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📍 Rhodes: the main island of the Dodecanese in the south-east Aegean; Diagoras Airport (RHO) is roughly 15 km south-west of Rhodes town.
Is a Car Worth It in Rhodes?
Rhodes is large enough that bus rides to Lindos or the south take a long time, and the best beaches and mountain villages are away from the bus routes. A car lets you do the circuit of the island and stop where you like.
Our advice: use buses or walking in Rhodes old town, and book the car for the days you go out. The ferry and the island of Symi are reached by boat, so leave the car in Rhodes.
Drive Times from Rhodes Town
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Diagoras Airport (RHO) | ~15 km | about 20–30 min |
| Faliraki | ~15 km | about 20–30 min |
| Lindos | ~55 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Kamiros | ~35–40 km | about 45–60 min |
| Prasonisi | ~90–100 km | about 1.5–2 hours |
| Rhodes old town | centre | traffic restrictions inside the walls |
Old Town, Parking and the Coast Road
Vehicle access to the medieval old town is limited, and the streets inside the walls are narrow. Use the car parks outside the walls and walk in. The coast road to Lindos is busy in summer with tour coaches, and Lindos itself has a car park outside the village with a steep walk up.
- Park outside the old town walls and walk in
- Arrive at Lindos early or late to avoid coaches
- Do not drive on dirt tracks to remote beaches
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Rhodes town, Faliraki or Lindos, or collected at Diagoras Airport (RHO). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Valid driving licence; drivers from outside the EU/EEA are generally advised to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with their national licence — rules differ by nationality, so ask the agency what it requires before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Motorway tolls, fines, parking and ferry costs are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Rhodes: Roads and Habits
The west coast road has strong winds in summer, and the road to Prasonisi is exposed. Mountain roads in the interior are narrow, with tight bends and few barriers; slow down and sound the horn on blind bends if locals do.
- Traffic drives on the right; give way to traffic already on a roundabout unless signs say otherwise
- Speed limits are signed — typically 50 km/h in towns, around 90 km/h on open roads and up to 110–130 km/h on motorways; cameras and police checks exist, so follow the signs
- Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers and children need a suitable seat; no handheld phone while driving
- Drink-driving limits are low and penalties are heavy — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- On many main roads slower drivers move onto the hard shoulder to let others pass; do not assume it is always safe to overtake or to stop there
- Parking: white lines usually mean free or allowed, blue lines paid or restricted, yellow lines no parking; fines are charged to the renter
- Do not take the car on unpaved beach tracks or dirt roads: insurance is generally not valid there
- A rental car usually cannot go on a ferry or leave the country unless the agency agrees in writing