Rhodes is easy: you walk off the ship into a medieval walled city. The Palace of the Grand Master is €20 and Lindos is about an hour away by road. Heat on the stone streets is the main problem in summer.
Where Rhodes lies
Where your ship docks
Ships dock at the port right next to the walled Old Town (most use the Tourist Port; some use Akandia Port).
Shuttle. Not needed; the Old Town is a short walk.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to Old Town (Marine Gate) | 5–10 minutes | Free |
| KTEL bus from Rimini Square (outside Liberty Gate) to Lindos | Often quoted 1 hour+ each way | About €5.50–€8 each way (secondary source; unverified) |
| Taxi to Lindos | About 1 hour (Hellenic Heritage says Lindos is '1 hour from the city of Rhodes') | About €67–€70 one way; €130–€150 return with waiting (secondary source) |
Walk to Old Town (Marine Gate)
- Walk off the ship toward the big walls.
- Enter by the Marine Gate.
Pebble-mosaic streets are slippery and uneven.
KTEL bus from Rimini Square (outside Liberty Gate) to Lindos
- Walk about 15 minutes to Rimini Square bus station.
- Take a bus marked Lindos.
- Note the return times before you leave.
Only for long port days (8+ hours).
Taxi to Lindos
- Use the taxi rank at the port exit.
- Agree the price and pickup time first.
Split with others to save money.
What to see
Palace of the Grand Master
Huge restored castle of the Knights.
- How
- Walk 12–15 minutes from the ship.
- Time
- 45–60 minutes
- Tickets
- €20 full (Hellenic Heritage). Has an elevator. Hours vary by season; winter has closed days.
Street of the Knights
Best-preserved medieval street.
- How
- Walk.
- Time
- 20–30 minutes
- Tickets
- Free
Rhodes city walls walk
Walk on the medieval walls.
- How
- Walk.
- Time
- About 1 hour
- Tickets
- €5 full (Hellenic Heritage)
Acropolis of Lindos
Clifftop temple over a turquoise bay.
- How
- Bus, taxi or ship tour; then a steep 15–20 minute climb.
- Time
- Half day with travel
- Tickets
- €20 full (Hellenic Heritage). Summer 08:00–20:00 (Apr–Aug). Shorter hours Sep–Oct; winter 08:30–15:30 with closed days.
Mandraki Harbour
Harbour with deer statues and windmills.
- How
- Walk about 15 minutes.
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Tickets
- Free
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Walk off the ship and enter the Old Town by the Marine Gate.
- Go to the Palace of the Grand Master at opening time to beat crowds and heat.
- Walk the Street of the Knights.
- Lunch in the Old Town.
- Walk the walls or visit Mandraki Harbour.
- Walk back 45 minutes before all-aboard. It is close, but streets are confusing.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Strong heat on stone streets in summer.
- Slippery pebble mosaics.
- Crowds mid-day when several ships are in.
- Sudden site closures: Hellenic Heritage posted closures of Rhodes sites on 14 Oct and 26 Oct 2026.
Do this
- Older guides list the palace at €8–€12. That is out of date; it is €20.
- Check hh.gr announcements the morning you arrive for closures.
- Wear shoes with grip.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Greek cruise passenger fee (per person, per port, from 21 July 2025): Santorini and Mykonos €20 (1 Jun–30 Sep), €12 (Apr–May and Oct), €4 (Nov–Mar). All other Greek ports: €5 / €3 / €1 for the same seasons. Most lines add it to your onboard bill. MSC says it charges only guests who go ashore; other lines may charge everyone.
- Palace €20; walls €5; Lindos €20 (Hellenic Heritage).
- Greek state sites: 'reduced' prices are mainly for EU citizens. Most Americans pay full price. Free entry on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from 1 Nov to 31 Mar, and on a few set dates.
Accessibility
The port is close and flat, but the Old Town has cobbles and slopes. The Palace has an elevator. Lindos Acropolis is a steep climb; donkeys are available.
Money
Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted. Carry some small euro cash for buses, small boats, water and tips.
More of the Greek Isles & Eastern Med
Sources & what we could not confirm · 6 sources · checked 2026-11
- Hellenic Heritage: Palace of the Grand Master & walls
- Hellenic Heritage: Lindos
- Hellenic Heritage: Closure of archaeological sites in Rhodes, 26/10/26
- Bucket List Guides: Rhodes from a cruise ship (walk times, bus, taxi)
- MSC Cruises: Destination fees and local charges (Greece table)
- Keep Talking Greece: Greece cruise passenger fees 2025
- KTEL bus fare and trip time to Lindos
- Taxi fares to Lindos
- Exact Palace opening hours per season
- Reason for the October 2026 Rhodes closures








