Kiotari, Lardos, Lindos: High Speed Boat Trip to Rhodes Town

Rhodes Town is a long way from the island’s southern resorts by road, but this trip turns the transfer into part of the day. You speed north along the east coast, passing Lindos, Faliraki, and Kallithea from the water before arriving at Mandraki Harbour. I like the coastal views and the fact that you get six full hours to set your own pace in town.

I also like the practical choice this gives you: you can explore the medieval Old City, shop in the New Town, or add the Aquarium and Elli Beach without joining a tightly managed walking tour. The main drawback is the long day and the limited time for a slow museum visit. You need to be at the beach pickup point on time, and the boat can be sunny and breezy even though shaded cover is available.

Key points at a glance

• The boat replaces a long road transfer: Travel from Kiotari or Lardos to Rhodes Town by high-speed boat in about 1.5 hours each way.
• Six hours are yours to plan: Visit the Old City, shop in the New Town, see the Aquarium, or relax at Elli Beach.
• The coast becomes part of the tour: Look back toward Lindos and pass Archangelos, Kolymbia, Afandou, Faliraki, and Kallithea from the sea.
• Pickup is beach-based: Meet near the beach below the Rodos Maris or Rodos Village Mitsis area, Lindos Imperial, or Costa Lindia in Lardos.
• Useful onboard comforts are included: The boat has toilets and covered areas where you can get out of the sun.
• The price is $79 per person: That is a reasonable buy if you value speed, sea views, and a full afternoon in Rhodes Town.

Why the sea route makes sense from Kiotari and Lardos

If you are staying in southern Rhodes, reaching Rhodes Town by road takes time. This trip gives you a different way to cover the distance. Instead of watching the island pass through a bus window, you see the east coast from the water, with the shoreline and resort areas spread out beside you.

The boat ride lasts about 1.5 hours each way. That is long enough to make the crossing feel like part of the outing, but short enough to leave most of the day for town. I especially like the approach from the sea. Rhodes Town has a strong harbor setting, and arriving at Mandraki Harbour gives you a more memorable first look than simply stepping off a coach in a city street.

The route passes places with very different personalities. Lindos is famous for its hilltop acropolis and white buildings. Archangelos, Kolymbia, Afandou, Faliraki, and Kallithea each add another stretch of coast to the view. You will not be stopping at each place, so think of these as sights along the route rather than separate visits.

The sea crossing also changes the pace of the day. You can sit back, watch the coastline, and let the journey do some of the work. Bring sunscreen, as the open deck can put you directly in the sun. Covered areas are available, and the boat has toilets, both useful details on a trip that keeps you onboard for several hours in total.

Beach pickups in Kiotari and Lardos

The pickup system is designed for people staying in the southern resort area, but the meeting points need careful attention. The listed locations are near the beach below the Rodos Maris or Rodos Village Mitsis area in Kiotari, near Lindos Imperial in Kiotari, and below Costa Lindia in Lardos.

The pickup is not described as a hotel-lobby collection. You should expect to reach the beach access point yourself. The information refers to the red steps and beach areas beneath the hotels, so check the exact meeting instructions before the morning of departure. The hotel names can look similar, and the difference between a hotel entrance and a beach meeting point matters when you have a boat to catch.

There are three listed pickup options, with matching drop-off points at the end of the day. This is convenient if you are staying nearby, but it is less convenient if you are based far from one of them. Allow enough time to walk down to the shore and find the correct point. A late arrival could be a serious problem because the boat follows a scheduled route.

The exact starting time depends on availability. One example has boarding in Kiotari at about 9 a.m., arrival in Rhodes around 11 a.m., departure from town at 5:30 p.m., and return to Kiotari around 7:20 p.m. Treat that as a useful guide, not a guaranteed timetable. Confirm your date and departure time when booking.

The 1.5-hour ride up Rhodes’ east coast

Once onboard, the ride is straightforward. You head north along the east coast, with views of beaches, resort towns, rocky points, and historic places. The route gives you a sense of how much of Rhodes stretches between the quiet southern resort area and the island capital.

This is the part of the day where you should keep your camera ready, but do not expect a narrated sightseeing cruise with a stop at every landmark. The attraction is the view and the feeling of moving along the same broad coastal route once used by seafarers, including Crusaders and Barbary pirates.

The boat is a practical transfer rather than a luxury cruise. You will want sunscreen and perhaps a light layer for the ride. The combination of sun, wind, and sea spray can feel pleasant at first and tiring later. If you prefer shade, use the covered sections. If you want the best open-water view, you may spend part of the ride outside and part under cover.

The crew is described as friendly and welcoming, and Greek, English, and German are available. That makes the basic travel arrangements easier for an international audience. No individual guide names are provided, and this is not a guided walking tour once you reach Rhodes Town.

Arriving at Mandraki Harbour

The boat arrives at Mandraki Harbour, one of Rhodes Town’s most useful arrival points. From here, you can organize the six-hour stay around your own interests rather than follow a fixed route.

Mandraki is also a good place to get your bearings. You are near the northern part of the city, with the Old City and New Town both within reach. Keep the return departure time in mind before setting off. Six hours sounds generous, but Rhodes Town offers enough choices to use every minute.

A simple plan is to begin with the Old City while you are fresh, pause for lunch or a drink, then use the later afternoon for shopping or the Aquarium and Elli Beach. You can reverse that order if the beach matters more to you. The key is to avoid trying to do everything in detail.

Six hours inside the Medieval City of Rhodes

The Old City is the heart of this excursion. It is a living, inhabited medieval city and a UNESCO World Heritage sight, not a quiet museum complex that closes around you. Streets, homes, shops, historic buildings, museums, and restaurants share the same enclosed urban space.

You can spend your time simply walking the old lanes, or choose a more focused visit to the museums of history and art. The city rewards wandering, but six hours is not enough for every museum and every street at a relaxed pace. I would pick one or two priorities before you arrive.

The Old City is also where the trip feels most different from a standard beach holiday. The thick walls, old passageways, and Crusader-era associations give Rhodes Town a strong sense of place. You do not need to fill the day with formal sightseeing. A slow walk and a meal inside the historic quarter can be just as satisfying as a long checklist.

Still, this freedom comes with a tradeoff. There is no included guided tour of the Old City, so you are responsible for navigation and timing. If you want background on the buildings, bring your own guidebook or plan to visit one of the museums. If you prefer a guided historical walk, this boat trip alone will not provide it.

Shopping and modern Rhodes in the New Town

The New Town offers a clear contrast to the medieval quarter. Here you can shop in a more modern setting, with familiar brands and everyday conveniences alongside local businesses. The activity description specifically points to designer shopping, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, so this is not an exclusively traditional Greek experience.

That contrast is useful. You can spend the morning among old walls and historic streets, then move into the New Town for air-conditioned shopping or a familiar coffee stop. If you are visiting with children, the modern area may provide an easier break from the Old City’s uneven streets and long walks.

I would not choose this excursion only for shopping, since similar stores may be available near your resort. The New Town is best treated as one part of a varied day. Use it for a particular purchase, a coffee break, or a change of scene after the Old City.

Aquarium of Rhodes and Elli Beach

The Aquarium and Elli Beach give you two more choices at the northern end of Rhodes Town. They work well if you want a break from stone streets and museums.

The Aquarium provides an indoor, sea-focused stop. It can be a good choice for families or for anyone who wants a shorter attraction rather than several hours of historical sightseeing. The available information does not specify the aquarium’s size, ticket cost, or visit length, so check those details separately if it is central to your plan.

Elli Beach offers the simplest alternative: time beside the water in the city. You can combine it with the Aquarium, although fitting in the Old City, New Town, Aquarium, and beach within six hours requires some planning. You should not assume that every stop will receive equal attention.

There is also a 9D cinema in Rhodes Town. It is another optional attraction, not an included part of the boat transfer. Think of it as a backup if you want a short entertainment stop rather than a major sightseeing visit.

Is $79 good value?

At $79 per person, this is not the cheapest possible way to reach Rhodes Town, but price alone does not tell the whole story. You are paying for the boat transfer in both directions, the coastal views, and six hours of independent time in the city.

The strongest value is for someone staying in Kiotari or Lardos who wants a full day in Rhodes Town without giving up time to a long road journey. The boat turns transport into sightseeing. It also avoids the restrictions of a guided group schedule once you arrive.

The value is weaker if you dislike long boat rides, want a fully guided historical tour, or plan to spend only a short time in the Old City. You may also find the day tiring if you want a leisurely beach break and a thorough museum visit at the same time.

The trip has a good record, with a 4.7 rating from 47 reviews. The most praised points are the convenience of reaching Rhodes from the south, the sea view of Lindos and the coast, the friendly crew, and the six-hour stay in town. One especially useful practical detail is that the return trip can include payment of the remaining balance by card or cash after a deposit, though you should confirm the current payment terms when booking.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later add flexibility. Those policies are helpful if your plans depend on weather or changing holiday schedules, but they do not remove the need to confirm the pickup point and time.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend this for couples, families, and independent sightseers staying in southern Rhodes. It works particularly well if you want to combine a historic city with a scenic boat ride and do not need a guide leading you from one monument to the next.

Families may appreciate the choice of the Old City, New Town, Aquarium, and beach. Six hours is enough to create a manageable family plan, especially if you avoid trying to see every museum. The onboard toilets and covered areas also make the long transfer easier.

History fans should enjoy the Old City, but you need to organize your own visit. The trip does not include museum admission, a guided walk, or a detailed historical explanation. You are buying access and time, not a lesson.

This is less suitable if you get seasick, dislike fixed departure times, or want to stay entirely in one historic district. It is also not the best match for someone who expects a small, personal tour with a named guide. The host languages are Greek, English, and German, but the city portion is free time.

My practical plan for the day

I would arrive at the beach pickup point early, with sunscreen already applied and a small bag that is easy to carry around Rhodes Town. On the outward ride, I would use the open deck for the coastline, then move under cover if the sun becomes too strong.

After arriving at Mandraki Harbour, I would head first to the Old City. That gives you the largest block of time for walking and museums, and it keeps the historic core as the main event rather than an afterthought.

Next, I would choose either the New Town for shopping or the Aquarium and Elli Beach. Trying to do all four options can make the afternoon feel rushed. Write down the return departure time as soon as you arrive, and allow a margin to get back to Mandraki Harbour.

For the return, keep your sunscreen handy and expect another 1.5 hours on the water. The final drop-off is at one of the same Kiotari or Lardos meeting areas, so check that your chosen return point matches your morning pickup.

Should you book the Kiotari to Rhodes Town boat trip?

Book it if you are staying in Kiotari or Lardos and want a full Rhodes Town day with a more scenic transfer than a road journey. The six hours of free time are the main strength, while the coastal ride, onboard toilets, shaded cover, and friendly crew make the long day easier.

Skip it if you want a guided tour, a slow museum program, or a short outing. You should also think twice if boat travel is uncomfortable for you. For most independent visitors in the south, however, $79 buys a useful combination of transport, sea views, and enough time to experience the Old City without rushing through it.

FAQ

How long does the boat trip to Rhodes Town take?

The speedboat journey takes about 1.5 hours each way. The full activity lasts about nine hours, including six hours of free time in Rhodes Town.

Where does the boat pick up in Kiotari?

Pickup is available from the beach areas below the Rodos Maris or Rodos Village Mitsis area and below Lindos Imperial in Kiotari. The meeting point is described near the red steps on the beach.

Where is the Lardos pickup point?

The Lardos pickup is from the beach below Costa Lindia Hotel.

How much free time do I get in Rhodes Town?

You get six hours of free time in Rhodes Town.

What can I visit during the free time?

You can visit the Old City, shop in the New Town, visit the Aquarium of Rhodes, go to Elli Beach, visit museums, or see the 9D cinema.

Is the boat suitable for a long journey in the sun?

The boat has toilets and covered areas where you can get out of the sun. Sunscreen is recommended.

What languages are available?

The host or greeter languages are Greek, English, and German.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.