Rhodes is one of those cruise ports that exceeds expectations almost every time. The ship docks directly beside the medieval walls of Rhodes Old Town, and within five minutes you can be walking the Street of the Knights, one of the best-preserved medieval streets anywhere in Europe. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is large and layered enough to absorb a full day without effort.
Lindos, the island’s clifftop village with its ancient acropolis, is the other headline draw, a genuine rival for your attention, though the journey takes an hour each way and the timing needs to work around your ship’s departure. For shorter calls, the Old Town alone is more than enough.
If you want to enjoy Rhodes without watching the clock all day, the Port Day Planner is a good place to start.
Port Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Dock |
| Distance to Town | Ships dock at the Commercial Harbour, a 5-min walk from the Old Town gates |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Language | Greek (English very widely spoken) |
| Best Known For | A UNESCO-listed medieval walled city that is arguably the best-preserved in Europe, plus the clifftop village of Lindos. |
- Cruise Terminal , Commercial Harbour, Rhodes
- Old Town Gate , Liberty Gate entrance
- Grand Masters , Palace of the Grand Masters
- Lindos Village , Clifftop acropolis & beach
Rhodes: Dock Port (Commercial Harbour) · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Free- Walk time: 5 min from cruise terminal to Old Town gates; fully walkable inside
- Rhodes is one of the most walkable cruise ports in the Mediterranean. The Commercial Harbour where ships dock is directly adjacent to the medieval walls: Liberty Gate or Mandraki Harbour are just a few minutes on foot. Once inside the Old Town, everything is on foot along cobbled streets. Wear comfortable shoes as the cobbles are uneven.
Local Bus
€2.50 to Lindos (approx)- KTEL buses to Lindos leave from the East Side Bus Station, about a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal along the waterfront. The journey takes roughly 1 hour and buses run roughly hourly in season. This is the most economical way to reach Lindos if you want to go independently, but factor in the return journey carefully against your ship's departure time.
Taxi
€40 – €55 one way to Lindos; €5 – €10 around Rhodes Town- Taxis wait at Rimini Square near Mandraki Harbour, a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal. The fare to Lindos is fixed at approximately €45 – €55 one way: a taxi there and back shared between two or three people often makes more sense than the bus if time is tight. In town, short rides are €5 – €10.
Top Excursions
Rhodes Exclusive Swim Cruise Cocktail Open bar & Gourmet Buffet
This isn't just a boat trip; it's an experience. It's the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and authentic Greek hospitality. Discover why Rhodes Day Cruise has been delivering 10 years of excellence in travel and cruise services. Forget crowded tourist boats; we offer an intimate and exclusive
Check AvailabilitySymi Island by Fast Boat (High-Speed: ~1hr journey & ~4hrs Symi)
Maximize your Aegean adventure with our High-Speed Express Cruiser, the fastest and most stable way to reach Symi Island. While other boats spend hours at sea, we get you there quickly and smoothly, giving you around 4 hours of free time to discover every hidden corner of Symi Town. ⚓ Quick Facts ●
Check AvailabilitySun & Sea All Inclusive 3 Hour Swimming Cruise (WITH PICK UP SERVICE)
Our Sun & Sea Cruise is designed for those holiday makers looking for a chilled cruise and a true taste of first class Greek Hospitality. Departing from Faliraki Harbour, enjoy 3 hours of cruising the Aegean Sea under our priceless Greek Sun, swimming and snorkeling in 3 of the most beautiful bays o
Check AvailabilityFast Boat To Symi with a swimming stop at St George's Bay! (Only 1hr journey)
The only high speed boat operating the Rhodes-Symi route which means that finally, you don't have to spend half of your day on a boat to get to Symi Island! With a late departure and only one hour journey time, this brand new boat offers an exhilarating journey and then three hours freedom to explor
Check AvailabilityMore Experiences in Rhodes
Rhodes Faliraki Water Park Admission Ticket
Water slides, artificial waves, pools with original games for all ages and for real endless summer fun. Located next door to the Esperos Palace you will find the Faliraki Waterpark which is the largest in Greece and a real summer experience for the entire family. Try all the waterslides and indulge
Sun & Sea 6 Hour All Inclusive Swimming Cruise with Greek BBQ & Unlimited Drinks
Our Sun & Sea Cruise is designed for those holiday makers looking for a chilled cruise and a true taste of first class Greek Hospitality. Departing from Mandraki Harbour, enjoy 6 hours of cruising the Aegean Sea under our priceless Greek Sun, swimming and snorkeling in 3 of the most beautiful bays o
Rhodes Day Cruise (with lunch & unlimited drinks) 5,5 Hours
We sail from Marina Mandraki (port) at 10:00am. Enjoy travelling with our traditional wooden boat to one of the most impressive beaches of Rhodes, the “Anthony Quinn bay”. You can swim and snorkel (equipment provided) for 45 minutes. Next, we will sail to the “Afandou Beach”. We drop anchor and you’
Rhodes Sea Kayaking Tour – The Pirates Route
Sea kayaking tour in Rhodes There are various options for this tour for adults and children: – With pick-up and drop-off service – Without pick-up and drop-off service – Family (without pick-up and drop-off service) for those with children 10-13 – here children must each be accompanied by an adult i
Popular excursions from Rhodes fill up ahead of peak sailings. Compare tours and prices before you sail.
Things to Do in Rhodes
The cruise terminal sits directly against the medieval walls of Rhodes Old Town: you can walk through the nearest gate in under five minutes, no transport needed. Rhodes Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; you could easily fill a full day inside the walls without covering everything.
Lindos, the island’s other headline attraction, is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes each way by public bus, so it is a genuine half-day commitment with limited time at the site itself. If your ship is in for less than eight hours, stay in Rhodes Town: there is more than enough here.
- Palace of the Grand Masters. The most impressive building in the Old Town: a vast medieval fortress-palace built by the Knights of St John, filled with Roman and Byzantine mosaics. Entry is €20. The concessions are EU-only: free admission for EU citizens under 25 and a reduced rate for EU over-65s, so UK passengers pay the full fare. Allow at least an hour inside.
- Street of the Knights (Ippoton). The most intact medieval street in Europe, running arrow-straight from the harbour gate up to the Palace: the stone inns of each national tongue of the Knights line both sides. It is free to walk and takes about ten minutes end to end; slow down and look at the carved coats of arms above every doorway.
- Mandraki Harbour. A 15-minute walk north along the waterfront from the cruise terminal brings you to Mandraki, where three restored medieval windmills stand on the breakwater alongside the bronze stag and doe statues marking where the Colossus of Rhodes supposedly stood. The whole harbourfront stroll is free.
- Elli Beach. The main town beach is a 20-minute walk from the port along the seafront promenade, just beyond Mandraki: a long shingle-and-sand stretch with clear water, sunbed hire, and beach bars. Free to use and ideal if the weather is good and you want a swim before returning to the ship.
- Archaeological Museum (Hospital of the Knights). The Knights’ 15th-century hospital on Museum Square has been restored and houses the island’s main archaeological collection, including the marble Aphrodite of Rhodes. Entry around €8; the courtyard alone is worth stepping inside.
- Socratous Street & the Turkish Quarter. The main bazaar street of the Old Town runs from the Jewish Quarter up toward the pink Mosque of Suleiman: lined with jewellery, leather, and spice shops. Duck into the side lanes off Socratous to find quieter squares where locals actually eat and drink, well away from the tourist flow.
- Roloi Clock Tower. Less visited than the Palace but arguably better views: €5 entry includes a drink (beer, wine, or soft drink) and the 53-step climb gives a 360-degree panorama over the Old Town rooftops and the sea. A very good-value stop.
- Lunch Inside the Walls. Socratous Garden (just off Socratous Street) serves Greek mezedes in a shaded courtyard at reasonable prices; Taverna Kostas near Pythagora Square is a no-frills local favourite with generous portions of grilled fish and lamb. Both are within the walls and easy to reach on foot.
The Rhodes Old Town is large enough to absorb hours of wandering without repetition. Head for the Street of Knights (Ippoton): one of the best-preserved medieval streets in existence and the Palace of the Grand Masters, which you can enter for €20 (April 2025 Greek state-museum reform raised most site fees). Get off the main tourist drag and into the quieter Byzantine Quarter in the south of the old town for a completely different atmosphere.
Eating Near the Cruise Port
- Dock Port
- 5 min to Old Town gates
- Euro (€)
What to eat in Rhodes
Rhodes has a cuisine of its own, shaped by Crusaders, Ottomans and an Italian period that ended only in 1947. Pitaroudia are the local fritters, chickpeas mashed with onion, tomato and mint and fried, and they’re the thing to order first. Fresh fish and octopus dried on lines are the coastal staples. Rhodian olive oil and thyme honey are the things to buy.
What to drink
Rhodes makes wine and has done since antiquity, with the white Athiri grown on the slopes of Mount Attavyros. Souma is the local spirit, distilled from grapes and stronger than it looks, and it’s a Rhodian version of tsipouro. Greek coffee is ordered by sweetness, from sketo through metrio to glyko, and it’s served with a glass of water.
Where to find it
The berth is five minutes from the gates of the medieval Old Town, which is the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe. The main streets inside, particularly Sokratous, are wall-to-wall tourist restaurants with touts. Walk into the quieter lanes of the old Jewish and Turkish quarters and the food improves sharply. The New Town, north of the walls, is where Rhodians actually eat.
Good for a short port call
The Old Town gates are five minutes away. Get off the main drag within two turnings and you’ll eat far better for less.
Getting Around
If you want to visit Lindos, check your ship’s departure time before committing. The bus takes an hour each way, plus you need time in Lindos itself. A half-day in Lindos realistically requires at least five hours ashore. Many cruisers find an organised excursion the safest option as the coach handles the timings.
Essential Travel Tips
Mandraki Harbour, the picturesque ancient harbour where the Colossus of Rhodes allegedly once stood, is a lovely 15-minute waterfront walk from the cruise terminal. The cafés along the harbour front are good value for breakfast or coffee before heading into the Old Town, and the views of the windmills and fort are at their best in the morning light.
In July and August the Old Town is a sun-trap: the tall walls trap heat and the cobbled streets have almost no shade. Start your visit as early as possible, carry plenty of water, and plan to duck into a café or restaurant for a shaded break in the middle of the day. Temperatures regularly exceed 35°C.
Nearby cruise ports: Santorini and Mykonos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This is one of the best cruise ports for walkability. The Commercial Harbour where ships dock is right next to the medieval walls and it is only a 5-minute walk to Liberty Gate or Mandraki Harbour. No transport needed to explore the Old Town.
Buses to Lindos depart from the East Side Bus Station, about 10 minutes walk from the cruise terminal. The journey takes around 1 hour and costs approximately €2.50 each way. Taxis from Rimini Square cost around €45 to €55 one way. Allow at least 5 hours for a comfortable Lindos trip.
Absolutely: the medieval walled city of Rhodes is one of the finest in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of Knights, and the Byzantine Museum alone could fill half a day. It is also easy to explore independently without a guide.
Rhodes New Town has a pleasant beach at Elli, and the Aquarium is nearby. Lindos is the main excursion destination with its acropolis and beach. The valley of the butterflies (Petaloudes) is another popular trip in summer, and the ancient site of Kamiros is worth visiting for archaeology fans.
Elli Beach in the New Town is about 15 minutes walk from the cruise terminal along the Mandraki waterfront: it is an organised, sandy beach that is perfectly decent for a quick swim. For something more scenic, the beach at Lindos is worth the journey if you have the time.
Rhodes cruise port is directly beside Liberty Gate, the main entrance to the medieval Old Town. From the gangway you are a five-minute walk from the Street of the Knights and the heart of the largest inhabited medieval city in Europe. No transport required.
Yes, and it is one of the best cruise ports for walkability. The Commercial Harbour where ships dock sits right beside the medieval walls, about a five-minute walk from the Old Town.
One of the Great Medieval Cities, Five Minutes From the Ship
Rhodes consistently rates among the best cruise port calls in the eastern Mediterranean, and it earns that reputation every time. The Old Town alone justifies a full day ashore, and Lindos adds another dimension if you have the time and a generous port window. Walk off the ship, turn left, and let the medieval walls take it from there.
How We Verify Port-Day Details
We aim for practical, low-risk guidance. Before publishing and during updates, we check core planning details against official sources and current operator information.
What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
- Details that change frequently, such as fares and schedules, with up-to-date notes where relevant
Typical Sources
- Official port authority and terminal updates
- Cruise line port notes and day-of-call instructions
- Local transport operators and official tourism resources