Overview
Rhodes City (Ródos) is the capital of Rhodes Island and of the Dodecanese island group in the southeastern Aegean Sea. It sits at the northern tip of the island and is home to roughly 50,000 permanent residents, making it one of the larger urban centres in the Greek islands.
The city divides clearly into two zones: the walled Medieval Old Town, one of the best-preserved medieval urban complexes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, and the modern New Town that extends north and west of the walls. Visitors tend to spend most of their time in and around the Old Town, though the New Town has its own waterfront character.
Rhodes City has been continuously inhabited for over 2,400 years, shaped by ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantine rulers, the Knights of St John (1309–1522), Ottoman Turks, and Italian colonialists before becoming part of Greece in 1947. Each era left tangible traces in the architecture, street grid, and culture that visitors encounter today.
Beyond history, the city serves as a practical base for exploring the rest of the island — day trips to Lindos, Kamiros, and the Valley of the Butterflies are all easily managed from here.
Before You Go
Visas
Rhodes is part of Greece and therefore the European Union and Schengen Area. Visa requirements depend entirely on your nationality. For accurate, current requirements, check TravelerPulse's Visas section and consult the official Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your nearest Greek consulate before travel.
Health
No routine vaccinations are required beyond standard travel health precautions. Tap water in Rhodes City is generally considered safe to drink, though many locals and visitors prefer bottled water. Pharmacies (marked with a green cross) are plentiful and can handle minor medical needs. Verify any prescription medication rules with your own health authority before departure.
What to Pack
- Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) is essential from April through October
- Comfortable, flat-soled shoes — the Old Town's cobbled streets, particularly the Street of the Knights, are uneven and can be slippery
- A light layer for evenings, especially in shoulder seasons
- Modest clothing if you plan to visit churches or religious sites
Booking Ahead
Accommodation in the Old Town fills quickly from late June through August. Book well in advance for peak summer travel. Ferry tickets to and from Athens (Piraeus) and other islands also sell out during busy periods.
Getting There
By Air
Diagoras International Airport (IATA: RHO) is located roughly 14 km southwest of Rhodes City. It receives direct flights from Athens year-round and a wide range of European cities on seasonal schedules. Verify current routes and frequency with airlines or a booking platform, as services change seasonally.
Transport from the airport to the city centre is available by taxi, bus (KTEL urban/intercity lines), and some hotel transfer services. Confirm current timetables and fares locally or at the airport information desk.
By Sea
Rhodes City has two main ferry ports. The Commercial Port handles large ferries connecting Rhodes to Piraeus (Athens), Crete, and other Dodecanese and Aegean islands. The Mandraki Harbour is used primarily by smaller hydrofoils, catamarans, and excursion boats to nearby islands such as Symi and Kos. Journey times and schedules vary significantly by operator and season — check current timetables with ferry operators such as Blue Star Ferries or ANEK, or via ferry booking platforms.
The overnight ferry from Piraeus is a popular budget option and takes approximately 14–18 hours depending on the route and vessel.
Getting Around
On Foot
The Old Town is best explored on foot. Most major sites — the Palace of the Grand Master, the Archaeological Museum, the Street of the Knights — are within easy walking distance of each other inside the walls. Note that motor vehicles are restricted in parts of the Old Town, which makes pedestrian navigation straightforward but luggage-hauling challenging.
Public Bus
The city is served by two bus networks: RODA (urban routes within the city) and KTEL (intercity routes to other parts of the island). Both operate from terminals near the New Market/Mandraki area. Verify current routes, frequency, and fares at the terminal or officially, as schedules change by season.
Taxis
Taxis are available at the airport, ferry ports, and designated stands around the city. Meters should be used within the city; agree on a fare for out-of-town journeys before departing.
Car and Scooter Rental
Numerous agencies operate in the New Town and near the airport. A rental vehicle is useful for exploring the rest of the island but is unnecessary — and sometimes impractical — for sightseeing within the Old Town itself. An international driving permit may be advisable; verify requirements with your rental agency.
Cycling
Some visitors use bicycles to explore the New Town waterfront area. The Old Town's cobblestones make cycling impractical there.
Things to See & Do
Medieval Old Town
The walled Old Town is the city's centrepiece. The circuit of medieval walls, built and expanded by the Knights of St John, stretches roughly 4 km and remains largely intact. Walking part of the walls (access points and hours should be verified locally, as they have varied in recent years) gives a good sense of the fortification's scale.
Palace of the Grand Master
This imposing fortress-palace at the northwestern corner of the Old Town was the seat of the Knights' administration. It houses permanent collections on the history of Rhodes and rotating exhibitions. Admission fees and hours should be verified at the site or through the Greek Ministry of Culture's official resources.
Street of the Knights (Odos Ippoton)
A remarkably well-preserved medieval street leading up to the Palace, lined with the inns (auberges) of the various national tongues of the Hospitallers. It gives a strong impression of 14th–15th century urban architecture and is free to walk through.
Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Housed in the former Hospital of the Knights, this museum holds significant finds from ancient Rhodes and surrounding islands, including the noted Aphrodite of Rhodes marble statue. Verify current hours and admission fees at the site.
Mandraki Harbour
The ancient commercial harbour, where the Colossus of Rhodes — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — is traditionally said to have stood (though the exact location is debated). Today it is a pleasant waterfront with the three restored windmills, the Fort of St Nicholas, and moorings for yachts and excursion boats.
Beaches
The city has accessible beaches on both the Aegean (east) and Mediterranean (west) sides. Elli Beach on the northern tip of the New Town is the most centrally located. Water quality and facilities vary by beach and season.
Day Trips
Lindos, Kamiros, Ialyssos, and Monolithos are all accessible by bus or rental vehicle and offer significant archaeological and scenic interest. The Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) is a popular short excursion, particularly in summer when the Jersey tiger moths congregate.
Food & Drink
Local Cuisine
Rhodes shares the broad traditions of Greek and Aegean cuisine — fresh seafood, grilled meats, mezedes (small dishes), legumes, and seasonal vegetables cooked simply with olive oil. Some dishes with a local identity include pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), mavromatika (black-eyed pea salad), and loukoumades (honey-drenched dough fritters) sold at street stalls.
Where to Eat
The Old Town has a high concentration of tavernas and restaurants, with quality ranging widely. Restaurants along Socratous Street and the main tourist lanes can be pricier and more tourist-oriented; wandering slightly off the main routes often leads to better value. The New Town has a more local dining scene and is worth exploring for everyday meals.
Mandraki and the broader New Town waterfront area have cafés and ouzo bars (ouzeries) where you can sit with a carafe of local wine or ouzo and a plate of mezedes.
Drinks
Greek coffee (ellinikós kafés), espresso-based drinks, Nescafé frappé, and the cold-brewed freddo variants are all widely available. Local wines from Rhodes (CAIR cooperative produces widely distributed labels) and tsipouro or ouzo are common. Tap water is safe in the city; bottled water is everywhere.
Practical Notes
Restaurants in the Old Town typically operate on Mediterranean hours — lunch from roughly midday, dinner from 7–8 pm onwards, with some staying open late. Many Old Town establishments close or reduce hours outside the tourist season (November–March). Always verify before making a special trip.
Shopping
Socratous Street in the Old Town functions as the main tourist shopping artery, with shops selling jewellery, leather goods, ceramics, sponges, herbs, and various souvenirs. Quality varies considerably; compare items across multiple shops rather than buying from the first stall.
For more everyday shopping — supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, clothing — the New Town around Plateia Kyprou and the streets running south towards the bus terminals is more practical. A municipal market building (the New Market, or Nea Agora) near Mandraki Harbour contains a mix of shops and is architecturally notable in its own right.
Authentic local products worth considering include Rhodian honey, thyme-infused products, local wine, and hand-crafted ceramics. Be cautious of products claiming to be handmade or local that may be mass-produced imports — ask vendors directly and apply reasonable scepticism.
Practical Information
Emergency Numbers
In Greece, the general emergency number is 112 (EU standard, works for police, fire, and ambulance). The tourist police, who can assist English-speaking visitors, operate a dedicated line — verify the current local number through official Greek tourism authority resources or at your accommodation.
Money
ATMs are widely available in both the Old Town and New Town. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and many restaurants, but smaller tavernas and market stalls may be cash-only. Notify your bank before travel to avoid card blocks.
Electricity
Greece uses the standard European two-pin plug (Type C/F) at 230V/50Hz. Visitors from North America and some other regions will need both an adapter and a voltage converter for sensitive electronics.
Connectivity
Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafés and hotels. EU roaming rules generally allow EU-issued SIM cards to be used at domestic rates. Visitors from outside the EU may find it cost-effective to purchase a local prepaid SIM on arrival — several providers sell these at the airport and in the New Town.
Tipping
Tipping is customary but not obligatory. Rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% at restaurants is typical. Taxi drivers do not typically expect a fixed percentage but appreciate rounding up.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies display a green cross and are well-stocked for common medications. A rotating on-call (duty pharmacy) system operates outside regular hours; the current duty pharmacy is usually posted in pharmacy windows.
Safety
Rhodes City is generally considered a safe destination for travellers. Violent crime against tourists is uncommon. As in any tourist-heavy urban environment, be alert to pickpocketing in crowded areas — the Old Town alleys, busy markets, and ferry terminals are the most likely settings.
Traffic can be chaotic, particularly near the port and in the New Town, and pedestrian crossings are not always respected. Exercise caution when crossing roads.
Summer heat can be intense, particularly in July and August, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C. Heat exhaustion is a real risk for visitors unaccustomed to high temperatures — stay hydrated, limit midday exposure, and rest during the hottest hours.
Sea conditions on the west-facing (Mediterranean) side of the island can be rougher than the east-facing (Aegean) beaches; flag warnings at beaches should be taken seriously. Always swim at beaches with lifeguard supervision where possible.
For the most current travel advisories, check the official travel advice issued by your home country's foreign ministry before and during your trip.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Rhodes City's cultural life is layered across millennia. The Orthodox Christian tradition is central to local life, and the city has numerous active churches alongside the Ottoman-era mosques (most now closed for worship but preserved as monuments) and the medieval Crusader architecture — an unusual coexistence of religious heritage in a small urban area.
The city celebrates Greek national holidays and Orthodox religious festivals with genuine local participation. Easter (Pascha) is the most significant religious celebration and is observed seriously; visiting during Holy Week offers a distinctive cultural experience but requires respectful awareness of the solemnity of the period.
Dress modestly when entering churches: shoulders and knees should be covered. Some religious sites will provide coverings if needed. Photographing religious ceremonies inside churches is often restricted or prohibited — follow posted guidance and observe what local worshippers are doing.
The pace of daily life follows Mediterranean rhythms: a quiet period in the early-to-mid afternoon is still observed by many local businesses outside the main tourist zones, particularly in the off-season. Evening is when the city comes alive — locals dine late, and the Old Town's lanes remain animated well after sunset in summer.