14 Affordable Things to Do in Rhodes Greece

How to Get to Rhodes

You can get to the island of Rhodes by ferry or flight. The flights are shorter, but if you’re on island time as I heard back in my days of visiting Aruba, then you may enjoy the ferry. You can also bring along your vehicle if you take the ferry which is a plus if you have a car or have rented one in Athens or another Greek city.

We took a one-hour flight on Aegean Airlines from Athens to Rhodes because we only had a 10-day trip and didn’t want to waste prime time on transportation. Booking with Aegean was super easy, and I found them to be very accommodating. We had planned this trip pre-COVID, and they were kind enough to make rebooking easy. However, the flights were a bit more expensive after the pandemic.

Do note that you have to pay for checked luggage with this airline. My aunt and cousin took only a carry-on, so we didn’t have to pay for theirs, but my mom and I opted to check, so we paid for those. If you’re looking for advice on what to wear in Rhodes, check out this packing guide for the Greek Isles.

How to Get Around Rhodes

Rhodes is one of the larger islands in Greece, so I decided it was better to rent a car to explore rather than rely on bus transport as many of its sites are spread out on my things to do in Rhodes Greece list.

If you do decide to rent a car, make sure you can. When I did a car hire in Greece, I had to get an international driver’s permit, which was easy enough to get at AAA for $20.

I also made sure to get insurance at the car rental place. You can use your insurance (check with your provider on this option) or get it at the rental place, but I’m thankful I got it at the rental place because upon returning the car, they seemed to think I had somehow damaged it and were giving me a hard time until one employee pointed out I had their insurance, and suddenly, it was a non-issue. You’ll also need to consider parking when doing a car hire as sometimes that alone can be costly.

I had pre-booked the rental and communicated when we’d be landing, so they had transport waiting for us to go to the car rental facility. Other than the issue above, it was an easy process for the car hire.

A Note on Car Hires

However, the one thing I wish they’d done is give us the address. Unfortunately, when we landed, it was nighttime. We’d also never been to Rhodes, so we had no idea where they took us to get the car other than it was near the airport. Luckily, while driving around, we passed the car hire place, and I was able to note it down on my map because I could not for the life of me find it online or on our paperwork.

💡 Travel Tip: Maps.me is a great tool for navigation if you have no data or Wi-Fi while traveling.

Where to Stay in Rhodes

There were four of us on our trip, and because Rhodes is one of the cheaper islands in Greece, we were able to afford two rooms at Mitsis La Vita Beach Hotel. Mitsis La Vita Beach Hotel is a lovely place to stay as it’s right on the ocean, so you have an unobstructed view.

I still think about the breakfast we had there. It was included in the cost of the hotel, a rarity these days, and it was delicious! They also have a lovely bar on the ground floor of the hotel that we visited a few times, so much so that we got on a first-name basis with the bartender. Hi Pythagoras!

The beds were comfy, and my cousin, who has trouble sleeping, really appreciated that the only noise we heard was the rustling of the waves as we slept. I highly recommend Mitsis La Vita Beach Hotel if you’re heading to Rhodes.

If you do wind up with a car hire, then know there was public parking around the hotel that wasn’t too difficult to find. There is parking available at the hotel itself, but if I recall, you have to pay for it. Public parking wasn’t too bad, so we chose to search it out instead of paying.

Click here for the latest prices.

Address: Geor. Papanikolaou 28, Rodos 851 00, Greece

Things to Do in Rhodes Greece

We spent 2.5 days in Rhodes, Greece, before heading to Santorini. As I mentioned previously in my post about Athens, because I was traveling with family, I went slower than my normal solo travel speed. So, if you’re doing this solo travel style, you may be able to get more in than we did on this things to do in Rhodes Greece list.

Castle of the Old Town

The city of Rhodes is divided into two halves: the New Town and the Old Town. The Old Town is a medieval city constructed within a castle with six gateways. It’s very Game of Thrones—think King’s Landing vibes.

With its reinforced city walls, Rhodes is one of the few medieval towns still in good condition. Registered with UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the only thing I didn’t really consider about the Old Town was that you have to park outside of it. On the exterior of the city walls, there’s public parking. You have to hunt a bit for it, depending on how busy it is, but we didn’t have too much trouble in September.

Once parked, you can enter through one of those gateways and find yourself within Old Town. Inside the city walls, you’ll find churches, mosques, palaces, squares, gardens, and courtyards.  As well as souvenir shops, cafes, stores, and jewelers. A visit to Old Town is on the top of my things to do in Rhodes Greece list for first-timers!

Palace of the Grand Masters

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a medieval castle in Rhodes’s Old Town. It is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The site was previously a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller and functioned as a palace, headquarters, and fortress.

A note on the Hospitallers: I myself got them confused with the Templars. The Hospitallers were a healing brotherhood, as opposed to the Templars, which were purely military. This role diminished as their military function grew, but it never disappeared. The Order’s chapters were charged with building, furnishing, and improving hospitals.

The Palace of the Grand Master was restored in the 1930s. Today you can view its collection of mosaic floors from the island’s monuments and medieval furniture. As well as its two permanent exhibitions which offer insight into the history of Rhodes, from its founding in 408 BC until its conquest by the Ottomans in 1522.

Street of the Knights

The Street of the Knights is recognized as one of the most intact medieval streets in the world. Beyond its cobblestones, its arched doorways were built wide enough to accommodate a horse and carriage or a knight on horseback.

Along this road are seven inns representing the Knights of St. John’s countries of origin. Home to the Knights Hospitaller who ruled Rhodes, the knights were divided into seven ‘tongues,’ or languages, according to their birthplace—England, France, Germany, Italy, Aragon, Auvergne, and Provence—each responsible for a specific section of the fortifications.

Wall displays explain that the street holds an ‘inn,’ or palace, for each tongue, making this a quick stop on my things to do in Rhodes Greece tour!

Anthony Quinn Bay and Ladiko Bay

Anthony Quinn Bay and Ladiko Bay are located right next to one another, which is why I’ve grouped them here. Named after the actor who filmed The Guns of Navarone here in 1961, Anthony Quinn Bay is one of Rhodes’ most picturesque beaches. However, that also makes it really popular.

The waters at Anthony Quinn Bay and Ladiko Beach, which are walkable from one to another, are crystal clear, so much so that I could spot fish swimming near my feet. Popular with tourists and locals, it’s a gorgeous view from either location.

My issues with both beaches are that there are sharp rocks, which make wading into the water a bit treacherous unless you have water shoes, and there is limited space, which can make it crowded. If you go early, however, this may eliminate the overcrowding issue.

You can rent a lounge chair, an umbrella, and/or snorkel gear. There’s also a bar and cafeteria on site. If I were to do this trip all over again, I’d have gone on a day cruise as it would have taken a lot of the work of getting there, staking out a spot, rocky beach problems, etc. So keep that in mind while planning your own things to do in Rhodes Greece.

Rodini Park

Rodini Park is historic in that it was probably the first landscaped park in the world. Romans popularized it, leaving a bit of an aqueduct here for us to view today along a natural stream. All this makes it an ideal environment for the peacocks who live and breed freely in the park today.

I can understand why—it’s a great respite from the Greek heat! The shaded walkways, rich with flora, are a pleasure to meander around. There’s also a tomb carved into the rock that dates from the Hellenist period and features a decoration of 21 Doric half-pillars—it is known as the tomb of the Ptolemies. It is likely a 2nd-century BC Hellenistic funerary monument.

As we had our own car hire in Rhodes, it wasn’t too bad to get to Rodini Park. However, I could see how it would be a bit of a trek if you were relying on public transportation when trekking through this things to do in Rhodes Greece list.

Hippocrates Square

Located in Old Town, Hippocrates Square is where you’ll find loads of souvenirs, restaurants, cafes, and bars. It is a bustling square, especially at night. At its center is the Syndriváni—a fountain topped by an Italian ornament.

In the southeastern corner of the Square is the Kastellanía, originally a medieval courthouse and commercial tribunal for the Knights, which now functions as the public library and town archives.

My Mother wound up having a gyro she really liked here, and as it was rather hot while we were there, we grabbed some gelato as well. Hippocrates Square is a great place to grab a bite during the day! So I highly recommend adding it to your things to do in Rhodes Greece list.

Kallithea Thermal Springs and Bar

Oh, the Kallithea Thermal Springs… how much strife you made me suffer! The Kallithea Thermal Springs were pitched to me as “steamy waters of the springs are not only relaxing, but are known for their healing powers. The springs are surrounded by exquisite coves and towering pine trees making it a relaxing spot to enjoy. After exploring the thermal springs, you can head down to one of Kallithea’s many beaches which are known for their warm water making them a great place to take a quick swim.”

The “Real” Thermal Springs

Boy, was my Mother excited about the springs. She thought she’d be sitting in basically a natural hot tub. As someone who’d had knee surgery and has back issues, she was over the moon about this.

Unfortunately, that is not what the springs are. They are a tiny section (far right in the above image) of the area you’re paying for access to and are essentially water running off a rock into a fish pond sized pool.

You are not encouraged to enter this pool, as you can see it’s made of rocks. It’s also not warm, which is something we misconstrued, but I’m mentioning it here in case you have the same thought. We even asked an employee if this was the “springs” and he confirmed it.

Before you’re entirely thrown off Kallithea Thermal Springs, I did like it beyond this disappointment. They have a great restaurant where I actually had my best meal in Greece (the salmon). When I went, it wasn’t crowded, and the beach was easier to walk on as it wasn’t as rocky. I’d prefer it to Anthony Quinn Bay if the view had been on par, but if you’re looking for something more chill or family-friendly, Kallithea Thermal Springs may be up your alley to add to your things to do in Rhodes Greece list.

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (Hospital of the Knights)

Another place to visit in Old Town is the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, also known as the Hospital of the Knights, as it previously hosted the Knights Hospitaller. Built in 1440, their main exhibition consists of finds from Ialissos and Kamiros, as well as a collection of marble statues and artifacts.

What I liked most about the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes was the courtyard, where you can see the arched hallways, which resemble the halls at the Christ Church Cloisters. There, you can also see mosaics on the walls and floor, which come from Hellenistic villas.

Valley of the Butterflies

One of the more unique things to do in Rhodes Greece is to visit the Valley of the Butterflies. More commonly known as Petaloudes, this place is home to millions of butterflies from the months of June to August every year. A note: you can visit outside these months; just don’t get your hopes up about seeing many butterflies.

As a nature reserve, “Butterfly Valley” is a habitat dense with flora, paved paths, ponds, waterfalls, and natural beauty. The only sound visitors can hear is the chirping of the cicadas and running water as you’re encouraged to stay quiet.

It’s difficult to see in my photo above, but there are likely hundreds of butterflies on the tree. It was like this throughout the park. You can also hike up to a point where you’ll encounter a small church. If you’re up for the hike, it’s certainly worth a visit as well.

The Colossus of Rhodes

This stop on my list of things to do in Rhodes Greece, is a bit of a stretch as the Colossus of Rhodes has been gone for many, many years. But if you’re a history nerd like me, or a fan of Civilization 6, then you at least stop by.

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios erected by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and celebrated the successful defense of Rhodes against an attack by Demetrius I of Macedon, who had besieged it for a year with a large army and navy.

According to most contemporary descriptions, the Colossus stood approximately 33 meters (108 feet) high—approximately the height of the Statue of Liberty from feet to crown—making it the tallest statue in the ancient world. It collapsed during the earthquake of 226 BC, and although parts of it were preserved, it was never rebuilt.

Since 2008, proposals to build a new Colossus at Rhodes Harbour have been announced, although the actual location of the original monument remains in dispute. The location I’ve photographed above is where my Google Maps took me. Though, funnily enough, it noted the Colossus of Rhodes as “Permanently Closed.”

Additional Things to Do in Rhodes Greece

We didn’t get to everything on my list, so here are a few extra things to do in Rhodes Greece, that you can add to your itinerary!

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Rhodes Greece

To wrap up my list of things to do in Rhodes, Greece, I’ll remind you that we did all of this in 2.5 days. However, we did have a rental car, so it was much easier to come and go to locations on this list as we pleased. If you were to go by public transportation I may allot another day just because Rhodes is rather spread out.

Do you have any questions about this things to do in the Rhodes Greece list? Drop them in the comments below!

Want to remember this? Pin this 14 Affordable Things To Do In Rhodes Greece article to your favorite Pinterest board!