Lindos from Rhodes Cruise Port

Getting there: the coast road from Rhodes Town to Lindos usually takes 50–60 minutes each way, longer in heavy summer traffic. Options include an organised coach excursion, a taxi, a private driver or the public KTEL bus, which serves Lindos from Rhodes Town's bus station but runs to its own timetable rather than one built around cruise calls.

Arriving in the village: vehicles typically stop at the edge of Lindos because street access into the village itself is restricted for most traffic. From there it is a walk of a few minutes through narrow lanes lined with captain's houses to reach the base of the Acropolis path.

The Acropolis climb: a paved, part-shaded path leads up from the village with a sustained flight of steps — allow a good 10–15 minutes of steady uphill walking in normal conditions, more in midsummer heat or if the path is crowded. This is a real physical commitment, not a brief photo stop, and it is worth being candid with your group about fitness and heat tolerance before committing.

Donkey rides are sometimes offered on this path. We do not recommend them on animal-welfare grounds; pacing the climb yourself, using the shaded sections where available, or simply deciding not to attempt the summit are all better choices than relying on a donkey.

At the top: the Temple of Athena Lindia sits within a Hellenistic stoa, itself enclosed by later fortifications built by the Knights of St John. The combination — ancient sanctuary layered inside a medieval castle — is what makes Lindos distinctive among Rhodes' historic sites. Views extend over St Paul's Bay on one side and the main Lindos beach on the other. The summit is exposed with little shade, so time your visit and hydration accordingly.

In the village: after the Acropolis, most visitors spend time in Lindos village itself — narrow lanes, small churches, cafés and shops — before either returning directly or adding time at the beach. St Paul's Bay is a small, sheltered cove near the village; the main Lindos beach is longer and more developed.

Timing your visit: an earlier start generally means a cooler, less crowded Acropolis climb and a calmer village before coach groups arrive in force. If your excursion allows some choice in timing, an earlier departure from the ship is usually the better option.

Realistic time budget: between the road journey, the climb, and any village or beach time, a Lindos visit typically needs 4–6 hours door to door. This is a genuine half-day commitment, and it competes directly with a full Old Town visit on a standard call — most passengers should choose one as the day's anchor rather than trying to rush both.

Should everyone go? Lindos is less suitable for visitors who cannot manage a sustained uphill walk in heat, or for very short calls where the road time alone would consume most of the available hours. The Old Town remains the better default in those cases.

Return planning: build your return around your ship's all-aboard time, not the published departure, and allow a wider contingency for the coastal road than you would for an Old Town day — especially when several ships are in port and demand for transport is higher across the island.