Lindos, Rhodes: Complete Guide to Greece’s Prettiest Village (2026)

Lindos is the prettiest village on Rhodes, Greece, and the one place on the island’s east coast we’d happily go back to. Whitewashed lanes and terracotta roofs, an ancient acropolis on the cliff above, and a sandy bay on either side of it. This guide is everything we’d want to know before booking.

Rhodes has a reputation as a package holiday island with a coastline of resorts. Perfect for relaxing, unwinding and soaking in the Greek sunshine. Having now driven most of the east coast, I can tell you that reputation is largely earned.

However, not all resorts and locations are made equal. Luke and I have a max capacity of about one day poolside before we need to get out and explore, so we went looking for somewhere quieter, more boutique, a little romantic, and with some history to it.

Lindos is the exception on this coast. There are resorts on the outskirts, but the core of the village is protected and retains its charm. There are no hotel blocks and no cars in the centre, and the whole village sits underneath a 116-metre cliff.

We spent five days and four nights in Lindos in August with Jet2holidays, just the two of us, and drove from the village all the way down to the southern tip of the island. This is our experience of it.

If you’re weighing up holidays to Rhodes and wondering whether this is the corner to pick, that’s what this guide is for. We’ve also summarised the things to do below, with the full list in our best things to do in Lindos guide.

In this guide: Is it worth visiting? · How Lindos is laid out · The Acropolis · Things to do · Where to eat · Where to stay · Costs · Best time to visit · How long you need · Who it suits · Day trips · Getting there · Getting around

In a Rush? Best Hotels in Lindos

Is Lindos Worth Visiting?

Yes, and it’s the prettiest place on Rhodes by some distance. We adored our stay in Lindos and didn’t want to leave. The white-washed village is charming, the sandy bays and warm waters inviting, and the acropolis and sparkling of the rooftop restaurant lights by night are magical.

That said, there are three things worth knowing before visiting Lindos.

Firstly, Lindos is busier than you’re picturing. I’d imagined ten or twenty restaurants and there are nearer thirty or forty, with a main walking route lined end to end with trinket shops. Day-trip boats land from Rhodes Town around 11am and the village has a high-level of tourist bustle for a good few hours in the middle of the day.

Secondly, it’s hotter than you may imagine. We hit 37°C in August, which means your step count stays pretty low and being close to a swimming pool or the sea is essential.

Lastly, Rhodes is also more expensive than you might guess. Rhodes isn’t cheap and Lindos sits at the top of it. We paid €6 for a large bottle of water more than once. I wouldn’t call it a tourist trap when it comes to pricing, as there are many good value restaurants and hotels that command their prices, but it is not a budget destination.

We filmed our way round the village as we went, and I’ve saved it all as a Lindos highlight on our Instagram.

How Lindos Is Laid Out

Lindos splits into distinct areas, and where you choose to stay is important.

• The Old Town — Pedestrianised, cobbled, whitewashed, and where all the shops and most of the restaurants are. Lovely, busy, and everything on your doorstep.
• The Back of Town — Uphill and away from the crowds, backing onto rocky outcrops. Quiet, no traffic noise, and where the small adults-only places are. Fifteen minutes’ walk into the centre, thirty down to Lindos Beach. This is where we stayed, and where I’d stay again.
• The Acropolis — On the cliff between the two bays, visible from almost everywhere in the village. See our Lindos Acropolis guide for tickets, timings and what the climb is like.
• The Main Road — On the edge of the village, where the hire cars, scooters and buses live. It’s the one chaotic corner of Lindos and I’d avoid booking anything on it.
• The Outskirts — The big resorts sit further round the main road, outside of the village. All-inclusive, huge pools, and worth considering if that’s the holiday you want. However, you cannot walk into Lindos from most of them. Some run golf buggies into the village, so check before you book, because without one you’re taxiing every time you want dinner.

Lindos has two main beaches, both of which are walkable from the village and back of town area:

• Lindos Beach, on the north side — Directly below the town. Small, sandy, shallow, and ringed with sunbeds.
• St Paul’s Bay, on the south side — Round the other side of the headland. A near-enclosed bay with a little white chapel, and in my opinion the best view in Lindos. See our St Paul’s Bay guide.
• Pallas Beach — The smaller strip of sand at the far end of Lindos Beach, past the rocky outcrop. Same bay, same water, fewer sunbeds and a couple of tavernas on the sand.

Beyond the village, Vlycha Bay is ten minutes north by road and is where the bigger resort hotels sit, and Plakia and the coves to the south are the quieter options within scooter range.

The Acropolis sits on the cliff between the two bays, which is why you can see it from almost everywhere.

The Lindos Acropolis

The Acropolis is the reason most people come to Lindos, and it’s the one thing here we’d have been sorry to skip. It sits 116 metres up on the cliff between the two bays, and it isn’t one civilisation’s work but five. There’s been a sanctuary to Athena Lindia on this rock since around 900 BC, the Doric temple standing there now is the 4th-century BC replacement, the Byzantines left a small church on the way up, the Romans left an inscription, and in the 1300s the Knights of St John built a fortress straight over the top of it all. You climb through a medieval gate and two crusader towers to reach a Greek temple.

Entry is €20 per adult, which felt steep on the way in and not at all on the way out. In high summer, aim to arrive at about 6:30PM. The climb from the village is under 15 minutes on stepped lanes with almost no shade, and at that hour you get cooler air and golden light over the rooftops on one side and St Paul’s Bay, an upside-down heart from up there, on the other. We’d skip the donkey rides and walk. Our full Lindos Acropolis guide has tickets, opening hours and what you’re looking at once you’re up there.

Things To Do in Lindos

Lindos is a place for slow days rather than a packed itinerary, but there’s more to it than the pool. These are the things we’d tell a friend to do. The full list, with prices and timings, is in our best things to do in Lindos guide.

1. Climb the Acropolis at golden hour — See above. Give yourself an hour inside.
2. Swim at Lindos Beach — Small, sandy, shallow and busy by 11AM when the day-trip boats land. A parasol and two sunbeds is €25 for the day, or do what we did and take a table at one of the cafés with its feet in the sand and swim from there.
3. Walk round to St Paul’s Bay — An almost enclosed bay with a tiny white chapel and the best view in Lindos. Come at golden hour from the amphitheatre side rather than paying €60 for two sunbeds.
4. Snorkel off the rocks — The rocky edges of both bays are quieter and full of life. We watched a lionfish come right up to the surface at St Paul’s.
5. Eat dinner on a rooftop — The most Lindos thing you can do. More on where below.
6. Do a wine flight at Kava Kantina — Pick three wines yourself rather than committing to a full tasting.
7. Wander the old town early — Before 10AM, freddo cappuccino from Ginger in hand, before the lanes fill up.
8. Rent a scooter or a car — For Plakia and the quieter coves to the south, or the long day trip to kitesurf at Prasonisi.
9. Glance at the amphitheatre — Two minutes, tops. Prettier lit up at night.

Best Places to Eat & Drink in Lindos

Rooftop dining is the signature Lindos thing and it deserves the reputation. You sit above the village with the lamps lit and can see everyone else eating on all the other whitewashed rooftops around you. It’s magical.

You don’t need to book to get a table — with thirty-odd restaurants you’ll always eat. However, do book if you want a specific table at a specific restaurant at a specific time. People do reserve ahead usually for a table against the railings with a clear view.

Our best meal was at Lassu, which sits just below the steps down from the Acropolis and is slightly off the main drag, so it’s less crammed than most. Timi’s Place is the reliable central alternative — good food, but tables are closer together and less romantic. If you want to be on the beach, Lindos Yacht Club was our favourite.

As vegetarians we ate well everywhere. Greek menus are naturally have good options including Greek salads, hummus, pita, falafel, tzatziki, pasta and similar. We did find vegetarian mains to be limited, and it was often better to order a mix of sides/starters.

For coffee, Ginger does the best freddo cappuccino we found, and it’s the last café on the hillside before you hit the sand, though it’s takeaway only unless you’re eating.

For wine, Kava Kantina has street-side seating and staff who know the wines well. You can pick three wines yourself for a casual wine flight rather than committing to a full tasting.

Where to Stay in Lindos

We stayed at the wonderful Caesar’s Gardens Hotel and Spa with Jet2holidays. It’s a 16-room adults-only place with whitewashed buildings, shaded wooden seating, olive trees, rosemary and two freshwater pools. Our room overlooked the pool and gardens with the Acropolis and the sea in the distance. For every other part of the village and the bays either side, see our where to stay in Lindos guide, or our island-wide guide to where to stay in Rhodes.

Breakfast was cooked fresh to order from a surprisingly long menu. Our favourite order was the Greek yoghurt with honey apple and walnuts, and their many egg-style options. For coffee, make sure to order a freddo cappuccino, an iced coffee with silky smooth whipped milk.

The hotel is at the back of town, a short 15-minute walk into Lindos. That walk can feel a little lengthy in the heat, so taxis are another option. We personally loved the location, as it was quiet, scenic and away from the bustling crowds.

Is Lindos Expensive?

Yes, and more than we expected. Rhodes isn’t a cheap island and Lindos sits right at the top end of it. Dinner for two with a drink each ran between €51 and €72 across four meals, a freddo cappuccino is €5 to €6, and sunbeds start at €25 for two on Lindos Beach and climb to €110 for a cabana at St Paul’s Bay.

The single thing that catches people out is drinks. A perfectly nice carafe of local wine from a minimart is €4, against €11 to €12 a glass in the wine bars, and one restaurant listed 500ml of water at €1 and a litre at €5. Read menus properly.

We’ve broken down every euro we spent, plus what the package itself costs, in is Rhodes expensive?

Best Time to Visit Lindos

We went in the second half of August, which meant consistent 33°C and blue skies every day, but also busy school holiday crowds including many families. We dig a European summer so were excited to do our 5D/4N away before the summer ends, though I would consider an early September trip if you’re travelling as a couple without kids.

• May and early June — Warm, green, quiet, sea still a bit cold. The best value of the year.
• Late June to August — Peak. Hot, expensive, full. The Meltemi wind blows reliably, which is brilliant if you’ve come to kitesurf.
• September — The sweet spot. School holidays over, sea at its warmest, prices easing, heat bearable. If we went again, this is when we’d choose.
• October — Lovely and quiet, but places start closing from mid-month.
• November to April — Lindos largely shuts.

If your dates are flexible, September is also when the last minute holidays are worth watching. Same village, warmer sea, considerably less money than the August peak.

Whenever you go in summer, plan around the middle of the day rather than through it. Before 10AM and after 6PM is when Lindos is at its best. The hours in between are for shade, a pool, or a very long lunch.

How Long Do You Need in Lindos?

Three days covers the village, both beaches and the Acropolis without rushing. We had five days and four nights, which gave us all of that plus a long day trip south, and we still wanted more. With a flight time of 4 hours from London Gatwick, and a door-to-door total of 10 hours, we felt 5D/4N was the minimum time needed given the length of the journey.

The heat also slows everything down and you’ll do less per day than you planned, so don’t over-schedule. If you’re coming to relax, the more days the better.

Who Is Lindos Best For?

Couples

Lindos is a wonderful destination for couples. Rooftop terraces above a lamp-lit village, nice wine bars, sunset at the Acropolis, small adults-only hotels at the back of town. It’s at its most romantic outside the school holidays, but for a couples trip it’s hard to beat on this island.

Families

Also a good fit, for completely different reasons. Lindos Beach has a gentle sandy entry and shallow water, there are plenty of sun beds and cafés with tables on the sand, and Rhodes as a whole is set up for kids. Villas and the bigger hotels on the bays outside the village work better than the village itself, mostly because of all the steps.

Day Trips from Lindos

Lindos is a reasonable base for a handful of things, provided you accept that most of Rhodes is an hour or more away. If you’re coming here, you would mostly be planning to enjoy being in Lindos, rather than exploring all over the island.

• Rhodes Old Town — An hour and a half by bus for €6. A walled medieval city and completely different in character to Lindos. We would only recommend visiting Rhodes Old Town on the way in or out of the airport for convenience, and didn’t feel it would be worth spending the night unless you have an early flight.
• Prasonisi — The southern tip and one of Europe’s best wind sports spots. We kitesurfed here for the day. 50 minutes drive by car, or 90 minutes if you make our mistake of taking an 80cc scooter. See our full Prasonisi guide.
• Nearby Beaches — Plakia and the coves south of Lindos are within easy scooter range and far quieter than Lindos Beach.
• Boat Trips — Run from the bay and heavily advertised in town. We did not do one, but they are the standard way to reach the smaller coves.

For the full list of what is worth doing in and around the village, see our guide to the best things to do in Lindos.

What the Rest of the East Coast Is Like

We drove the length of the east coast on our way south, and it is mostly resorts. Some with private beaches, some very comfortable, and not a great deal to do in any of them beyond the beach and the pool. If that’s the holiday you want — sun lounger, sea, a drink, repeat — the east coast delivers it well.

If you want a place with a centre and some character to walk out into in the evening, Lindos is coastal choice that gives this and we were so glad we had chosen to stay here.

The further south you go the more rural it gets, which we liked: fields of goats, rolling golden hills with green splodges, an old silk factory ruin visible from the road. If rural countryside is your preference, a villa out in the south would give you that.

Getting to Lindos, Rhodes

There are direct flights to Rhodes from most UK airports through the summer. We took flights from London Gatwick Airport with Jet2, which is a little over four hours.

Lindos is about 50km down the east coast from the airport and Rhodes Town, which is at the northern tip of the island. It’s just over an hour by road.

By Transfer — Included with most package holidays and the simplest option. We had a transfer directly with Jet2 from the airport, which took an hour and ten minutes. Super easy!

By Car — Rent at the airport and drive straight down. The roads are easy and other drivers are considerate. Worth it if you want to explore the island, though you won’t need a car in Lindos itself.

By Taxi — Around €80 to €85 during the day, taking 50 minutes to an hour. Night fares (midnight to 5am) are higher, and there’s a small surcharge per bag over 10kg. The rank is directly outside arrivals, and the official cabs are dark blue with white roofs. There’s no Uber or Bolt on Rhodes, so it’s taxi or nothing if you’re winging it. Most take cards, but carry cash as a backup.

By Bus — There is no direct bus from the airport to Lindos. You have to take two buses. First, the RODA bus from the airport into Rhodes Town, which runs roughly every 30 minutes and costs €3. Pay the driver in cash and bring small change. Then walk to the KTEL eastern bus station near Rimini Square and pick up the Lindos bus, which is €6 per person.

That’s about €9 all in per head. Add the connection wait and the walk between stops and it can take quite a long time. The Lindos bus drops at the top of the village by the main road, as buses don’t run into the village. You’ll need to then walk down from there. Buses also don’t run overnight, so a late arrival rules this out entirely.

Getting Around Lindos

You can get around Lindos on foot because the village is small and car-free. Taxis have a designated drop-off on the edge and you walk in from there. Short hops within Lindos — the back of town up to the Acropolis drop-off, or over to St Paul’s Bay — cost €7 to €8, and in that heat we paid it more than once!

Note that the cobbles get slippery on the downhill stretches, so bring shoes you can happily walk in.

We rented an 80cc scooter from City Club on the main road for €28 a day. Great for beaches within half an hour. Not the right vehicle for what we actually rented it for, but that’s a story for another day.

We were kindly invited to visit Lindos with Jet2holidays. Jet2 offers package holidays to Rhodes. This guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend experiences and places we would happily book ourselves.