Wandering around the Old Town of Rhodes, Greece

If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you know very well that I do not like the crowds and typical tourist destinations that are full of all-inclusive hotels and sun loungers on the beach. Instead, I prefer to explore the local culture or enjoy the beautiful, wild landscapes. This time instead of spending time hiking and looking for secret beaches I wanted to do some sightseeing, so I decided to stay in Rhodes Town which is the capital of the island.

The best 8 things to see in Rhodes Old Town - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

White cat in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
The Old Town of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The Old Town of Rhodes – one of the greatest attractions of Rhodes Island

Before my trip to Rhodes, Greece I was looking for some information about where to stay and what to see on the island. That’s how I learned about the Old Town of Rhodes with its medieval architecture, narrow streets, hidden nooks, and crannies. I thought – it’s something just right for me! During the day I will be able to take pictures, walking in the shadow of narrow streets, and in the evening it will be a perfect place to hang around, have a drink, and so on. In addition, in the Old Town of Rhodes, there are many things to see, which was an additional advantage of this location.

Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The best things to see in Rhodes Medieval City, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Souvenirs from Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Places like this have an indescribable charm that is difficult to compare to the pedestrian streets in typically tourist towns. Beautiful architecture, shiny pavements made of stone mosaic, colorful, fragrant flowers, and cats wandering everywhere… It’s just a dream scene for someone who likes to take pictures! The Old Town of Rhodes is a very inspiring place.

Scooters in the Medieval City of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Cat painting on the tree, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The best places to visit in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Door in the Old Town of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Rhodes, the island of cats - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The Old Town of Rhodes is surrounded by thick, stone walls that you can walk around at specific hours, admiring the Medieval Town from a slightly different perspective. Inside you can get through one of seven gates – St. Antonio’s Gate, Gate D’Amboise, St. Paul’s Gate, Arnauld Gate, Marine Gate, St. Mary’s Gate or St. Catherine’s Gate. In many travel guides, they recommend to start the tour from the Gate D’Amboise, and then take a walk along the Street of the Knights to the Palace of the Grand Masters.

The best things to see in the medieval town of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The Old Town of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
The best 8 things to see in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

D'Amboise Gate, Rhodes Medieval Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

I do not remember which gate I chose, but I admit that when I saw the Old Town for the first time, I was a bit disappointed. The streets were surrounded by stalls with cheesy souvenirs and fakes of designer clothing. The sellers tried to advertise their goods as much as possible, accosting tourists and persuading them to buy. However, it was enough to move away from the most frequented routes to get to know a completely different Rhodes.

Palace of the Grand Master of Knights, one of the best things to see in the old town of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Ceramics from Rhodes in the medieval town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Must-see attractions in the Medieval Town od Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Blue Vespa in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
The best places to see in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Rhodes Old Town, a place full of cats

As I walked away from the souvenir stalls and crowds of tourists, I liked this place more and more. It was quiet and peaceful in the narrow streets of the Medieval Town. I passed some tourists who, like me, wandered with the camera, but sometimes my only companions were cats.

Top 8 places to visit in Rhodes Medieval City, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Cat in the Medieval Town of Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The Old Town of Rhodes: TOP 8 things to see - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Things to see in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
White house in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The Medieval City of Rhodes: TOP 8 things to see - from travel blog http://Epepa.eu
TOP 8 places to visit in the medieval city, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Best things to see in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

There are a lot of cats in Rhodes. For this reason, it is usual to call it not only “the island of the sun”, but also “the island of cats”. You can meet them everywhere – on city streets, in villages, in taverns, and in the port. They have become an integral part of the island’s landscape and it is difficult to imagine Rhodes without their presence. I admit that I really like taking pictures of cats, as you can see in this post.

A cat in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Architecture od the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Wandering off the beaten path, Old Town Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Rhodes, Greece - the island of cats - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Must-see places in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

What is the best time to visit the Old Town of Rhodes and how long does it take to see all the major attractions?

In my opinion, the Medieval City looks completely different during the day, and at night. It’s worth to see the Old Town of Rhodes in both scenes. When it comes to the amount of time spent on sightseeing, it all depends on whether you plan to just take a walk through the streets and spend a relaxing evening in one of the nice pubs or restaurants, or if you plan to visit the museums. There are a lot of attractions and great things to see in the Old Town of Rhodes, and it seems to me that if you want to see everything, it is worth to spend a whole day here. It’s also a great idea to visit the Old Town of Rhodes twice and take a walk through the streets without a hurry.

Red cat in the Medieval City, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Restaurant in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Window in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Narrow streets in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
The best things to see in the Old Town od Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

What are the best things to see in the Old Town of Rhodes?

I think the best way to discover every place, not just the Old Town of Rhodes, is to put down a map and get wonderfully lost. But of course, there are places that it would be a pity not to see. Wandering in the Old City of Rhodes, it is worth to see places such as:

1. The Street of the Knights –  a medieval street lined with inns built for the nations that crusaded with the Order of the Knights of St John. Tip: On maps, it is called Ippoton.

2. The Palace of the Grand Master – it was originally a Byzantine fortress which later housed the administrative center of the Order of Knights. Nowadays the ground floor holds two large exhibits about the city of Rhodes.

3. The Archeological Museum of Rhodes – the best museum in the Dodecanese that holds finds from the island, including relics, urns and marble statues dating back to ancient times.

4. The Ippokratous Square – it is the main meeting point and the coffee spot.

5. The Clock Tower – at the top of this 7th-century tower you can enjoy the best panoramic view of Rhodes Old Town. The entrance fee includes a free drink on the terrace below.

6. The Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent – built in 1522 to commemorate the Ottoman victory against the knights, it is the most important mosque in Rhodes.

7. The Ottoman Library – a little library situated opposite pink-domed Mosque of Suleiman. It houses 2000 books in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish.

8. The Lady of the Castle Cathedral – an 11th-century church that in Greek is known as Panagia tou Kastrou.

Is it a good idea to book accommodation in the Old Town of Rhodes?

If you are wondering if the old city is a good place to stay in Rhodes, in my opinion it is! If I would plan to visit this beautiful island again, I would definitely look for accommodation in this part of the city. Maybe not near the main pedestrian streets, but some atmospheric apartment in the old town, slightly away from the crowded trails would be a dream place for me to stay. If you are looking for accommodation in this area, you can use the map below.



Booking.com

The best things to see in the Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Beautiful architecture in Rhodes Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Rhodes Old Town street, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
Pink flowers in the Old Town, Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

The architecture of Rhodos Old Town, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

Narrow streets of Rhodes Medieval City, Greece - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/
A view on the see from Rhodes Medieval City, the Gate of the Port - from travel blog https://epepa.eu/

At first glance, the Old Town of Rhodes disappointed me a little, but the more I walked away from the busy trails, the more I began to appreciate this place. Sometimes it is not worth suggesting the first impression. Even a typical tourist place can positively surprise us. Just put down the map and enter the maze of winding streets, where time stood still and the only companions are lazily walking cats. You will discover a completely different Rhodes. If you like places full of history, with beautiful buildings and narrow streets, read also about Lindos – the most beautiful town on the island of Rhodes.

 

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The Old Town - a must-see attraction in Rhodes, Greece - from travel blog http://Epepa.eu

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  25 comments for “Wandering around the Old Town of Rhodes, Greece

  1. Conny Eisfeld
    February 19, 2018 at 11:23 pm

    Beautiful! I’m so in love with the light colours and the wonderful details you captured!

    • February 20, 2018 at 11:10 am

      Thank you Conny ????

  2. April 8, 2018 at 9:45 pm

    These pictures really drew me in! I love all the stonework in medieval communities. And the cats…my kids would go crazy here! I keep seeing posts on Greece, and then my husband made me watch a travel show on Greece…must be a sign. 🙂

  3. April 9, 2018 at 3:00 am

    Oh, what a lovely old town. It seems not to have any chain restaurants and preserves its authenticity. Kind of place I really like.

    • April 9, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      Some streets are a bit crowded, but you only have to walk away from the busy routes and it is really peaceful. You can feel the atmosphere of this city and imagine how it used to be. It’s like a journey through time.

  4. April 9, 2018 at 3:37 pm

    The old town is charming with the stone mosaic paved streets, and the cute restaurants where you can relax and watch the world go by with a coffee in hand. I’m not a cat lover, however these cats seem adorable. I don’t tend to use a map as I’m useless with directions anyway! I agree with you, that sometimes it’s best to wander through the little streets and get lost in the town. You just never know what little gems you may find. I would definitely climb to the top of the clock tower, just to capture the amazing panoramic views of the Old Town.

    • April 25, 2018 at 1:27 pm

      Unfortunately, I did not go to the clock tower and I regret it very much. Maybe someday I will return to Rhodes and see this beautiful view that can be seen from it.

  5. Christina
    April 9, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    Look at that small beautiful white kitty! Old Rhodes looks incredible. We love visiting these particular sections of cities as they have a lot of charm. OMG cats everywhere. I would be in heaven. You took some incredible photos. I love the medieval qualities of the town.

    • April 25, 2018 at 1:29 pm

      I also like medieval old cities 🙂 That’s why I decided that it would be best to stay in the city of Rhodes instead of the tourist resort. I could walk these narrow streets every day 🙂

  6. April 9, 2018 at 10:13 pm

    That place sounds magical! Definitely putting on my list for Greece! Your pictures are gorgeous. I have noticed a lot of cats on pictures from Santorini as well (not on your blog). Looks like Greek Islands are cat magnets! Totally my kind of place!

    • April 25, 2018 at 1:32 pm

      It is hard to imagine the city of Rhodes without the presence of cats 🙂 They make the old city even more romantic. I have never been to Santorini, but I would love to go there.

  7. Followingtherivera
    April 10, 2018 at 11:57 am

    I loved reading your post on Rhodes! Like you, I prefer to be away from the crowds and see a more authentic side to a destination. I never knew about all these places in Rhodes, so now I do, I will go back and discover them for myself.

    • April 25, 2018 at 1:33 pm

      I would also like to come back to Rhodes again and see places I have not visited. A week is definitely not enough to get to know the whole island.

  8. Jenny
    April 13, 2018 at 3:32 am

    Awesome pictures!! I really enjoy your style of writing!!

  9. January 30, 2019 at 9:53 pm

    Lovely photos! I visited Rhodes in September and loved it. I really enjoyed the old town area. I agree it has a totally different feel at night and during the day.

    • January 31, 2019 at 10:31 am

      I also visited Rhodes in September and loved it. Actually, it was the last week of September. The weather was perfect, still warm but not as hot as I guess it is in the middle of the season. And the water in the sea was so pleasantly warm! Ah, I would like to go back there one day.

  10. Graham Robinson
    April 25, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    Thanks for the review we are heading there next week for 2 weeks. So looking forward to it. Is there anything we should not bother going to see?

  11. Amanda Smith
    September 12, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Thank you for some most beautiful photos, I am due to visit Rhodes in 2 weeks, so will be sure to follow in your footsteps!!