Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Rhodes
DIY Score
Easy DIY
Old Town first; only attempt Lindos on a 9+ hour call.
Tender or Docked?
Always docked at the Commercial Harbor, within walking distance of the Old Town walls. No tender, no shuttle required.
How to Get Into Town
Walk to Old Town entrance: 5-15 min, free. KTEL bus to Lindos: 90 min, €5.50 each way. The bus stop is a 15-20 min walk or short taxi from the port.
Main Attractions
Rhodes Old Town is one of the finest medieval walled cities in the world, immediately outside the port. Lindos adds a clifftop Doric acropolis and a whitewashed village worth the 90-minute bus ride.
How Much Time You Need
8 hours for the Old Town thoroughly; 9+ for Lindos by bus. The two don't combine easily in a single day.
Keep in Mind
The Old Town maze is easy to enter and hard to exit quickly. If you need to be back at the port by a specific time, leave more buffer than you think.
Safety & Comfort
Rhodes is safe and welcoming. The Old Town's maze is disorienting but harmless, and the rest of the day's logistics are straightforward.
Tips from Cruisers
"Three times in Rhodes. Lindos every time. You do get used to the bus and the climb. In September the crowds thin out noticeably co…" — by Nick D.
Three times in Rhodes. Lindos every time. You do get used to the bus and the climb. In September the crowds thin out noticeably compared to August. If you can choose your cruise timing, later in the season is better for both sites.
I had a bad knee and knew the Lindos climb wasn't for me. Stayed in the Old Town instead and did the Palace. A guard noticed me limping near a set of stairs and redirected me to a flatter route through the palace. Small thing but I appreciated it.
We spent our entire call in the Old Town. No Lindos, no bus, nothing planned at all. Just walked through every lane we could find. Got completely lost twice and found our way out eventually. I've been to a lot of medieval cities and this one is special.
We got completely turned around trying to find a restaurant someone had recommended. Took 25 minutes wandering the same three streets. We gave up, found a different place, and it was excellent. The Old Town punishes a plan and rewards improvisation.
Took the bus to Lindos. Left Rhodes at 9am, was at the acropolis by 10:30am. The climb was tough in the heat but the view from the top was worth it. Caught the 2pm bus back and had 45 minutes to walk around the Old Town before returning to the ship. Would do it again.
My son refused the animal rides on principle. He and his sister walked up on their own, which I respected. My wife and I followed. It is genuinely steep and there is no shade. But we made it and they were quietly pleased with themselves.