How to travel around Rhodes in five days: Lindos, Faliraki and Prasonisi
Rhodes can be covered in five days without tour companies. The island stretches almost 80 km (on the map), the roads here are good, and the distances between the main points are short. During the trip you will have time for the old town, Lindos, the ostrich farm, and two seas at once. The logic is simple: you stay in one resort and drive out to one destination per day. Below is a day-by-day route, with prices, the road, and honest catches. Each day is designed for an independent trip, without bus groups.
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Rhodes route in five days
💡 In short:
- Base for five days: Faliraki, from there to the old town it is 15 minutes by car.
- Day without a car: beach and Water Park.
- Days with a car: Lindos, the ostrich farm, and Prasonisi.
- Buy tickets for the Lindos Acropolis and the farm online in advance, entry is by time slot.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, checked on the official Greek tourism office.
Day | Main thing | Tickets in advance |
|---|---|---|
1 | Faliraki beach and Water Park | Water park, online |
2 | Old town of Rhodes | Museum and Palace of the Grand Masters |
3 | Lindos and the Acropolis | Acropolis, time slot |
4 | Farma of Rhodes and Prasonisi | Farm, time slot |
5 | Shopping in the old town | Not needed |
Five days cover the main things: the old town, Lindos, the farm, and Prasonisi. On the first day you relax by the sea, then it is one destination per day. This pace is realistic even with kids. The vacation easily extends to a week if you add beaches.
How to get to Rhodes
The road to the island starts at Diagoras Airport (RHO). It is 17 km from Faliraki (on the map). In summer, direct charters and scheduled flights fly from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In winter, flights more often connect through Athens. The swimming season on the island lasts from May to October. EU and Swiss citizens do not need a visa for Greece, a passport or ID card is enough. Check flight schedules on the official airport website. Ferries arrive at the port of Rhodes from Piraeus and from neighboring islands.
Where to stay
Base for all five days: Faliraki. The town is close to the airport and about 14 km from the old town (on the map). It has a sandy beach, dozens of tavernas, and hotels for any budget. In the evening Faliraki is loud, bars work until morning. Take a room away from the main street, otherwise you will not be able to sleep. Lindos is quieter, but from there it takes longer to drive to the other points. Hotels in Faliraki on Trip.com.
© Vadim Indeikin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Vadim Indeikin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsRent a car for a couple of days, not for the whole week. On the other days, a bus and a taxi will be enough. The island is compact, but without a car it is hard to reach Lindos and Prasonisi.
Day 1: Faliraki beach and water park
Leave the first day without a car. In the morning go to Faliraki beach: sand, a gentle entry into the water, and sunbeds for rent. By lunchtime the sun is scorching, and you hide in the shade of a taverna. Order moussaka, a hearty baked dish of eggplant with meat under béchamel sauce. The portion is large, easily enough for two.
© Vadim Indeikin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Vadim Indeikin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsAfter lunch we head to the Water Park. It is one of the largest water parks in Greece: dozens of slides, pools, and a lazy river. A full-day ticket covers all attractions and costs around thirty euros for adults, cheaper for children, free entry for toddlers. The park works from morning to evening, the season runs roughly from May to October. A free shuttle runs from the center of Faliraki to the park. Come at opening time, then the lines for the slides are shorter.
Day 2: old town of Rhodes
Spend the second day in the capital. The Old Town of Rhodes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by medieval walls (Visit Greece tourism portal). You can enter through the Sea Gate or the d'Amboise Gate. It's easy to get lost inside, so stick to the Street of the Knights. It leads straight to the Palace of the Grand Masters.
© Georg Karl Ell · CC BY-SAPhoto: Georg Karl Ell, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe Palace of the Grand Masters was the main fortress of the Knights Hospitaller, from which they governed the island. The Rhodes Archaeological Museum is nearby. It houses marble sculptures of Aphrodite and Zeus. When the heat gets to you, have a gyros for lunch: the Greek version of shawarma with tzatziki sauce. In the evening, head up to the Acropolis of Rhodes, it's striking in its scale.
If you want a guide and skip-the-line access, check out Old Town tours.
Day 3: Lindos and the Acropolis
Start the third day early, Lindos is 34 km from Faliraki (per the map). The drive takes about 40 minutes by car (per the map). The town's narrow streets are not for cars, so leave your car at the entrance. From there you walk or ride a donkey. Lindos has kept its Greek character: white houses, small shops, and views of the bay.
The main goal of the trip: the Acropolis of Lindos. On the rock stand the ruins of the Temple of Athena Lindia and the ruins of the Church of St. John. Admission is about €20 for adults, tickets are sold online only with a time slot (as of 09/2026, Greek tourism office data). Get your Acropolis of Lindos tickets with a time slot in advance, morning slots sell out.
For lunch, order meze, a spread of small dishes with vegetables, cheese, meat, and seafood. This dish is also meant for two. After lunch, wander through the souvenir shops, they sell leather goods, ceramics, and jewelry. On the way back, stop at Vlycha Bay, a quiet spot for a swim.
Day 4: Ostrich farm and Prasonisi
Spend the fourth day in the center and south of the island. In the morning, head to Farma of Rhodes, a petting zoo. It's home to ostriches, lemurs, camels, donkeys, and deer. Tickets cost €20 for adults and €15 for children aged 3 to 12, kids under 3 get in free (as of 09/2026, verified on the official website). The farm is open from 9:00 to 17:30, with the last entry at 16:30. Tickets are sold online by time slot, and there may be none left at the ticket office.
© Vadim Indeikin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Vadim Indeikin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsKids can feed the animals and ride a camel. Adults can try an ostrich burger, and the on-site cafe makes ostrich egg omelets. Then we head south to Prasonisi. It's a narrow sand spit with the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the rough Aegean Sea on the other.
The catch: it's constantly windy at Prasonisi, so for calm swimming go in the morning or stick to the Mediterranean side.
On the plus side, the strong wind attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers. Watersports schools are set up right between the two seas. The sunset on the spit is worth seeing, the light falls on the water from both sides.
Day 5: Shopping
Leave the last day for shopping. From Greece, people bring back olive oil, wine, olives, and natural cosmetics. Ceramics and leather goods are also a good choice, sold in dozens of shops in Lindos and the Old Town.
© Wknight94 talk · CC BY-SAPhoto: Wknight94 talk, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsBuy olive oil in tin cans so it gets home without leaking. Check the harvest date and expiration date on the label. At the Faliraki supermarket, prices are lower than in tourist shops, and the selection is just as good.
Island map and airport transfer
The route is easy to plan on a map. Faliraki is on the east side, not far from the airport. The Old Town is 14 km to the north, Lindos 34 km to the south, and Prasonisi at the very southern tip of the island (on the map). This way you avoid extra driving and make it back in time for dinner.
Five-day route around Rhodes
Places on the map
- Diagoras Airport Island airport 17 km from Faliraki, charters and scheduled flights
- Port of Rhodes Ferries arrive here from Piraeus and nearby islands
- Faliraki Base for five days: 15 km from the airport and 14 km to the old town
- Faliraki Beach Sand, a gentle entry into the water and sunbeds for rent
- Water Park One of the largest water parks in Greece, day ticket around 30 euros
- Palace of the Grand Master Main fortress of the Knights Hospitaller at the end of the Street of the Knights
- Archaeological Museum of Rhodes Marble statues of Aphrodite and Zeus next to the palace
- Acropolis of Rhodes Ancient ruins on a hill, the evening climb impresses with its scale
- Lindos A white town 34 km from Faliraki, cars are left at the entrance
- Acropolis of Lindos Ruins of the Temple of Athena Lindia on a cliff, entry around 20 euros by time slot
- Farma of Rhodes Ostrich farm-zoo with lemurs and camels, ticket 20 euros
- Prasonisi Sandy spit in the south where the Mediterranean and Aegean seas meet
Without a car, you can realistically see the Old Town and the water park. For Lindos and Prasonisi, it is easier to drive or book a transfer. A taxi from the airport to Faliraki takes about 20 minutes (on the map). The bus is cheaper, but slower and requires a transfer in Rhodes Town.
Tours and tickets in Faliraki
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need on Rhodes?
Five days is enough for the main sights. If you want a more relaxed pace, plan for a week: then you can add beaches and have time to rest between trips.
Do you need a car on Rhodes?
Not for the whole vacation. Renting a car for a couple of days for Lindos and Prasonisi is enough. You can get to the old town and the water park by bus, and buses run frequently. That way you save on the rental and on parking in the city, and you can explore the island without rushing or overpaying.
How much does the Lindos Acropolis cost?
An adult ticket costs about twenty euros, and tickets are sold online only with a time slot. Book morning slots in advance, they sell out quickly in season. The climb from the town to the Acropolis takes less than fifteen minutes up the steps. There is almost no shade, so bring water.
When is the best time to visit Rhodes?
The swimming season runs from May to October. The water is warmest in September, and the heat eases off, making it comfortable for walking. In July and August it is very hot during the day, so sightseeing is best moved to the morning and evening. The water park and the farm are open until the end of October; in the off-season some places are closed.
Where is the best place to stay on Rhodes?
For a first trip, Faliraki is convenient: close to the airport, with a beach and nightlife. Lindos is quieter and closer to the southern beaches, but farther from the other stops on the route.
In short: what to book
Five days on Rhodes covers the island's main sights. A hotel in Faliraki and a car for a couple of days are worth the money, so you are not tied to the bus schedule. If you are short on time, go for the old town and Lindos. If you are traveling with kids, add the water park and Farma of Rhodes. If you want peace and quiet, stay in Lindos.
Compare hotel prices in Faliraki in advance, there are few available rooms in summer. Tours and tickets on Rhodes are also easier to book online.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.