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    Rhodes (City)

    Greece

    Rhodes (City)

    CityCulture

    The Old Town of Rhodes City is one of Europe's most completely preserved medieval cityscapes and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
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    5. Greece
    7. Dodecanese
    9. Rhodes (City)
    The Old Town of Rhodes City is one of Europe's most completely preserved medieval cityscapes and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. It was shaped by the Knights Hospitaller, who ruled the island from 1309 to 1522, with mosques and baths later added by the Ottomans. Behind a roughly four-kilometer-long ring wall lie the Grand Master's Palace, the Street of the Knights, and a maze of alleys. Outside the walls are the New Town with Italian buildings from the 1920s and 1930s and Mandraki Harbor. Walk through the Old Town in the early morning or late afternoon; at midday, it's crowded with day-trippers.

    Sights in Rhodes (City)

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Mittelalterliche Stadt von Rhodos (Altstadt)

    1Mittelalterliche Stadt von Rhodos (Altstadt)

    One of Europe's largest inhabited medieval Old Towns, enclosed by a four-kilometer wall with multiple gates, developed by the Knights Hospitaller from 1309. The northern part, the Collachium, was reserved for knights, the southern for the rest of the population, including a large Jewish community. Since 1988 a UNESCO World Heritage site, and still inhabited.
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    Grandmaster Palace

    2Grandmaster Palace

    The seat of the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller dates back to the 14th century, was destroyed in 1856 by a gunpowder explosion, and rebuilt in the 1930s by the Italian occupiers as a residence for Mussolini and the King. Though historically inaccurate, the inlaid Roman and early Christian mosaics from the island of Kos are nonetheless worth seeing. The basement features two good permanent exhibitions on city history.
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    Archäologisches Museum von Rhodos

    3Archäologisches Museum von Rhodos

    The museum is housed in the 15th-century Knights' Hospital, whose vaulted infirmary hall alone is worth a visit. The collection's centerpiece is the Aphrodite of Rhodes, a Hellenistic marble figure. Also featured are grave steles, pottery, and finds from Kamiros and Ialysos. The herb garden in the inner courtyard is a good place for a break.
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    Mandraki Harbor and Windmills

    4Mandraki Harbor and Windmills

    Three medieval windmills stand on the old port's mole, topped by the Agios Nikolaos Fortress (Knights Hospitaller). Stag and hind columns mark the harbor entrance. Often told but unproven: the Colossus of Rhodes stood here. Symi and Lindos excursion boats depart here.
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    Süleyman Mosque and Jewish Quarter

    5Süleyman Mosque and Jewish Quarter

    In the southern part of the Old Town, the pink Süleyman Mosque recalls the Ottoman centuries, with a library and a Turkish bath standing beside it. Further east lies the La Juderia quarter, with the Square of the Martyrs and the Kahal Shalom Synagogue from 1577, Greece's oldest. Of the approximately 1,600 Jews deported in 1944, hardly any returned.
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    Knight Street (Odos Ippoton)

    6Knight Street (Odos Ippoton)

    This roughly 200-meter paved lane leads from the Grand Master's Palace down to the Knights' Hospital, and is one of Europe's best-preserved Gothic streets. To the left and right stand the lodges of the Order's Tongues, the knightly groups organized by country of origin, recognizable by their coats of arms above the portals. Early in the morning, it is almost empty.
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    City walks in Rhodes (City)

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Modern & Maritime Rhodes: From Beach Flair to Architectural Gems of the New Town

    This walk takes you through the lively, modern Rhodes Town beyond the historic walls. Discover elegant Italian architecture, enjoy the refreshing sea breeze and immerse yourself in contemporary city life with its beaches and characteristic buildings.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Food & Drink

    1

    Louis Restaurant

    Restaurant in the New Town of Rhodes, founded in 2008 by Louis Paloukis. The cuisine combines Greek and Mediterranean dishes with local meat and fish, plus pizza. Dine in a neoclassical house with a courtyard.
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    2

    Minos Roof Garden Cafe

    Pension Minos' rooftop cafe in the south of the Old Town. Serving breakfast, coffee, snacks and simple Greek dishes. From the terrace, you gaze over the rooftops, domes and minarets of the medieval city.
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    3

    GranCaffe

    A café, wine bar, and deli in Rhodes' New Town. Offering coffee, breakfast, brunch, pastries, and light dishes; wine is offered in the evenings. A place to pause away from the Old Town's alleys.
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    4

    Mama Sofia

    Family restaurant in the Old Town of Rhodes with Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. The menu features classics like Moussaka and Souvlaki, plus fish and seafood. The restaurant is located within the walls, a few minutes' walk from the Grand Master's Palace.
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    5

    Nisos

    Restaurant with Greek cuisine in the New Town of Rhodes, housed in a historic building dating back to around 1910. The menu focuses on regional ingredients; among its specialties is the Kleftiko. Nisos is part of the Island Hotel.
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    Food & Beverages

    The Dodecanese cuisine bears traces of Asia Minor and the Italian period. In the Old Town, tourist eateries prevail; the more authentic spots are in the New Town and inland villages.

    Pitaroudia

    Fried chickpea, onion, mint and tomato fritters, the island's typical starter. Dating back to when meat was scarce, they're now on almost every menu.
    Melekouni

    Melekouni

    Sesame bars with honey, cinnamon, and orange peel, traditionally shared at weddings. Find them in bakeries and as souvenirs; they last for weeks.

    Wine from Embonas

    At the foot of Attavyros lies the island's wine region, known for the white Athiri variety and the red Mandilaria. Several estates in Embonas offer tastings; the largest also produce sparkling wine.

    Fish in Mandraki and Kritika

    Around Mandraki Harbor, much fish is offered to visitors. You'll eat far better in the Kritika fishing district west of the city or in the coastal towns to the south.

    History of the city

    The city of Rhodes was jointly founded in 408 BC by the island's three ancient cities: Lindos, Ialysos, and Kamiros. During the Hellenistic period, it was a significant maritime and commercial power. Around 280 BC, the Colossus of Rhodes, a bronze statue of the sun god Helios, was built, only to collapse about 50 years later in an earthquake.Knights and OttomansFrom 1309 to 1522, the Order of Saint John ruled Rhodes. The knights fortified the city with a wall, the Grand Master's Palace, and the Street of the Knights. In 1522, Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent conquered the city after a months-long siege, and the knights moved to Malta. During the Ottoman era, mosques, baths, and fountains were added.Italy and GreeceIn 1912, Italy occupied the Dodecanese. The Italians restored the Old Town and largely rebuilt the Grand Master's Palace from 1937, while administrative buildings were erected outside the walls. In 1944, almost the entire Jewish community of the city was deported. Rhodes finally became part of Greece in 1947.

    Nightlife

    Die Nachtszene von Rhodos-Stadt präsentiert sich vielseitig, von gediegenen Weinbars in der Altstadt bis zu lebhafteren Cocktail-Locations und Musik-Bars im neuen Teil der Stadt. Entdecke entspannte Abende im The Cellar of Knights oder genieße kreative Drinks in Bars wie dem Decan Bar, die sich über verschiedene Viertel verteilen.
    1

    Box51 Wine Atelier

    Wine bar within the walls of the medieval Old Town. As the name suggests, the focus is on wine. A place for a glass in the evening after a walk through the alleys.
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    2

    Cendro

    Bar on Agias-Lavras Street, south of the Old City walls. It lies off the main tourist routes in a residential area of the city.
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    3

    The Cellar of Knights

    Bar on Hippocrates Square in the Old Town, one of the central squares within the walls. Around the square and its fountain are many restaurants and shops; evenings are bustling here.
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    4

    Decan Bar

    Café-bar on Pythagora Street in the Old Town. By day, enjoy coffee and breakfast; evenings, drinks. Pythagora Street is one of the lively lanes in the former Turkish Quarter.
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    5

    The Last Butler

    Bar on Amarantou Street in Neochori, the New Town's nightlife district, north of the Old Town. Many other bars and clubs are in the surrounding streets.
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    6

    Flou Café

    Café and pub on Ammochostou Street in the Neochori district, north of the Old Town. Coffee is served during the day, with beer and cocktails in the evening. The street is right in the heart of the New Town's entertainment district.
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    7

    Legends Rock Bar

    Rock bar on Miltiadou Street in the Old Town, near Platonos Street. Rock music plays from the speakers; the bar is one of the top spots for a late drink within the walls.
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    Keep it Simple

    Bar on Iraklidon Avenue, the main road along the hotel coast of Ixia and Ialysos west of the city. Convenient for guests staying on this stretch of coast.
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    On site and about

    ArrivalDiagoras Airport is located approximately 14 kilometers southwest of the city near Paradisi. Buses run from there to the center, a journey of about half an hour; alternatively, take a taxi. Ferries from Piraeus and the Dodecanese Islands dock at the harbor directly in front of the Old Town, while excursion boats to Symi and Lindos depart from Mandraki Harbor.BusesTwo bus companies operate on the island: RODA's municipal buses travel through the city and along the west coast, while KTEL buses serve the east coast, for example, to Faliraki and Lindos. Both depart from stops on the edge of the New Town near Mandraki Harbor. Tickets are available at kiosks or on the bus.On Foot and By CarThe Old Town is largely closed to cars and best explored on foot; its alleys are paved with cobblestones and uneven. Parking spaces can be found along the city wall. For excursions to the island's interior or remote beaches, a rental car is worthwhile.

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    Nearby

    Dodecanese

    Dodecanese

    The Dodecanese, a long chain of islands off the Turkish coast, only became part of Greece with the Treaty of Paris in 1947. More than elsewhere, the Knights Hospitaller, Ottomans, and Italians left their mark here, hence the architecture has little to do with the white cube houses of the Cyclades: knightly castles, mosques, fortified monasteries, and Italian administrative buildings.The group ranges from Rhodes, by far the largest and liveliest island, to islets with only a few hundred inhabitants. Visitors will find seaside resorts, ancient sites, and quiet harbour villages often just an hour's ferry ride apart.
    Symi

    Symi

    Symi is located north of Rhodes, close to the Turkish coast, and is known for its harbor town Gialos, whose neoclassical houses in ochre, pink, and blue climb the hillsides. Restorations are subject to the regulations of the State Archaeological Service, which is why the townscape appears cohesive to this day.The town thrived on sponge diving and shipbuilding, which made the island wealthy in the 19th century and allowed its population to grow to over 20,000. Today, around 2,600 people live here. During the day, many excursion boats arrive from Rhodes; in the evenings, it becomes significantly quieter.
    Lindos

    Lindos

    Lindos is located on the east coast of Rhodes, about 40 kilometers south of the island capital, below a rock featuring an ancient acropolis and a castle of the Knights of St. John. White houses, pebble mosaics in the courtyards, and narrow streets define the village, whose center is closed to vehicles. Below are the main beach and the small St. Paul's Bay.
    Dalyan

    Dalyan

    Dalyan is a town on the river of the same name, located between Marmaris and Fethiye, about 30 km from Dalaman Airport. You come for the Lycian rock tombs above the river, the ancient city of Kaunos, and İztuzu Beach, where sea turtles lay their eggs. Boats connect the town with the beach, Köyceğiz Lake, and the thermal springs.
    Fethiye & Ölüdeniz

    Fethiye & Ölüdeniz

    Fethiye is a port city in Muğla province at the western end of the Lycian Coast, about an hour's drive from Dalaman Airport. You come for the Ölüdeniz lagoon, the Lycian rock tombs, and as the starting point of the Lycian Way. The city stands on ancient Telmessos; its center is the Old Town Paspatur by the harbor. Ölüdeniz, with its beach and lagoon, is located south of the city.

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