# Lindos, Rhodes: Acropolis, Beaches and the Village > Lindos guide: climb the acropolis of Athena Lindia, walk the white village, swim in St Paul's Bay and plan tickets, parking and buses from Rhodes Town. URL: https://theauthenticgreece.com/lindos/ Last updated: 2026-10-30 --- Lindos is the most beautiful village on Rhodes and one of the great sights of the Dodecanese: a cluster of white houses under a cliff-top acropolis, with a sandy bay on one side and the tiny, almost enclosed St Paul’s Bay on the other. It lies about 47 km south of Rhodes Town, roughly an hour by car. Come early in the morning or stay the night, because between late morning and mid-afternoon in summer the lanes fill with day-trippers and the heat on the rock is fierce. ## Quick facts - **Where:** east coast of Rhodes, about 47 km south of Rhodes Town. - **Getting there:** around an hour by car on the main east coast road, or by KTEL bus from Rhodes Town. - **Time needed:** half a day for the acropolis and village; a night or two to enjoy it properly. - **Best time:** May, June, September and October; in July and August go before 09:00 or after 17:00. - **Good for:** history lovers, couples, photographers, families with children old enough to climb. ## The Acropolis of Lindos Ancient Lindos was one of the three great city states of Rhodes, together with Ialyssos and Kamiros, long before the city of Rhodes itself was founded. Its sanctuary of Athena Lindia, on a rock about 116 metres above the sea, drew pilgrims from across the Greek world. What you see today is layered: ancient Greek terraces and columns inside medieval walls built by the Knights of St John, who turned the rock into a fortress. ### What to see on the way up The climb from the village square takes 15 to 25 minutes along a stepped lane lined with shops selling linen and lace. Near the entrance, before the final staircase, look for the relief of a warship carved into the rock face. It dates to around 190 BC and once supported a statue, and it is one of the finest pieces of Hellenistic sculpture still in its original place. You then pass through the Knights’ gatehouse and the remains of the governor’s residence, with the small Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis just inside the walls. ### The temple and the stoa Above, the wide Hellenistic staircase climbs to a long colonnaded stoa, about 87 metres from end to end, some of whose columns were set back up during 20th century restoration. At the very top stands the Temple of Athena Lindia, rebuilt in the Doric order around 300 BC after an earlier temple burned. The temple is small, but the setting is not: walk to the southern edge of the upper terrace for the view straight down into St Paul’s Bay, and to the north for the curve of the main beach and the village below. ### Tickets and hours In 2026 the full ticket was around 20 euros and the reduced ticket around 10 euros, with free entry for EU citizens under 25 and non-EU children under 18. Summer hours ran from about 08:00 to 19:00, shortening through September and October, with winter hours of around 08:30 to 15:30. Entry is by timed slot when booked online, and queues can be long at midday. Check current prices, hours and closing days before you go. ### Donkeys or walking? Donkey rides up to the acropolis still start near the main square. Greek rules introduced in 2018 bar riders over 100 kg, and the welfare of the animals has been a public concern for years. The walk is short, and most fit adults manage it easily in the cool of the morning, so think before you ride. ## The village Lindos is car-free inside, a tangle of narrow lanes paved with black and white sea pebbles. The finest houses are the old captains’ mansions, built by wealthy seafaring families from the 16th century onwards, with carved stone doorways and inner courtyards laid with pebble mosaics known locally as *chochlakia*. Some are now cafés, bars or small hotels, which is the easiest way to see inside one. In the heart of the village, the Church of the Panagia (the Virgin) has a red-tiled roof, a free-standing bell tower and walls covered in post-Byzantine frescoes. Dress modestly to go in. From here, simply wander: many of the rooftop bars and restaurants look up at the floodlit acropolis after dark, which is the moment Lindos is at its best. ## Beaches in and around Lindos ### Lindos main beach Below the village to the north, the main beach (Megali Paralia) is a sandy, shallow bay with sunbeds, tavernas and water sports. It is sheltered and good for children, and a short walk down from the square. The smaller Pallas beach sits next to it, by the jetty, with clear water and a more local feel. ### St Paul’s Bay On the far side of the acropolis, St Paul’s Bay is a nearly circular lagoon of turquoise water, closed off from the open sea by rocks with only a narrow gap. Tradition says the apostle Paul landed here, and a small white chapel stands at the water’s edge; it is a favourite spot for weddings. There is a sandy stretch with sunbeds and a smaller pebbly side. The walk down from the village is steep, so in summer many people drive round and park above the bay instead. ### Further along the coast Vlycha, about 3 km northwest, is a quieter bay with a couple of hotels. Pefkos, a few kilometres south, is a small resort with several sandy coves and an easier pace than Lindos. For a full picture of the island’s coastline, read our guide to [the best Rhodes beaches](https://theauthenticgreece.com/rhodes-beaches/). ## Day trip or overnight? Most visitors see Lindos on a day trip from Rhodes Town or the resorts of Faliraki and Kallithea, and it is worth doing even like that. But the village changes completely once the coaches leave in the late afternoon. Staying a night lets you climb the acropolis at opening time, swim in St Paul’s Bay before the boats arrive, and eat on a rooftop with the floodlit temple above you. Accommodation inside the village is mostly in restored houses, often with steps and no car access; Pefkos and Vlycha are easier with luggage and a car. If you are basing yourself in the north, pair Lindos with a day exploring [the medieval Rhodes Old Town](https://theauthenticgreece.com/rhodes-old-town/), where the Knights who fortified the acropolis built their main city. Our [Rhodes travel guide](https://theauthenticgreece.com/rhodes-travel-guide/) covers the rest of the island, from the valley of Petaloudes to the quiet south. ## Getting to Lindos ### By car The drive from Rhodes Town follows the main east coast road through Faliraki and Archangelos and takes about an hour. Cars cannot enter the village, so you park in the municipal car parks above it or along the road towards St Paul’s Bay. In July and August these fill by mid-morning; arriving before 09:00 makes life much easier. Our guide to [renting a car in Greece](https://theauthenticgreece.com/renting-a-car-in-greece/) explains licences, insurance and what to check before you drive off. ### By bus KTEL Rhodes buses run along the east coast from the bus station near Mandraki harbour in Rhodes Town to Lindos, roughly hourly in summer and less often from November to April. The stop is at the top of the village near the main car park. Check the current timetable, as it changes by season. ### By boat In summer, excursion boats run from Mandraki harbour in Rhodes Town down the coast to Lindos, usually with a few hours ashore. It is a pleasant way to arrive, though you see the acropolis at the busiest time of day. ## Practical tips - **Timing:** the acropolis has almost no shade. Be at the gate at opening time or go in the last two hours before closing. - **Footwear:** the pebble lanes and ancient steps are polished and slippery. Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops. - **Water:** buy it in the village before you climb; there is nothing on the rock. - **Cruise days:** when large ships are in Rhodes harbour, Lindos is busier than usual from late morning. Early starts help. - **Accessibility:** the acropolis is not suitable for wheelchairs, and the village lanes are steep and stepped. - **Season:** Lindos is a summer village. From November to March many shops and restaurants close, but the acropolis stays open with shorter hours and the light is beautiful. Rhodes is also a good starting point for nearby islands. If you have an extra day, the ferry to [the island of Symi](https://theauthenticgreece.com/symi-travel-guide/) makes a fine contrast to Lindos, with neoclassical houses in pastel colours instead of white cubes. Whatever else you do on Rhodes, give Lindos an early morning: the view from the temple over the two bays, before the crowds arrive, is one of the best in Greece. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How long does it take to climb the Acropolis of Lindos? The walk from the village square to the entrance takes about 15 to 25 minutes on a stepped path. Allow another hour or so on the site itself. In summer, go at opening time or late in the afternoon because there is almost no shade. ### How much is the ticket to the Acropolis of Lindos? In 2026 the full ticket was around 20 euros and the reduced ticket around 10 euros, with free entry for EU citizens under 25 and non-EU visitors under 18. Prices and hours change, so check before you go. ### How do you get from Rhodes Town to Lindos? By car it is about 47 km and around an hour on the east coast road. KTEL buses run from Rhodes Town, roughly hourly in summer, and excursion boats go from Mandraki harbour in season. ### Can you swim in St Paul’s Bay? Yes. St Paul’s Bay is an almost enclosed lagoon below the acropolis with calm, clear water, a sandy section with sunbeds and a pebbly side. The walk down from the village is steep, so many people drive and park above it. ### Is it worth staying overnight in Lindos? Yes, if you can. Day-trippers leave in the late afternoon, and staying lets you climb the acropolis at opening time and see the village lit up at night. Pefkos and Vlycha nearby are easier options with a car. ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does it take to climb the Acropolis of Lindos? The walk from the village square to the entrance takes about 15 to 25 minutes on a stepped path. Allow another hour or so on the site itself. In summer, go at opening time or late in the afternoon because there is almost no shade. ### How much is the ticket to the Acropolis of Lindos? In 2026 the full ticket was around 20 euros and the reduced ticket around 10 euros, with free entry for EU citizens under 25 and non-EU visitors under 18. Prices and hours change, so check before you go. ### How do you get from Rhodes Town to Lindos? By car it is about 47 km and around an hour on the east coast road. KTEL buses run from Rhodes Town, roughly hourly in summer, and excursion boats go from Mandraki harbour in season. ### Can you swim in St Paul's Bay? Yes. St Paul's Bay is an almost enclosed lagoon below the acropolis with calm, clear water, a sandy section with sunbeds and a pebbly side. The walk down from the village is steep, so many people drive and park above it. ### Is it worth staying overnight in Lindos? Yes, if you can. Day-trippers leave in the late afternoon, and staying lets you climb the acropolis at opening time and see the village lit up at night. Pefkos and Vlycha nearby are easier options with a car.