Rhodes 7-day itinerary

Enter through the D'Amboise Gate into the medieval walled city — UNESCO World Heritage and the finest medieval town in Europe. Walk the atmospheric Street of the Knights (Odos Ippoton). Visit the Palace of the Grand Master (€8) — originally a Byzantine citadel, rebuilt by the Knights of St. John, with stunning mosaic floors from ancient Kos. The fortifications are extraordinary.

Lose yourself in the Old Town's maze of 200+ narrow lanes. Explore the Jewish Quarter around Plateia Evreon Martyron (Square of the Jewish Martyrs). Visit the Ottoman-era Süleymaniye Mosque and the Turkish Bath (hamam, €5). Lunch at Hatzikelis in the old fish market for fresh seafood on the harbour wall (mains €12–18). Browse the ceramic shops on Sokratous Street.

Walk the medieval walls from the Palace to the Clock Tower (€2.50, includes a drink) for panoramic sunset views. Dinner at Mama Sofia for traditional Rhodian dishes — pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), stuffed vine leaves, and lamb kleftiko (€10–16). End at a rooftop bar on Sokratous Street watching the medieval skyline glow under stars.

Early KTEL bus to Lindos (1 hour, €5.50). Climb to the Acropolis of Lindos (€12) — a Doric temple perched on a sheer cliff 116m above the sea with 360° views of the coastline. The climb is steep but the panorama from the top is the best on the island. Along the way, you'll see a carved relief of a Rhodian trireme in the rock face. The Temple of Athena Lindia sits at the summit.

Cool off at St. Paul's Bay — a perfect sheltered cove framed by cliffs where St. Paul supposedly landed in 51 AD. Crystal-clear water, excellent snorkelling, and a tiny chapel by the shore. Walk through Lindos village's whitewashed lanes, admiring the "captain's houses" with their pebble-mosaic floors. Lunch at Mavrikos for upscale Greek cuisine with terrace views (mains €14–20).

Watch sunset from the viewpoint above the village — the free path offers views of the Acropolis silhouetted against the sky. The sun dropping behind the bay is magical. Take the evening bus back (check last departure — usually around 9pm). Late dinner at To Marouli in the Old Town for meze, or grab a gyros from a stall near Nea Agora (€3–4).

Rent a scooter (€20–25/day) or bus to Ancient Kamiros (35 min, €5) — one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes. The hillside ruins reveal a complete Hellenistic city layout with streets, houses, temples, and a sophisticated water system dating to the 5th century BC (€6). Far fewer visitors than Lindos — you may have entire sections to yourself. The Aegean views from the site are spectacular.

Head to Tsambika Beach on the east coast — golden sand, warm turquoise water, and dramatic cliffs. Sun loungers cost €8 for two, or use the free section at the south end. The water is shallow and warm for hundreds of metres. The small Tsambika Monastery perches on the cliff above — a steep but rewarding climb (300 steps) for panoramic views over the coastline.

Explore Rhodes New Town — Nea Agora market hall has cheap eats, and the area around Orfanidou Street is the nightlife district. Start with drinks at the Colorado Entertainment Centre complex, then move to the bars along Bar Street (Orfanidou). Cocktails run €8–12, beers €4–6. For something mellower, find a harbour-side bar in Mandraki and watch the fishing boats come in.

Bus or scooter to Petaloudes — the Valley of the Butterflies (€5 Jun–Sep). This lush river valley attracts thousands of Jersey Tiger moths (Panaxia quadripunctaria) each summer. Walk the shaded boardwalks along streams and waterfalls. The moths rest on trees with wings closed, revealing bright orange underwings when they fly. A magical, cool escape from the island's summer heat.

Continue to the village of Embonas on the slopes of Mount Attavyros for wine tasting at Emery Winery — the island's oldest (tastings from €8). Rhodes has native grape varieties: Athiri (white) and Mandilaria (red). Try the local muscat. Lunch at a village taverna in Embonas — hearty mountain food with grilled meats, fresh bread, and salads (mains €8–12). The village feels untouched by tourism.

Return to Rhodes Town and climb Monte Smith (Agios Stefanos) for sunset — the ancient acropolis of Rhodes with a restored stadium, temple ruins, and 270° views over the city and sea. It's free and rarely crowded. Dinner in the Old Town at Nireas for fresh fish by the harbour (mains €12–18) with a carafe of local white wine. The harbour at night is atmospheric and calm.

Take the morning catamaran from Mandraki Harbour to Symi (1 hour, €25–30 return). As you enter Symi's harbour, the neoclassical mansions climbing the hillside in shades of ochre, terracotta, and Aegean blue create one of the most photographed scenes in the Dodecanese. Climb the 500 Kali Strata steps from Gialos harbour to the upper town (Chorio) for panoramic views.

Many day trips include a stop at Panormitis Monastery on the south coast — a striking waterfront monastery dedicated to Archangel Michael. Swim at one of Symi's secluded bays (the ferry often stops at Agios Georgios beach). The water is impossibly clear — some of the best swimming in Greece. Lunch at a waterfront taverna in Gialos — grilled octopus and Greek salad with harbour views (€12–16).

The catamaran returns to Rhodes around 6pm. Back in the Old Town, take a sunset walk along the medieval moat — a peaceful tree-lined path that circles the fortifications. Dinner at To Steno for creative Greek cuisine in a candlelit alley (mains €12–18). Finish with a nightcap at Macao Bar in the Old Town — craft cocktails in a courtyard setting.

Rent a car or scooter and drive to Prasonisi at the island's southern tip (90 min) — a sand spit connecting Rhodes to a small island where the Aegean and Mediterranean seas literally meet. It's a world-famous windsurfing and kitesurfing spot. Even if you don't surf, the sight of two different-coloured seas meeting is extraordinary. The drive through the island's interior is beautiful and uncrowded.

Drive back through the mountain villages — stop in Apolakkia for a coffee, then Siana for its famous local honey and souma (a grappa-like spirit). Lunch at a village taverna in Monolithos with views of the medieval castle ruins perched on a dramatic rock (free to visit). The mountain villages offer a completely different Rhodes — stone houses, elderly locals in kafeneia, and no tourist shops.

Return to Rhodes Town for a sunset swim at Elli Beach — the main town beach stays warm well into the evening. Then dinner at Koukos on the waterfront in Ixia for the best fish taverna experience outside the Old Town — the owner selects your fish from the day's catch (€15–25). End the night with drinks in the Old Town at Ronda Bar — relaxed jazz, cocktails, and courtyard vibes.

Early morning swim at Anthony Quinn Bay (30 min drive or bus to Faliraki then taxi) — a rocky cove with emerald-green water named after the actor who filmed nearby. It's one of the most beautiful swimming spots on the island. The snorkelling is excellent around the rocky edges. Arrive before 10am to get a good spot (limited space). Bring water and snacks — facilities are minimal.

Final afternoon in the Old Town. Pick up souvenirs — local sponges from Symi, Rhodes ceramics, thyme honey, and olive oil soap. Browse the leather sandal workshops on Arionos Street. Last meal at Tamam for modern Greek tapas (plates €6–10) or a final gyros from the stalls near Nea Agora. Walk the harbour one last time.

Farewell dinner at Marco Polo Mansion — a beautifully restored Ottoman house with a candlelit garden courtyard and Mediterranean-fusion cuisine (mains €16–22). Or keep it simple at a harbour taverna with fresh fish, house wine, and the sound of waves lapping the walls. The Old Town at night — with its gas lamps, medieval stones, and cat-filled alleys — is a place that stays with you.