Greece
Rhodes is the island where a medieval fortress city still lives and breathes.
Behind four kilometres of Crusader walls, the Old Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds the Palace of the Grand Master, the cobbled Street of the Knights, mosques, churches and courtyards that have been lived in for seven centuries. Beyond the walls the island opens out: the whitewashed village and hilltop acropolis of Lindos, the woods and springs of the interior, Filerimos hill, the harbour of Mandraki with its two bronze deer, and day boats to the little island of Symi. This guide picks the sights that matter, tells you honestly what is open in each season, and pairs them with a short list of hotels in the walled town and the modern city.
Medieval Old Town of Rhodes
A UNESCO-listed walled city, still inhabited, where Crusader knights, Ottoman governors and Italian restorers have all left their mark. Four kilometres of walls, a maze of lanes and some of the best wandering in the Mediterranean, open all year.
Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights
The great fortress at the top of the Street of the Knights, home of the Order's grand masters, rebuilt in the twentieth century and now a museum of mosaics, sculpture and medieval life. A highlight of any visit, with shorter hours in winter.
Lindos Acropolis & Village
A whitewashed village stacked under a rock crowned by an ancient temple and a Knights' fortress, about an hour from Rhodes Town. The island's most beautiful sight, with a steep climb and good views of St Paul's Bay.
Street of the Knights (Ippoton Street)
The best-preserved medieval street in Europe: a cobbled lane lined with the inns of the Order's national groups, climbing to the Palace of the Grand Master. Free, short and unforgettable, especially early or late in the day.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
A UNESCO-listed walled city, still inhabited, where Crusader knights, Ottoman governors and Italian restorers have all left their mark. Four kilometres of walls, a maze of lanes and some of the best wandering in the Mediterranean, open all year.
The great fortress at the top of the Street of the Knights, home of the Order's grand masters, rebuilt in the twentieth century and now a museum of mosaics, sculpture and medieval life. A highlight of any visit, with shorter hours in winter.
FreeThe best-preserved medieval street in Europe: a cobbled lane lined with the inns of the Order's national groups, climbing to the Palace of the Grand Master. Free, short and unforgettable, especially early or late in the day.
Ancient Rhodes inside the Knights' Hospital: statues, grave monuments and Hellenistic mosaics from Ialyssos and Kamiros, around a quiet courtyard. A perfect winter-day stop with a Tuesday closure.
A whitewashed village stacked under a rock crowned by an ancient temple and a Knights' fortress, about an hour from Rhodes Town. The island's most beautiful sight, with a steep climb and good views of St Paul's Bay.
A fast boat from Rhodes to the pastel harbour of Symi, with free time in the village and a swim stop at St George's Bay. The classic island escape, mostly a spring-to-autumn product, so plan winter crossings carefully.
A green valley of springs, plane trees and a stream inland from Archangelos, reached on a guided four-hour hike through olive groves and woodland. The island's most refreshing walk, at its best in cooler months.
A wooded canyon with waterfalls and a wooden path, famed for the swarms of butterflies that gather in summer. Open from 1 May to 31 October only, so it is closed for winter and reopens each May.
A pine-covered hill above the west coast with an ancient acropolis, a Knights' monastery, a path of 14 shrines and a cross with sweeping views. A calm half-day outing that stays open in the cooler months.
The old harbour of Rhodes, guarded by two bronze deer on tall columns, a small Knights' fort and three medieval windmills. A free seafront stroll beside the Old Town, best in the late afternoon and open all year.
A whole Greek hillside town laid out in terraces above the west coast: house foundations, a public square, a great cistern and the remains of a temple. The best place on Rhodes to walk through an ancient city, with sea views throughout.
A graceful 1920s Italian-built thermal spa on a rocky bay, with a colonnaded rotunda, mosaics and clear water for swimming and snorkelling. Part history, part beach day, and easy to reach from Rhodes Town.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$Rhodes Town, beside the Old Town walls
A 72-room luxury hotel in Rhodes Town beside the park and the medieval walls, with a spa, two restaurants and free parking. The splurge choice; the outdoor pool closes each year from 20 November to 29 June.
Check rates →Old Town, inside the medieval walls
A tiny boutique hotel of about six rooms beneath the Old Town ramparts, with a garden, a hot tub and breakfast made to order by the owners. Open all year, which makes it a rare winter find inside the walls.
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$$Old Town, inside the medieval walls
A boutique hotel on Haritos Street in the Old Town with a Greek restaurant, a garden terrace, free bicycles and a full breakfast. A mid-range base for the medieval city; confirm winter dates when you book.
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$$Rhodes Town (modern city)
A large, practical city hotel of 171 rooms in Rhodes Town with a breakfast buffet, a bar, a terrace and a Green Key certification. Good value in the modern city; the outdoor pool is seasonal.
Check rates →Neochori, Rhodes Town
A small, friendly hotel on 28th October Street in the new town, with a terrace, a garden, a restaurant, a bar and free bike rentals. The budget-friendly pick; the pool is seasonal.
Check rates →Old Town, Platonos Street
A simple three-class hotel on Platonos Street inside the walls, a one-minute walk from the Old Town castle and two minutes from the Street of the Knights. A practical, central base with a terrace, a cafe and free parking.
Check rates →Old Town, Apolonion Street
Self-catering studios with kitchenettes on Apolonion Street in the Old Town, a minute from the Street of the Knights and two from the Palace. Small, well-reviewed and pet-friendly, with a lift and free cots.
Check rates →Neochori, by the Old Town gates
A compact studio and suite hotel in Neochori, two minutes from the Old Town gates and a short walk from Elli Beach. Jetted-tub suites, sound-insulated walls and a bar make it a practical base outside the walls.
Check rates →Everything to sort before your first trip to Rhodes: the Old Town and the Palace, Lindos, what is open in winter, when to book boats and how to fit the headline sights into two to four days.
A practical guide to choosing between the medieval Old Town and the modern city of Rhodes, with eight hotels for different budgets and notes on what is open in winter.
A three-day plan for Rhodes: a day in the medieval Old Town, a day on the east coast with Lindos and the bays, and a day on the west coast with Kameiros, two castles and a sunset.
A visitor's guide to food and drink on Rhodes: local dishes, island wines and spirits, how to avoid the tourist traps in the Old Town and how mealtimes work through the seasons.
When to go to Rhodes: what each season feels like, which sights and services run only in summer, how winter opening hours work and the best months for swimming, walking and culture.
Plan day trips from Rhodes Town: an east coast route with Kallithea, Anthony Quinn Bay and Lindos, a west coast route with Kameiros and two castles, and how to get around without a car.
