Medieval City
Medieval City
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Surrounded by medieval walls, this old part of Rhodes is the location of many interesting attractions of historical significance.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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127 within 6 miles
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- Stephen S2 contributionsThe Medieval City of RhodesWith the perfect location of the area, it feels like I have been back to my hometown (The Land of Thunder Dragon). The scenes really drag our attention of this place. It was beautifully located and I should say it was also served as the hub of tourist attractions of all time. I have been there with my friends on trip. If you are world explorers, please visit the city.Visited March 2024Traveled with friendsWritten March 13, 2024
- Thomas VOakland, California19,087 contributionsCharacter and FlowersThis is the part of the city where you want to stroll for a while. Lots of shopping, beyond souvenirs. Lots of places to eat and drink. But what you must do is get off the main squares and streets and wander the narrow alleys that are loaded with flowers and character. You won't get lost as downhill is the sea.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 12, 2024
- Alex LManchester, United Kingdom46 contributionsI loved it !!Absolutely beautiful place. Steeped in history and fabulous architecture. Yes there are lots of touristy shops and tavernas and mopeds but just step off the beaten track and investigate the side streets and quieter areas and you will get a totally different feel of the place. I loved it.Visited May 2024Traveled with familyWritten May 14, 2024
- OK B136 contributionsEnjoyed VisitingNeat place to walk in and around . A lot of history and shopping. Have some great places to eat . Easy to walk around . Really enjoy visiting here . We were on cruise ship and you can walk into wall city . Any of the 3 gates will take you in.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 5, 2024
- Chris48Mansfield Woodhouse, United Kingdom781 contributionsLovelyLovely to walk around the medieval city with its old walls and gates. Lots of quaint shops to look around and loads of places to eat and drink. Can get very busy and hot but well worth a visit.Visited May 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 11, 2024
- SagaloutsTourGerrards Cross, United Kingdom1,153 contributionsWonderful City To wanderAs our hotel provided a bus service for €8 per adult to take you into the city, we decided to go in for a meal one evening. At this time of year to go in earlier we felt would be too hot. It takes about 15 minutes. You get dropped off in the harbour about 600 yards from the walled entrance. It is a labyrinth of small roads and alleyways where could easily spend a couple hours just walking around. Lots of local craft shops, jewellers and local produce. Plentiful restaurants and bars throughout the area, some rooftop some in small squares and alleys. (See review of Lipsi Island) Overall a great way to spend an evening and enjoy the Rhodes culture. Getting back is just as easy Enjoy Rhodes CityVisited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 21, 2024
- aleni77Bolzano, Italy808 contributionsI highly recommendFabulous and worth visiting. Fortified, with original city walls, and medieval areas almost everywhere in the streets of the old city. Wonderful views to photograph, typical shops where to shop (if you shoot well even at low cost). I recommend arriving by 9, you can park near the entrance doors and turn without cruise ship tourists, the only downside is the cruise port at the entrance of the city that ruins the landscape towards the blue sea. The whole centre can be visited by wheelchair or stroller, except inside the castleVisited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 29, 2024
- A SAalborg, Denmark3 contributionsDon't miss this!Went there a couple of times, in the morning, and enjoyed a long walk into the history. The first time I was there, I got lost in a nice way. The area is rather huge, so always something new to discover! It's open for visitors from several sides; you can just wander around by your own accord, for free.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 12, 2024
- alemecchiaLucca, Italy900 contributionsIncredible medieval villageWe walked on two different days of our wonderful week in Rhodes at the end of April, we were enchanted by the exotic and mystical charm of this dream old town, skillfully built as a medieval fortress gathered between imposing walls and nestled on wonderful seas. Walking through the charming alleys of this eternal town gave us unique emotions. There is a welcoming atmosphere and it really seems to go back to the Middle Ages of the Knights of the Order of Malta who ruled it for over two hundred years. Piazzette glimpses with incredible views imposing palaces wonderful houses rock churches everything captivates you and you would never want to leave. A true medieval jewel on the borders of EuropeVisited April 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 13, 2024
- PelleasPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1,122 contributionsA highlightA highlight to our visit to Greece. We stayed the night in the old city which is certainly the way you should visit Rhodes. Our 9-year-old enjoyed the souvenir shopping, and we all loved walking the old town. Try to get away from the shops and start wandering down streets. Dinner in the non-tourist areas can be great.Visited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 16, 2024
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Michael B
Bellflower, CA24,159 contributions
Oct 2022
It was ruled by the Knights of the Order of St John in the Middle Ages until it fell to the Ottomans in 1522. Many knights accepted the offer of safe passage and fled with thousands of Rhodians temporarily to Crete before settling in Malta. Still, other residents remained, resulting in a uniquely multicultural city.
The Medieval City was divided into two parts.
The Kollakio or Kollako to the north, with the Street of Knights, Palace of the Grand Master (Castello), the official churches of the Order, and the Hospital (today\'s museum), This area was separated from the rest of the town by inner fortifications, sections of which are still preserved.
The second to the south is the Burgh or Hora, with the old market (Socrates Street) and Turkish bazaar around Suleiman\'s mosque. In this area, Greeks, Jewish, Turkish, and others lived in their districts.
The cobblestone streets are so well-preserved, and there are many shops and restaurants scattered around within the walled city, most of them are in the popular tourist spot around Ippokratous Square, which like the rest of the city, is (almost) car-free. The squares you see in the city are the results of German bombardments in WWII; they weren’t there before. Also, as you walk around the city, you will see a large number of stone cannonballs in the walls and on the ground; these are from the Ottoman Sultan Solyman's cannon that he brought to the Island to bombard the city walls and after the city was defeated; he took it back home with him.
If you are on a cruise ship, the most convenient entrances to the Medieval city for passengers are St Catherine’s Gate or the City Moat walk entrance (free). Otherwise, the most popular access to the Medieval town is Freedom Gate (Eleftherias, Liberty) Gate. A map is posted in front of the Temple of Aphrodite in Symi Square, making it the perfect starting point to explore the medieval city. Focus on the main tourist sights depending on the time and how much you want to see. We stayed in a tavern in the Old City for a week and still found new things to see; walking shoes were a must because of the cobblestone streets.
TIP: wheelchairs and strollers have great difficulty maneuvering over the cobblestones. The town is not PC, and toilets are few and far between. Please tick the box below if you find this review helpful.
The Medieval City was divided into two parts.
The Kollakio or Kollako to the north, with the Street of Knights, Palace of the Grand Master (Castello), the official churches of the Order, and the Hospital (today\'s museum), This area was separated from the rest of the town by inner fortifications, sections of which are still preserved.
The second to the south is the Burgh or Hora, with the old market (Socrates Street) and Turkish bazaar around Suleiman\'s mosque. In this area, Greeks, Jewish, Turkish, and others lived in their districts.
The cobblestone streets are so well-preserved, and there are many shops and restaurants scattered around within the walled city, most of them are in the popular tourist spot around Ippokratous Square, which like the rest of the city, is (almost) car-free. The squares you see in the city are the results of German bombardments in WWII; they weren’t there before. Also, as you walk around the city, you will see a large number of stone cannonballs in the walls and on the ground; these are from the Ottoman Sultan Solyman's cannon that he brought to the Island to bombard the city walls and after the city was defeated; he took it back home with him.
If you are on a cruise ship, the most convenient entrances to the Medieval city for passengers are St Catherine’s Gate or the City Moat walk entrance (free). Otherwise, the most popular access to the Medieval town is Freedom Gate (Eleftherias, Liberty) Gate. A map is posted in front of the Temple of Aphrodite in Symi Square, making it the perfect starting point to explore the medieval city. Focus on the main tourist sights depending on the time and how much you want to see. We stayed in a tavern in the Old City for a week and still found new things to see; walking shoes were a must because of the cobblestone streets.
TIP: wheelchairs and strollers have great difficulty maneuvering over the cobblestones. The town is not PC, and toilets are few and far between. Please tick the box below if you find this review helpful.
Written June 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nordman1
Alencon, France1,205 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
2400 years of history inhabit this port city surrounded by ramparts.
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In the maze of the inner city, the squares, streets and alleys, most often paved with pebbles, will lead you on a historical journey.
-
The fortifications, with double ramparts and ditches, in certain places, as well as the massive crenellated gates, are those of an invincible city. . .
. . . and yet, the knights of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, (an order originally coming from Cyprus, then having conquered Rhodes) had to retreat to Malta in 1523, after being chased out by the Turks.
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20 elected grand masters will succeed one another to take charge of the destiny of Rhodes.
As you walk along the long Rue des Chevaliers (200 m), you will pass a juxtaposition of inns (palace residences).
These dwellings with facades decorated with various crests and attributes were the home of various nationalities of knights, coming from 7 nations ordered by language: Auberge de France, Auvergne, Provence, Aragon, Italy, Germany , from England.
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The very beautiful old Auberge de France was bought by Maurice Bompard (former French ambassador to Turkey) who donated it to the Greek state. Today it is the French consulate. The tricolor flag flies on the roof.
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Its crocodile-head gargoyles, its five coat of arms and its pointed door make this inn a precious witness to the past.
-
Numerous other facades are spread out along this rising, narrow and very mineral street.
-
The ancient city is full of exceptional architectural elements.
-
The port of Mandraki, at the foot of the old town, is defended by Fort Saint Nicolas.
On the mole, a line of three mills having lost their wings
At the entrance it has two stone columns, one surmounted by a deer; the other of a doe.
In 1912, the Italians took control of the island which was ceded to Greece in 1948.
It was they who restored the palace of the great masters in 1937, destroyed by an earthquake in 1851 followed by the explosion of an Ottoman powder magazine in 1856.
-
We will regret the overdensity of businesses of all kinds in the old town. However, we must understand that the Rhodians only live through tourists.
-
I am sure, you will love Rhodes.
-
In the maze of the inner city, the squares, streets and alleys, most often paved with pebbles, will lead you on a historical journey.
-
The fortifications, with double ramparts and ditches, in certain places, as well as the massive crenellated gates, are those of an invincible city. . .
. . . and yet, the knights of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, (an order originally coming from Cyprus, then having conquered Rhodes) had to retreat to Malta in 1523, after being chased out by the Turks.
-
20 elected grand masters will succeed one another to take charge of the destiny of Rhodes.
As you walk along the long Rue des Chevaliers (200 m), you will pass a juxtaposition of inns (palace residences).
These dwellings with facades decorated with various crests and attributes were the home of various nationalities of knights, coming from 7 nations ordered by language: Auberge de France, Auvergne, Provence, Aragon, Italy, Germany , from England.
-
The very beautiful old Auberge de France was bought by Maurice Bompard (former French ambassador to Turkey) who donated it to the Greek state. Today it is the French consulate. The tricolor flag flies on the roof.
-
Its crocodile-head gargoyles, its five coat of arms and its pointed door make this inn a precious witness to the past.
-
Numerous other facades are spread out along this rising, narrow and very mineral street.
-
The ancient city is full of exceptional architectural elements.
-
The port of Mandraki, at the foot of the old town, is defended by Fort Saint Nicolas.
On the mole, a line of three mills having lost their wings
At the entrance it has two stone columns, one surmounted by a deer; the other of a doe.
In 1912, the Italians took control of the island which was ceded to Greece in 1948.
It was they who restored the palace of the great masters in 1937, destroyed by an earthquake in 1851 followed by the explosion of an Ottoman powder magazine in 1856.
-
We will regret the overdensity of businesses of all kinds in the old town. However, we must understand that the Rhodians only live through tourists.
-
I am sure, you will love Rhodes.

Written October 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
penelopo78
Arzignano, Italy893 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Absolutely worth visiting, in one day you do everything calmly, but better two if possible. Better arrive a little early to find free parking, otherwise blue stripes at 1.5€ hour.
The medieval part is beautiful, even if a bit too packed with tourist shops but so it is.
Better to get lost in narrow streets with a magical and genuinely historical atmosphere, stratified over the centuries by different civilizations. Not to be missed.
The medieval part is beautiful, even if a bit too packed with tourist shops but so it is.
Better to get lost in narrow streets with a magical and genuinely historical atmosphere, stratified over the centuries by different civilizations. Not to be missed.
Automatically translated
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
leicsduo
Loughborough, UK197 contributions
May 2023
There is a wealth of history within this walled fortress, from the palatial Palace to numerous Churches covering all faiths and religions. Move away from the main restaurant area and you will be greeted by a slower pace of life with quaint streets and alley ways with numerous cafés scattered around. Just take your time and wonder around the cobbled back streets and sample where the locals live to give you a sense of how life used to be. Go back in the evening and the atmosphere completely changes with a sense of calm after the busy day.
Written June 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oz G
Be'er Ya'akov, Israel77 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
The old city of Rhodes is a nice little town where you can easily spend a nice hour or more, enjoying the architecture and the history from all over. it's not easy to find parking so maybe it's better to come with a taxi.
you can start your tour from the old port, near the Hirschstatue (Élafos). then continue west south towards the old city.
you can start your tour from the old port, near the Hirschstatue (Élafos). then continue west south towards the old city.
Written October 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA19,087 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
A focal point for your visit, the charming old city that is full of historic buildings as well as pleasurable places to spend time eating and drinking. Lots of unique cafes and restaurants. And there is a lot of shopping, especially tor souvenirs.
Written November 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason E
Sevenoaks, UK121 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Rhodes the city is amazing, how the knights Hospitalers ever came to lose it is quite shocking, even if the Ottoman Turks used 100,000 men and 400 ships to take the 6000 knights who held it. It’s it the most castley place I could ever imagine. It’s like a castle in a castle in a castle surrounded by a castle and much of it is superbly preserved. That’s the good bit. What isn’t is that almost the entire area contained by the 7km circumference castle walls is lined with almost identical, overpriced restaurants selling the exactly the same food... Greek salad, souvlaki and standard Greek fare, tacky souvenir shops, T-shirt and jewellery shops. Literally every square metre of wall that has a hole big enough for a shop is selling the same awful stuff. There are a few fish restaurants scattered about but you will need to pay around €80 per head to eat at them and run the gauntlet of waiters trying to entice you into their kebab shop to get to them. The city is best viewed from a high hotel floor from outside the old town, from which it is all battlements, minarets and the majestic castleyness of the Palace of the Grand Master. My advice, walk the city walls along the harbour side, walk in see the street of the knights and Palace of the Grand Master, then get out. Unless you like cats of course, there are almost as many as there are locals and at dusk they wake up from their daily slumber to patrol restaurant tables asking for souvlaki.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RandyRoss
Ridgetown, Canada12,810 contributions
Sep 2021
We loved old town Rhodes. On return to the town of Rhodes from the acropolis of Lindos, our bus dropped us off at the Amboise Gate. We walked over the 3 moats and through the town to the Palace of the Grand Masters. The courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is believed to be the location of the fames Colossus of Rhodes, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
Lynda and I loved Rhodes. One of the best things about our visit was that we stayed overnight and were able to enjoy this wonderful city in the evening. We had beer and snacks at the Archipelagos Bar-Restaurant and watched the crowds pass by. And while we did not do a lot of shopping on this trip, we did find Rhodes to be one of the very best places for that. We purchased a nice Turkish rug at a great price.
Lynda and I loved Rhodes. One of the best things about our visit was that we stayed overnight and were able to enjoy this wonderful city in the evening. We had beer and snacks at the Archipelagos Bar-Restaurant and watched the crowds pass by. And while we did not do a lot of shopping on this trip, we did find Rhodes to be one of the very best places for that. We purchased a nice Turkish rug at a great price.
Written December 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel M
16 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
This city is huge, the biggest walled city in Europe.
We walked around this city many times, not just in the tourist area but also in the residential area and we got lost several times because of its size.
It was good to see different parts of the city that many people don't bother to look around.
You can find old ruins as you walk around the narrow alleys and streets as well as a few shops, restaurants and hotels that are off the beaten track.
In the tourist part of the city is a main square with loads of shops and stalls selling just about anything and everything. Most of the designer clothes are fake and don't pay the asking price, haggle the price down for some great bargains.
There are plenty of restaurants touting for your custom, so be prepared to be pestered as you walk past. The food and drink prices are good value though, so it's worth sitting at a table and watching the world go by whilst enjoying an ice cold beer. A word of caution though make sure you order a pint not a large beer or you get a 1 or 2 litre glass boot of beer at silly prices.
It's worth going as there is so much to see and enjoy and because it's so big a few visits will be needed.
We walked around this city many times, not just in the tourist area but also in the residential area and we got lost several times because of its size.
It was good to see different parts of the city that many people don't bother to look around.
You can find old ruins as you walk around the narrow alleys and streets as well as a few shops, restaurants and hotels that are off the beaten track.
In the tourist part of the city is a main square with loads of shops and stalls selling just about anything and everything. Most of the designer clothes are fake and don't pay the asking price, haggle the price down for some great bargains.
There are plenty of restaurants touting for your custom, so be prepared to be pestered as you walk past. The food and drink prices are good value though, so it's worth sitting at a table and watching the world go by whilst enjoying an ice cold beer. A word of caution though make sure you order a pint not a large beer or you get a 1 or 2 litre glass boot of beer at silly prices.
It's worth going as there is so much to see and enjoy and because it's so big a few visits will be needed.
Written November 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Georgia K
Rhodes, Greece137 contributions
Sep 2024 • Solo
A time trip is a walk in the old town of Rhodes! Pebble streets (women prefer not to wear a stitch for better balance) where you will find monuments of history to clubs, food, cafes and souvenir shops and Shopping! There's a library, a gallery! You can also take a walk through the walls or the barracks that surround the entire old town! Parking there is public paid around the walls or free at the port. It has several entrances depending on which gate you want to enter. A unique experience! The imposing Colonna and the paintings with the painters are the gates you must definitely go through for photos!!!
Automatically translated
Written September 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi we are going to Rhodes city on holidays soon . Do most cafes , supermarkets, bars accept starling bank card ? There are mixed opinions on facebook regarding some of which seem to be business owners recommending cash . TIA
Written April 29, 2024
We are looking to stay in Old Town. Can anyone suggest accommodation with a pool?
Thanks
Written February 26, 2020
We stayed at the Best Western which was in walking distance to everything. The pool is not heated.
Written February 26, 2020
E' possible fare un tour di gruppo della città di Rodi con una guida parlante anche ITALIANO? Staremo a RODI il g. 15/12, arrivando con la nave MSC OPERA
Written November 29, 2019
Penso di sì il nostro albergo aveva oraganizzato il tour , noi siamo andati cosi
Written April 4, 2020
I am looking for the name of a store that sells a very specific item, they sell some souvenirs and leather wallets as well as handmade machines, with the gears and mechanical parts made from wood. One of the machines is Called Big boss.
Written November 29, 2019
Hello there are several such shops in the Old Town, I would add the same hint as the previous answer - try to Google it. Good luck !
Written November 29, 2019
Staying in pefkos shortly, are there regular buses to and from and if yes how much would the journey be?
Written September 30, 2018
There are regular buses. You can purchase tickets in advance and use them days later. Taxis are also set reasonable prices. There is also a free bus from there to the Waterpark.
Written July 24, 2019
Hello,
It’s open all time? I’m going by cruise, so I’ll arrive at 7am, it would be my first stop
Olá!
Está aberto todo o tempo? Estou indo de cruzeiro, chego às 7am, seria minha primeira parada
Written August 14, 2018
I'm not sure about the shop but the city will be open.
Written August 20, 2018
laure026
Levallois-Perret, France
Bonjour, merci pour le commentaires, des idées de rooftop et d'endroits sympas?
merci
Written August 6, 2018
Impossible de répondre, n'ayant pas fréquenté ces "roof tops". Par contre une chose est certaine les restaurants dans la vieille cité sont de niveau très moyens et très chers pour les services rendus et la qualité des mets. Clairement ne pas manger dans la cité médiévale pourtant si sympathique.
Written August 7, 2018
Aloha!
How far is the port to the Medieval city? I will be coming next month on the Royal Caribbean. Is it walking distance?
Written August 5, 2017
I am visiting Rhodes on a cruise. Does anyone know how far the port is from the Old City? Mahalo.
Written August 5, 2017
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