The old town of Rhodes, a medieval masterpiece

When the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, an order created during the Crusades, were expelled from the Holy Land, they set their sights on Rhodes as the future base of their operations. The conquest of the island was completed in 1310.

Major work then began on fortifying the city, including the imposing ramparts that are still there today, and the emblematic Palais des Grands Maîtres, the seat of power of the Order. The Knights of St John came from a wide range of nationalities, known as "tongues", all of which had their own inns in the Rue des Chevaliers: tongues from France, Provence, Auvergne, Spain and England. The Knights became a true maritime power (and don't disdain a bit of piracy!), present throughout the eastern Mediterranean: they were thus in the front line of the struggles with the Ottoman Empire, the great Eastern power taking over from the Byzantine Empire. Resistance was fierce, but the Order of St John finally broke under the siege of Suleiman the Magnificent in 1522: the Knights moved to Malta, and the Ottomans took possession of Rhodes. The minarets that still dominate the roofs of the old town bear witness to this period, including that of the Soliman mosque, the largest in the heart of Rhodes.

A word of advice: don't rush through the old town, and really take the time to discover it in detail, its major monuments and main thoroughfares, but also its quaint little streets and quiet squares. For lovers of old stone and medieval scenery, Rhodes Old Town is in a class of its own!

Surrounded by ramparts, only a few gates allow you to enter or leave the old town: they become your landmarks. The Palais des Grands Maîtres is a good starting point for a stroll down the not-to-be-missed Rue des Chevaliers, with its Gothic-style inns, to Place Mousseiou and the Hôpital des Chevaliers.

From here, the heart of the old town teems with boutiques and shops, restaurants and cafés, all the way to Sokratous Street, the main shopping street in the old town, and Ipokratous Square, a stone's throw from the port. This is the beating heart of the city, always bustling with life, but you have to leave it behind to venture into the maze of alleys and squares that make up the rest of the medieval city...

👉 When should you visit Rhodes old town?

The main thoroughfares of the old town are very busy during the high season, and it can get hot in the summer in these alleyways cut off from the sea air! The old town reveals its charms even better out of season, as well as at off-peak times of day: early in the morning, later in the evening, for example, to immerse yourself in this exceptionally well-preserved medieval setting.

🦶 How do you get around Rhodes old town?

On foot only! Quite simply, the old town is closed to traffic.

🕑 How long should I spend in Rhodes old town?

You can do the whole thing in half a day, without spending too much time sightseeing. But it's worth coming back and enjoying the setting at different times... ideally, spend at least one evening in the old town, which is full of hotels of all categories.

⛪ The main sites to see in Rhodes Old Town:

• The Palace of the Grand Masters (in season, daily 8am-8pm, admission €8)
• The Street of the Knights (odos Ippoton)
• The Knights' Hospital, now the Archaeological Museum (in season, daily 8am-8pm, admission €6)
• The church of Panagia tou Kastrou, Saint Mary of the Castle (daily except Mondays, 9am-5pm, admission €2)
• Sokratous Street
• The mosque of Soliman
• The Jewish quarter

🍴 Where to eat and go out?

There's no shortage of restaurants and gyros, but beware of touristy addresses like Sokratous street. Instead, look to the less touristy squares and streets for good addresses. The old town remains lively in the evenings, with large terraces and bars where you can enjoy an evening drink.

⭐EvdokiaHotel

Spend the night here, in the unique setting of Rhodes' old town: guaranteed effect!