There is a common misconception that all Greek islands are small enough to explore on a 50cc scooter in a single afternoon. Rhodes shatters that illusion immediately. This is a massive piece of land. Getting from the capital in the north to the beaches in the deep south takes almost two hours of solid driving.
Location – Mandraki Harbor Bus Station
Time – 09 00 AM
Temperature – 27°C (80°F) and heating up quickly
Mood – Calculating and alert
Soundtrack – Diesel bus engines idling and the constant hum of passing scooters
If you want to leave your resort and actually see the island, you have to understand the transport reality. I spent a week testing every method, and each comes with its own distinct set of challenges.
The Scooter Trap
My first instinct was to rent a scooter. It seems like the most romantic, authentic way to travel. For short distances—like driving from Rhodes Town to the nearby beaches of Kallithea—a scooter is perfect. It completely solves the nightmare of finding a parking spot. But the moment I merged onto the main eastern highway to head down to Lindos, I realized my mistake.
The highway traffic is fast, filled with massive tourist coaches, and the coastal crosswinds are vicious. Riding a lightweight scooter at 80 km/h while getting battered by the Aegean wind is not relaxing; it is an extreme sport. Save the scooters for local, low-speed coastal cruising.
The Public Bus Patience
The next day, I walked down to the Mandraki harbor to use the KTEL public bus system. The buses are modern, heavily air-conditioned, and incredibly cheap. They are the absolute best way to travel between Rhodes Town and the major hubs like Faliraki or Lindos. But they require patience. During the peak summer months, the buses fill up rapidly. If you try to catch a bus back to the city from Lindos at 6 00 PM, you might watch three full buses pass you by before one finally stops. You operate entirely on their schedule, not yours.
The Parking Nightmare
Eventually, I surrendered and rented a car. A car gives you the ultimate freedom to explore the empty, rugged west coast or the inland mountain villages. The car is flawless until you try to return to Rhodes Old Town in the evening. Cars are strictly banned inside the medieval walls. This means everyone drives to the perimeter and fights for the few hundred parking spaces surrounding the moat. I spent forty minutes circling the marina just to find a spot tight enough to squeeze into.
The Verdict
There is no single perfect way to get around Rhodes. It requires a hybrid approach. Use the cheap public buses for main routes like Lindos, rent a car for deep exploration of the south, and accept that getting anywhere near the Old Town in the evening will involve a long walk from wherever you manage to park.
My “Eat Walk Repeat” Note for Today
Eat – If you are waiting for a bus at the Mandraki station, cross the street to the covered market area and grab a quick Gyros Pita. It is cheap, fast, and easily eaten while standing in line for the bus.
Walk – If you rent a car to visit the Old Town, do not even attempt to park near the main gates. Park at the large, free dirt lot near the Akandia Gate (the commercial port) and enjoy the scenic ten-minute walk along the medieval walls.
Repeat – Taxis in Rhodes are heavily regulated and run on fixed meters, but they are expensive and hard to find during rush hour. Always download the local taxi app before you arrive so you can call a driver digitally instead of waving your hands on a dark road.
