Rhodes is a stunner of a city, although considering its location on the little Greek island of Rodos (also known, perhaps confusingly, as Rhodes), its cosmopolitan-ness might come as a bit of a surprise. This is a busy working city, much busier than other Greek island cities like Corfu or Lefkada. But then, this is a big island. Rhodes welcomes about 2.5 million tourists annually, and plenty of those arrive via cruise ship in the main port of Rhodes Town. During my first visit to the island, I actually stayed in the much quieter village of Archangelos, so one day in Rhodes town was all I gave myself to explore. (And whether you’re staying elsewhere on the island too, or are spending one day in Rhodes from a cruise ship, this is plenty of time to introduce yourself to the city.)
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A Brief Introduction to Rhodes
Rhodes (the island of Rhodes, that is), is part of the Dodecanese islands, which are Greek through and through, despite the fact that they’re located just off the coast of Turkey. (In fact you can get a speedboat from Rhodes to Marmaris in about an hour, stat.)
The island is absolutely steeped in history, with influences from the Ancient Greeks, Romans, the Ottomans and the Christian Crusaders all woven into its tapestry, and temples, castles, mosques and churches are dotted all over the place. It’s also an extremely popular place for holidaymakers (you know, the family holiday kind) thanks to its permanently warm climate.
Rhodes is arguably most famous for being the home of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Colossus of Rhodes. This statue of the Greek sun God- good old Helios- was built in celebration of successfully defending Rhodes during a year-long siege by the King of Macedonia. The awkward thing about this wondrous creation, however, is that it no longer exists. The statue snapped at the knees during an earthquake in 226BC, and by all accounts lay in a pile of rubbly limbs for more than 800 years. Nowadays, there’s not a trace of it to be found. So you’ll have to use your imagination with that.
Rhodes port
Arriving by cruise ship or ferry in Rhodes? I’ve got you covered, pals.
Rhodes cruise port is smack bang in the middle of town, mere footsteps away from the walls of the old town. Which is absolutely brilliant, as it means that if you want to stick to the city, no taxis will be necessary. (Or even an annoying shuttle bus.)
If you’re island-hopping and want to catch a ferry from Rhodes on to another location, there are year-round ferries between Rhodes and other Dodecanese islands like Kos, Kalymnos and Patmos, as well as the closest island of Symi- which is just over two hours away by ferry. You could also catch a ferry from Rhodes to Marmaris in Turkey, with a journey time of just over an hour.
During high season you can also get regular ferries from Rhodes to the Cyclades (like the super popular island of Santorini), and to Greece’s biggest island, Crete.
Rhodes bus station
If you’re heading into Rhodes from elsewhere on the island, chances are you’ll be arriving into the main bus station. (Which is more of a road than a big bus station, FYI)
Here’s the exact location of Rhodes Intercity Bus Station, which is about two minutes from the old town. And check the schedules of Rhodes’ intercity buses over on the KTEL website.
Does Rhodes Town have a beach?
Funny you should ask, pals! With only one day in Rhodes town, I opted out of a visit to the beach, however there is a great beach within walking distance if you’re wanting a dip in the ocean.
Elli Beach is only a ten minute walk from the Medieval old town, and this pebbly city beach has crystal clear water and all the normal facilities you’d expect from a touristy spot: sunbeds galore, restaurants and bars. I’m more of a hidden beach kind of a gal, but I can see why Elli Beach is so popular.
Where to stay in Rhodes
When I visited the island, I was completely torn between staying in Rhodes Town so that I was at the centre of things, or heading out into a more off-the-beaten-path location. I narrowed it down to two places- and ended up opting for a traditional house in the village of Archangelos. Staying in this traditional house was an amazing experience, however it was a tough decision and when I go back to Rhodes I’ll definitely stay in the old town for a contrast. If you’ve only got a day in Rhodes, or even a couple of days- for example if you’re island hopping or heading on to Turkey, I’d recommend sticking to Rhodes Town for convenience.
If you’re wondering what my second choice of accommodation was: that would be the Casa del Sol Suites! These suites are stunningly decorated, following a sleek but traditionally-inspired Greek design, and as an added bonus some of them come with a hot tub. The location is just outside of the main touristy areas of town, meaning a quiet night’s sleep but in a safe spot, plus they’re incredibly highly-rated. (Which I find is even more important when I’m travelling alone.)
How to spend one day in Rhodes
Head to the Old Town
Rhodes is a busy, bustling city, filled with restaurants, bars and shopping opportunities galore. But with minimal time to explore, the best thing to do is head straight into the medieval Old Town; not only does wandering down its narrow streets feel like stepping back in time, but it’s a stark contrast to other parts of Greece (and even elsewhere on the island, like the little village of Lindos and its ancient acropolis), thanks to this medieval influence.
Stone archways curve over lanes, cats curl up in doorways and brightly coloured flowers creep up and drape down over walls. Gothic iron lanterns protrude outwards from street corners and gift shops proudly sell a mixture of traditional plates and plastic sword and shield combos.
Medieval fashion is strong around these parts.
Even with only one day in Rhodes, it’s worth spending an hour or two wandering around to really soak up the atmosphere and see all this beautiful old town has to offer; it’s considered to be one of the most brilliantly-preserved medieval towns in Europe, and it’s easy to see why. (In fact, it’s even officially on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.
Marvel at the Palace of the Grand Master
The crown jewel of Rhodes old town is, without a shadow of a doubt, the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. (‘Grand Master’ has a sort of jedi-esque ring to it, doesn’t it?)
The Knights Hospitaller was a Catholic military order whose main purpose was to ‘care for and defend’ the Holy Land (which, in modern-day terms, is roughly the location of today’s Palestine and Israel.), and all the pilgrims to the Holy Land. Of course, although that was the base tagline for the Knights Hospitaller, the broader sense included rampaging onwards in religious wars, and conquering other nations.
The Knights Hospitaller conquered Rhodes in 1309 and immediately set up their headquarters on the island. They converted a Byzantine fortress into the blockish medieval castle, which became the palace of their Grand Master. The castle has changed over the years, whether due to being struck by lightning, collapsed by an earthquake, or just modified, Grand Designs style, by the Italians. (It actually became King Victor Emmanuel III’s holiday home, and then for Mussolini, because even fascist dictators need a holiday from time to time, apparently.)
Buy a ticket to the Palace of the Grand Master here.
Enjoy a delicious Greek lunch
The first time I visited Rhodes town, I was intent on hunting down a really beautiful place to have lunch. When travelling solo, I generally find that eating lunch out is much more enjoyable than dinner, mainly because restaurants tend to be less crowded and more open to individuals taking up a whole table. Unpopular opinion, but I also tend to have far more success in finding a great restaurant to eat in if I just stumble across it, rather than scrolling through Tripadvisor reviews. My eyes, ears, and nose, can always be relied upon.
Having said that, here is my internet recommendation for you: Nireas Fish Restaurant, tucked away at the quiet end of a very busy street, is one of my favourite finds ever. This unfussy but very pretty, family-run eatery, serves absolutely delicious, fresh Greek dishes, and I have been recommending it ever since. (In fact, I’ll definitely be back there.)
The staff were friendly but not pushy, I didn’t feel rushed at all, and my spot in the courtyard outside was just downright delightful.
Stroll along the Street of the Knights
If there’s one spot in Rhodes that feels like it’s straight off of the set of Game of Thrones, it’s the Street of the Knights. This stunning street lined with old sandstone houses and inns, doesn’t look too dissimilar to how it looked centuries ago when it was first constructed: regal, imposing, and altogether quite splendid. If I do say so myself.
(Of course, actual Game of Thrones fans will know that it was not filmed here in Rhodes; for that, you’ll need to head to places like Dubrovnik and Klis Fortress, over in Croatia.)
Any guided walking tour of Rhodes will include a stroll along the Street of the Knights, although of course you’re free to head here at any time of day all by yourself. It’s free to visit and you can carry on up and down it as many times as you like.
Visit the moat
The medieval town is enclosed by thick stone walls, and like any good castle, outside these walls is a moat. Was the moat ever filled in with water? Well actually, no it was not. In fact it’s more of a big, deep, wide, ditch. But with Rhodes being quite a dry kind of a location, who can blame them for never filling it up?
These days the moat is fairly easy to access, and is a really lovely green park space in the city. Either just view it from one of the bridges that connect the old town with the rest of Rhodes, or head down into it. (And keep your eyes peeled for the old cannon balls lying around the place.) If for no other reason, on a busy day when the rest of the town is chockablock with tourists, the moat is a nice spot to visit for a bit of calm.
Head to the harbour
Mandraki Harbour is the official name of Rhodes’ harbour, and a walk along the seafront at golden hour is a perfect way to end your one day in Rhodes. (Especially if you take an ice cream along for the journey.)
Many people believe that the Colossus of Rhodes once stood here at the opening to the harbour; these days it’s home to the statues of two deer instead, looking proudly out to sea opposite a little lighthouse.
More from Greece:
Three Days on the Island of Rhodes: My birthday, a cockroach and plates galore
Travelling Back in Time in Argyrades, Corfu
What to do in Lindos, Rhodes’ Prettiest Village
The Best Cliff-jumping Spot in Santorini