How to Get to the Acropolis of Lindos from Rhodes Town
Every way to reach Lindos from Rhodes town and the airport — public bus, car, taxi and boat — with journey times and the final walk to the acropolis.
Lindos lies on the east coast of Rhodes, roughly 40 km south of Rhodes town, and there is no railway on the island, so you reach it by public bus, car, taxi or boat. The public bus from Rhodes town is the cheapest option and runs regularly in summer; driving is the most flexible and takes around an hour; boats offer a scenic coastal approach in the warmer months. Whichever way you arrive, the last stretch is the same: vehicles stop below the old village, and the acropolis is reached on foot up steep, stepped lanes. This guide covers each option, journey times, where transport drops you, and how to complete the climb to the Temple of Athena Lindia.
How do I get to Lindos from Rhodes town by bus?
The cheapest way to get from Rhodes town to Lindos is the public bus, which runs along the east coast and takes roughly 75 to 90 minutes for the 40-kilometre trip, depending on stops and traffic. Buses depart from the main bus station beside Rhodes town's New Market, near the port, and run frequently through the summer season, tapering off sharply in winter. Buy your ticket from the kiosk or the driver, and check the return timetable when you arrive, as the last bus back to Rhodes town can leave in the early evening. The bus sets you down at the drop-off point above Lindos village, from which it is a downhill walk into the old town and then a steep climb up to the acropolis, so the bus does not take you to the entrance itself.
The public bus is the practical choice if you are based in Rhodes town without a car and want to keep costs down. In peak season, morning departures fill quickly and the buses stopping at intermediate resorts such as Faliraki and Kolymbia can be busy, so arriving early at the station gives you the best chance of a seat. Some services run express to Lindos while others stop at every coastal village, which is why journey times vary. Because timetables thin out considerably outside summer, always confirm the last return departure before you climb the acropolis: it is a long, expensive taxi ride back if you miss it. Once dropped at Lindos, allow 15 to 20 minutes on foot down through the village and up to the base of the monumental staircase. Fares are collected in cash on many services, so carry small change for the ticket kiosk or the driver on the 40-kilometre run down the coast.
Can I drive to Lindos, and where do I park?
Yes, driving is the most flexible way to reach Lindos, and the journey from Rhodes town takes around an hour along the coastal road for the roughly 40-kilometre trip. The route is well signposted and passes the east-coast resorts before descending to the Lindos turn-off. Crucially, cars cannot enter Lindos village itself, whose lanes are narrow, stepped and pedestrian-only, so you park in the car parks on the approach road above the town and walk down. In peak summer these car parks fill early in the day, which is another reason to arrive in the morning. From the parking areas it is a downhill walk into the old town and then the steep climb to the acropolis, the same final approach on foot that every visitor to Lindos makes. The car parks charge a daily fee and sit a short, signed downhill walk above the pedestrian old town of Lindos.
A hire car makes it easy to combine Lindos with other stops on the east coast of Rhodes, such as the Seven Springs, Kolymbia or the beaches around Pefki, and to leave before or after the excursion coaches. Set out early to claim a parking space and beat the midday heat on the climb. If you would rather not drive the winding coastal road, a taxi from Rhodes town covers the distance in around an hour and drops you at the same point above the village. Taxis can also be arranged for the return, though it is worth agreeing the fare or confirming it is metered before setting off. Whether you drive or take a taxi, remember that the final walk up to the Temple of Athena Lindia at the summit is on foot only.
Can I reach Lindos by boat?
Yes, in the warmer months you can reach Lindos by boat from Rhodes town, and it is one of the most scenic ways to arrive. Day-trip excursion boats run down the east coast in summer, taking in the coastline before mooring in the bay below the acropolis; the crossing is longer than the road but far more relaxed and offers a dramatic view of the fortified summit rising from the sea. Boats typically drop passengers at the main Lindos beach or the small harbour, from where you walk into the village and up to the acropolis. This is a seasonal service that largely disappears in winter, so it suits a summer day out rather than a year-round transport plan for reaching the site. Sailings are weather-dependent, so a strong meltemi wind can cancel the coastal boat service at short notice even in high summer.
Arriving by sea gives you the classic upward view of the Acropolis of Lindos crowned by the Temple of Athena Lindia and the Knights' castle, a perspective road travellers miss. Many excursion boats build in swimming stops along the coast or at the almost enclosed cove of St Paul's Bay, just south of the acropolis, before or after the Lindos call. Check the return departure time carefully, as boats keep to a fixed schedule and the last sailing back to Rhodes town can be mid to late afternoon. As with every other way of arriving, the boat leaves you at sea level, so budget the 15 to 20-minute climb up through the village and the stepped lanes to reach the acropolis entrance itself at the top. The moorings sit at sea level in the main bay below the whitewashed village, directly beneath the temple and castle on the rock.
How do I get to Lindos from Rhodes airport?
Rhodes International Airport sits on the west coast near Paradisi, about 15 kilometres southwest of Rhodes town, and Lindos lies on the far east coast, so reaching Lindos from the airport means crossing to the other side of the island — a trip of roughly 55 to 65 kilometres in total. The simplest options are a pre-booked transfer or taxi straight to Lindos, which takes about an hour and a quarter depending on traffic, or a hire car collected at the airport. There is no direct public bus from the airport to Lindos: by bus you would travel first into Rhodes town's main bus station and then change to the east-coast Lindos service, which makes for a long, multi-leg journey with luggage in tow. Allowing for the cross-island drive, budget the best part of a morning if you plan to reach Lindos straight off an incoming flight.
If you are staying in or near Lindos, a pre-arranged transfer is usually the least stressful way to arrive from the airport, especially after a flight and with bags to carry. A hire car gives you freedom to explore the east coast during your stay but means driving the cross-island route on arrival. Whichever you choose, remember that vehicles stop above Lindos village, so the very end of the journey to any accommodation inside the old town, and certainly to the acropolis, is on foot up the pedestrian lanes. If you are only visiting Lindos for the day from a resort elsewhere on Rhodes, it is generally easier to join a local excursion or use the east-coast bus than to route all the way back via the airport. A transfer also spares you finding a parking space above the village, which fills early on busy summer days.
How do I get from Lindos village up to the acropolis?
Every visitor reaches the Acropolis of Lindos on foot, because the village lanes are narrow, stepped and closed to vehicles. From the centre of Lindos, follow the signed route up through the whitewashed old town to the base of the acropolis, a climb of about 15 to 20 minutes on paths that are steep, sometimes stepped and largely unshaded. The final approach passes the rock-cut relief of a Rhodian trireme, carved around 180 BC, and then the monumental staircase and Propylaea that lead up to the Temple of Athena Lindia and the Knights' castle on the summit. Sturdy shoes are essential and water is strongly advised, especially in summer heat. The polished stone underfoot can be slippery, so take the descent carefully as well. Signs through the old town point the way, and small shops and tavernas along the route offer shade and water for a pause.
The climb is genuinely demanding for anyone with limited mobility, small children or a heart or joint condition, as it is a continuous ascent on uneven, exposed ground with few places to rest in shade. There is no vehicle access to the summit and no lift. Historically visitors could hire a donkey ride part-way up the village, an option that comes and goes and raises animal-welfare concerns for many travellers; walking at your own pace early in the day is the concierge recommendation. Allow time to pause on the way up for the widening views over the two bays that flank the headland. Once inside the site, the terraces around the temple and stoa are relatively level, but reaching them is the effort that defines a visit to Lindos. Set out early, before the sun is high, to make the exposed ascent to the Temple of Athena Lindia as comfortable as possible.
Frequently asked
How far is Lindos from Rhodes town?
Lindos is about 40 km south of Rhodes town on the island's east coast. There is no railway on Rhodes, so you travel by public bus, car, taxi or, in summer, boat, with road journeys taking roughly an hour.
Is there a public bus from Rhodes town to Lindos?
Yes. The east-coast public bus runs from the main bus station by Rhodes town's New Market and takes about 75 to 90 minutes. It runs frequently in summer and much less often in winter, so check the last return departure.
Can I drive into Lindos village?
No — the village lanes are narrow, stepped and pedestrian-only. You park in the car parks on the approach road above the town, which fill early in summer, then walk down into the old town and up to the acropolis.
How do I get to Lindos from Rhodes airport?
The airport is on the west coast, so the trip to Lindos is about 55 to 65 km and takes roughly an hour and a quarter by taxi or transfer. There is no direct bus; by bus you change in Rhodes town's main station.
Can I get to Lindos by boat?
Yes, in the warmer months excursion boats run down the east coast from Rhodes town and moor in the bay below the acropolis. It is scenic but seasonal and keeps a fixed schedule, so confirm the last sailing back.
How do I get from the village up to the acropolis?
On foot only. From the centre of Lindos it is a steep, stepped climb of about 15 to 20 minutes up through the whitewashed old town to the base of the monumental staircase. There is no vehicle access or lift to the summit.
Is the climb suitable for people with limited mobility?
It is demanding — a continuous ascent on uneven, exposed, sometimes slippery stone with little shade and no lift. Anyone with limited mobility, a heart or joint condition, or very young children should weigh this carefully before setting out.
What is the quickest way to Lindos from an east-coast resort?
From resorts such as Faliraki or Kolymbia the east-coast bus or a local excursion is usually easiest, as they lie on the same coastal road. A taxi or hire car covers the shorter distance in well under an hour.
Are there donkeys to ride up to the acropolis?
Donkey rides part-way up the village have traditionally been offered, but availability varies and many travellers prefer to walk on animal-welfare grounds. Walking at your own pace early, before the heat, is our recommendation.