Rhodes Old Town on two wheels: where to park your scooter and a 2-hour walking loop

The Old Town of Rhodes is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside the four kilometres of walls almost everything is pedestrian, which is exactly why a scooter is the smartest way to arrive: you park at the gate in seconds and walk in.

Where to park

There are parking areas just outside the walls, along the moat road and near the harbour gates. Two-wheelers usually find space where cars cannot. Do not ride inside the walls: the alleys are narrow, cobbled and full of pedestrians, and access is restricted. Take the helmet with you or lock it to the vehicle.

Which gate

For a first visit enter from the Gate of Liberty (Eleftherias) by Mandraki harbour, which leads straight into the Knights' quarter, or from d'Amboise Gate for the most dramatic approach across the moat and through a triple gateway.

A two-hour loop

1. Palace of the Grand Master – the fortress of the Knights of St John, rebuilt in the 1930s, with mosaics brought from Kos. Allow 45 minutes inside.
2. Street of the Knights (Ippoton) – a straight cobbled street lined with the inns of the different "tongues" of the order. Best photographed early or late in the day.
3. Archaeological Museum in the former hospital of the Knights, home of the marble Aphrodite of Rhodes.
4. Socratous Street and Hippocrates Square – the shopping spine, then turn off into the side alleys.
5. The Turkish quarter – Süleymaniye Mosque, the Ottoman library, the old hammam and quiet squares under the plane trees, far from the crowds.
6. Walk the moat back to your vehicle: a green, shaded park between the walls.

When to go

Early morning before the cruise ships, or after 18:00 when the day trippers leave and the stone turns golden. Midday in July and August is hot and crowded. If you stay for dinner, ride carefully back: the roads around the harbour are busy at night.

Make it a day

Pair the Old Town with the beaches north of the city or with Kallithea Springs and Faliraki in the afternoon. More ideas on our Discover Rhodes page, and our ATVs and scooters are ready when you are.