Rhodes: Discover the Medieval City on a Segway

Rhodes Old Town is much more than a few famous monuments. Its real pleasure is slipping through narrow lanes, riding beside massive walls, and seeing how modern life carries on inside a medieval city. This two-hour Segway tour lets you cover far more ground than walking, including the moat, Street of the Knights, harbor, and lesser-seen corners.

I like the small groups of no more than eight and the careful beginner training. I also like that guides such as George, Bill, Nikos, and Vasilis take photos for you and send them afterward. The main drawback is that the Old Town can be crowded, so riding may become slow and start-stop during busy hours.

Key points at a glance

• Ride inside the medieval moat: See fortifications and city walls from a route many people miss on foot.
• Reach the harbor and lighthouse: The tour continues beyond the Old Town to the windmills and Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas.
• Good for first-time riders: Training and a safety briefing come before the group sets off.
• Small groups matter: A maximum of eight people makes it easier to hear the guide and move through tight streets.
• Photos are included: Your guide can take pictures and send them to you at no extra cost.
• Best timing: An early morning or late afternoon departure helps avoid the worst heat and crowds.

Why a Segway works well in Rhodes Old Town

Rhodes Old Town is compact on a map, but it takes time to cross. Its stone streets, narrow alleys, open squares, and long fortifications create a route that is better understood by moving through it than by checking off one monument at a time.

The Segway gives you speed without turning the tour into a bus ride. You remain close to the walls and buildings, and you can stop whenever the guide points out a photo spot or an interesting corner. I like this balance: you get an overview of the city, but you still feel present in it.

You do not need previous Segway experience. The tour begins at the partner office on 37 Ippodamou Street with an orientation session, helmet fitting, and full safety briefing. The guides are used to helping beginners. Mandy, who was initially unsure about riding in her sixties, found that patient instruction made her comfortable within about ten minutes.

You need a basic level of fitness and comfortable shoes. High heels, luggage, and large bags are not allowed. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or anyone weighing more than 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms.

Starting in the Old Town, about 20 minutes

The first part takes you into Rhodes Old Town, where the guide helps you get used to steering, stopping, and managing the Segway around other people. This is important because the setting is not an empty training course. You are learning in a working historic center with pedestrians, shops, restaurants, and uneven areas.

I would not rush this part. A confident rider has a much better time later, especially when the group reaches narrow lanes and busier sections. Previous riders can sometimes move through the basic instruction faster, but the guide still checks that everyone is safe and comfortable.

The Old Town portion gives you an early feel for the tour’s character. Instead of staying only on the main shopping streets, the guide can take you through smaller alleys and less obvious routes. This is where the experience becomes more than a motorized sightseeing loop. You see ordinary corners of the city and, at times, local residents sitting in the shade and socializing.

The tradeoff is that foot traffic can slow you down. If you want a fast, open ride with long stretches of uninterrupted movement, this is not that kind of tour. If you want a close look at the Old Town without walking every stone street, the slower pace works in your favor.

Photo stop and the first look at medieval Rhodes

A short break gives you time to take pictures and get your bearings. These stops are useful because the Segway itself makes it hard to photograph while moving, and the guide can position the group in places that show the scale of the old fortifications.

If you are traveling without a camera, the guide can take photos of you. The images are sent after the tour at no added charge, a practical touch that means you do not have to choose between taking pictures and enjoying the ride.

The tour is not built around long interior visits. You should think of it as an outdoor sightseeing experience, with time to pause at key places rather than a formal museum tour. If you want detailed archaeological or architectural instruction at every stop, you may find the commentary lighter than expected. Guide quality can vary, too. Several guides, including Nikos and George, have been praised for clear explanations and strong local background, while one past tour offered less historical detail than the group wanted.

The Medieval Moat and fortifications, about 30 minutes

The Medieval Moat is one of the most distinctive parts of the route. Riding through it gives you a different view of Rhodes’ defenses, with walls, battlements, and stonework rising around the route.

This section is especially valuable because it helps you understand the city as a fortified settlement, not simply as a pretty maze of streets. A guide may point out features linked to the city’s invasions and occupations, giving the walls a human and political story rather than treating them as scenery.

The moat also provides a welcome change from crowded lanes. You have more room to ride, although the surface and conditions may still require attention. Your guide controls the pace and watches the group, which is one reason I prefer this experience in a small group rather than with a large convoy.

You will stop again for photographs and sightseeing. The timing is not designed for a long independent exploration period, so keep your expectations realistic. You get a guided view of the moat and fortifications, with short breaks, rather than a full historical lecture at every section.

The Street of the Knights, about 15 minutes

The Street of the Knights is one of Rhodes Old Town’s most memorable streets. Its stone buildings and medieval design make it a natural highlight, but it can also be busy, especially later in the day.

A Segway allows you to see the street without spending the whole morning walking between major sights. The guide can point out architectural details and explain how the area fits into the city’s past. I like that the route does not stop at the most photographed stretch. It also uses back streets and routes around the walls, so you gain a sense of how people live in the historic center today.

Because this is an active public street, you should expect a careful pace. You may need to stop often for pedestrians. The experience is less about speed and more about gaining a broad picture of the Old Town in a limited amount of time.

Palace of the Grand Masters, about 10 minutes

The Palace of the Grand Masters is the tour’s grandest landmark. The building’s heavy stone architecture gives you a clear sense of the power once centered in Rhodes, and it is an obvious place for photographs.

The scheduled stop allows about ten minutes for pictures, free time, and sightseeing. That is enough for an outside look and a few good photos, but not enough for a detailed visit inside. If the palace is a top priority, plan to return separately with time to explore it at your own pace.

This short stop reflects the tour’s overall design. You are sampling many parts of Rhodes rather than spending an hour at one monument. For a first orientation, I find that useful. For a specialist history visit, it will feel brief.

Church of the Virgin of the Burgh and quieter corners

The route also includes the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh and other less obvious spots. These sections help break up the famous sights and give you a better feel for the Old Town as a lived-in place.

The Church of the Virgin of the Burgh is particularly appealing from the outside, with its medieval setting and connection to the fortified quarter. The guide may also lead you through narrow lanes that you might skip if you were walking alone and focused on a map.

This is where the tour earns much of its value. You are not only moving between the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Street of the Knights. You are seeing how the historic center changes from grand ceremonial spaces to quiet residential corners.

Out toward Mandraki Harbor and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas

The tour eventually leaves the enclosed feeling of the Old Town and reaches Rhodes’ modern seaside area. The Aegean breeze changes the mood, and the open views provide a welcome contrast after the tight lanes and stone walls.

You ride past the famous windmills and continue toward the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas at the entrance to Mandraki Harbor. This is one of the best photo sections because you get sea views, harbor scenery, and a clear sense of the city’s position on the water.

Some past riders expected more coastal riding and were disappointed that the route did not spend longer at the windmills or farther along the marina. That is a fair point to keep in mind. The harbor section is included, but this is mainly a medieval city tour, not a dedicated waterfront ride.

The route also connects with the long-standing local story about where the Colossus of Rhodes may have stood. The tour does not turn this into a full lecture, but the harbor setting gives you a useful place to think about Rhodes’ importance as a port.

Returning by an alternative route

The return follows a different route so you can see more of the city rather than simply retracing your path. This makes the two-hour format feel productive. You get the broad outline of the Old Town, the moat, the main historic street, the palace area, and the harbor without spending the whole time on one circuit.

The guide also keeps an eye on the group’s ability and comfort. That matters when riders have mixed experience. One family group included first-time riders and experienced Segway users, and the guide adjusted the instruction so everyone could take part.

The small-group limit of eight is a real advantage here. A guide can answer questions, take pictures, and notice if someone is struggling. Some departures are even much smaller, with only two, three, or four people, though you should not assume that will happen on your date.

Guides, instruction, and the overall tone

The strongest part of this experience is the human guidance. George is often praised for patience, clear instruction, and taking people through streets they would not have found alone. Bill is known for a calm manner, humor, and attentive coaching. Nikos and Vasilis are also described as friendly guides who combine riding help with local information.

I would still keep your expectations flexible about the history. Some guides offer plenty of facts about invasions, occupations, buildings, and local life. Other departures may feel more like a pleasant sightseeing ride with brief explanations at each stop.

The guide can also recommend a restaurant, as happened for one group, but that is a bonus rather than a promised part of the tour. The languages offered are English and Greek.

Is $76 a fair price?

At $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Rhodes Old Town. You can walk the city for very little money, and walking gives you more time inside individual churches, museums, and monuments.

The value comes from what you cover in two hours. You get equipment, helmet, training, safety instruction, a guide, the moat, fortified walls, narrow lanes, the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Masters area, and the harbor. You also avoid the effort of crossing the city on foot, particularly useful if you want to see a lot without turning the day into a long walk.

I think the price makes the most sense for a first visit, a short stay, or a family with teenagers who may resist a conventional walking tour. It is also useful during a cruise stop when time is limited. If your main goal is slow historical study, spend the money on an entry ticket and a longer guided visit instead.

Best time to ride

An early 9 a.m. departure has two clear advantages: cooler conditions and quieter streets. One past morning group found the Old Town notably calm, which also makes maneuvering easier.

Late afternoon can work well, too. A 5 p.m. tour avoids the strongest midday heat and can give you softer light for photographs. The main thing to avoid is the busiest part of the day, when crowded streets make the ride slower and less relaxed.

Bring sunscreen and comfortable shoes. You should not bring a large bag or luggage, and you will need both hands available for safe riding.

Who should book this Rhodes Segway tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a lively introduction to Rhodes, prefer seeing many sights over spending long periods inside one building, or need to cover ground without a long uphill walk. It works well for couples, families with older children and teenagers, and mixed groups where some people have Segway experience and others do not.

I would skip it if you dislike balancing equipment, want a quiet walking tour, or are mainly interested in detailed palace and church interiors. Crowds can also make the Old Town section slow, especially later in the day.

The tour has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The meeting point is the Rhodes by Segway office at 37 Ippodamou Street, and hotel pickup is not included.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a practical overview of Rhodes Old Town with a bit of fun built in. The moat, fortifications, narrow lanes, Street of the Knights, and Mandraki Harbor give you a broad first look, while the small group and patient instruction make the ride approachable for beginners.

Choose an early or late departure, wear comfortable shoes, and expect short stops rather than long monument visits. At $76, it is best understood as a guided orientation and city ride, not a replacement for exploring the Palace of the Grand Masters or museums on your own.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes Segway tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Rhodes by Segway office at 37 Ippodamou Street.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What sights does the tour visit?

The route includes Rhodes Old Town, the Medieval Moat, the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Masters area, the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh, the harbor, the windmills, and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas.

Do I need previous Segway experience?

No. The tour includes an orientation session and full safety briefing before you ride through the city.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to a maximum of eight participants.

What languages are available?

The live guide speaks English or Greek.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen.

Can I bring luggage or a large bag?

No. Luggage and large bags are not allowed, and high-heeled shoes are also prohibited.

Who should not take this activity?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or people weighing more than 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms. A basic level of fitness is required.