Rhodes walking tour & city guide
A medieval walled town of knights and stone lanes.
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Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, is home to one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. The Knights of St John built its massive walls, gates and palaces in the 14th and 15th centuries, and today the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of life.
The medieval Old Town
The Street of the Knights, a cobbled street lined with the inns of the knights from different countries, leads up to the Palace of the Grand Master, a huge fortified palace with mosaic floors. The town's walls are about four kilometers long, and the moat around them has become a green walking path.
The lower town is more lively, with Sokratous Street's shops, Ottoman mosques, fountains and small squares. Hippocrates Square, with its fountain, is the main meeting point. The Old Town is busy by day, but it's at its most atmospheric in the evening.
Mandraki and the island
Mandraki Harbor, just outside the walls, is where the famous Colossus of Rhodes is said to have stood. Today, bronze deer statues stand on columns at the harbor entrance, near three old windmills.
Beyond the town, the island has long sandy beaches, and the white village of Lindos, about an hour's drive south, has an ancient acropolis on a cliff above a beautiful bay. The Valley of the Butterflies and the Seven Springs are cool green escapes inland.
Visiting tips
Rhodes has a long season, with warm weather from April to October. Wear good shoes for the uneven cobblestones. Ferries link the island with other Dodecanese islands and with Marmaris in Turkey.
Top sights in Rhodes
- 1
Palace of the Grand Master
A massive palace of the Knights.
- 2
Street of the Knights
A perfectly preserved medieval street.
- 3
City walls and moat
A green walk around the fortifications.
- 4
Mandraki Harbor
Deer statues, windmills and yachts.
- 5
Lindos
A white village beneath an ancient acropolis.
- 6
Suleymaniye Mosque
A pink Ottoman mosque in the Old Town.
Food markets & where to eat in Rhodes
Hippocrates Square
Cafés and tavernas in the heart of the Old Town.
New Market (Nea Agora)
A historic market building by Mandraki Harbor.
Old Town back lanes
Quieter tavernas away from the main streets.
Lindos village
Rooftop restaurants with views of the acropolis.
Food to try in Rhodes
Pitaroudia
Chickpea fritters, a Rhodes specialty.
Grilled fish
Fresh from the Aegean.
Melekouni
A sesame and honey bar served at celebrations.
Souma
A local grape spirit.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Rhodes
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in RhodesCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Rhodes.
- eSIM for GreeceStay online from the moment you land.
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