Dodecanese Part One: 4 Days in Rhodes – Falling in Love with Greece
Last updated on : November 5, 2025
Part One : Rhodes
Rhodes is a large Greek island in the Dodecanese that can satisfy both beach lovers and history enthusiasts. Its main highlights include its medieval Old Town, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Palace of the Grand Masters, the village of Lindos and its acropolis, as well as lively seaside resorts like Faliraki.
We spent 4 nights there during our trip in September 2025, combining culture, landscapes, and a day cruise. There is so much to see that we could easily have stayed for an entire week, or even longer.
What I loved about Rhodes was the striking contrast in its landscapes: the charm of the medieval Old Town, the breathtaking views from the heights of the island, and of course, our excursion to the island of Symi, which was a true favorite of mine. 🩵
It felt magical to wander early in the morning through the Old Town, or even in Lindos, just before everything woke up. These places become lively and full of energy as the day goes on, yet in the early morning they radiate a peaceful atmosphere, as if we had the world to ourselves. I love how a single place can offer two completely different ambiances in the span of one day.
So, to help you immerse yourself in this unique atmosphere, let me walk you through our days on this fascinating island in the Aegean Sea. You’ll also find small video montages at the end of the article to let the journey continue a little longer.
Day 1 : Sunset in Rhodes
After a rather hectic layover at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where it felt like we were just going in circles, it was such a relief to finally land in Rhodes. Traveling with only carry-on luggage, we left the airport quickly and headed to the bus stop that takes you to Rhodes Town. In just about thirty minutes, we reached the heart of the city.
As we walked toward our accommodation, we caught our first glimpse of the majestic walls and gates of the medieval Old Town. And let me tell you: it’s truly impressive!
Once we settled into our room, we continued our day by heading toward Monte Smith Hill and the site of the Acropolis of Rhodes. Another moment of awe, surrounded by ancient ruins and overlooking the city from above, all bathed in the soft golden light of the sunset.
A perfect first day to begin this journey.
Day 2 : Citycoco, Monastery & Culture
For our second day, we rented small electric scooters called Citycoco to explore the surroundings of Rhodes Town. We had booked these little wonders with Crazyrider, who provided excellent service. After just five minutes, I finally got the hang of my ride… and I absolutely loved driving it afterward!
Our first stop was Filerimos Monastery (€10/person). This site includes the Monastery of Panagia Filerimos (with its Gothic-look cloister and bell tower), the ancient acropolis of Ialyssos, and the iconic 18-meter-high cross offering stunning panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. You may even spot a few peacocks roaming freely. A peaceful and charming place – and discovering it on our Citycoco scooters made it even more enjoyable.
After this refreshing visit, we headed to Rodini Park, one of the oldest landscaped parks in the world. Entrance is free, and the winding paths, small bridges, and waterfalls create a delightfully serene atmosphere, with ducks and butterflies along the way. Even though the park lacks a bit of maintenance and some infrastructures are aging, it still retains a bucolic charm and offers a lovely nature break close to the city.
We then returned our little electric gems and continued exploring on foot through the cobblestone streets of the medieval city, making our way along the famous Street of the Knights, which led us directly to the Palace of the Grand Masters (€20 per person). What an incredible visit! Built in the 14th century by the Knights of the Order of Saint John, this palace is now a museum. Since we love historical architecture, we were absolutely blown away, every room left us speechless. In my opinion, this is a must-see in Rhodes.
Keeping the cultural momentum going, we then visited the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (€10 per person), located in the former Hospital of the Knights. The building and its impressive collection allowed us to travel through several millennia of history. A wonderful visit that perfectly complements the Palace.
We ended this beautiful day at sunset with a short visit to Mandraki Harbor. There, you can admire the three windmills, Fort Saint Nicholas, and the two columns topped with deer statues — the place where the famous Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is believed to have once stood.
Day 3 : Lindos & Its Acropolis
We left Rhodes Town at sunrise to head to Lindos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We wanted to arrive early to avoid the crowds, knowing that the bus ride takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
We began the day with a visit to the Acropolis of Lindos (€20 per person). I highly recommend going early in the morning, around 8:30 AM: we truly felt as if we had the place to ourselves, bathed in the most beautiful light for photos.
We loved exploring this archaeological site, which offers an exceptional panoramic view of St. Paul’s Bay, the beach, and the village of Lindos. The sea was a spectacular shade of vibrant turquoise, with water so clear it felt unreal.
We had already visited the Acropolis of Rhodes a few days earlier, but the one in Lindos impressed us even more. You can really feel the power of the place, with its ancient structures and layered history spanning centuries.
After about an hour of visiting the site, we enjoyed getting lost in the narrow whitewashed streets of this charming village. A stop at a cute little café was absolutely necessary, before visiting the Church of the Holy Virgin (Panagia) (€5 per person), beautifully decorated with striking frescoes. We ended our visit with a delicious lunch on a rooftop terrace, overlooking the sea.
In the afternoon, we returned to Rhodes the same way we came, and spent the end of the day visiting the Medieval Clock Tower, not far from the Palace of the Grand Masters. This site is advertised as offering the best panoramic view of the town – and we agree, it is well worth the visit. For €5 per person, you get access to the viewpoint and a drink at the bar. Don’t hesitate, the climb is not as exhausting as one might expect!
Day 4 – Excursion to Symi
This day was dedicated to an excursion to the island of Symi – and it was a huge favorite of ours! 🩵
After a crossing of about 1 hour and 15 minutes, we arrived at our first stop: Panormitis Monastery. I was truly happy to visit this place, as it added a spiritual dimension to our trip that felt very meaningful to me.
The site is beautiful, and the frescoes inside the church are fascinating. However, when an entire boat disembarks at once, it brings quite a crowd – and the church at the center of the monastery is not very large. The number of people made it a bit difficult to fully appreciate the space calmly and quietly. We still took the time to visit the small museum (€1.50 per person), where we were able to admire several ancient religious objects.
We then returned to the boat for nearly another hour of sailing before arriving at the port of Gialos. This picturesque harbor, often described as one of the most beautiful in the world, truly lives up to its reputation. Its colorful houses and amphitheater-like layout create a postcard-perfect landscape.
As soon as we stepped off the boat, we decided to climb the Kali Strata staircase: about 400 steps leading to the upper town of Chorio. Along the way, we paused for a lunch to regain some energy.
Once we reached the top of the hill, we were rewarded with a spectacular view overlooking the bay – absolutely worth every effort. The kind of view that stays with you.
For the descent, we chose a different path to make the most of the few hours we had to explore this magical place. We ended the afternoon with a lovely stroll along the harbor. If I ever have the chance to return, I would definitely stay overnight on the island, to enjoy the atmosphere more fully.
But as all good things must come to an end, around 4:00 PM, we needed to take the boat back to Rhodes. About 1 hour and 30 minutes later, we were back on the island for our last dinner in Rhodes, before resting and preparing for the next morning’s departure.
If I Had More Time
On my list of places I would have loved to visit was the Tsambika Monastery, along with the beach just below it. Unfortunately, the moment I had planned to go – on our way back from Lindos – didn’t turn out to be the right timing.
I also would have loved to include the Kallithea Springs in our trip. Not so much for the beach itself (although a refreshing swim would certainly have been welcome), but mostly for the beauty of the architecture, the gardens, and the romantic atmosphere of the site.
Finally, I would have loved to visit the Skiadi Monastery, located further south on the island. However, this would have required renting a car or a quad to access it more easily.
How to Get Around Rhodes
Rhodes is an easy island to explore: it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to cross it from one end to the other. Here are the main ways to get around the island:
- 🚗 Renting a car: This is the preferred option for travelers who want to explore freely. A security deposit is usually required. Daily rates generally range from €20 to €75, but can go up to €80–€130 per day depending on the season.
- 🛵 Renting a scooter or quad: Also a very popular choice. Expect €25–€50/day for a scooter and €40–€80/day for a quad.
- 🚌 Buses: The most budget-friendly option: prices range from €1 to €9 depending on the distance. There are two main bus operators on the island: KTEL and RODA.
- 🚕 Taxis: Convenient for short distances or late-night arrivals. They use regulated fares (either fixed or metered). It’s recommended to book in advance – especially for late arrivals or early departures.
- 🚢 Ferries or ✈️ Flights: These are commonly used to get to the island or travel between islands. There are also many day cruises that allow you to visit neighboring islands.
We used KTEL buses for the trip between the airport and Rhodes Town (€3.50/person), and the round trip between Rhodes Town and Lindos (€5.50/person per trip).
We also loved using the Citycoco electric scooters, rented from Crazyrider (€25 per scooter per day). An eco-friendly, fun, and perfect way to explore the areas around Rhodes Town.
Finally, for our day cruise to Symi, we booked with Nikolaos-X, an excellent experience that we reserved through GetYourGuide.
Where to Stay in Rhodes
For this first part of the trip, we set down our backpacks at Eleni Rooms, located in the heart of the medieval Old Town. In terms of value for money, it was perfect: the room, although small, had everything we needed, and everything was clean and functional. The same goes for the bathroom, which had a small shower. A little detail worth mentioning: when a minor issue occurred with the shower, the owners responded immediately and fixed it within a few hours – attentive and impeccable service.
What made this accommodation feel especially warm was the inner courtyard, with its two terraces (including one on the rooftop), where we loved enjoying our delicious breakfast or simply taking time to relax.
And the location is outstanding: ideal for exploring the medieval Old Town on foot and fully experiencing its unique atmosphere during your stay on the island.
I wholeheartedly recommend this place to travelers looking for a simple, charming, well-located accommodation in the heart of Rhodes.
💲 Rate in September 2025: approximately €75.50 per night for a Double Room. Breakfast available as an add-on (€12 per person).
Where to Eat in Rhodes
There is certainly no shortage of places to eat in Rhodes, Lindos, and Symi — but here are the restaurants we tried, along with my impressions:
- Archodiko Dimitri (Rhodes): Located in the Old Town, we stopped here by chance on our first evening — and it was a wonderful surprise. The food was delicious, the prices were reasonable, and the setting was enchanting.
- La Veranda (Rhodes): We ate on the rooftop terrace and received fast and courteous service. The food was good, and we had a very pleasant experience overall.
- Il Mio Peccato (Rhodes): A favorite for gelato. This quickly became our daily guilty pleasure.
- Il Borgo (Rhodes): The charming and welcoming setting really made us want to stop here, and the reviews we read were positive. However, during our visit, the service was unfortunately very poor — to the point where we felt like leaving. The food was good, but the experience was overshadowed by the disappointing service.
- Mandraki Cafe & Restaurant (Rhodes): We stopped here for a meal after our excursion to Symi. While it offers a lovely view of the port, that was its main highlight. The food did not impress me.
- Village Café (Lindos): A cute little café where we stopped for a light breakfast. The food was excellent, and the service was just as good. I recommend it.
- Mythos All Day Restaurant (Lindos): We enjoyed our meal on a rooftop terrace with a beautiful view of the sea. The food was very good, and the service was friendly. Menus are also available in French.
- Strata (Symi): Hands down, my best meal of this part of the trip. I devoured my plate. The setting is lovely and the atmosphere is delightful. Highly recommended.
In conclusion
Rhodes was the perfect place to make us fall in love with Greece and the Dodecanese region. I found there a beautiful balance between culture, beauty, and relaxation, thanks to its ancient sites and golden sunsets.
Each day shaped our journey with discoveries, wonder, and moments of quiet contemplation. And even though we didn’t see everything, we experienced the essence of what the island had to offer us at that moment in our trip. The rest will simply be for another time.
Rhodes will remain in my memory as a golden Mediterranean souvenir – a place where history and the sweetness of life meet with grace.
**Some links in this article are affiliate links: they allow me to earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you make a purchase through these links, thank you for supporting my work as a travel blogger 🌎🩵
You May Also Like
Dodecanese Part Three: 2 Days in Athens – The Historic Capital
Dodecanese, Greece – 10-Day Itinerary (September 2025)
