Port of Rhodes cruise port guide

Port of Rhodes — Rhodes, Greece.

Rhodes is the largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands and one of the most rewarding cruise destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean — a place where the medieval and the ancient coexist with extraordinary directness. The Old Town of Rhodes, enclosed by some of the most complete and imposing crusader fortifications in existence, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved medieval walled cities in the world. The Knights of St. John built it in the 14th century, and walking the Street of the Knights today — a straight medieval lane flanked by the stone inns of the crusader orders — feels like time travel. Outside the walls, Rhodes offers excellent beaches, the hilltop village of Lindos with its ancient acropolis, Byzantine and Ottoman layers visible in every corner of the old city, and the straightforward pleasure of Greek food on a Greek island in the Aegean sun. Rhodes is an island that can genuinely fill a day with good choices at every level — from a focussed morning in the Old Town to a full-day excursion to Lindos and the south. The Old Town is the centrepiece and non-negotiable for first-time visitors; everything else is an addition.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Rhodes?

Ships dock at the commercial harbour (Kolona Harbour) in Rhodes Town, a 5–10 minute walk from the main entrance to the Old Town (the Eleftherias Gate or the D'Amboise Gate). The cruise terminal is well-located — there is no tender involved and the Old Town's walls are visible from the ship. Large cruise ships may dock at the deeper-water berths slightly further from the centre; confirm with your ship whether a shuttle is needed. The walk from any berth to the Old Town entrance is at most 15 minutes and entirely flat. Rhodes Town's new town (commercial district, restaurants, beaches) begins just outside the northern walls of the Old Town.

Getting around

Rhodes Town and the Old Town are entirely walkable — the Old Town is about 2km in circumference and the interior is dense with lanes and alleys that reward wandering. The Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Masters, and the Grand Mosque are within a tight cluster. Lindos is 50km south of Rhodes Town — accessible by: KTEL public bus from the bus station near the Old Town (several buses a day, about 90 minutes each way, ~€5.50 each way); organised shore excursion (coach); or taxi (approximately €50–70 each way for the vehicle — worth sharing). The Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) is 30km from Rhodes Town, about 40 minutes by taxi. Car rental is available at the port for those who want maximum flexibility.

Don't miss

• Rhodes Old Town & the Street of the Knights (2–3 hrs) — The most completely preserved medieval city in the Mediterranean — 4km of intact walls up to 12 metres thick, built by the Knights Hospitaller of St. John between 1309 and 1522 to defend this crusader outpost against Ottoman siege. The Street of the Knights (Ippoton) is the centrepiece — an arrow-straight cobbled street rising from the harbour gate to the Palace of the Grand Masters, flanked on both sides by the stone hostels of the seven national 'tongues' (England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Provence). It is the most intact medieval street in Europe and looks almost exactly as it did in 1480. The winding lanes of the Turkish and Jewish quarters below are equally atmospheric.
• Palace of the Grand Masters (1–1.5 hrs) — The summit of the Old Town and the most impressive building on the island — a vast Gothic-Byzantine fortress-palace built by the Knights in the 14th century, wrecked by an accidental gunpowder explosion in 1856, and rebuilt by the Italians in the 1930s (who added ancient mosaics brought from Kos). The building is still magnificent: more than 150 rooms (about two dozen open to visitors), massive battlements, towers, and a position dominating the entire walled city. The ground floor mosaic collection (removed from nearby Kos by the Italians) is the most remarkable art in the museum. The views from the battlements across the Old Town and harbour are the best in Rhodes.
• Lindos village & Acropolis (4–5 hrs including transport) — The most beautiful village on Rhodes — a whitewashed hillside settlement of cubic Aegean houses, narrow donkey lanes, Byzantine churches, and sea captains' mansions cascading down to a perfect harbour beach, all overlooked by an ancient acropolis on a 116-metre clifftop. The Acropolis of Lindos (a Doric Temple of Athena from the 4th century BC, within a medieval fortification built by the Knights on ancient foundations) has spectacular views over the village, the circular St. Paul's Bay below, and the Aegean in every direction. The walk up is steep — donkeys are available for hire. Visit in the early morning before the tour buses arrive; Lindos in midday summer heat is very crowded.
• Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) (1.5–2 hrs at site) — A unique nature reserve in a forested valley in the island's interior, where the Jersey Tiger Moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) gathers in enormous numbers during July and August — thousands of dark moths at rest on the pine trees and stream rocks, creating the most unexpected spectacle. The walk through the shaded valley along wooden bridges over a crystal stream is pleasant even outside the moth season (June–September). The butterflies are actually moths, not butterflies — the confusion dates to the translation of the Greek name. A 40-minute taxi ride from Rhodes Town; best combined with a morning in the Old Town.
• Old Town food & Greek taverna culture (1–1.5 hrs for a proper meal) — Eating in Rhodes Old Town is one of the pleasures of the port — the lanes inside the walls are lined with tavernas serving grilled octopus, fresh fish, meze plates of tzatziki and taramasalata, Rhodian wine, and the local specialty pitaroudia (chickpea and herb fritters). The squares around the Mosque of Suleiman and the street of Sokratous (the old town's commercial artery) are the best for restaurants. Rhodes local cheeses — manoura (a hard, dry sheep's milk cheese) and kopanisti (a peppery, fermented soft cheese) — are particular specialties. The combination of Ottoman, Byzantine, and Greek culinary influences gives Rhodian food a subtle distinctiveness.

Planning your day

The Old Town is the anchor of the day — minimum 2 hours to do it justice, more if you include the Palace of the Grand Masters and a proper lunch in the back-alley tavernas. If you have 4–5 hours in port after that, Lindos is the natural extension — book a taxi or organised tour in advance. The bus is cheaper but the schedule limits your time at the site. Linear thinking helps here: morning in the Old Town (cool, before the tour buses and before the midday heat), taxi or bus to Lindos after 10am (to reach there by 11:30–noon, before the worst heat and the greatest crowds — Lindos acropolis in full August sun with 2,000 tourists is a different experience from the same place at 9am). Return to Rhodes Town by 3–4pm for a late lunch or a walk along the new town waterfront. If you only have a short port call (under 4 hours), concentrate entirely on the Old Town — the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Masters, and a meze lunch. This is the essence of the island and it is extraordinary enough to fill a half-day completely. Save Lindos for a future visit or a longer ship call.

Food & drink

Rhodes offers very good Greek food across the spectrum — from excellent tavernas in the Old Town with fresh fish, grilled meats, and meze to a vibrant seafront dining scene in the new town. The island has its own food specialties: pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), loukoumades (honey-drenched dough balls, a Byzantine-era sweet), fresh octopus grilled and served with ouzo, and the local manoura and kopanisti cheeses. Rhodian wine has been improving steadily and the local Muscat and dry white wines from the Atsinopoulos and CAIR wineries are worth trying. The Old Town restaurants range from tourist traps on the main streets to excellent, honest tavernas in the back alleys — seek out the latter.

Where to eat

• Taverna Kostas — One of the most consistently recommended tavernas in the Old Town back streets — honest Greek cooking, fresh fish, and meze at reasonable prices, away from the tourist-trap main streets. The kind of place where locals actually eat. Look for the streets between the Mosque of Suleiman and the Jewish Quarter.
• Nireas — A well-regarded, family-run Old Town seafood taverna on Sofokleous street — fresh fish, grilled octopus, and Symi shrimp on a vine-shaded terrace. Open from noon and popular at lunch; arrive early or be prepared to wait.
• Loukoumades in the Old Town — Several Old Town cafés and dessert shops fry loukoumades to order — hot, honey-soaked dough balls sprinkled with cinnamon. One of the oldest sweets in Greece and a cheap, filling break from sightseeing.

Must try

• Grilled octopus — A Greek island institution and universally excellent on Rhodes — octopus hung to dry on the line outside every harbour taverna, then slow-grilled over charcoal until the tentacles are lightly charred and the flesh tender, served with a drizzle of olive oil, lemon, and dried oregano. Eaten with ouzo or local wine. Available at virtually every waterfront restaurant; the quality difference between a good preparation and a bad one is significant.
• Pitaroudia — A Rhodes specialty not found elsewhere in Greece — fritters made from dried chickpeas, coarsely ground and mixed with onion, mint, and coriander, fried in olive oil until crispy outside and soft inside. Served as a meze with tzatziki. The local name comes from the Rhodian dialect; some places call them revithokeftedes. Simple, cheap, and completely Rhodian.
• Fresh fish & meze — The standard of fresh fish in the Rhodian tavernas is high — the Aegean provides red mullet (barbounia), sea bream (tsipoura), sea bass (lavraki), and various smaller fish typically priced by weight. A meze spread of taramasalata, tzatziki, grilled aubergine, and fresh bread sets the table before the fish arrives. The ritual of eating Greek meze slowly, with wine, in the afternoon sun is one of the great pleasures of the Aegean.

Know before you go

• 🗣️ Language — Greek. Rhodes is one of the most tourist-developed islands in Greece and English is spoken throughout the Old Town, at all tourist-facing restaurants, hotels, and attractions. The tourist police and National Park guides speak English. In rural areas and smaller villages, basic Greek phrases are appreciated.
• 📋 Documents — Greece is in the Schengen Area. US, Canadian and Australian citizens need a valid passport; no visa required for stays under 90 days. EU citizens need only their national ID card. As a cruise passenger, you will clear immigration with your ship; no separate formalities are required for going ashore.
• 🛍️ Shopping & hours — Old Town shops open approximately 9am–8pm daily during the cruise season (April–October). The Street of Sokratous (the main commercial street through the Old Town) has the best concentration of shops. Best buys: genuine handmade ceramics (look for workshops where you can see the potter at work; the mass-produced tourist versions are everywhere and immediately obvious), natural sea sponges from the Dodecanese, Rhodian honey and herbs, gold and silver jewellery, and locally produced wine (Rhodian white wine from the CAIR cooperative is underrated). Bargaining is not standard practice in fixed shops but flexibility exists in the market stalls.
• 🌤️ Weather — Rhodes has one of the sunniest climates in Europe — over 300 days of sunshine per year, earning it the nickname 'Island of the Sun.' Summer (June–September) temperatures reach 30–35°C (86–95°F) with very low humidity and a reliable northerly breeze (the meltemi) that makes the heat manageable. Spring (April–May) and autumn (October) are ideal cruise months — 20–26°C, fewer crowds, beautiful light. Sunscreen, a hat, and water are essential in summer; the Old Town streets provide some shade but the walls walk and the Lindos climb are exposed.
• 📶 Connectivity — Excellent 4G/5G coverage throughout Rhodes Town, the Old Town, and on the road to Lindos. EU roaming applies for European visitors. Wi-Fi at all cafés and most restaurants. Card payment is widely accepted in the Old Town and at major tourist sites. Smaller villages and rural areas may prefer cash.
• ♿ Accessibility — The Old Town's medieval cobblestone lanes are challenging for wheelchairs and limited mobility — the street surfaces are uneven, often steep, and can be slippery. The Palace of the Grand Masters has a partially accessible entrance. The walk up to Lindos Acropolis is steep and involves many steps — donkeys can be hired to the upper village but the acropolis itself requires climbing. The New Town beaches outside the walls are flat and more accessible. The Petaloudes Valley has wooden boardwalk paths that are accessible in the lower sections.
• ⏱️ Getting back — The cruise terminal is within easy walking distance of the Old Town — 10–15 minutes from the Palace of the Grand Masters. If you have gone to Lindos, taxis back to Rhodes Town take 50 minutes; KTEL buses are less predictable — check the return times before going. Allow at least 45 minutes before all-aboard from the Old Town; 90 minutes from Lindos. Rhodes is a very popular cruise port and multiple ships may be in port simultaneously — the streets near the terminal can be crowded in the afternoon.

Sources: visitrhodes.gr (official tourism); visitgreece.gr; diycruiseports.com — Rhodes guide; portadventurer.com — Rhodes Cruise Port Guide