Rhodes Town is one of the biggest ferry and cruise ship hubs in the Aegean. It’s important to know that there are several different harbours within the port, so if you’re joining a ship or looking for your ferry, here’s a quick guide to the various locations (including Google Maps links).
Mandraki Harbour
Mandraki is the harbour next to the New Town. It’s mainly for small boats. Here you’ll find small tourist boats offering excursions and fishing trips, as well as coastguard boats and tugs. You can wander along here in the evening and early morning to enquire about trips – there will be display boards out for information. It’s a busy pedestrian area with many cafes and is close to the main bus station.
Here are a few popular examples of the types of boat trips you can take from Mandraki:
- Anthony Quinn Bay, Kallithea, and Afandou Bay
- Day Trip to Symi (including a St George Bay)
- Day Cruise with BBQ
- Sunset Cruise with Greek BBQ
On the other side of the harbour is a long breakwater that protects the entrance. This was once the site of the Colossus of Rhodes (no longer standing – now you’ll find a statue of a doe in its place). It’s also home to 3 windmills. This part of the harbour has berths for small yachts and motor boats.
Kolona Harbour
Kolona is the middle harbour, and it’s just outside the Old Town walls. The western side is small and enclosed and full of fishing and tourist boats.
In the middle, you’ll find the departure points for the Sebeco and Dodekanisos Seaways small passenger ferries (heading to Symi and other islands in the Dodecanese). There’s a kiosk where you can buy tickets and find out more information. There are a few seats and a small amount of shade but no other amenities. It’s a short walk from the entrance to the Old Town so there’s no need to wait here for a long time.
If you want to do a DIY day trip to another island by ferry then the ticket kiosk here is the place to come for timetables and information – for more see Rhodes: How to Do Day Trips to Other Islands. Excursion boats to Symi and other islands are likely to leave from Mandraki.
The eastern side of Kolona contains a big commercial terminal – Rhodes International Port – for cruise ships, excursion boats, and yachts needing customs clearance. There is some space here for loading and unloading vehicles but it’s not as big as the New Port. Ferries and day trips to Turkey are likely to leave from here.
Location of the International Terminal:
Akandia
Akandia is the main commercial port in Rhodes Town. Big domestic car ferries (including all Blue Star ferries) will use Akandia, as will cargo, and some cruise ships arriving from other ports in Greece. It’s a vast quay. It’s designed to be navigated by cars so can be a bit daunting on foot, especially in the heat with lots of luggage.
Akandia is, optimistically, a 20-minute walk from the Old Town and 30 minutes from the New Town/Main Bus Station. There is a sidewalk along the coast and beach. Apart from a Blue Star Ferries ticket kiosk, there currently are no facilities here. No waiting area, no shade, no toilets, no food.
If you do have time to kill before an evening ferry, Locanda Taverna is a good restaurant nearby. The area is functional and a bit tatty, there are some businesses but it’s not really a sightseeing area. I’d stick to the Old Town and then get a taxi straight to your ship. All the big ferries have decent cafes and restaurants on board.
Akandia also has a free parking lot with a shuttle transfer into the city – more information on the free bus here. Buses run every half an hour, with reduced service on a Saturday and no buses on a Sunday.
Rhodes New Marina
The only yacht marina on the island is Rhodes New Marina. It occupies its own quay to the south of Akandia and is a 30-minute walk from the Old Town.
Ferries to Chalki
98% of ferries use Rhodes Town, but there is also the Nissos Chalki service from Kamiros Skala on the west coast to Chalki. If you’re looking at this service, do be aware that buses to Kamiros Skala only run once per day and a taxi is over €60.
How to Get to the Airport
The bus from Rhodes Town to the Airport leaves from the KTEL Bus Station in the New Town (see Google Maps location, see timetable). This is a short walk from Mandraki or Kolona, but you may want to get the shuttle or a taxi from Akandia. There is no direct bus to the airport from Akandia or the International Terminal.
Read more about Rhodes:
Is Rhodes the best location for island day trips in Greece?
The Must-See Beautiful Village of Lindos, Rhodes
Image credits:
Mandraki harbour windmills @ Freesurf / Adobe Stock
Small boats in Mandraki harbour @ Andrei Nekrassov / Shutterstock
All other images © The Mediterreanean Traveller