There are places in this world that stop you mid-stride — where the weight of centuries settles on your shoulders like a warm Aegean breeze, and you forget entirely what century you belong to. Rhodes Old Town is one of those places. Enclosed within walls that have withstood sieges, storms, and the slow march of millennia, the medieval city of Rhodes is not simply a tourist attraction. It is a living, breathing monument to the ambitions of gods and men alike.
Whether you are wandering its labyrinthine streets for the first time or returning for the tenth, this complete Rhodes Old Town walking tour will help you experience the city as it deserves — slowly, deeply, and with all your senses open.
Getting Here from Olympus Hospitality
From our suites in Marathonas, Rhodes Old Town is just 10 minutes away by car — close enough for a spontaneous evening stroll, yet far enough to feel a world apart. We recommend arriving in the morning before the summer crowds thicken, or in the golden hour before sunset when the honey-coloured stone seems to glow from within.
Enter through the Amboise Gate on the northern side, or the Liberty Gate near the harbour — both will place you immediately inside one of the most remarkably preserved medieval cities in the entire Mediterranean.
The Street of the Knights: Where History Walks With You
No Rhodes Old Town walking tour begins without the Street of the Knights (Odos Ippoton). This impossibly atmospheric cobbled lane runs straight and solemn from the Palace of the Grand Master down to the old hospital, its Gothic inns lining each side like silent sentinels. Each Inn was home to a different langue — the tongue or chapter — of the Knights Hospitaller, the military order that ruled Rhodes from 1309 to 1522.
Walk it slowly. Run your hand along the carved stone facades. Notice the heraldic crests above the doorways. Few streets in Europe carry such an unbroken sense of purpose and power. This is where the medieval city of Rhodes reveals itself most completely.
The Palace of the Grand Master: A Throne Fit for the Gods
At the head of the Street of the Knights stands the Palace of the Grand Master — a fortress within a fortress, a seat of power that would not have looked out of place on the slopes of Mount Olympus itself. Originally built in the 7th century and later reconstructed by the Knights, then again under Italian rule in the 20th century, the palace today houses a remarkable museum.
The ground floor features two permanent exhibitions: one tracing the history of Rhodes from prehistoric times through late antiquity, the other showcasing the medieval and later history of the island. The upper floors reveal grand reception halls paved with ancient Roman mosaics, transported from the island of Kos by the Italians — a detail that still provokes spirited debate among historians.
Admission is modest; the experience is anything but.
The Ottoman Quarter: Layers Upon Layers
What makes Rhodes Old Town so endlessly fascinating as a medieval city is the layering of civilisations. After the Ottoman conquest of 1522, the Knights' churches became mosques, new hammams were built, and the city took on an entirely different character. Walking through the Turkish quarter (Tourkika Mahala) today, you encounter this history at every turn.
The Süleymaniye Mosque, built to commemorate Suleiman the Magnificent's victory, still dominates the skyline. The old hammam near Arionos Square has been restored and is open to visitors. The covered bazaar of the Socrates Street area — named for the great philosopher — draws you deeper into a world that feels equal parts Greek, Ottoman, and timeless.
Stop at one of the traditional kafeneions (Greek coffee houses) tucked into the side streets. Order a Greek coffee. Let the city come to you.
Hidden Gems: Off the Main Path
The best Rhodes Old Town walking tour is the one that leads you astray. Beyond the main tourist thoroughfares lies a quieter city: cats sleeping in doorways, jasmine tumbling over ancient walls, a priest crossing a sun-drenched square. Here are a few corners worth seeking out:
The Inn of Auvergne, often overlooked on the Street of the Knights, bears the most delicate carved stonework of all the inns. The Kahal Shalom Synagogue — the oldest in Europe still in use — stands quietly in the Jewish Quarter (La Juderia), a testament to another civilisation that called these walls home. The Roloi Clock Tower near the Süleymaniye Mosque offers a steep climb rewarded by panoramic views across the rooftops and out to the cobalt sea beyond.
And do not neglect the walls themselves. A walk along the ramparts — accessible from the Palace of the Grand Master — gives you a god's-eye view of both the old city and the new, a perspective that connects you, for a moment, to every general and sentinel who ever paced these heights.
Practical Tips for Your Walking Tour
The medieval city of Rhodes is best explored on foot — indeed, much of it cannot be accessed any other way. The cobblestones are beautiful but uneven; comfortable walking shoes are essential. Most of the major sites are clustered within a 20-minute walk of each other, making the Old Town remarkably compact for everything it contains.
Opening hours for the Palace of the Grand Master and the Archaeological Museum vary by season — always check ahead in shoulder months. The Old Town is free to enter and explore at any hour; some of its most magical moments happen at midnight, when the tourist crowds have retreated and the lamplight turns the stone to amber.
Experience It from the Perfect Base
There is something deeply right about exploring a mythological landscape and then returning, at day's end, to a suite named for the gods who shaped it. At Olympus Hospitality, our Zeus, Poseidon, and Ares Suites in Marathonas offer the luxury, calm, and space you need to do Rhodes Old Town justice — not as a day-tripper rushing between sites, but as a genuine traveller settling into the rhythms of this extraordinary island.
We are 10 minutes from the gates of the medieval city, moments from the beach, and entirely committed to making your stay unforgettable. Book directly at www.olympushospitality.eu and let Rhodes reveal itself to you — one cobblestone at a time.