PortTrip · plain edition of Rhodes cruise port guide · checked October 2026 against 18 sources

Rhodes cruise port guide

Ships dock on the long cruise pier of the commercial harbour just east of the Old Town, about 10 minutes' walk from the nearest gate in the walls. Lindos is about 1 hour 20–25 minutes by KTEL bus from the station by the New Market at Mandraki; pay cash on board or buy an e-ticket. Because the return depends on a bus, be on a bus out of Lindos by 14:00 for a 17:30 all-aboard.

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: the acropolis village on the east coast is worth the trip, but it is well over an hour each way on the KTEL bus and very hot in summer. Ships that cannot get a berth are sent to the anchorage, so check whether your call is a tender day.

When to head back to the ship

For a 17:30 all-aboard. Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins. Re-time this to your own all-aboard.

Leave from	Leave by	How
Old Town	16:15 (1 h 15 min before all-aboard)	Walk about 10 min to the pier
Lindos	14:00 (3 h 30 min before all-aboard)	KTEL bus 1 h 20–25 min; 13:30 is safer
Old Town (ship at Akandia)	16:10 (1 h 20 min before all-aboard)	Walk about 20 min, or taxi
Old Town (tender day)	15:45 (1 h 45 min before all-aboard)	Walk 10 min, plus tender queue

Where people get Rhodes wrong: Catching a late-afternoon bus back from Lindos, when the ride is nearly 1.5 hours and buses fill up.

Docking and getting to town

Most ships dock. Under the 2026 berth-allocation framework of the Municipal Port Fund of South Dodecanese, ships that cannot be given one of the cruise berths are assigned to the Rhodes anchorage and tender in; one berth (Gamma) is reserved for tenders and port service vessels. Add 30 minutes to your return margin on a tender day.

Commercial harbour cruise berths (east of the Old Town). The usual cruise pier, on the Kolona side of the harbour. The 2026 port framework lists the cruise berths as Akromolio, 140, Myloi and Prometheus (which can be combined for ships over 300 m), plus Colossus. About 10 minutes' walk to the nearest gate; few facilities on the pier itself. Taxis wait at the port.
Akandia. The main commercial and ferry port south of the Old Town, used occasionally by cruise ships. About 20 minutes' walk to the Old Town, with no shade, toilets or food on the quay. Take a taxi if you are sent here and the day is hot.

Walkable? Yes, about 10 min. From the main cruise pier, walk along the quay to the Marine Gate in the sea walls, about 10 minutes on the flat. Inside, the Old Town lanes are paved with uneven pebbles and some slope up towards the Palace of the Grand Master. Mandraki harbour and the KTEL bus station are a short walk further along the waterfront. From Akandia, allow about 20 minutes.

Transport

Walk: Free; About 10 min to the Old Town walls. The Old Town, the Street of the Knights, Mandraki harbour and Elli Beach are all reachable on foot from the cruise pier.
KTEL Rodou bus to Lindos: One-way fare paid in cash on board, or by e-ticket on the KTEL Rodou site; no return tickets; About 1 h 20–25 min. Departs from the KTEL station in Rhodes Town, outside the New Market (Nea Agora) on Averof Street by Mandraki, near Rimini Square. The October 2026 timetable has 19 departures a day in each direction, from 06:15 to 21:30 out of Rhodes Town; the last bus back from Lindos is at 20:45. Cards are not accepted on board, so carry cash. Buses can be full in peak season; arrive early for the departure you want.
City buses (RODA): €1.20 one way in town; Varies. The municipal network covers Rhodes Town and the west coast. Not needed for the Old Town, which is walkable.
Taxi: Metered or fixed fares; agree the price before you start; Varies. Taxis wait at the cruise port and at the central rank at Mandraki. For Lindos or a return trip with waiting time, agree the total price and pick-up time in advance. The Uber app can book licensed taxis on Rhodes.

Return timing

For a 17:30 all-aboard: be on a KTEL bus out of Lindos by 14:00 at the latest (13:30 is safer). From the Old Town, start walking back by 16:15. The bus takes about 1 hour 20–25 minutes and can be delayed by traffic or full buses in season, then it is a short walk from the bus station to the pier. As the return depends on a long bus ride, aim to be on board 90 minutes before all-aboard. From the Old Town the walk to the pier is about 10 minutes.

If you are running late: If a bus is full or late in Lindos, take a taxi from the Lindos rank and agree the fare before you set off. In town, everything is walkable. Call the port agent number in your daily programme if you will be late.

A day in Rhodes (all-aboard 17:30)

Assumes docking at the commercial harbour at 08:00, a morning in Lindos by KTEL bus and a short Old Town walk in the afternoon. Carry cash for the bus.

08:15 Walk off the ship along the waterfront to the KTEL station outside the New Market at Mandraki.
08:45 Take a morning KTEL bus to Lindos (about 1 hour 20–25 minutes; check the day's timetable).
10:15 Climb through Lindos village to the acropolis. Allow about two hours for the climb, the site and the views over St Paul's Bay.
12:30 Lunch in Lindos village.
13:30 Catch a KTEL bus back to Rhodes Town; 14:00 is the latest safe departure.
15:00 Enter the Old Town through Liberty Gate by Mandraki and walk up the Street of the Knights to the Palace of the Grand Master (outside only, unless you have time).
15:40 Walk down through Hippocrates Square to the Marine Gate and out to the pier.
16:00 Back on board, 90 minutes before all-aboard.

What to see

Rhodes Old Town and walls: The walled medieval town of the Knights of St John, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with gates, Gothic mansions, mosques and fountains. Time: 2–3 hours. Cost: Free to walk. Enter by the Marine Gate from the port and leave by another gate to see more of the walls.
Street of the Knights: The straight cobbled street lined with the Knights' medieval inns, running up to the palace. Time: 20 minutes. Cost: Free. Best early, before the tour groups arrive.
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. Time: 1–1.5 hours. Cost: Charged; official tickets at hhticket.gr. Book a timed e-ticket on the official Hellenic Heritage site rather than queuing. Hours shorten through the autumn, so check the closing time on the day.
Lindos and the acropolis: Whitewashed village below a clifftop acropolis on the east coast, with views over St Paul's Bay. Time: Half a day including the bus. Cost: Bus fare plus the acropolis ticket (official tickets at hhticket.gr). Go early to beat the heat and the coaches. The path to the acropolis is steep; wear shoes with grip.
Mandraki harbour: The old harbour between the New Town and the Old Town walls, lined with cafés and excursion boats. Time: 30 minutes. Cost: Free. Combine with the KTEL station and a coffee at the New Market.
Kallithea Springs: Restored thermal spa complex with gardens and mosaics, about 5 miles from Rhodes Town. Time: 1.5–2 hours with travel. Cost: Charged; check on the day. A shorter alternative to Lindos if you want to leave town.
Valley of the Butterflies: Wooded nature reserve south-west of Rhodes Town with trails and pools; Jersey tiger moths gather there from May to July. Time: Half a day with travel. Cost: Charged; check on the day. Only worth it in season; the bus route runs only from May to September.

Beaches

Elli Beach: Walk north along the waterfront past Mandraki. About 15–20 min on foot The town beach, organised, with cafés and a diving platform. The best choice if you want a swim and an easy walk back.
St Paul's Bay and Lindos beach: KTEL bus to Lindos, then walk down from the village. About 1 h 20–25 min by bus, then a walk Sheltered water below the acropolis. Only if you are already in Lindos and watching the clock.
Faliraki: Taxi or bus down the east coast. Check the bus timetable Long sandy beach with watersports and restaurants; busy in summer.

Common mistakes

Going to Lindos without cash. KTEL takes cash only on board; carry it or buy an e-ticket on the KTEL Rodou site in advance.
Catching a late-afternoon bus back from Lindos. The ride is about 1 hour 20–25 minutes and buses fill up. Be on a bus by 14:00 for a 17:30 all-aboard.
Queuing for the Palace of the Grand Master on a multi-ship day. Book a timed e-ticket at hhticket.gr and go at opening or later in the afternoon.
Expecting a short walk from Akandia. If your ship is at Akandia it is about 20 minutes to the Old Town with no shade; take a taxi in the heat.
Slipping on the polished pebble paving. Wear shoes with grip, especially on the Lindos acropolis path and the Old Town slopes.

Safety and scams

Rhodes is a low-crime destination for day visitors. Watch for pickpockets in the crowded Old Town lanes and on full buses in summer. Heat is the bigger risk: summer temperatures can top 40°C, and Lindos has little shade, so carry water and a hat. Wildfires affect the island in some summers; follow local instructions. The Faliraki nightlife strip is the rowdy area, but it is not part of a typical cruise day.

Taxi drivers at the port who say the meter is broken or quote an inflated fare. Insist on the meter or agree the price before you get in, and use the official ranks.
Tourist restaurants in the Old Town that pad the bill or charge heavily for drinks in oversized glasses. Check menu prices and the bill before paying.
Friendly strangers who steer you to a particular bar, where the drinks bill is inflated. Choose your own bar and check prices.

Accessibility

The walk from the main cruise pier to the Marine Gate is about 10 minutes on the flat, and the quay has few facilities. Inside the walls, lanes are paved with uneven pebbles and the Street of the Knights climbs towards the palace, so wheelchair users will find parts of the Old Town hard going. Lindos is steep, and the path up to the acropolis is rough and slippery. If your ship tenders, ask the crew about tender access for wheelchairs before you book anything. An adapted taxi or a ship coach tour is the practical choice for limited mobility.

If it rains

Rain is rare in the cruise season, but the Palace of the Grand Master is the obvious indoor visit, with mosaics and rooms to explore under cover. The Old Town lanes become slippery when wet, so take care on the pebble paving. A short taxi to Kallithea Springs is another option with covered areas.

Crowds

Rhodes had 61 cruise calls and 83,720 cruise passengers in July 2026 alone, and there is no daily cap on ships or passengers in the 2026 port framework. The Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights jam from mid-morning when several ships are in; go at opening or after mid-afternoon. Lindos and its acropolis path are busiest late morning and midday, when the coach tours arrive. Greece charges a cruise passenger fee for each port: at Rhodes it is €5 from 1 June to 30 September, €3 in April, May and October, and €1 from November to March (2026). Lines either build it into the fare or add it to your onboard account; some exempt guests who stay on board.

Questions cruise passengers ask

Is Rhodes cruise port walkable to the Old Town?

Yes. From the main cruise pier it is about 10 minutes on the flat to the nearest gate in the walls. From Akandia, allow about 20 minutes.

Is Rhodes a tender port?

Usually not. Ships dock at the commercial harbour, but when all cruise berths are taken, ships are assigned to the anchorage and tender passengers ashore.

How do I get from Rhodes cruise port to Lindos?

Walk to the KTEL station outside the New Market at Mandraki and take a KTEL Rodou bus to Lindos, about 1 hour 20–25 minutes. Pay in cash on board or buy an e-ticket; there are no return tickets.

How do I buy Palace of the Grand Master tickets?

Through the official Hellenic Heritage site, hhticket.gr, which sells timed e-tickets. Resellers add a fee.

Do cruise passengers pay a fee in Greece?

Yes. At Rhodes the cruise passenger fee is €5 per person from June to September, €3 in April, May and October and €1 from November to March (2026). Your cruise line collects it, either in the fare or on your onboard account.

What can I do in Rhodes in one day from a cruise ship?

Either a full day in the Old Town (walls, Street of the Knights, Palace of the Grand Master, Mandraki and Elli Beach), or Lindos by bus in the morning and a short Old Town walk in the afternoon.

Are there beaches near Rhodes cruise port?

Yes. Elli Beach is about 15–20 minutes' walk north along the waterfront, with sunbeds and a diving platform. Lindos and Faliraki are further away.

Is Rhodes safe for cruise passengers?

Yes. The main issues are pickpockets in the crowded Old Town, taxi overcharging at the port and the summer heat.

Sources

Emergency number: 112. Checked October 2026. Full interactive guide, map and planner.