Things to do in Rhodes range from exploring the medieval, UNESCO-listed Old Town to lounging on golden beaches, climbing the Acropolis of Lindos and sailing to nearby Symi. Plan tickets and tours through My Greece Tours.
For the full picture of the island, see our Rhodes travel guide, which sets the wider context for this article. The sections below cover the best attractions overall, the Old Town, day trips and excursions, outdoor and beach activities, and how many days you need.
What are the best things to do in Rhodes?
The best things to do in Rhodes are exploring the medieval Old Town, climbing the Acropolis of Lindos, visiting the Acropolis of Rhodes on Monte Smith, walking the Valley of the Butterflies, relaxing on beaches like Tsambika and Anthony Quinn Bay, and taking a boat trip to Symi island.
Rhodes, the largest island of the Dodecanese, rewards almost any interest. History lovers walk the cobbled lanes of the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then drive south to the Acropolis of Lindos, where the Temple of Athena Lindia overlooks the sea. The Acropolis of Rhodes on the Monte Smith hill, ancient Kamiros and the ruins scattered across the island add depth for those who want to understand the place beyond its resorts. Each site tells part of a long story stretching from antiquity through the era of the Knights.
Active travellers find just as much to do. The Valley of the Butterflies, the Seven Springs at Epta Piges and the slopes of Mount Attavyros above the village of Embonas reward walkers, while the eastern coast lines up beach after beach. A boat trip to Symi island makes an easy escape, and Mandraki Harbour in Rhodes town, the former site of the Colossus of Rhodes, anchors any first walk. Our guide to Rhodes Old Town covers the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights, and the next section covers what to do inside the Old Town.
What can you do in Rhodes Old Town?
In Rhodes Old Town you can tour the Palace of the Grand Master, walk the cobbled Street of the Knights, follow the medieval walls and dry moat, browse Hippocrates Square and explore museums and Byzantine churches inside one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities.
Rhodes Old Town is the medieval heart of the island and a UNESCO World Heritage site, enclosed by thick fortifications raised by the Knights of Saint John. The Palace of the Grand Master stands at the top of the Street of the Knights, a perfectly preserved cobbled avenue once lined with the lodges of the knightly orders. Walking it from the palace down towards the commercial quarter is the classic introduction, passing stone archways, coats of arms and the kind of architecture that has changed little for centuries. Inside the palace you can see grand halls, mosaic floors brought from the island of Kos and exhibitions on the medieval and ancient history of Rhodes, while the Archaeological Museum, housed in the old Hospital of the Knights, displays finds from across the island.
Beyond the headline monuments, the Old Town rewards slow wandering. You can follow the dry moat that circles the walls, drift through Hippocrates Square, find quiet Byzantine churches and small museums, and lose yourself in lanes that open onto hidden courtyards. It is a living quarter as much as a monument, with workshops, tavernas and homes among the ruins. Our guide to Lindos covers the Acropolis of Lindos and its clifftop village, and the next section covers day trips and excursions across the island.
What are the best day trips and excursions in Rhodes?
The best day trips from Rhodes include a boat excursion to Symi island, a visit to Lindos and its acropolis, ancient Kamiros on the west coast, the Valley of the Butterflies, the Seven Springs at Epta Piges, and the mountain village of Embonas below Mount Attavyros.
The most popular excursion from Rhodes is the boat trip to Symi, a smaller Dodecanese island whose harbour of neoclassical houses rises in tiers of ochre and pastel around the water. Day boats leave from Mandraki and the commercial harbour, often pausing at a bay for a swim on the way. Closer to home, Lindos makes a full day, combining the whitewashed village, the Acropolis of Lindos with its Temple of Athena Lindia, and the sweep of beach below the rock.
Inland and along the west coast there is plenty more. Ancient Kamiros preserves the grid of a classical Greek town on a quiet hillside, while the Valley of the Butterflies draws walkers into a shaded gorge where Jersey tiger moths gather in the warm months. The Seven Springs at Epta Piges offers a cool, wooded retreat, and the village of Embonas below Mount Attavyros is the island’s wine country. Our guide to Rhodes beaches covers Tsambika, Anthony Quinn Bay and the southern sands, and the next section covers outdoor and beach activities.
What outdoor and beach activities does Rhodes offer?
Rhodes offers swimming and snorkelling at Anthony Quinn Bay, family sands at Tsambika and Faliraki, windsurfing and kitesurfing at Prasonisi where two seas meet, plus hiking on Mount Attavyros, walks in the Valley of the Butterflies and boat trips along the coast.
Rhodes is built for time outdoors. The east coast strings together some of the Aegean’s best-known beaches: golden Tsambika beneath its clifftop monastery, the sheltered cove of Anthony Quinn Bay with its clear water and rocks for snorkelling, and the lively resort sands of Faliraki. At the island’s southern tip, Prasonisi is a sandbar where the Aegean and the Mediterranean meet, creating ideal conditions that make it one of Greece’s premier windsurfing and kitesurfing spots, with calm water on one side and lively waves on the other. Beach clubs, watersports centres and quieter undeveloped coves alike line the coast, so families, couples and thrill-seekers can each find sands that suit them within a short drive of the main resorts.
Away from the sand, the landscape invites walkers and adventurers. The Valley of the Butterflies offers shaded trails along streams and waterfalls, while Mount Attavyros, the island’s highest peak above Embonas, gives experienced hikers sweeping views across the Dodecanese. Boat trips, sea kayaking and snorkelling round out a coast that stays warm well into autumn. Our guide to where to stay in Rhodes covers the best bases for beach days and excursions, and the next section covers how many days you need.
How many days do you need in Rhodes?
Most visitors need three to seven days in Rhodes. Three days covers the Old Town, Lindos and one beach, while five to seven days adds day trips to Symi, ancient Kamiros, the Valley of the Butterflies and time to relax on several different beaches around the island.
How long you stay depends on how you like to travel. With three days you can see the medieval Old Town, take a full day in Lindos for its acropolis and village, and still spend an afternoon on a beach such as Tsambika or Faliraki. That is enough to grasp why Rhodes is the headline island of the Dodecanese, even if it leaves the west coast and the mountains for another visit. Many travellers find three days a satisfying first taste, enough to mix history, a village and the sea without ever feeling rushed from one place to the next.
Five to seven days lets the island breathe. You can add a boat trip to Symi, drive out to ancient Kamiros, walk the Valley of the Butterflies and the Seven Springs, and sample the wine country around Embonas, all while drifting between several different beaches. A week suits anyone who wants to balance sightseeing with genuine downtime by the sea. Plan your visit and tours through our Rhodes travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhodes Old Town worth visiting?
Yes, Rhodes Old Town is one of the highlights of the entire Aegean and well worth a full day or more. It is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site, enclosed by massive fortifications built by the Knights of Saint John. Inside, you can tour the Palace of the Grand Master, walk the cobbled Street of the Knights, follow the dry moat that rings the walls and explore a maze of lanes filled with churches, museums, courtyards and tavernas. The Old Town works both as a serious historical site and as an atmospheric place simply to wander, especially in the cooler hours of the morning and evening. Because it sits in the city of Rhodes in the north of the island, it is easy to reach from most resorts and makes a natural starting point for any trip, anchoring your first day before you head out to Lindos, the beaches or the mountains.
How do you get from Rhodes to Symi island?
You reach Symi from Rhodes by boat, and the crossing is one of the island’s most popular day excursions. Day-trip boats and faster passenger ferries depart from Rhodes town, typically from Mandraki Harbour and the commercial harbour beside the Old Town, and the journey takes roughly an hour or a little more depending on the vessel and whether it stops along the way. Many excursion boats pause at a quiet bay or at the monastery of Panormitis for a swim or a short visit before reaching Symi’s main harbour, Gialos, with its famous tiers of neoclassical houses rising around the water. You can go for the day and return the same evening, which is what most visitors do, or stay overnight to enjoy the harbour after the day boats leave. Symi sits just off the coast in the Dodecanese, making it the easiest island-hopping escape from Rhodes.
When is the best time to visit Rhodes?
The best time to visit Rhodes is during the late spring and early autumn shoulder seasons, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable and the crowds are thinner than at the height of summer. In spring the island is green and the wildflowers are out, making it ideal for walking the Valley of the Butterflies, exploring archaeological sites like ancient Kamiros and the Acropolis of Lindos, and touring the Old Town without the midday heat. High summer brings hot, dry, reliably sunny weather and the liveliest beach and nightlife scene, but also the largest crowds and warmest temperatures, so early starts help. Autumn keeps the sea warm for swimming long after many other destinations have cooled, which suits beach days at Tsambika, Anthony Quinn Bay and Prasonisi. Because Rhodes lies in the south-eastern Aegean near the Turkish coast, it enjoys a long, mild season that stretches comfortably beyond the core summer months.