One of the quiet advantages of staying in Rhodes is that the island itself is only the beginning. From the harbours near Rhodes Town, a small fleet of boats sets out most mornings toward islands that feel like a different pace of life entirely — some just forty minutes away, others a longer crossing best planned as a full day out. For guests based at Olympus Hospitality in Rodini, eight minutes from the harbour, these excursions are less a logistical challenge and more a simple extension of the holiday: sleep in your own suite, wake up, and be on the water within the hour.
Symi: The Postcard Island
Symi is the day trip most guests ask about first, and for good reason. Pastel-coloured neoclassical houses climb the hillside above a horseshoe harbour, and the boat ride there is scenic in its own right, tracing a coastline of pine-covered cliffs and hidden coves. Most excursions include a stop at Panormitis Monastery, an important pilgrimage site for Greek Orthodox visitors, before continuing to Symi town for a few hours of wandering, swimming, and lunch at a harbourside taverna. Boats typically depart Rhodes mid-morning and return by early evening, making it an easy full-day trip that still gets you back to Rodini in time for a sunset drink on the terrace.
Chalki: Quiet and Nearly Untouched
For travellers who find Symi a touch too popular in peak season, Chalki offers the same architectural charm with a fraction of the crowds. This tiny island, a short hop from Kamiros Skala on Rhodes' west coast, has no real industry beyond tourism and fishing, and it shows in the unhurried rhythm of the place. A day here is best spent slowly: a swim at Pontamos beach, a coffee in the harbour, and very little else on the agenda. It's less commonly packaged as a standard excursion, so guests planning a Chalki trip should ask their host about the smaller local ferries rather than the larger day-cruise operators.
Marmaris, Turkey: A Different Country by Lunchtime
Rhodes' proximity to the Turkish coast means a day trip abroad is entirely realistic. Fast catamarans cross to Marmaris in under an hour, and with a valid passport, guests can spend an afternoon exploring a bazaar, a marina, and a coastline that looks distinctly different from the Greek islands just across the water. It's a popular add-on for guests who want to say they visited two countries in one holiday, though we'd always recommend checking current entry requirements before booking, since these can change.
Lindos by Boat Instead of by Road
Most visitors reach Lindos by car or coach, but a growing number of day-cruise operators now offer a boat approach instead — arriving at St. Paul's Bay beneath the acropolis rather than the busy main road into town. It's a genuinely different way to experience one of Rhodes' most photographed sites, with swimming stops along the way and considerably less time spent in traffic. If you've already done the classic Lindos day trip by land, the boat version is worth doing once for the approach alone.
Half-Day Options for a Lighter Schedule
Not every excursion needs to consume a full day. Several operators run half-day boat trips along the eastern coastline south of Rhodes Town, stopping at quiet coves inaccessible by road, with swimming and snorkelling built into the itinerary. These are a good fit for guests who want to combine a morning on the water with an afternoon back at the property — the garden terrace and a late lunch waiting when the boat returns.
Planning Your Day Trip from Rodini
A little planning goes a long way with these excursions. Departure times cluster in the morning, generally between 8 and 9am, which means an early start from Rodini but still leaves the evening free. Booking a day or two ahead is wise in peak season, particularly for Symi and the Turkey crossings, which fill quickly. Sun protection, a swimsuit under your clothes, and a bit of cash for small harbourside purchases are the only real essentials — everything else about these trips is designed to be effortless.
Where the Story Continues
Rhodes rewards travellers who venture beyond its own shoreline, but it's just as rewarding to have a proper base to return to at the end of the day. At Olympus Hospitality, the Zeus, Poseidon and Ares Suites are each built for exactly that rhythm — a full day exploring the Dodecanese, followed by an evening of quiet comfort in Rodini, five minutes from the beach and close enough to the harbour that tomorrow's excursion is never far away. Visit www.olympushospitality.eu to check availability and start planning your own island-hopping itinerary from Rhodes.