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Rhodes, Greece

Destination guide

Rhodes

Greece

Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος, Ródos) is the largest settlement and capital city of the island of the same name. It is famous as the former site of the Colossus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and as the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe.

AI insights

AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page

  • To avoid wasting time in long queues, purchase your combined ticket for the Palace of the Grand Master, the Archaeological Museum, the Decorative Arts Collection, and the church at the start of your day; note that the city wall walk requires a separate, additional ticket.

  • The city wall walk is a prime way to understand the town's scale and architecture, but access is limited; you can walk the walls at your own pace during the midday window or join the museum-operated tour on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

  • Escape the tourist-heavy main thoroughfares for dining; look for tavernas tucked away at the end of Sofokleos or hole-in-the-wall spots like Mikes, where you can find fresh, well-prepared local seafood that offers excellent value compared to the main squares.

  • When the cruise ship crowds make the Old Town feel congested, retreat to the quiet courtyards of 14th-century mansions like the Avalon Cafe or seek out atmospheric Ottoman-era coffee spots; these hidden pockets provide a necessary oasis of calm.

  • Be aware that the Palace of the Grand Master is largely a 20th-century reconstruction; prioritize the Archaeological Museum for a more authentic experience with historical artifacts, and save your visit to the Palace for when you can specifically access the ground floor exhibitions.

How we vet these picks

Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.

Best time to go

Best window: Any time — the weather is kind all year

Kind weather all year — there is no month to avoid.

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IdealGoodOkayOff-season

Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.

Getting around

By taxi

Taxi fares: €5-6 inside the city, Kalithea €15, Faliraki €20.

Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What to see

Rhodes Archaeological Museum

Megalou Alexandrou Square· Cheap

It has two floors, and most of the exhibits are on the second, past the big stairs. There are also gardens with statues and mosaic. Hard to find at the end of the garden is a several floor Ottoman home under reconstruction that is…

Skip the line — book tickets

Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes

can be split into outside, courtyard, outside wall, first floor and second floor. Open in season till 20:00, entry A combined ticket includes the Archeological museum, The Decorative Arts Collection and Our Lady of the Castle church with…

Odeon

northwest of the Stadium

Small marble theatre which held approximately 800 spectators. It was used for musical performances and rhetoric lessons of prominent Rhodians.

Nymphaeums

southeast of the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus

Four subterranean "structures" cut into the rock, featuring entrance steps, passages, a large opening in the central roof, along with water cisterns, foliage and interior niches for statuettes.

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Stoa building

The impressive façade was visible from even the harbor. Today just one foundation wall remains.

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Temple of Pythian Apollo

on the southern end, just west of a large rectangular terrace

Part of the northeast side of this porous peripteral temple has been restored.

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What to eat

Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.

Mavrikos

Worth it

Also recommended by Lonely Planet

Operating in Lindos for more than half a century, one of the first tavernas in Greece to spotlight local Rhodian cuisine.

Vetted sources

Mevlana Turkish Coffee and Shisha Bar

76 Sokratous

A rare, wonderfully atmospheric survival of Ottoman old Rhodes in the middle of the tourist hordes. Run by a charming couple, it serves excellent coffee and a small range of other drinks. Not much food except for a few snacks.

Hatzikeli - Sea Food Taverna

Solomou Alchadef 9

One of the best tavernas, serving innovations on traditional Greek dishes. The stuffed, roasted eggplant is notable.

Pizanias

Sofokleos 24· Pricey

A decent sea food taverna with outdoor seating on the square. Fish is caught locally, then cooked on a grill built into the wall which means the smell of grilled sea food wafts over the local square!

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Mikes

in a tiny lane by 17 Socratous Street, Old Town· Moderate

A hole-in-the-wall place with outdoor seating in a cosy backstreet, tucked away from the tourist masses. Serves fish, salad, and wine, and not much else.

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Avalon Cafe

In the courtyard of the Avalon hotel on the backstreet behind the Spanish Tongue Auberge on Ippoton St

Set in the quiet courtyard of an imposing 14th century town mansion, the Avalon cafe serves great drinks in a corner of Rhodes Old Town that most people don't even know exists.

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Laganis

Solomou Alhadef 16

A more traditional taverna with good mezedes.

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Where to stay

Carina Hotel

56, Griva Street (Rhodes Town) Rhodes· Pricey

Surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants, this hotel is a 3-minute walk from the beach, with easy access to old Rhodes city and the roads to ancient Lindos and Kalithea.

Elysium Resort & Spa

Kallithea Ave· Expensive

Beachfront location. Modern and chic with minimalist design. Public areas and spacious rooms overlook the beach. 5-star, high standard hotel.

Rhodes Youth Hostel

In Rhodes Old Town

Adults-only hostel in Rhodes Old Town with dormitory and private rooms, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Rhodes4vacation

old town· Pricey

portfolio of vacation villas holiday rentals on Rhodes Island Greece

Nikos Takis Fashion Hotel

Panaitiou 26· Expensive

Boutique hotel dedicated to fashion. Medieval and traditional oriental design influences and beds with silk bedspreads.

Spot Hotel

Perikleus Street 21, Rhodes Old Town,

Simple, well run hotel with good prices and location

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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.