Rhodes travel guide from Budapest: top 10 sights and a 4-day itinerary

Rhodes is the largest of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, famous for its medieval Old Town built by the Knights of St John, the clifftop acropolis of Lindos and more than three hundred sunny days a year. It combines a real history trip with a classic beach holiday, which is why it has been a Hungarian favourite for decades. You cannot do it in a day from Budapest, but three or four days are enough for the highlights. Here are the flights, the best season, the top 10 sights and a day-by-day plan.

How to get to Rhodes from Budapest

Wizz Air and Ryanair both fly direct between Budapest and Rhodes Diagoras Airport. The route is seasonal: flights run mainly from spring to autumn, with the most departures in the summer months, so check the airlines’ websites for the current timetable. The flight takes about two hours and twenty-five minutes, and Rhodes is one hour ahead of Budapest. Many package tour operators also run charter flights from Budapest in summer.

The airport is on the west coast, about 15 kilometres from Rhodes Town. Public buses run to the town bus station next to the Old Town, and taxis wait outside arrivals. If you plan to explore the island, pick up a rental car at the airport.

Best time to visit Rhodes

The best months are May, June, September and October: warm, sunny weather, a pleasant sea and far fewer tour groups than in high summer. July and August are hot, and the strong summer wind, the meltemi, can make the west coast choppy, although it also cools the island down. The sea stays warm into late October. In winter many hotels and restaurants outside Rhodes Town close, and flights from Budapest are much rarer.

Top 10 sights in Rhodes

• Rhodes Old Town: one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
• Palace of the Grand Master: the fortress-palace of the Knights of St John, with mosaic floors.
• Street of the Knights: a cobbled medieval street lined with the inns of the knights’ nations.
• Mandraki Harbour: the harbour with the deer statues, where the Colossus of Rhodes is said to have stood.
• Acropolis of Lindos: ancient temple ruins on a cliff high above the white village and the sea.
• St Paul’s Bay, Lindos: a small, almost enclosed bay with clear, calm water.
• Anthony Quinn Bay: a rocky cove with emerald water, ideal for snorkelling.
• Butterfly Valley (Petaloudes): a shady gorge with streams, filled with butterflies in summer.
• Ancient Kamiros: the ruins of a Hellenistic town on a hillside above the west coast.
• Seven Springs (Epta Piges): a green oasis with a lake and a narrow water tunnel you can walk through.

Rhodes in 4 days: a day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Rhodes Old Town

Spend your first day inside the walls. Start at the Palace of the Grand Master, walk down the Street of the Knights to the Archaeological Museum in the old knights’ hospital, then lose yourself in the lanes of the old Jewish and Turkish quarters. In the evening, stroll to Mandraki Harbour and the windmills, and have dinner in a taverna away from the busy Socratous Street.

Day 2: Lindos and the east coast

Drive or take the bus to Lindos early, because the climb to the acropolis is hot and steep by midday. After the visit, swim in St Paul’s Bay, then have lunch in the village. On the way back, stop at Tsambika beach or the Kallithea Springs, a restored Art Deco spa by the sea, and swim at Anthony Quinn Bay nearby.

Day 3: Inland and the west coast

Visit the Butterfly Valley in the morning (the butterflies are there mainly from June to August), then continue to ancient Kamiros. In the afternoon, drive up to the Filerimos monastery for the cypress-lined path and the view, or head to Seven Springs if you prefer greenery. End the day with a sunset on the west coast.

Day 4: A boat trip to Symi

Take a ferry or an excursion boat from Rhodes Town to Symi, a small island with a harbour full of pastel neoclassical houses. Many excursions also stop at the Panormitis monastery. You are back in Rhodes by early evening for a last dinner in the Old Town, or for your flight home.

The best beaches in Rhodes

The east coast of Rhodes is sheltered, with calm, warm water and sandy or pebbly beaches, while the west coast is windier and wilder. These are the most popular spots:

• Tsambika: a long golden sandy beach below a hilltop monastery.
• St Paul’s Bay and Lindos main beach: calm water right below the acropolis.
• Anthony Quinn Bay: rocks, pine trees and emerald water, best early in the morning.
• Faliraki: a long, lively sandy beach with plenty of facilities.
• Prasonisi: at the southern tip, where two seas meet, a favourite of kite and windsurfers.

Where to stay in Rhodes

For a sightseeing trip, stay in Rhodes Town, either inside the Old Town walls for atmosphere or in the new town near Mandraki for convenience. Most buses and boats leave from here. If you want a beach holiday with a bit of culture, Lindos and the east coast resorts such as Faliraki have sandy beaches and calmer water. The west coast around Ialyssos and Ixia is breezier and popular with windsurfers.

What to eat in Rhodes

Rhodes serves the Greek classics, from moussaka and gyros to Greek salad and grilled octopus, plus a few island specialities:

• Pitaroudia: fried chickpea fritters, a traditional Rhodian starter.
• Fresh fish and seafood in the harbour tavernas, priced by weight.
• Melekouni: a honey and sesame bar, traditionally made for weddings.
• Local honey and thyme-scented yoghurt for breakfast.
• Souma: a local grape spirit served in small glasses after dinner.

Getting around Rhodes

A rental car is the easiest way to cover Lindos, the inland valleys and the west coast in four days, and the roads are generally good. Public buses run regularly from Rhodes Town along both coasts, including to Lindos, and are cheap and reliable in summer. Inside the Old Town, walk: most of it is closed to cars, and the cobblestones are uneven, so wear proper shoes.

How much does a trip to Rhodes cost?

Greece uses the euro, and Rhodes is moderately priced. Accommodation varies most: the Old Town boutique hotels and Lindos are pricier, while Rhodes new town and the coastal resorts offer good value, especially in May and October. Taverna meals are affordable, and the main archaeological sites have modest entry fees. A rental car for a few days and the Symi boat trip are the other main costs.

Tips for Rhodes

• Climb the acropolis of Lindos at opening time to avoid the heat and the crowds.
• Bring water shoes for the rocky coves such as Anthony Quinn Bay.
• Check the meltemi forecast: on windy days, swim on the sheltered east coast.
• Eat a few streets away from Socratous Street for better food and prices.
• Book the Symi boat a day or two ahead in peak season.

If you only have one day

Rhodes needs several days. If you only have one free day, though, you can still see a Greek city: Athens regularly appears in Daytrip as a same-day trip from Budapest, with an early outbound flight, an evening return and a ready-made hour-by-hour itinerary for the Acropolis and Plaka. Read our one-day city guides at flightdaytrip.com/blog.

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