11 Best Things to Do in Rhodes, Greece
I stepped off the ferry into Rhodes Town and felt like I had walked into a set that a film crew forgot to pack up. The walls of the old city rise straight from the harbor, and behind them a whole medieval world is still living. I spent a week here and barely scratched the surface. These are the experiences that stayed with me.
Get Lost in the Medieval Old Town
Rhodes Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest inhabited medieval towns in Europe, and the best thing you can do is simply wander without a plan. The Knights of St John built these streets in the 1300s, and the cobbled alleys and stone arches feel unchanged. I lost track of time following the Street of the Knights uphill and poking into hidden courtyards. Give yourself a full half day and wear comfortable shoes.
Walk the Street of the Knights
The grandest avenue in the Old Town was the main thoroughfare of the crusader order and still runs between their restored inns. Climbing it feels ceremonial, and at the top you reach the Grand Masters Palace, a fortress that now holds a museum of ancient and medieval Rhodes. I went first thing in the morning before the tour groups arrived, and having the wide stone street to myself made the history feel immediate.
See the Acropolis of Lindos
An hour’s drive south, the village of Lindos is crowned by an acropolis on a cliff hundreds of feet above the Aegean. The climb is steep, either on foot or by donkey, and the payoff at the top is one of the great views in Greece. Ancient columns meet a medieval castle here, and below spread the twin beaches and a lattice of terracotta roofs. I sat on a stone step for a long while, not wanting to come down.
Climb to Monolithos Castle
For a quieter version of the Lindos experience, make for Monolithos in the southwest. The ruined castle sits on a dramatic rock outcrop, and the short walk to the top rewards you with a sweeping view of the coastline. Almost nobody was there when I visited, which is precisely the appeal. Pair it with a swim at the rugged beach below.
Stroll the Harbor and the Windmills of Mandraki
Mandraki is the old harbor where legend says the Colossus once stood astride the entrance. These days it is lined with restaurants, yachts and a row of stone windmills, and the two deer statues that frame the harbor mouth have become the city’s symbols. I loved walking the waterfront at sunset, when the sea turned silver and the fort walls caught the last light. It is easy, free and genuinely lovely.
Relax on the Beaches of Lindos and Prasonisi
Rhodes has beaches for every mood. Lindos Beach offers calm, shallow water right below the acropolis. On the south tip, Prasonisi is famous for the sandbar where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet, and it is a magnet for windsurfers. I had a lazy morning at Lindos and a lively afternoon watching boards slice across the waves at Prasonisi. Bring sunscreen either way, because the Greek sun does not negotiate.
Walk Through the Valley of the Butterflies
Inland, the Petaloudes Valley is a shaded forest of plane trees where thousands of Jersey tiger moths gather in summer, clustering on trunks in flickering clouds of orange and brown. The path is an easy stroll along a stream with small waterfalls. I went in late July when they were at their peak, and the constant flutter around me was strangely calming. Visit early before the heat brings the crowds.
Discover the Ancient City of Kamiros
Tucked into the west side of the island, Kamiros is the remains of a classical Greek city laid out in a tidy grid, often called a small Pompeii because so much of its street plan survives. There was almost no one there when I walked through. It is a quiet, thoughtful stop that pairs well with a drive down the scenic western coast.
Island Hop to the Smaller Dodecanese
From Rhodes you can take a day trip to the smaller islands of the Dodecanese, and it was the best money I spent. Symi, with its pastel houses climbing the hillside above a calm harbor, is the most photographed and my favorite. Even if you only have a day, the boat ride itself is lovely, and the seafood lunch on the waterfront was a highlight. Book ahead in summer.
Taste the Island’s Food on a Market Walk
Rhodes does not get enough credit for its food. Beyond the tourist tavernas there are bakeries turning out sesame breads and honey pastries, spice shops selling local oregano, and family restaurants where the salad is made with tomatoes that actually taste like something. I finished with goat cheese and a glass of Retsina. Eat the seafood and trust the places that only have a few tables.
Rhodes gives you history, cliff top ruins, calm coves and some of the liveliest medieval streets in Europe, all on one island. Split your time between the old town and a stretch of coast, eat everything, and leave at least one day unplanned. That empty day is where the island will surprise you.
