Rhodes 3-day Itinerary – Best things to see and do

  • 01.03.2023 16:09
  • Bruno Arcos

Best things to see and do in Rhodes in 3 days. Discover the island’s most famous landmarks and tourist hotspots – like Rhodes Town, Lindos or Monolithos – in our Rhodes 3-day itinerary!

Do you want to receive notifications about new offers?

Sign up and decide which deals you will receive. We won't send spam!

This Rhodes 3-day itinerary is a part of our broader Dodecanese Islands travel guide. We recommend you check it out for the best travel tips and the most accurate information about the archipelago, regarding transportation, hotels and restaurants for the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Chios and Karpathos.

Rhodes 3-Day Itinerary – What to see and do in 72 hours

Considered one of the most popular and beautiful of all the Greek islands, Rhodes’ place in history remains as an ancient melting pot of peoples, cultures and civilizations. Although Hellenic, it’s impossible not to notice the Turkish legacy, the result of a long ottoman occupation. However, the history of Rhodes vastly pre-dates the era of ottoman crusades and warfare. After all, we’re talking about a city where once stood one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World! Unfortunately, the Colossus of Rhodes did not survive the test of time, remaining but a memory that helped perpetuate the name of Rhodes in history books.

History aside, if you’re on your way to Greece and looking for what to see and do in Rhodes in 3 days, we leave you with a detailed Rhodes 3-day itinerary, complete with all the tourist landmarks and points of interest you don’t want to miss.

Bus between Rhodes Airport and Rhodes Town

Before properly introducing you to our Rhodes 3-day itinerary, it’s important to know how to exactly get to civilization upon landing in the island. The cheapest way to reach any of the island’s main urban centers is to use the local public bus. These vehicles connect the airport to the city of Rhodes Town, the capital of Rhodes.

The buses depart from a stop located about 300 meters away from the arrivals’ terminal, and you can buy your ticket from the driver for 2,50€. The distance is about 15 km, which, depending on traffic, might take about 30 to 40 minutes to complete. During Summer months, these buses run from 05h50 to 23h35, with a new vehicle leaving every hour or so. If you’re not staying in Rhodes Town, you can change to another bus after arriving in the capital, which is connected to pretty much every other town in Rhodes.

As an alternative, you can hire a taxi to take you straight to your place of accommodation, although this will naturally turn out to be a lot more expensive than just using the bus. As an example, the same exact trip between the airport and Rhodes Town would set you back anything between 30€-35€.

Rhodes 3-Day Itinerary – Day 1: Rhodes Town

Your adventure in Rhodes will start with a visit to its capital: the fabulous Rhodes Town! Nowadays, the city is split in half across two completely different areas, one where you can visit all of its historical landmarks, and the other far more modern, located beyond the ancient city walls. Naturally, most of your day will be spent in the old city, where you can start off by visiting the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (8€), an extraordinary castle built 700 years ago by the Order of Malta.

Also in Rhodes Town, we recommend walking along the Street of the Knights and visiting the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes (6€), as well as the Clock Tower, before delving into the city’s strong ottoman cultural influence, which you can witness in places such as the Suleymaniye Mosque and the Yeni Hamam, with the latter being a former oriental bath house, sadly no longer in operation. Outside the city walls, it’s also worth exploring a bit of the New Town and take quick peek at the Mandraki Harbor, the place where, according to historians, the legendary Colossus of Rhodes used to stand, before being toppled by a violent earthquake.

Finally, it’s time to leave Rhodes Town for the very first time and see what else the island has in store for you. Still, it’s been a long day and you really won’t have much time left, which is why you must spend the remainder of your afternoon at the Kallithea Thermal Springs (5€), a recently renovated complex of ancient bathhouses. Although these no longer work under their original purpose, it’s still pretty cool to visit their historical buildings and discover their ornamented mosaics. Besides, there is a small beach by the thermal springs where you can have your very first dip in the island! Definitely a place not to miss on our Rhodes 3-Day Itinerary.

First day wrap-up:

  • Rhodes Town
  • Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
  • Street of The Knights
  • Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
  • Clock Tower
  • Suleymaniye Mosque
  • Yeni Hamam
  • Mandraki Harbor
  • Kallithea Thermal Springs

Cheap restaurant suggestions in Rhodes Town:

Rhodes 3-Day Itinerary – Day 2: From the Bay to the Butterfly Valley

Throughout your second day in Rhodes, you will finally venture further deep into the island’s most breathtaking beaches and natural wonders. That being said, you’ll kick things off at Faliraki Beach, one of the most popular stretches of sand in Rhodes. Despite being incredibly idyllic and easy to access, this is also the busiest and most crowded beach in all of Rhodes, which can be especially exhausting during high season.

Be that as it may, there surely isn’t any shortage of great beaches in Rhodes, so, should you feel particularly overwhelmed, head a bit further south and take a rest at the Anthony Quinn Bay, the quaintest and most picturesque of all the beaches across the island. To complete the trifecta of the northeast beaches in Rhodes, do not forget to have a look at the Tsambika Beach, before climbing up to the Tsambika Monastery, for an unforgettable view over the coastline and the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea.

Leaving the coast behind for a few hours, you’ll explore the core of the island and discover one of its hidden gems. Widely popular among locals seeking a respite from the heat, the Epta Piges – Seven Springs in English – create a lake due to the confluence of their waters. Basically, the water coming from these springs flows along a natural gorge, forming an oasis of sorts and a great place for an early-afternoon walk. Finally, you’ll cap off your day at the Butterfly Valley (5€), a place whose name must be taken quite literally. You see, this is a very important habitat of reproduction for several butterfly species, which are attracted by the sap of an endemic tree. Between June and September, the entire valley is filled with recently-eclosed butterflies, creating a natural spectacle that will leave visitors in awe.

Second day wrap-up:

  • Faliraki Beach
  • Anthony Quinn Bay
  • Tsambika Beach
  • Tsambika Monastery
  • Epta Piges
  • Butterfly Valley

Cheap restaurant suggestions in the beaches of the northeast + Epta Piges:

Rhodes 3-Day Itinerary – Day 3: The Island’s Archaeological Ruins

Sadly, your time in Rhodes is coming to an end. Still, do not leave until you visit the island’s main archaeological sites, while having (at least) a bit of time for one last dip at the local beaches. But first – culture! Your first stop of the day will take place at the Archaeological Site of Kamiros (6€), the remains of an ancient city estimated to be at least 3000 years old. You’ll get to visit the ruins of temples, residential blocks, and bathhouses, capping off your tour with a panoramic view over the extensive excavation area from a nearby hill.

Next on your itinerary, a visit to the Castle of Monolithos ensues. Despite standing as nothing more that a giant ruin nowadays, its strategic defensive position, 200 meters above sea level, ensures one of the most glorious views in all of Rhodes. Before your lunch break, make your way to the southernmost tip of the island and relax for a couple hours at the Prasonisi Beach. As the meeting point between the Mediterranean and the Aegean, this is one of the very few places in the world where you can swim in two entirely different seas at the same time!

Last, but not least, you will slowly resume your way back up north through the opposite coast until you eventually make it to Lindos, arguably the most beautiful town in Rhodes. Besides the traditional Greek old center, with its whitewashed houses and narrow streets, the cityscape is dominated by the majestic Lindos Acropolis (12€), an ancient fortified city filled to the brim with archaeological ruins of temples, tombs and even a theater. This is – without a shadow of a doubt – one of the most magical places in Rhodes, and the perfect spot for your farewell while watching the sunset.

Third day wrap-up:

  • Archaeological Site of Kamiros
  • Monolithos Castle
  • Prasonisi Beach
  • Lindos
  • Lindos Acropolis

Cheap restaurant suggestions in the beaches in Monolithos and Lindos:

Travel insurance

Heymondo offers a wide range of travel assistance insurance policies. They combine the best quality, service and price with various levels of coverage, so you’re covered on your weekend getaways and long trips. Buy insurance »

Do you want to receive notifications about new offers?

Sign up and decide which deals you will receive. We won't send spam!

Travel ideas