Crete to Rhodes

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The distance from Crete to Rhodes Ρόδος is 485 km or 266 nautical miles. A plane flight takes 1 hour. The ferry journey is 10-14 hours. More details about getting from Crete to Rhodes below.

Around the Old Town of Rhodes

The Palace of the Grand Masters

The Street of the Knights

The Archaeological Museum

Socratous Street

Hippocratos Square

Accommodation Old Town

Magical Places to Stay in Rhodes

Getting to and from Rhodes

Exploring the island of Rhodes is full of surprises. Famous not only for her history and beautiful beaches, we love the village of Lindos, surely one of the most picturesque and fascinating seaside settlements in the Mediterranean.

We love Rhodes for her beaches and her history, and the discovery of a very different culture from our own beloved Kriti. Let us show you a little bit of what we discovered in the Dodecanese.

Rhodes Old Town Greece - View from Town Gate

The Old Town of Rhodes

Crete to Rhodes - we suggest to avoid the busy tourist times of July and August and visit in shoulder or off-season, you will still be able to enjoy the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan town.

The turrets of the walls of the old town of Rhodes are etched in our memory. We glanced up from every angle whilst we walked around the old town, meandering through the various gates of entry and exploring different squares. The mixture of medieval towers, Greek and Italian architecture and tiny cobbled streets is entrancing.

"There are major sights to see; what we enjoyed was wandering without a plan through the old town and being surprised at every turn with a new view, a little steno or lane way, a different plateia or square, varied architecture, cafés and restaurants".

Highlights of the Old Town include:

The Palace of the Grand Masters
The Street of the Knights
The Archaeological Museum
Socratous Street
Hippocratos Square

The History of Rhodes

Rhodes Cathedral Old Town - Church of the Virgin Mary of the Burgh

'Virgin Mary of the Burgh' Cathedral dating from 11th Century

Crete to Rhodes - the history of Rhodes unfolds before your eyes. Rhodes was inhabited since Neolithic times, and earliest complex settlements seem to have been made from 1600 BC. The island’s location at the cross roads of Europe and the east, and proximity to Cyprus and Crete meant she was invaded and ruled by many different peoples over the centuries, and became one of the most important cities in ancient Greece.

Through the classical period, the Roman and Byzantine periods she remained one of the most influential cities in the Mediterranean. In 1309 AD she was ruled by the Knights of St John and later the Ottomans dominated. In recent times, between 1912 and 1947, Italy ruled the island, making significant architectural and structural changes. Rhodes became part of the nation of Greece under the Treaty of Paris in 1948.

The Old Town of Rhodes was declared a world heritage site in 1988. The UNESCO website describes the…"Upper Town is one of the most beautiful urban ensembles of the Gothic period."

The town was once surrounded by a protective moat which has now been emptied of water and forms a green park fringe around the old town which makes for a relaxing walk, whilst admiring the town and palace walls. See the section below on ferry trips from Crete to Rhodes.

The Palace of the Grand Masters

Crete to Rhodes - Palace of the Grand Masters

The Palace of the Grand Masters was built by the Knights of St John in the 14th Century. It was damaged by explosion of powder in 1856. It has been immaculately restored since then and seems as if it was built just yesterday. The building sits above the town, an imposing sight from the harbour side, it dominates the skyline.

The stunning towers either side of the entrance leave little doubt about the wealth of the builders and are an example of the strength to come within the structure.

The impressive central courtyard leads to large palatial rooms which house a collection of furniture, marbles, statues and artifacts. The rooms such as the reception hall and the ballroom are very impressive, if a little stark. The mosaics are some of the best preserved in the Mediterranean.

"Leave plenty of time to walk through the palace as it is large and there is a lot to see; of over 150 rooms in the building, only 20 or so are open to the public. Your entry fee of €10 also covers the Archaeological Museum and the Arts Collection".

We loved the steep-sided moats around the Palace, and from the Ambroise Gate to Saint Anthony's Gate leading to streets around the Palace is one of the most picturesque walkways. It is lovely to wander there at dusk and soak up the atmosphere.

The Street of the Knights

The Street of the Knights is a dark, cobbled street hardly touched since medieval times and gives a very good impression of what it would have been like to live within these walls.

This historic street is named Ippoton and stretches from the Palace of the Grand Masters down the hill to the Archaeological Museum. In the middle ages it housed seven inns representing the seven homelands of the Knights. There is a lack of modern construction on this street and few shops, so it tends to be quieter than other streets.

The Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes is inside the former Hospital of the Knights, at the corner of Appelou and Ippoton Streets. The extensive collection takes a while to see, so leave this visit for another day if you are already planning to see the Palace. But don’t miss it, as it is a genuine atmosphere inside the 15th Century building, and exquisite pieces from the complex history of this crossroads of east and west.

One of the most beautiful pieces in the museum is a marble statue 'Aphrodite of Rhodes' which is more then 2,000 years of age, dated 100 BC.

Socratous Street & Hippocratos Square

Crete to Rhodes - Socratous Σωκράτους Street is the centre of shopping in the old town. Whilst soaking up the atmosphere, you will find pieces crafted from the skills of the Rhodians over many centuries including jewellery, ceramics, carpets, embroidery, wines, ouzo, olive oil and honey. See the section below on travelling from Crete to Rhodes.

Hippocratos Square is close to the Marine gate. This is a large square with a fringe of historic buildings in Rhodian style, cafes and interesting shopping. The central feature is a fountain with a unique design. We love the owl symbol atop the centre piece of the fountain, which is called the Castellania Fountain.

The commercial buildings around the square were built by the Knights of St John and date from 1597.

Exploring Around Rhodes Island

Rhodes has so much to offer outside of the Old Town. Some highlights are below, you can make your self-drive trip clockwise around the island starting and ending in the Old Town.

Tsambika Τσαμπίκα Monastery and Tsambika Beach
Lindos Λίνδος Village and Lindos Acropolis (above)
Monolithos Μονόλιθος Castle
Kameiros Κάμειρος Archaeological Site
The Valley of the Butterflies Πεταλούδες

Don't forget to stop in at small villages all over Rhodes to get the real feel of the island.

Experiences

Explore Rhodes on organised tours or get skip the line tickets, here are our top tips.

Palace of the Grand Masters - Skip the Line ticket. See the palace in your own time without a guide. Enjoy stepping back into history.

4.3 / 5 | 120 Reviews

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Lindos Village and Acropolis - see one of the most magnificent sights in the Greek islands - the tiny white village of Lindos with ancient ruins of a fortress and acropolis above. Simply breathtaking. 5 hours

5 / 5 | 5 Reviews

Check Rates & Availability for Lindos Experience

Butterfly Valley and Seven Springs Valley Day Trip - Experience the two most popular natural sites on Rhodes in one day. Explore the Valley of the Butterflies, then drive east to discover the Seven Springs Valley.

4.3 / 5 | 220 Reviews

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Accommodation in the Old Town

Crete to Rhodes - we have chosen some great places to stay in Ρόδος for different budgets.

In our selections we have focused on guesthouses in the old town, because we strongly believe it is one of the most beautiful towns on the Mediterranean.The medieval town is a UNESCO World heritage site, still vibrant and alive with life. Famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, this port and township has a million stories to tell.

We cannot repeat enough - how beautiful the old town of Rhodes is - and we highly recommend staying within the old town walls, as facing the modern world will seem a rude shock. To really soak up the atmosphere of the town is to stay within the walls.

Choose your accommodation on the map below

This is the budget symbol on We Love Crete

Mango Rooms - a good budget option within the walls of the Old Town of Rhodes, above a cafe, on the very pretty and leafy Dorieos Square.

This hotel it is good value, clean and convenient. Mango Rooms are open all year long, there is a roof top balcony with lovely views over the plateia and rooftops of the old zone, which has a story at every turn.

In the plateia is the old stone pergola and many trees, within walking distance are lots of cafes and restaurants.

“Marvelous place where to stay in Rodos. The location is perfect to enjoy the Old Town. The staff is charming and very helpful. The restaurant is excellent.”

Check Rates & Availability at Mango Rooms

The Avalon Boutique Hotel is located in the old town of Rhodes. With only 6 suites, it showcases the character of the medieval building with all modern conveniences. The eclectic mix of styles hints at the modern stylistic of Rhodes itself, which is a cheeky mix of all styles through the ages with a seemingly scant regard for rules.

Rather a blackbird's collection of shiny things, brick-a-brack, fabric and textures culminating in an abundant overflowing of the ages past and present. The Avalon provides a luxurious and elegant experience within the cobbled streets.

9 Haritos Street - adjacent to the distinctive Knights Street, a skip away from the Grand Masters Palace.

Check Rates & Availability at Avalon Boutique Hotel

Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel - Rhodes

Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel - located on a high point of the old town of Rhodes in a narrow lane way close to the old town walls. This architecturally designed, small guesthouse is just minutes away from the Grand Masters Palace, shops, bars, cafes and restaurants yet in a quiet lane away from the hustle and bustle.

This is a luxury boutique hotel with only 6 rooms, each one different. The restoration of the building was accomplished with close collaboration of architects and archaeologists, the owners keen to restore it with the utmost integrity. The result is magnificent, and travellers rave about the design and presentation, and the exceptional service.

The decoration of the suites is part of the charm and enjoyment of visiting here, with exotic items from Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Persia and the East. The ambience reflects the mercurial, colourful crossroads at Rhodes since ancient times.

Add to that a conscious environmental management approach, from the construction materials to the body care items, and travellers experience something very special, in a family run enterprise with personal attention.

Check Rates & Availability at the Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel

The Nikos Takis Fashion Hotel is at 26 Panaitiou Street, just around the corner from the Grand Masters Palace and Ippoton Street. Again, this location is superb and this is a luxurious way to enjoy the old town of Rhodes.

Greek fashion designers Nikos and Takis have dressed Sofia Loren, Ornella Mutti, Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Maria Callas and Nana Mouskouri among others over the years and have now turned their design talents to restoring and decorating this 19th century building in the centre of Rhodes.

What a gorgeous result, but their talent does not stop there. The real measure of a hotel is its hospitality, and here it is given in yards and yards like the fabrics lining the rooms.

For those with an eye for European haute couture fashion, it should be no surprise that these respected designers have extended their vision to include this immaculate, stunning hotel.

Map of Accommodation

Magical Places to Stay in Rhodes

Magical Accommodation in Rhodes

Getting from Crete to Rhodes

Crete to Rhodes - the ferry journey from Crete to Rhodes takes you to the islands of Kassos, Karpathos and Chalki. It is possible to island hop between Crete and these islands on the way to Rhodes.

There are options to travel from Crete to Rhodes (or return):

Ferry with ANEK Lines
Flight with Sky Express
Flight via Athens with Aegean Airlines
Flight via Athens with Olympic Airlines
Flight via Karpathos with Olympic Airlines

Check schedules and book ferry tickets here

The ferry journey from Crete to Rhodes with Blue Star Ferries takes 10-14 hours, fare for a shared berth is around €90, there are cheaper and more expensive options.

The quickest way to get from Crete to Rhodes is to fly. The flight from Heraklion to Rhodes takes about 1 hour. There are about 10 departures per week in peak season, costing approximately €80-160.

In the quieter season, when direct flights do not depart, it makes a lot of sense to fly from Heraklion to Athens and then to Rhodes. Aegean Air flies both routes and this can be more economical than expected. Flying time from Heraklion to Athens is approximately 1 hour, as is the flying time from Athens to Rhodes. Leaving time for connections, it is still possible to do this in a morning or an afternoon.