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Rhodes

Cruise port guide and shore excursions for Rhodes, including Lindos.

Ships
Docked at pier
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Language
Greek
Time zone
Europe/Athens
Season
Greece's cruise passenger fee has three seasons: June–September, April–May and October, and November–March

At a glance

Rhodes in a nutshell

Worth getting off?

Research verdictGet off the ship

Rhodes has a walled medieval city built by the Knights of St John, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights. Lindos and its acropolis are about 50 km away, so they suit a full day.

  • History
  • Easy walking
  • Food
  • Shopping

Best time to go

Greece sets its cruise passenger fee in three seasons: June 1 to September 30, April, May and October, and November to March.

Visit Greece says the views at Lindos are especially striking in late afternoon. The acropolis keeps shorter hours in winter (November 1 to March 31) and closes on Tuesdays in that season.

Weather this week

Loading the forecast…

Highs and lows in °F. Live forecast for the port from MET Norway, updated through the day. Check again the night before you’re in port.

Sources (8) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Book

Rhodes shore excursions

We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we choose tours

Pick your time ashore and we’ll flag the tours that get you back to the ship with time to spare. Tours marked Shore excursion are planned around cruise days; the rest are popular local tours that fit a day in port. Sort by price or reviews, or browse every Rhodes tour on Viator.

Time ashore
Sort

A tour fits when its length plus 90 minutes to get there and back is within your time ashore.

See all Rhodes shore excursions on Viator

Plan

Plan your day

Pick the plan that matches your time ashore, then check how far things are from the pier.

4hours ashore

Old Town on foot

  1. Head for the Medieval City, the walled Old Town. Walking in is free, and the city has an information office outside D'Amboise Gate.
  2. Walk the Street of the Knights, lined with the inns of the Order's national groups.
  3. Visit the Palace of the Grand Master, the Knights' administrative center, now a museum of the city's history. Check the Ministry of Culture for current hours and price before you go.
  4. Leave time to walk back to your ship. No official page gives the pier-to-Old Town walk time, so ask your cruise line how far your berth is.
Tours that fit 4 hours →

6hours ashore

Old Town, museums and the walls

  1. Start at the Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master.
  2. Add the Archaeological Museum, which is housed in the Knights' Hospital.
  3. Take one of the guided walks along the medieval moat or the perimeter walls that the municipality lists.
  4. Finish with a Rhodian lunch (see the food list) inside the walls, then head back to the pier with time to spare.
Tours that fit 6 hours →

8hours ashore

Lindos and its acropolis

  1. Lindos is about 50 km from Rhodes Town, and Visit Greece puts the public bus at roughly 1 hour 40 minutes each way. A Lindos tour from the island's Viator list handles the ride for you; use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits your call.
  2. Walk the cobbled path up through the village to the acropolis and the Temple of Athena Lindia.
  3. Stroll the village below, with its cobbled lanes and old churches.
  4. Plan to be heading back well before all-aboard. If your call is shorter than a full day, the Old Town plans above are the easier fit.
Tours that fit 8 hours →

How far from the pier

One way. Short call OK means 20 minutes or less.

  • Lindos (public bus from Rhodes Town)Bus100 min

Ship tour or go independent?

Rhodes Old Town is a good town to do on your own: it is compact and its entrance is free. Booking your own walking, food or Lindos tour gives you more choice, often smaller groups, and the day at your own pace. The ship's tours suit anyone who would rather leave the timing to the cruise line, and they are worth a look for Lindos on a shorter call. Browse the tours below and use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits.

  • Lindos is about 50 km away. Public buses take roughly 1 hour 40 minutes each way, so pick a Lindos tour that leaves a comfortable cushion before all-aboard.
  • The way up to the Lindos acropolis is a cobbled path through the village. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
  • Greece's cruise passenger fee is charged per disembarking passenger, and the cruise company is responsible for paying it. Check your cruise terms to see whether it is already in your fare.
  • Demonstrations can happen with little notice in Greece and may disrupt transport. Check the news that morning if you plan a long ride.
Sources (8) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Getting around

Getting around & money

Getting around

  • WalkThe Medieval City is a walking city, and entrance is free. The municipality has information offices at the Mandraki waterfront, on the Street of the Knights and outside D'Amboise Gate. No official page gives a walk time from the cruise pier.
  • Bus€5.50 one way (2025 posted fare)KTEL Rodou runs the Rhodes–Lindos bus from Bus Station 1 at Mandraki. Its posted timetable, valid June 1 to October 5, 2025, shows 16 departures a day, first at 6:15 a.m. and last at 9:30 p.m. We could not confirm the 2026 timetable or fare, so check KTEL before you go. Visit Greece puts the ride at about 1 hour 40 minutes.
  • TaxiRhodes Town–Lindos: €67 (1–4 riders)The Municipality of Rhodes publishes taxi fare tables. Its page was last edited in March 2025, so confirm the fares with the taxi company. A meter start charge applies, plus extra charges for pickup from the port, waiting time and night rides (midnight to 5 a.m.). Rhodes Taxi can be reached at +30 22410 69800.
    Rhodes Town–Lindos, 1–4 riders
    €67
    Rhodes Town–Lindos, 5–8 riders
    €87
    Pickup from the port (extra)
    €1.08
    Waiting time, per hour
    €15

Money, tipping & phones

Money
The euro (EUR). Greece's cruise passenger fee is also set in euros.
Sources (6) · checked Oct 23, 2026

See & eat

What to see, eat and do

Must-sees

  • Medieval City of Rhodes (UNESCO)WalkableThe Knights of St John held Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and made the city a stronghold. UNESCO listed it in 1988. The Upper Town was built entirely by the Knights. The Lower Town has churches that were converted to mosques after 1523, plus Islamic-era baths and houses.
  • Street of the KnightsWalkableA street lined with the inns of the Knights' national groups. The municipality's guide calls it the best-preserved street in Europe. UNESCO also lists the Inn of Auvergne and the Amboise Gate among the sights.
  • Palace of the Grand MasterWalkableThe Knights' administrative center and the Grand Master's residence, damaged by an ammunition explosion in the Ottoman period and rebuilt during the Italian occupation. It now houses the Museum of Rhodes.
  • Acropolis of LindosRide neededThe temple of Athena Lindia stands at the top, among a Hellenistic stoa, a 13th-century church and the Knights' administrative building. You reach it on a cobbled path through the village. The village is about 50 km from Rhodes Town, and the public bus takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes.

Free & cheap near the pier

  • Walk the Old TownFreeEntering the Medieval City is free. The municipality's information offices on the Street of the Knights and outside D'Amboise Gate can help with a map.
  • Ministry of Culture free-admission daysFree on set daysState-run sites and museums are free on March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September and October 28, and on the first and third Sundays of the month from November to March. EU citizens up to 25 and non-EU children up to 18 also get in free with ID.
  • Lindos villageVillage walk is freeThe village below the acropolis is a cobbled walk past old churches. The acropolis itself has an entry fee. Visit Greece lists general admission at €20 and summer hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with shorter winter hours. We could not open the Ministry's ticket pages, so confirm before you go.
  • Bus to Lindos€5.50 one way (2025 fare)The public bus is a low-cost way to reach Lindos if your call is long enough. The fare is from KTEL's 2025 summer timetable, so check for 2026. See the getting-around section for the ride time.

Eat like a local

  • PitaroudiaChickpea balls with mint, a well-known Rhodian dish.
  • MelekouniA honey sweet in the pasteli family, made with orange and spices and served at celebrations.
  • BulgurBulgur wheat is a staple of the island's cooking.
  • Seafood in LindosVisit Greece suggests fresh seafood in the village tavernas after your visit.

Rainy-day backups

  • Palace of the Grand MasterThe ground floor has permanent exhibitions on the city of Rhodes from its founding in 408 BC to the Ottoman conquest in 1522. The first floor has mosaic floors and medieval furniture.
  • Archaeological MuseumHoused in the Knights' Hospital in the Old Town.
Sources (9) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Good to know

Safety & accessibility

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions (advisory issued October 23, 2025; page last updated February 19, 2026)

  • Pickpocketing and purse-snatching happen at popular tourist sites and on public transportation. Keep your passport and valuables close or on the ship.
  • Large demonstrations tied to local politics may happen with little notice and can disrupt transportation and essential services. Strikes can affect ferries and seaports.
  • Photographing or recording police, military personnel or installations is prohibited, according to the State Dept advisory.
  • The Central Port Authority of Rhodes lists +30 22410 22220 and rodos@hcg.gr.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier
No official page we found describes access at the Rhodes cruise berths, so ask your cruise line about the walk from your ship.
  • The route up to the Lindos acropolis is a cobbled path through the village, so ask your tour operator about mobility needs before you book.
  • The Ministry of Culture lists free admission to state sites for people with disabilities, plus one escort for a 67% disability.
  • The Old Town has cobbled streets.
Sources (5) · checked Oct 23, 2026

FAQ

Rhodes cruise port FAQ

Can I walk from the cruise ship to Rhodes Old Town?

The Old Town is in the city center, and walking in is free. We could not find an official page that names the quay your ship uses or gives a walk time, so check your cruise line's port guide. Once you are in, a guided walking tour is a nice way to see the Street of the Knights and the Palace; browse the tours below.

How far is Lindos, and how do I get there?

Lindos is about 50 km from Rhodes Town. KTEL Rodou buses leave from Bus Station 1 at Mandraki. The posted 2025 summer fare was €5.50 one way (2026 not confirmed), and Visit Greece puts the ride at roughly 1 hour 40 minutes. A Lindos tour takes care of the ride; use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits your call.

How much is a taxi to Lindos?

The Municipality of Rhodes lists €67 for 1–4 passengers and €87 for 5–8 passengers from Rhodes Town to Lindos. The page was last edited in March 2025, so confirm the fare. Extra charges apply for pickup from the port, waiting and night rides.

Is there a cruise passenger fee in Greece?

Yes. Under a 2025 decision, Greece charges a levy per disembarking passenger. The decision names only Mykonos and Santorini for higher rates and sets a separate rate for other ports. Rhodes is not named, so that other-ports rate appears to apply: €5 from June 1 to September 30, €3 in April, May and October, and €1 from November to March, excluding VAT. Check your cruise terms to see whether it is already included.

Are the Old Town sites free?

Entering the Old Town is free. State-run museums and sites have an entry fee, though the Ministry of Culture sets free days, such as April 18 and October 28, and free entry for EU citizens up to 25. Check the Ministry for the current Palace of the Grand Master price.

What should I eat in Rhodes?

Try pitaroudia (chickpea balls with mint) and melekouni, a honey sweet. Bulgur wheat is a staple, and Visit Greece suggests fresh seafood in the Lindos tavernas.

Is Rhodes safe for cruise visitors?

The US State Department rates Greece Level 1, Exercise normal precautions (advisory issued October 23, 2025). Pickpocketing happens at popular tourist sites, and demonstrations can occur with little notice.

Sources (9) · checked Oct 23, 2026

Keep exploring

More port guides nearby

Every fact in this guide is checked against an official or published source, most recently on Oct 23, 2026.

All sources for this guide (15) · checked Oct 23, 2026