A trip to a Greek island is always a good idea in my books, so if you’re planning an adventure in the Mediterranean this summer – here’s why you should book a holiday in Rhodes. I’ve spent years exploring Greece with, but Rhodes came very highly recommended by friends and family, and I can understand why after visiting. There’s so much more to this island than just the Faliraki strip, so venture beyond to find a rich history and culture, incredible food and wine, and beaches that will take your breath away…

The 12 best things to do in Rhodes, Greece, include visiting stunning famous and hidden beaches, exploring the Old Town, stepping back in time at historic sites such as the Acropolis, fine dining and wine tours, boat trips, adventure tours and much more. Read on to find out what you need to do when visiting the beautiful island of Rhodes.

st pauls bay rhodes island, best things to do in rhodes, lindos

Travelling from the UK to Rhodes

When is the best time to visit Rhodes?

The best time to visit Rhodes is out of season. The Greek Island becomes so busy during June, July and August with temperatures increasing to 30-40ºC. I had the pleasure of visiting Rhodes at the end of October and was pleasantly surprised to find it was still 30ºC every day but with a cooler breeze which was perfect for exploring and enjoying more active adventures while still perfect for sunbathing. Look at booking trips from April to beginning of June, or in September and October to make the most of much cheaper prices and quieter beaches.

How to get cheap flights to Rhodes from the UK

It’s easy to reach Rhodes from the UK with just 4 hours and 7 minutes flight time from London. It’s easy to find daily cheap flights from London to Rhodes during holiday season from April to November. Return flights start from £52 and April is the cheapest month to book flights. There are around 45 flights per week from London.

Airlines flying from London to Rhodes include:

  • easyJet
  • TUI
  • Jet2
  • Ryanair
  • British Airways

Lindos Acroppolis, acropolis of lindos, lindos sights, best things to do lindos

Where to stay in Rhodes

Rhodes Old Town

If you love history and culture, Rhodes Old Town is a perfect location to stay to immerse yourself in the charming cobbled streets. The Old Town is lined with great shops, restaurants and bars, plus it overlooks Rhodes Harbour, where the great Colossus of Rhodes once towered. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the town is full of historic sites including the Palace of the Grandmaster, Medieval monuments and many more. There are also lots of great beach clubs just outside the Old Town, if you would like to spend your days by the Aegean.

Faliraki

If you’re looking for buzzy nightlife – Faliraki is the place to be in summer. However, if you’re reading this blog post there’s a good chance that’s not the holiday you’re after. When I visited out-of-season (at the end of October), I discovered another side to Faliraki. It was calmer, quieter, and provided a great base for us to explore the rest of the island. There were plenty of great restaurants nearby and we stayed a few streets back from the strip at a beautiful boho complex which was the perfect escape. We hired a car easily from the strip for the days we wanted to go off and explore the rest of the island, and it meant less time driving and more time on the beach.

Lindos

Around a 40 minute drive from Rhodes Old Town – this is a great location to stay if you plan to hire a car for the trip, or don’t plan to venture far from Lindos. There are some of the best and most beautiful beaches on the island located nearby including St Paul’s Bay and Lindos Beach. These get very busy during the summer months, so this is a great area to book out of season. Lindos town is lively and had some great restaurants and of course, the Acropolis is there to explore.

where to stay in rhodes

12 Best Things To Do In Rhodes, Greece

1. Step back in time at the Acropolis of Lindos

Walk in the footsteps of Greeks from years gone by as you explore this ancient citadel that towers over the cliffs high above Lindos and St Paul’s Bay. Dating back to 4th century AD, the ruins feature the remains of the goddess Athena Lindia and and the Byzantine church of Saint John, as well as stronger fortress walls that stood high a protected this thriving maritime hub until the 19th century. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this, or the phenomenal views. Go for sunset and enjoy watching the golden light bathe the town and sparkle on the waves. You can also see the football ground from here which makes for a pretty impressive view!

TOP TIP: Make sure you get your ticket for the Acropolis of Lindos before you arrive – we had a nightmare when the card machine broke and almost had to walk back down! Book Acropolis of Lindos here.

Acropolis of Lindos

2. Hire a car and explore hidden beaches including St Paul’s Bay

If you’re planning a trip to Rhodes, you’ll want to get out and explore the island at your own pace. Hiring a car is one of the best things to do in Rhodes. There are so many beautiful and isolated beaches and parts of the coastline to explore, plus beautiful towns such as Rhodes Old Town and Lindos to visit. If you would like to hire a car in Rhodes but are nervous to book, let me assure you that Rhodes is super easy to drive and navigate, it’s also really budget friendly to hire a small car and you can easily hire just for the days you need. We hired from Faliraki and just for two days of the trip when we crammed all our exploring in. If you do hire a car, make sure you venture over to Lindos and particularly St Paul’s Bay. It’s by far the most beautiful beach on the island and truly took my breath away – one of my favourite days of the trip!

St Paul's Bay, Lindos, Lindos acropolis, tgings to see in rhodes, greek island

3. Go sea kayaking along Rhodes’ coastline

If you fancy a bit of an adventure, you need to book a sea kayaking tour of Rhodes. It was one of my favourite days of the whole trip and a brilliant way to explore the coastline of this beautiful Greek Island and discover the locals’ favourite beaches. Trekking Hellas have a range of different tours including guided hikes, sailing and culinary experiences as well as sea kayaking trips. We enjoyed The Pirates Route – Sea Kayaking Tour and would really recommend for an unforgettable day of paddling along the East Coast of Rhodes.

sea kayaking rhodes

4. Cruise Rhodes’ secret bays and beaches by yacht

The best way to explore any Greek Island is by boat! Cruise the emerald waters surrounding Rhodes and discover secret bays, beaches and snorkelling spots with Rhodes Day Cruise. Relax, sit back and cruise in style on this yacht to Rhodes’ famous destinations including Kalithea Springs, Afandou Beach and Anthony Quinn Bay. Enjoy unlimited drinks but a super chill vibe – this is no party boat. Spend a day snorkelling from the boat, jumping in, swimming through caves and letting the crystal clear waters wash over you. Then fuel up with a delicious feast from the on-board chef. This was a fantastic way to spend a day of our trip. Book the Romantika Yacht Day Cruise now.

greek island cruise, day cruise anthony quinn bay, rhodes island day cruise

5. Visit the famous Anthony Quinn Bay

Did you know the original name of Anthony Quinn Bay was Vagies? It was renamed during the filming of The Guns of Navarone after the lead actor. The beach is 20km south of Rhodes Old Town and well worth a visit whether you go by land or sea and is considered one of the calmest and most beautiful spots on the island. If you’re looking for an unusual way to visit this location, why not try the Yellow Submarine Swim Cruise with Drinks which stops off to check out this beautiful spot.

boat tour rhodes

6. Explore the historic streets of Rhodes Old Town

There is so much to explore in Rhodes Old Town, this historic quarter is rich in stories of the past. It’s a great place to enjoy a day trip, or to base yourself for the entire trip. Wander the cobbled streets and stumble across medieval sites, Gothic and Byzantine churches plus the the old port of Mandraki and Hippocrates Square. Take a self-guided walking tour or level up with a Guided Walk and Wine Tasting in the Medieval City. For those with limited mobility, why not use the Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus to explore? Or if you prefer to stay active, you can join the E-bike Highlights Sunset or Morning Photo Tour. For those who want to incorporate a visit to Rhodes Old Town into a larger day trip, why not try the Best of Rhodes Tour including Lindos and Medieval City?

Rhodes old town

7. Enjoy a wine tasting and cooking class in a vineyard

I love wine so, for me, visiting vineyards and learning about a country’s wine production is a great way to learn about the culture. Combining wine with food just enhances the experience and visiting Estate Anastasia Triantafyllou offered the perfect combination of local food, locally produced wine and an experience I won’t forget as we made fresh mezze as the sun set over the vineyard, then dined as a group and drank the local wines. A brilliant activity and a wonderful opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable family about their heritage and produce. Book this wine tasting and cooking class experience. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Rhodes, Greece.

Other wine tours to check out include:

wine tasting at rhodes vineyard with cooking class, Estate Anastasia Triantafyllou

8. Visit the Palace of the Grandmaster 

Located at the end of the Street of the Knights, it makes a perfect historical site to explore. The Palace of the Grandmaster was built on the foundations of the Temple of Sun God (Helios) in the 14th century by the Knights of Saint John. Explore at your leisure and find incredible frescoes, mosaics and statues. Don’t forget to pay attention to the floors which feature ancient Roman and Byzantine art! Get your ticket here.

Palace of the grandmaster rhodes old town

9. Wander the Street of the Knights

This 600m long medieval street is where the knights used to line up before going off for battle – nowadays it makes a lovely sunny stroll to the Palace of the Grandmaster or various monuments of the town.

10. Enjoy a fine dining experience

If you’re a bit of a foodie, you won’t want to miss a unique dining experience when visiting Rhodes. Based in Faliraki, Eteon takes authentic Greek dishes and gives them a modern and contemporary twist. Each recipe has been passed down through generations of Rodian families, and the team strive to take you on “an exquisite journey through our gastronomical history” with each taste. Every dish was innovative and creative in a way that no other restaurant we dined at could compete with. Trust me, if you’re visiting Rhodes, don’t miss the opportunity to dine at Eteon and experience one of the best foodie things to do in Rhodes.

fine dining eteon rhodes faliraki

11. Stand in the footsteps of Colossus of Rhodes

Stand in awe of the spot where one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World once towered above Mandraki Harbour. The Colossus of Rhodes represented the god Helios, and was built to thank the gods for the victory over Demetrius Poliorcetes’ long siege (305 BCE) of Rhodes. It stood at 33m high – just imagine that straddling the spot where the boats come in!

street of the knights, rhodes old town

12. Take a boat to the island of Symi

Take a day trip to the colourful island of Symi which is famous for colourful neo-classical house facades, charming fishermen boats, sponge diving traditions, and the Monastery of Panormitis. Travel by ferry and have plenty of time to explore the island at your own pace – it takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach the island of Symi. Enjoy an hour of free time to walk, light a candle or explore the Monastery of Archangel Michael Panormitis. Cruise the west side of the island and stop for a swim at Nymporio Bay before heading to Symi town where you can enjoy a meal in one of the many seafront taverns. Book the Symi Island & Panormitis Monastery Day Trip by Boat. Or, go for a high-speed option if you prefer – High-Speed Boat to Symi Island and St George’s Bay – book now!