Rhodes port transfers are private car, minivan and taxi rides that meet ferry and cruise passengers at the port of Rhodes and drive them to Rhodes Airport, a hotel in Rhodes Town or a resort such as Faliraki, Kolymbia or Lindos, or bring travellers back to their ship. Greece Tours lists the transfers that start in Greece.
This page covers where the driver meets you, each route, the cruise pickups, the boats to Symi and Halki, journey times, vehicles, booking, late ferries, the bus, taxi and hire car options and the sightseeing stops, with links to the rest of Rhodes. The transfers below are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.
What are Rhodes port transfers?
Rhodes port transfers are private rides booked ahead in a car, minivan or taxi, linking the port of Rhodes with a hotel, villa, resort or the airport. One party travels door to door, and the pickup is timed around the ferry or cruise ship schedule.
Two groups of travellers book a Rhodes port transfer. Ferry passengers arrive on daily boats from the Dodecanese, the Cyclades and Piraeus, or cross from Marmaris and Fethiye in Turkey. Cruise passengers land at a popular summer port of call. The ride runs both ways, quay to hotel and hotel to quay.
Private means one party per vehicle. A shared shuttle mixes groups, makes up to 8 stops and drops passengers at the hotel or the nearest accessible point, with private addresses excluded. A private transfer drives straight to the booked address, villas included, with no stops for other passengers.
A Rhodes port transfer suits passengers who leave the ship with luggage, families who ask for a certified child seat, and wheelchair users: accessible vehicles carry a ramp or rear tail lift, so the passenger stays in the chair while the driver helps with boarding.
Where do Rhodes port transfers meet ferry and cruise passengers?
Rhodes port transfers meet passengers where the ship docks: the Central Port east of the Old Town for cruise ships, Akandia for domestic ferries, Kolona for Dodecanese boats and Mandraki for day boats. The driver waits at the meeting spot with a name sign.
The city runs three major ports side by side on its eastern waterfront, each with its own traffic, plus the old harbour of Mandraki. A Rhodes port transfer booking names the port, because the meeting spot changes with the quay:
- Central Port: cruise ships, yachts and the scheduled routes to Turkey, east of the Old Town walls.
- Kolona: intra-Dodecanese boats and yachts, opposite and north of the Central Port.
- Akandia: domestic and cargo traffic, south of and next to the Central Port, with a passenger terminal, a café and waiting lounges.
Day-boat passengers book the pickup at Mandraki Harbour, the oldest harbour on the island, in the centre of the city, where the day cruise boats start their trips. The road through the Liberty Gate links Mandraki with Kolona, so the car moves directly between the two harbours.
At the quay, the driver waits at the designated meeting spot shown on the booking voucher, holding a sign with the passenger’s name. A Rhodes port transfer booked for another traveller carries that person’s full name and mobile number, so the driver contacts the right person when the ship comes in.
Which Rhodes port transfers run to Rhodes Airport?
Rhodes port transfers to Rhodes Airport link the harbours with Diagoras International Airport (RHO), the island’s only public airport, 14 km south-west of the city near Paradisi. Booking platforms sell private transfers in both directions between the cruise port and the airport.
The route leaves the city on the Rhodes–Kamiros Avenue, the two-lane road down the west coast that links Rhodes City with Ialysos, the airport and Tholos. Vehicles on the island more than double in summer and congestion builds on this coastal road, so book the Rhodes port transfer with time to spare.
The route suits cruise passengers who begin or end a voyage in Rhodes, and ferry passengers catching a domestic or international flight. From the airport to the port, operators track the flight and move the pickup to match a delayed landing. Rides from the airport to the resorts sit under Rhodes airport transfers.
Which Rhodes port transfers run to Rhodes Town and the Old Town?
Rhodes port transfers to Rhodes Town are the shortest runs on the island, since the harbours sit on the town waterfront. The car reaches hotel doors in the New Town, while Old Town hotels inside the walls get a drop-off at the nearest gate.
Booking platforms list a private transfer from the cruise port to Rhodes city hotels. The New Town spreads north and west of the walls on old, narrow and mainly one-way streets with scarce parking, and a Rhodes port transfer stops at the hotel entrance.
Rhodes Old Town sits inside a 4 km wall with 11 gates. Driving within the walls is restricted to residents with special municipal cards, so a Rhodes port transfer stops outside a gate. Cars do pass through the Liberty Gate and the Gate of the Arsenal, on the road between Kolona harbour and the New Town.
On the harbour side, the Marine Gate was the main entrance to the town, and the Gate of St Catherine opens near the commercial harbour car park. About 200 lanes inside the walls have no name, so give the driver the gate closest to the hotel and walk on from there.
Which Rhodes port transfers run to Ixia, Ialysos and the west coast?
Rhodes port transfers to Ixia, Ialysos and the west coast follow the Rhodes–Kamiros Avenue out of the city along the north-west shore, the road that continues to the airport. Ialysos lies 8 km west of the town, with Ixia in between.
Ixia is a new settlement where hotels and resorts line the coast, close to Paradisi, Tholos and the airport. The transfer runs along the coast to the hotel entrance, which suits ferry arrivals who later fly home, since the departure ride is short.
Ialysos, called Trianta until 1976, is the second-largest town on Rhodes and a suburban district of the capital. A Rhodes port transfer serves the big hotel complexes on its long organised beach and the smaller hotels in town, and island operators list Kremasti and Tholos, further along the west coast, as drop-offs too.
Which Rhodes port transfers run to Faliraki, Kolymbia and the east coast?
Rhodes port transfers to Faliraki, Kolymbia and the east coast run on two roads: the ring road from the port to the Rhodes–Kallithea Avenue for Kallithea and Faliraki, and the Rhodes–Lindos road for Afantou and Kolymbia. Rhodes Town to Faliraki is 13 km.
A four-lane ring road links Rhodes Port with the Rhodes–Kallithea Avenue, a two-lane road down the east coast to Kallithea and Faliraki. A Rhodes port transfer serves the quieter hotels north of the resort, towards Kallithea, as well as its busy centre.
The Rhodes–Lindos national road (EO95) runs through Vrysia and Kolymbia, as a dual carriageway for the greater part of the stretch from Rhodes to Kolymbia, with a grade-separated interchange at Afantou. Booking platforms sell a dedicated Rhodes port transfer to the Kolymbia area, whose hotels line a road with eucalyptus trees on both sides.
Which Rhodes port transfers run to Lindos?
Rhodes port transfers to Lindos run as private one-way rides from the port to Lindos hotels and villas, or as round trips. Transfer operators list the Rhodes Port to Lindos route at 49.6 km by road, ending at the village entrance.
On Viator, the “Rhodian Private Transfer Between Airport or Port & Lindos Area” is a Rhodes port transfer to the Lindos area, and a “Private Transfer from Rhodes to Lindos” is listed alongside it. GetYourGuide adds a round-trip Lindos transfer from hotels in north Rhodes, for up to 8 travellers per booking, with 5 full hours of free time in the village.
The Rhodes–Lindos National Avenue, Greek National Road 95, links the city with Lindos: four lanes as far as Kolympia, then two lanes. Lindos itself is pedestrianised, so every Rhodes port transfer stops at the parking area at the village entrance, a short walk from the hotels, which can arrange donkey transport for luggage. Our Lindos page covers the village.
Which Rhodes port transfers run to Lardos, Pefkos, Kiotari and Prasonisi?
Rhodes port transfers run to Lardos, Pefkos, Kiotari and Prasonisi as private door-to-door rides that continue beyond Lindos. Transfer operators list all four as drop-off points from Rhodes Port, with the same cars and minivans that serve the Lindos route.
These Rhodes port transfers turn onto the Lindos–Katavia Province Road 1 just before Lindos. This two-lane road runs through villages and resorts to Katavia, the southernmost village of the island, and a further branch from Katavia leads to the Prasonisi cape, where a purpose-built settlement of motels, shops, restaurants and windsurf rentals opens in season.
Lardos sits 8 km west of Lindos, and Pefkos lies on the coastal road that links the two. Pefkos offers self-catering villas and apartments, so the Rhodes port transfer ends at the door of the rental; our Pefkos page covers the resort.
Kiotari, on the south-east coast, has grown around hotels and all-inclusive resorts, and Rhodes port transfers to Kiotari run door to door to those hotels. Near Lardos, a dock on a rocky shore is under development as an alternative port for times when weather makes the central port of Rhodes inaccessible.
Which Rhodes port transfers serve cruise passengers?
Rhodes port transfers for cruise passengers begin at the central port, which serves cruise ships, yachts and scheduled services to Turkey. Pick-ups and drop-offs are timed around the ship’s schedule, for passengers on a port call or starting a cruise.
Rhodes is a popular port of call on cruise itineraries, above all in the summer months. For a day ashore, Rhodes port transfers also come as a driver booked by the hour, with hourly pricing and a private disposal service on request. Viator adds a “Rhodes To Lindos and Return, Private Transfer” for passengers bound for Lindos.
The central port has served as a summer homeport for Costa Cruises, so passengers also begin and end voyages in Rhodes. For them, Viator lists one-way Rhodes port transfers from the cruise berths to hotels in Rhodes Town, and private transfers between the cruise port and Rhodes airport in both directions.
Which Rhodes port transfers connect with the boats to Symi and Halki?
Rhodes port transfers connect with the Symi boats at Mandraki and the Kolona quay in Rhodes Town, and with the Halki boats at the Kamiros Skala dock on the west coast. A private car links a hotel or a ferry berth with the right quay.
Mandraki, the oldest port of the island, lies in the centre of Rhodes city, and cruise boats begin their daily trips to Symi there. The Kolona port, opposite and north of the central port, serves ferry traffic within the Dodecanese, the island group that includes Symi. Symi lies about 24 km north of Rhodes.
Two GetYourGuide boat days include a hotel pick-up in place of a separate Rhodes port transfer: “Rhodes: Cruise to Symi & St George’s Bay with Hotel Transfer”, with 3 hours on Symi and a 30-minute swim stop, and “Cruise to Symi Island & St George’s Bay”, which is wheelchair accessible. Our Symi day trip from Rhodes page covers the island.
The Kamiros Skala dock, near the ruins of ancient Kamiros, serves mainly the island of Halki, 9 km west of Rhodes. Rhodes port transfers reach the dock on the two-lane Rhodes–Kamiros Province Avenue along the west coast, and one transfer platform lists Kamiros Skala as a drop-off from Rhodes Port. Our Halki day trip from Rhodes page covers the crossing.
How long do Rhodes port transfers take?
Rhodes port transfers to Lindos, Pefkos and Kamiros Skala take about an hour. Estimates run 1 hour for the 49.6 km to Lindos, 1 hour 6 minutes for 53.2 km to Pefkos and 59 minutes for 52.3 km to Kamiros Skala.
Further down the coast, Lardos lies about 54 km south of the city of Rhodes, and the Prasonisi cape lies 92 km from Rhodes Town and 40 km from Lindos. A Rhodes port transfer to Kiotari continues south past Lindos and Pefkos, and one to Prasonisi runs on to Katavia first.
Round trips add the time on the ground. The round-trip Lindos transfer from north Rhodes hotels lasts 7 hours, 5 of them free in the village, which leaves about 2 hours for the two drives. The Symi boat days with hotel pick-up last 6 hours and 8 hours in total.
Leaving the city adds time. Rhodes Town has old, narrow and one-way streets, and congestion is unavoidable at rush hours. Traffic jams are common in summer, when the number of vehicles on the island more than doubles. A ring road that is still unfinished already joins the port to the avenue that runs out to Kallithea.
Which vehicles do Rhodes port transfers use?
Rhodes port transfers run saloon cars that seat up to 3 passengers, minivans for 6 to 8 passengers and minibuses for groups of up to 20. The vehicle is reserved for one party, and the cost is per vehicle, not per passenger.
One island operator runs an all-Mercedes-Benz fleet. E-Class saloons and S-Class luxury saloons take up to 3 passengers and 2 large suitcases, V-Class minivans take 8 passengers and 8 large suitcases, and Sprinter minibuses take 20 passengers and 15 large suitcases. Every vehicle is under 3 years old and licensed by the Greek Ministry of Transport.
On the Rhodes port transfer routes it sells, a second platform offers a saloon, an estate car and a premium Mercedes E-Class for 3 passengers, minivans for 6, 7 or 8, and private vehicles for 12 or 16. A group can travel in more than one vehicle, and a third operator fits a certified child car seat on request.
How do you book Rhodes port transfers?
You book Rhodes port transfers online, by WhatsApp, by phone or by email, giving the pickup point, the drop-off point, the date, the time and the number of passengers. The operator then confirms the fixed price and sends the driver’s details.
Viator sells ready-made Rhodes port transfers, among them one-way rides from the cruise berths into town and a hotel transfer to and from the port or the airport. Choose your base on our where to stay in Rhodes page first, because the hotel sets the drop-off point and the fare.
Add the return as a new ride with its own date and time, and the Rhodes port transfer back to your ferry is settled in the same booking. Payment is by card or cash to the driver, and one island agency also accepts a bank deposit or PayPal. Aegean Taxi confirms each ride 24 hours ahead, and the driver then contacts you directly.
What happens to Rhodes port transfers when a ferry is late?
Rhodes port transfers with a fixed-price operator wait for a late ferry at no extra cost. The operator moves the pickup time to match the delay and keeps the price agreed at booking, so a late arrival adds nothing to the fare.
Operators set the pickup by your ship’s schedule, so message the Rhodes port transfer operator as soon as your arrival time changes. Weather can make the central port of Rhodes inaccessible, which is why the island is developing Lardos Dock on the east coast as an alternative port. On rough-weather days, keep your mobile switched on so the driver can reach you.
If the sailing is cancelled, cancel or move the transfer straight away. Aegean Taxi refunds in full when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and it changes a booking subject to availability, charging extra only when the new ride costs more than the original one.
Are Rhodes port transfers better than a hire car, the KTEL bus or a taxi?
Rhodes port transfers are the better choice for a fixed price and a door-to-door ride with luggage. The bus is the low-fare option on set routes, a street taxi charges the official tariff, and a hire car suits travellers who drive daily.
Two companies run the island’s buses. RODA, the municipal operator, serves Rhodes Town, suburbs such as Koskinou, Faliraki and Ialysos, and the west coast, while KTEL serves the villages and resorts of the east coast. KTEL buses carry bags in a luggage compartment and take card, cash or e-tickets, yet they stop only at bus stops, whereas Rhodes port transfers end at the hotel door.
The island has 450 taxis, and a taxi taken without a booking charges the official tariff, with the fare set by the exact destination. Rhodes port transfers fix the fare at booking with no meter charges, and Aegean Taxi’s fares include taxes, fees and tolls.
A hire car makes sense when the stay includes daily drives, since the road network radiates from the city along the east and west coasts; see our Rhodes car rental page. For the arrival day itself, a Rhodes port transfer takes the bags and the route off your hands, and our page on getting around Rhodes covers the other options.
Which Rhodes tours from the cruise port include the transfer?
Private shore excursions from the Rhodes cruise port include the transfer, so the Rhodes port transfer and the touring come as one booking. Viator lists full-day and half-day versions that cover Lindos and the medieval city of Rhodes, including a minivan tour.
Viator sells these tours as shore excursions for cruise passengers, so the ride from the port is part of the tour and needs no separate Rhodes port transfer. Match the length of the tour to the hours your ship stays in port before you book:
- A full-day private shore tour from the cruise port
- A guided Rhodes, Lindos and medieval city tour from the cruise port
- A private Rhodes and Lindos shore excursion by minivan
- A private full-day or half-day shore excursion for four people
For a route of your own, book a chauffeur instead of a set tour. Rhodes Transfer 24 runs a VIP island tour with a chauffeur and a fully customisable itinerary across the island, and Rhodes Experience, a GNTO-licensed agency, sells shore excursions next to its port and airport transfers.
Can Rhodes port transfers include a sightseeing stop?
Yes, Rhodes port transfers can include a sightseeing stop when you ask for it at booking. Local firms take multi-stop rides on request or hire out a driver by the hour, and set day trips add free time in Lindos to the ride.
Rhodes Experience books a port transfer with more than one stop on direct request, and Aegean Taxi hires out a driver by the hour, with a private disposal service on request. List each stop and the time you want there before you confirm the Rhodes port transfer.
Two stops sit close to the city. Filerimos Monastery stands in Ialysos, eight kilometres west of Rhodes Town, near the hotels of Ialysos and Ixia. Province Avenue 4, the two-lane east coast road, links Rhodes Town with Kallithea and the Faliraki resort, so a stop at the Kallithea springs fits Rhodes port transfers to Faliraki.
For a longer stop in Lindos, book a day trip with the free time built in. One GetYourGuide day picks you up at your hotel, makes two photo stops and leaves 4 hours in the village; another pairs the pickup with a boat from Kolympia harbour, three swimming stops and 2.5 hours in Lindos. Read our Lindos acropolis page before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much luggage fits in Rhodes port transfers?
Luggage space depends on the vehicle, so state the number of suitcases when you book. Rhodes Transfer 24 lists 2 large suitcases for a sedan carrying up to 3 passengers, 8 for its 8-seat minivan and 15 for its 20-seat minibus.
Can you get a child seat on a Rhodes port transfer?
Yes, on request. Ask for the seat when you book a Rhodes port transfer and give the number of children. Aegean Taxi provides a certified car seat once you let it know, so a family arriving by ferry carries no seat of its own.
Do Rhodes port transfers run at night?
Yes. Rhodes port transfers run day and night, which covers late-evening ferries and early departures. Rhodes Transfer 24 takes bookings at any hour, Aegean Taxi answers its phone line and WhatsApp round the clock, and Rhodes Experience keeps customer support open at all hours.
Can you book a Rhodes port transfer for another person?
Yes. Booking for another traveller follows the same steps as booking for yourself. Enter that person’s full name and mobile number in the passenger details, because the driver uses them to make contact and arrange a smooth pickup at the port.