Rhodes, Greece, in a nutshell
The isle of Rhodes, called Rodos in Greek, belongs to the Dodecanese in the south-east Aegean. The medieval old town of Rhodes was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and is still a lived-in town, with the Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master inside its walls. Lindos, with its ancient acropolis above the sea, is a separate destination on the east coast and needs its own day.
The island is easy to split into three bases: Rhodes Town in the north, the east coast with Faliraki, Tsambika and Lindos, and the quieter south and west. This guide covers sights, beaches, day trips and the practical side, such as ticket prices, boat fares and fire rules. It is an independent site and not the official tourism website of Rhodes or Greece. Most tours in Rhodes, Greece, are boat trips and day trips, and the tours page explains what to check before you book.
Good to know for 2026
Details that older guidebooks may have wrong.
Heritage ticket prices for 2026
In 2026 the Palace of the Grand Master and the Acropolis of Lindos cost €20 for adults and €10 reduced, and the Archaeological Museum costs €10. Lower figures that you may find in older guides are out of date.
Things to do →Winter hours start on 1 November
The palace and Lindos switch to shorter hours from 8:30 to 15:30 and close on Tuesday from 1 November to 31 March. In autumn Lindos already closes earlier, down to 18:00 in the second half of October.
Lindos guide →Roadworks at the New Market
Since 11 September 2026 building works at the New Market change the bus and pedestrian area in Rhodes Town. The boarding area for city and long-distance buses changed to Averof Street between Papagou and Gallias. The works were planned for three months.
Airport and transport →An accommodation charge since 2025
Guests pay a climate resilience charge per room or unit and day, on top of the room price. In a 4-star hotel it is €10 from April to October and €3 from November to March, and it is billed separately.
Where to stay →Fire safety is part of a summer trip
Wildfires in July 2023 led to the precautionary evacuation of roughly 19,000 people in the south-east, including Kiotari and Lindos. Evacuated does not mean burnt. Make no open fires, never throw cigarettes away and follow the signs and the instructions of the authorities. In case of smoke or fire call 199 or 112.
Our picks: Rhodes tours
A catamaran day with lunch, the Lindos Acropolis ticket and a speedboat to Symi.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Catamaran day cruise with lunch and drinks
Six hours with a Mediterranean lunch buffet, wine and beer from noon, soft drinks, snorkelling gear and a shower on board. The listing names no exclusions.
Check availability →
Speedboat day trip to Symi
Return speedboat crossing and free time on Symi. There is no guided tour.
Check availability →
Lindos Acropolis entry ticket
Entry for your chosen date and time slot, plus an Old Town audio tour. The acropolis audio tour needs the matching option, and there is no audio device or live guide. The official ticket alone costs €20.
Check availability →Rhodes tours and day trips
Boat trips, Lindos, Symi, the Old Town and nature trips, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit to Rhodes, Greece
The pages to read first.
Things to do in Rhodes
Fifteen experiences from the Old Town to the southern tip, with 2026 prices.
Rhodes Old Town
Knights' Street, the Palace of the Grand Master and the city walls.
Lindos
The acropolis, St Paul's Bay and tips for the day trip.
Beaches in Rhodes
Twelve beaches and coves, from Tsambika to Prasonisi.
Rhodes tours compared
What to check before you book a boat trip, a Lindos tour or a ferry.
Where to stay
The Old Town, Lindos, Faliraki and the south compared by area.
Places and day trips
Beyond Rhodes Town.
Symi
Fast catamaran or conventional ferry from Rhodes, and the monastery of Panormitis.
Tsambika Beach
Fine sand below the monastery hill, and the steps up to the church.
Faliraki
A long beach and a seasonal water park.
Butterfly Valley and Seven Springs
Resting moths in a valley, and an irrigation lake reached by a tunnel.
Kallithea Springs
A restored spa on the coast with a bay for swimming.
The Colossus of Rhodes
What is known, what is legend and what you can see at Mandraki today.
When to go
The table shows long-term averages for the Rhodes weather station from the series 1955 to 2010. They are averages, not records and not a forecast. Summer is dry and hot, and the rain returns in autumn. The sea is still warm in October, with an average surface temperature of about 24.6 °C according to a sea temperature website.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 20 °C | 13 °C | about 30 mm |
| June | 28 °C | 20 °C | under 5 mm |
| August | 31 °C | 23 °C | under 5 mm |
| October | 25 °C | 17 °C | about 55 mm |
| December | 17 °C | 11 °C | about 155 mm |
There is no single end of the season. The water park plans to close on 26 October 2026, Lindos moves to winter hours on 1 November, and Kallithea keeps shorter winter hours. See the weather guide for every month.
Old town, acropolis and hotels in Rhodes Town
Rhodes Town is the base for the medieval old town, and it is still a lived-in town, not an open-air museum.
The Acropolis of Rhodes and the acropolis of Lindos
Rhodes Town has its own archaeological monument zone, the Acropolis of Rhodes, which the Hellenic Heritage portal lists separately. The acropolis above Lindos is a different site on the east coast and needs its own day.
Rhodes Town hotels
Rhodes Town hotels in the old town sit inside a lived-in UNESCO ensemble, so check access and noise for each property before you book. The where to stay guide compares the old town, Lindos, Faliraki and the south.
Getting to Rhodes and around
Airport, buses and taxis.
Flying in
Rhodes Airport "Diagoras" (RHO) lists terminal hours of 00:00 to 23:59 every day. That is the airport's opening time, not a bus timetable.
Airport guide →Bus into town
A direct public bus runs to Rhodes Town from a stop between the old and the new terminal. Ask the bus company for fares and departures. Do not rely on summer timetables from earlier in the year.
Taxi and car hire
The taxi rank is in front of the arrivals hall at T1, and the airport website lists the car hire companies. Deposit, card and age rules differ by company, so read them before you pay.
Rhodes: frequently asked questions
How much is the Palace of the Grand Master?
In 2026 adult entry is €20 and the reduced ticket is €10. The wall walk is sold separately for €5, reduced €3. From 1 April to 31 October the palace opens daily from 8:00 to 20:00.
Can I visit Lindos as a day trip from Rhodes Town?
Yes. The official heritage portal gives about one hour by car, and the national tourism organisation gives about 1 hour 40 minutes by bus from the central station. Add time for the climb of about 10 minutes from the village and for the acropolis, which costs €20 in 2026.
Which airport do I fly into?
Rhodes Airport "Diagoras" (RHO) is the island's airport. A public bus runs to Rhodes Town from a stop between the old and the new terminal, and taxis wait at the T1 rank.
Is Symi doable in one day?
Yes. The fast catamaran fare in 2026 is €32 one way, and a sample sailing on 20 October 2026 took 80 minutes. Check the return time before you book, because the last sailing varies by season.
What is the weather like in October?
Mild, with an average high of about 25 °C and average rain of about 55 mm. The sea averages around 24.6 °C. Some seasonal attractions close, so check each opening time.
Is visitrhodos.org the official tourism website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not affiliated with the Municipality of Rhodes, the Greek Ministry of Culture, any ferry company or tour operator.