Rhodes Cruise Port Guide: Medieval Old Town, Palace and Lindos

Rhodes is one of the few ports where the cruise pier runs right alongside a walled medieval town. The Old Town of the Knights of St John is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can walk into it in about 10 minutes. The real decision is Lindos.

Quick answer

Ships dock on the cruise pier of the commercial harbour, just east of the Old Town. Walk about 10 minutes to the Marine Gate. The Old Town is free to walk. Lindos is about 1 hour 20–25 minutes each way by KTEL bus, cash on board. For a 17:30 all-aboard, be on a bus out of Lindos by 14:00, or start walking back from the Old Town by 16:15.

The port: what you need to know

·Main cruise pier: On the Kolona side of the commercial harbour. About 10 minutes on the flat to the Marine Gate. Few facilities on the pier itself. Taxis wait at the port.
·Akandia: The commercial and ferry port south of the Old Town, used occasionally by cruise ships. About 20 minutes' walk, with no shade, toilets or food on the quay. Take a taxi if it is hot.
·Tender days: Most ships dock. When all cruise berths are taken, ships are sent to the anchorage and tender passengers in. Add 30 minutes to your return margin.
·Passenger fee: €5 per person from 1 June to 30 September, €3 in April, May and October, €1 from November to March (2026). Your line collects it in the fare or on your onboard account.

Rhodes Old Town

The walled medieval town has gates, Gothic mansions, mosques and fountains. It is free to walk. Allow 2–3 hours. Enter by the Marine Gate from the port and leave by another gate to see more of the walls.

The lanes are paved with uneven pebbles and some slope up towards the palace. Wear shoes with grip.

·Street of the Knights: The straight cobbled street lined with the Knights' medieval inns, running up to the palace. Free. Allow 20 minutes. Go early, before the groups.
·Palace of the Grand Master: The 14th-century palace of the Knights, rebuilt by the Italians in the early 20th century. Now a museum with mosaics and frescoes. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Entry is charged. Book a timed e-ticket on the official Hellenic Heritage site, hhticket.gr, rather than queuing; resellers add a fee. Hours shorten through the autumn, so check the closing time on the day.
·Mandraki harbour: The old harbour between the New Town and the walls, lined with cafés and excursion boats. Free. Allow 30 minutes.

Lindos: worth it, but only with discipline

Lindos is a whitewashed village below a clifftop acropolis on the east coast, with views over St Paul's Bay. Allow half a day including the bus.

·Bus: KTEL Rodou from the station outside the New Market (Nea Agora) on Averof Street by Mandraki, a short walk from the pier.
·Journey time: About 1 hour 20–25 minutes each way.
·Fare: One-way only, paid in cash on board or by e-ticket on the KTEL Rodou site. No return tickets. Cards are not accepted on board.
·Frequency: The October 2026 timetable has 19 departures a day in each direction, from 06:15 to 21:30 out of Rhodes Town.
·Acropolis: Charged; official tickets at hhticket.gr. The path is steep and slippery. Wear shoes with grip.

Buses can be full in peak season. Arrive early for the departure you want.

When to take the ship's coach instead: if your call is under 8 hours, if you are tendering, in the July and August heat, or if you want Lindos and the Old Town in one day without worrying about the last safe bus. Ship excursion prices vary by line.

A day plan for a 17:30 all-aboard (Lindos and Old Town)

Assumes docking at the commercial harbour at 08:00. Carry cash for the bus.

Time	Activity
08:15	Walk along the waterfront to the KTEL station outside the New Market
08:45	Morning KTEL bus to Lindos; check the day's timetable
10:15	Climb through the village to the acropolis. Allow about two hours
12:30	Lunch in Lindos village: grilled octopus and meze
13:30	KTEL bus back to Rhodes Town. 14:00 is the latest safe departure
15:00	Liberty Gate, then up the Street of the Knights to the palace (outside only, unless you have time)
15:40	Down through Hippocrates Square to the Marine Gate and the pier
16:00	Back on board, 90 minutes before all-aboard

Old Town only? Spend the morning on the Street of the Knights and the palace at opening, lunch on pitaroudia (chickpea fritters) in the back streets away from Sokratous Street, then swim at Elli Beach, 15–20 minutes' walk north past Mandraki.

Return timing

The rule for a 17:30 all-aboard: be on a KTEL bus out of Lindos by 14:00 (13:30 is safer). From the Old Town, start walking back by 16:15. On a tender day, add 30 minutes.

All-aboard	Last bus out of Lindos	Leave the Old Town by
16:30	13:00	15:15
17:00	13:30	15:45
17:30	14:00	16:15
18:00	14:30	16:45

If a bus is full or late in Lindos, take a taxi from the Lindos rank and agree the fare first. Call the port agent number in your daily programme if you will be late.

Ship excursion or DIY?

Ship excursion prices vary by line. Skip the ship tour for the Old Town: it starts 10 minutes from the gangway and is easy to walk alone. Lindos is the harder call, for the reasons above.

Practical notes

·Heat: Summer temperatures can top 40°C, and Lindos has little shade. Carry water and a hat.
·Crowds: There is no daily cap on ships in the 2026 port framework. The palace and the Street of the Knights jam from mid-morning on multi-ship days. Go at opening or after mid-afternoon.
·Taxis: Insist on the meter or agree the price before you get in, and use the official ranks. The Uber app can book licensed taxis on Rhodes.
·Restaurants: Check menu prices and the bill in tourist spots in the Old Town.

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Rhodes Cruise Port Guide: Medieval Old Town, Palace and Lindos

Rhodes Cruise Port Guide: Medieval Old Town, Palace and Lindos

Quick answer

The port: what you need to know

Rhodes Old Town

Lindos: worth it, but only with discipline

A day plan for a 17:30 all-aboard (Lindos and Old Town)

Return timing

Ship excursion or DIY?

Practical notes

Related guides

Sources

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