What Makes This Beach Special
Lindos does what no other beach in the Greek islands quite manages: it places a world-class ancient monument — the Acropolis of Lindos, with its Doric temple of Athena and Hellenistic stoa — directly above a beautiful beach, on a 116-metre cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. The layering of history and beach is so complete, and the visual composition so dramatic, that Lindos feels like a film set of the ideal Greek island experience — and yet it is entirely authentic, the product of 3,000 years of continuous human occupation of this particular headland.
The village of Lindos — a labyrinth of whitewashed cube houses decorated with mosaic pebble courtyards (chochlakia) and carved captain’s houses, squeezed into the space between the cliff base and the bay — is one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Greece. The houses belonged to the sea captains of the Lindian merchant fleet, which dominated eastern Mediterranean trade in the 15th–18th centuries, and many of the interiors (some open as restaurants or guesthouses) retain their original carved woodwork and painted ceilings.
The beach situation is distinctive. The main beach (Megali Paralia) curves around the main bay north of the headland — a wide, well-organised beach with the Acropolis cliffs rising to one side. St. Paul’s Bay — to the south of the headland, accessible on foot through the village or by boat — is a smaller, almost enclosed cove with calm, crystalline turquoise water. According to tradition, St. Paul sheltered in this bay during a storm on his voyage to spread Christianity in the Aegean, and a small whitewashed chapel at the water’s edge marks the spot. The combination of the bay’s perfect geometry, the chapel, and the Acropolis visible above creates the most photographed landscape on Rhodes.
Lindos village is car-free — the only way in is on foot (the donkey path that has been used for millennia) or by donkey (still operating, controversially). The lack of vehicles gives the village an extraordinary atmosphere even at peak season, and the narrow lanes, overhung with bougainvillea and jasmine, invite the slow pace of exploration that the beach makes attractive.
How to Get There
Getting to Rhodes
Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras” (RHO):
- Direct charter and low-cost flights from UK (easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, British Airways)
- Direct flights from Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, and other European countries
- Domestic connections from Athens, Thessaloniki (Aegean, Sky Express)
By ferry:
- Regular ferry connections from Piraeus (Athens), Crete, and other Greek islands
- Journey time from Piraeus approximately 12–18 hours (conventional ferry) or 4–6 hours (high-speed)
From Rhodes Town to Lindos
Lindos is approximately 55 km south of Rhodes Town:
- By bus (KTEL): Regular public bus service from Rhodes Town to Lindos — approximately 1–1.5 hours. Inexpensive and reliable. The bus stops at the car park below the village.
- By rental car or scooter: Drive south on the east coast road (easily signposted). Allow 1 hour. Note that parking at Lindos is at the large car park on the approach road.
- By organised tour: Many Rhodes hotels offer day excursions to Lindos.
- By boat: Excursion boats from Rhodes Town harbour and Faliraki run to Lindos bay in season — arriving by sea gives the best first view of the Acropolis and village combination.
When to Go
Rhodes has one of Greece’s best Mediterranean climates — more hours of sunshine per year than almost anywhere in Europe:
- May and June: The ideal months. The sea is warming (20–23°C), the village is busy but not overwhelmed, and the hillside is still green. The Acropolis and village are at their most photographically beautiful in May–June light.
- July and August: Peak season. Lindos is very busy — the village lanes can feel genuinely crowded at midday in August, and the beaches fill early. The Acropolis visit is best done early morning or evening to avoid both crowds and heat.
- September and October: Excellent. The sea is warmest (24–26°C), the crowds thin substantially, and the autumn light gives the white village and the ancient stones a golden quality.
- November to April: Off-season. Most tourist facilities close. The village reverts to its small permanent population, and the Acropolis — one of the finest ancient sites in Greece — can be visited in solitude.
Finding a Room
Lindos village itself has several small boutique hotels and guesthouses occupying converted captain’s houses:
- Melenos Lindos: The most acclaimed boutique hotel in the village — a beautifully designed property in a restored captain’s house with extraordinary views and cuisine.
- Captain’s House: A characterful guesthouse in the village.
- Pallas Village Hotel: A pleasant mid-range option in the village.
- The main beach area: Hotels at the northern bay are more conventional in style and allow easier car access.
- Rhodes Town (55 km north): The widest range of accommodation, with easy day trips to Lindos.
Highlights and Activities
The Acropolis of Lindos
The climb to the Acropolis — by the ancient stone pathway or the offered donkey ride — passes through the medieval castle (Knights of St John fortification) before emerging at the ancient site. The Doric Temple of Athena Lindia (4th century BC, replacing earlier structures going back to the 9th century BC), the Hellenistic stoa, and the great processional staircase are the main monuments. The view from the summit — the village below, the bays on both sides, and the Aegean to the horizon — is one of the great views in Greece.
St. Paul’s Bay
The small enclosed cove south of the Lindos headland is accessible on foot from the village (approximately 15 minutes walk down a steep path) or by water taxi from the main beach. The chapel of St. Paul at the water’s edge, the turquoise colour of the enclosed bay, and the Acropolis visible above combine in one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful small bays. Swimming here, with the chapel behind and ancient ruins above, is an experience unique to Lindos.
Pebble Mosaic Courtyard Architecture
The chochlakia pebble mosaic tradition — black and white river pebbles set in geometric and figurative patterns, used for courtyards, entrance halls, and church floors — is distinctive to the Dodecanese islands and is at its finest in Lindos. Several village courtyards are visible as you walk the lanes; the better guesthouses and restaurants have exceptional examples. The technique is still practiced by local craftspeople.
Butterfly Valley (Petaloudes)
20 km north of Lindos, the Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) is a shaded gorge that hosts thousands of Jersey tiger moths (often called “butterflies” due to their striking wing markings) from June to September. The cool, humid valley environment attracts the moths, and the spectacle of the red and black wing pattern covering the trees in the midday heat is extraordinary.
Common Questions
Is Lindos worth visiting despite the crowds? Yes — Lindos is one of the Greek islands’ genuinely irreplaceable experiences, and no amount of tourist infrastructure diminishes the fundamental drama of the Acropolis-above-beach composition. Visit the Acropolis early morning and the village at lunch or evening when the day trippers have left; the beach in mid-afternoon. The key is timing.
Can you swim at St. Paul’s Bay and the main Lindos beach on the same day? Yes — they are only 15–20 minutes apart on foot. Many visitors swim at St. Paul’s in the morning (arrive early for the best experience) and the main beach in the afternoon, or vice versa.
Is the donkey ride to the Acropolis authentic? The donkey path is genuinely ancient — the same route used for millennia. The donkey rides have become somewhat controversial for animal welfare reasons. Walking is straightforward and takes approximately 15–20 minutes up the flagged path from the village centre.