Symi
CalmCultureAuthentic
Rhodes
History lovers who want to combine it with wide beaches and good infrastructure
Fitting Rhodes into your route
- Suggested stay
- 4 to 5 nights
- In our routes
About Rhodes
Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese, and its medieval old town, with the Street of the Knights built by the Order of Saint John, sits on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Beyond the city walls the island spreads out into resorts, olive groves and small mountain villages like Lindos, with its famous acropolis above the bay.
Thanks to good flight connections, Rhodes is a popular starting point for a Dodecanese route, with short crossings to islands like Symi and Kos. The east coast is generally calmer than the west coast, which is more exposed to wind.
Weather on Rhodes
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Average temperature by month
| April | May | June | July | August | September | October |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18°C / 64°F | 22°C / 72°F | 26°C / 79°F | 28°C / 82°F | 28°C / 82°F | 26°C / 79°F | 22°C / 72°F |
Average afternoon temperature, °C. Useful for spotting when it actually turns summer-warm.
Tips
- Walk the Street of the Knights in the old town early, before the day-trippers arrive.
- Visit Lindos and climb the acropolis for a view over the bay.
- The east coast (Faliraki to Lindos) is more sheltered than the west coast.
- Take a boat day trip to Symi, one of the region's most beautiful harbours.
Full guide
Rhodes combines something few Greek islands can: a fully preserved medieval city and miles of beaches, all on one island with excellent flight connections from across Europe.
The old town
The Street of the Knights, built by the Order of Saint John across their 14th-16th century rule of Rhodes, is one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe. Visit the Palace of the Grand Master as early as you can: cruise-ship crowds typically pour in by mid-morning and it gets considerably busier.
Lindos
On the east coast lies Lindos, with an acropolis overlooking a crescent-shaped bay. The climb up is steep but short, and the view over the Temple of Athena Lindia and the sea below is one of the finest in the Dodecanese.
Traveling onward
| Destination | Journey | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Symi | ~1 hour by fast ferry | Pastel harbour, quiet, day-trip friendly |
| Kos | ~2.5-4 hours by ferry | Beaches, livelier nightlife |
Boats leave from the harbour in Rhodes Town for smaller islands like Symi and Chalki. A day trip to Symi, with its amphitheatre-shaped harbour full of pastel-coloured houses, is one of the most popular excursions from Rhodes and shows, in just a few hours, a completely different pace of island life.
Facts checked 26 August 2026
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Rhodes?
Two full days for the old town and Lindos, plus one day trip to Symi. Add beach days depending on how much time you have left; four to five days total covers Rhodes comfortably without rushing.
What time should you visit the Palace of the Grand Master?
As early in the day as you can manage. Cruise-ship groups typically arrive mid-to-late morning, and the palace and the Street of the Knights around it get considerably busier once they do.
Is Symi worth a day trip from Rhodes?
Yes. Boats leave from Rhodes Town harbour daily in season (less frequent in winter), and the amphitheatre-shaped harbour of pastel houses shows a completely different, much slower pace of island life in just a few hours.
