoa share the summit with the walls of a knights' castle. The views down over the sugar-cube houses and the turquoise bays are unforgettable.

    The village below is a maze of pebble-mosaic courtyards, old captains' houses and rooftop bars.

    Tip: Climb up first thing or late in the afternoon. There is no shade at the top, so bring water and a hat.

  2. Ancient Kamiros

    Landmark

    The ruins of the ancient city of Kamiros on a hillside above the sea
    Photo: Jebulon, CC0

    On the west coast, the ruins of this ancient city spread down a hillside facing the sea: streets, houses, a temple and a great cistern, laid out in a way that makes it easy to picture daily life. It is quiet, atmospheric and much less visited than Lindos.

  3. Filerimos

    Landmark

    A wooded hill above Ialyssos, crowned by a monastery, the remains of an ancient acropolis and peacocks strutting among the pines. A path lined with Stations of the Cross leads to a huge cross with sweeping views over the coast.

Beaches and bays

  1. Anthony Quinn Bay

    Beach

    The small rocky cove and clear water of Anthony Quinn Bay
    Photo: Pjotr Mahhonin, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A small, rocky cove of startlingly clear, emerald water near Faliraki, named after the actor who filmed The Guns of Navarone nearby. It is one of the best spots on the island for snorkelling.

    Tip: It is tiny, so arrive early in summer to find a spot.

  2. Tsambika Beach

    Beach

    Tsambika Beach from the air, with the monastery on the headland above
    Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

    A long, sandy bay of shallow, warm water on the east coast, overlooked by a little monastery perched on the headland above. It is excellent for families, and the climb to the monastery rewards you with a superb view.

  3. St Paul's Bay

    Beach

    The almost enclosed St Paul's Bay at Lindos
    Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Below the acropolis at Lindos, this almost enclosed little bay of calm, clear water is where St Paul is said to have landed. With the white chapel on the shore and the ancient citadel above, it is one of the most beautiful swimming spots in Greece.

  4. Prasonisi

    Beach

    The sandbar linking Rhodes to the islet of Prasonisi
    Photo: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0

    At the island's southern tip, a sandbar links Rhodes to a small islet, with calm water on one side and wind-whipped waves on the other. It is a magnet for windsurfers and kitesurfers, and a wild, end-of-the-world place to watch them.

  5. Kallithea Springs

    Beach

    The Italian-era domes and colonnades of Kallithea Springs
    Photo: Georg Karl Ell, CC BY-SA 4.0

    An elegant spa built by the Italians in the 1920s on the coast south of Rhodes Town, all domes, colonnades and pebble mosaics, set around a little rocky cove. It is a lovely, unusual place for a swim and a coffee.

Inland Rhodes

Head away from the coast for shade, woods and castles.

  1. Valley of the Butterflies

    Nature

    A cool, shady valley of streams, waterfalls and sweetgum trees where, in summer, thousands of Jersey tiger moths gather on the trunks and rocks. Wooden walkways and bridges lead up through the woods. It is a welcome escape from the heat.

    Tip: Walk quietly and don't disturb the moths: they need to save their energy.

  2. Seven Springs

    Nature

    Springs in a green, wooded valley feed a little lake through a narrow, dark tunnel that the brave can wade through, ankle-deep in cold water. There is a shady taverna by the stream for lunch afterwards.

  3. Monolithos Castle

    Landmark

    The ruins of a knights' castle perch on a sheer crag high above the west coast, with a little white chapel inside the walls. The views of the sea and the sunset from up here are wonderful.

Eat, drink and sail away

  1. Pitaroudia and meze

    Food

    Rhodes has its own take on Greek taverna cooking. Look out for pitaroudia, crisp chickpea fritters flavoured with onion and herbs, and share a spread of meze, grilled octopus and fresh fish at a harbourside taverna with a glass of local wine.

  2. Symi

    Day trip

    Colourful neoclassical houses above the harbour of Symi
    Photo: Jebulon, CC0

    Boats from Mandraki cross to Symi, a small island whose harbour of Gialos is one of the prettiest in Greece: a steep amphitheatre of neoclassical mansions painted in ochre, pink and cream. Many trips also stop at the great monastery of Panormitis.

    Tip: Go on a day when you have energy to climb the long stairway up to the old village of Chorio for the view.

Where to stay in Rhodes

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Rhodes →

Getting around

A hire car is the easiest way to see the island, and the main roads are good. Buses run from Rhodes Town along both coasts to the main resorts and Lindos, and boats leave Mandraki for Symi and trips along the coast.

When to go

The season runs from spring to autumn. July and August are hot, dry and busy. May, June, September and October are ideal for sightseeing and swimming, with warm sea and fewer crowds.

Questions about visiting Rhodes

What is Rhodes best known for?
Its UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town, the clifftop Acropolis of Lindos, sunny beaches, and the legend of the Colossus of Rhodes.
How many days do you need in Rhodes?
A week gives you time for the Old Town, Lindos, a few beach days and a trip to Symi. Three or four days covers the highlights.
Do you need a car in Rhodes?
Not if you stay in Rhodes Town or a resort on the bus routes, but a car makes it easy to reach the quieter beaches, Kamiros, Monolithos and the inland villages.
What is there to do in Rhodes with kids?
Shallow sandy beaches like Tsambika, the water park at Faliraki, exploring the Old Town walls and castles, and boat trips along the coast.

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