How to Get to Lindos: Flights, Ferries and Buses from Athens

Lindos is a small village on the east coast of Rhodes, about an hour by car from Rhodes Town, and many travelers coming from Athens pass through the island's main town on the way. You cross the Aegean by plane or overnight ferry, then finish with a KTEL bus, a taxi or a rental car down the coast. Flying works well for many itineraries, and the ferry suits travelers who have a day or more to spare. In summer, a boat from Rhodes Town makes a lovely day out once your bags are unpacked.

How do you get to Lindos from Athens?

The journey has two legs: Athens to Rhodes by air or sea, then Rhodes to Lindos by road. It helps to picture the end point first. Lindos is a whitewashed village under an ancient acropolis, with a car-free old town and three beaches. No vehicle drives into it. Buses and cars stop on the hill above, so the last few minutes are on foot, which matters if you're hauling a big suitcase.

Flying to Rhodes

Rhodes International Airport (Diagoras) takes flights from many European cities. It's in the northern part of the island, about 9 miles (14 to 9.3 miles (15 km)) from Rhodes Town. Flight times are shown in Greek local time, and if your schedule changes, your airline or travel agent is who you call.

A direct public bus runs from the airport into Rhodes Town. The stop is between the old and the new terminal, and the ride takes about 40 minutes depending on traffic. That bus doesn't serve the east-coast resorts, so you ride it into town and change to the KTEL bus for Lindos.

Taxis wait outside arrivals around the clock and are the fastest, most direct way to Lindos, at around an hour. Shared shuttles cost less than a taxi and drop you at or near your Lindos hotel. They must be booked ahead, and with waits for other passengers and several stops, the trip can take 1.5 to 2 hours.

Taking the ferry from Piraeus

Piraeus, the Athens ferry port, lies about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of the city center, roughly 20 minutes from central Athens on metro Line 1. Ferries to Rhodes leave from Gates E1, E7 and E8, so check your ticket for the gate. Blue Star Ferries serves the route, and cabins are available on some sailings, including with Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways. You land in Rhodes Town, where the KTEL bus station is about a 20-minute walk from the port.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Lindos?

For a first trip, fly. The ferry is an overnight crossing that eats most of a day, so you're trading a day of travel for a night at sea. It's a fine adventure with time to spare and a poor fit for a tight itinerary.

The right choice depends on how you travel:

• First trip, short vacation: fly to Rhodes, then take the bus or a taxi.
• Family with luggage: fly, then take a taxi or pre-booked private transfer, or rent a car at the airport.
• Tight budget: fly to Rhodes, take the airport bus into Rhodes Town, then ride the KTEL bus to Lindos.

How long is the ferry to Lindos?

No ferry runs straight from Athens to Lindos. The conventional ferry from Piraeus to Rhodes typically takes 15 to 18 hours, and from Rhodes Town you add about an hour by taxi or 1.5 to 2 hours by bus.

Between May and October, fast boats and day cruises run from Rhodes Town to Lindos, taking roughly 1 to 2 hours each way. They dock at Lindos harbor, so you walk uphill into town. That makes for a beautiful day trip and a poor way to arrive with wheeled luggage.

How do you get from Rhodes Town to Lindos?

By KTEL bus

The bus is the budget option, and a good one. KTEL Rhodes runs regular lines seven days a week, including a direct bus from Rhodes Town to the Lindos station. In high season, buses leave roughly every 30 to 60 minutes from early morning into the evening. In spring and autumn the gaps stretch to an hour or two, and the last bus can leave in the late afternoon.

Plan on roughly an hour and a half to two hours on board, since traffic and stops along the way can stretch the trip. Grab a seat on the left side for ocean views and seaside resorts most of the way, plus a pretty little chapel. Buses are air-conditioned, and luggage goes in the hold below.

You board at the central bus station on the edge of the Old Town, the hub of the KTEL network, with buses to almost any point on the island. Timetables are posted at the ticket booth, where you can buy your ticket, and tickets can also be paid on board. Make sure you have one: riding without a valid ticket on Greek public transport can bring a fine of up to 60 times the basic fare.

The bus drops you in the Krana area, above the village. A free shuttle is reported to run down the hill and back up; otherwise it's a 5 to 10 minute walk downhill into the center. The return pickup is at the same spot. Return buses from Lindos can leave in the early evening in summer, so check the latest timetable before you settle in for a long dinner. If you miss the last one, a taxi from the main square will get you back to Rhodes.

By taxi or private transfer

A taxi is the fastest choice, at about an hour from Rhodes Town. Taxis can't enter the pedestrian village, but they can take you to the main square or to hotels outside the core. Fares run noticeably higher late at night. Private transfers can be booked ahead, which helps if you need child seats or a minivan for a group, and they're the easiest option for anyone with mobility issues.

By rental car

A car makes sense if you want to explore beyond Lindos. The east-coast drive takes about an hour, and Rhodes is generally easy to drive. You can bring a vehicle on the ferry or rent one on the island. Parking in Lindos is often hard to find in summer, and you'll usually leave the car outside the pedestrian-only village. Thieves in Greece break into rental cars to steal passports, valuables and luggage, so it's wise to take those items with you when you park.

How do you get to Lindos from other islands?

Rhodes is the gateway. Ferries reach it from Tilos, Symi, Kos, Karpathos and Kastellorizo, as well as from the Turkish coast. Symi is a little over an hour away by high-speed boat. Kos takes 2 to 3 hours on a high-speed boat and much longer by conventional ferry, and Karpathos runs about 2.5 to 4 hours on a fast boat. From Rhodes Town, continue to Lindos by KTEL bus, taxi or rental car, as described in the section above.

How do you book ferries to Lindos?

For the overnight crossing from Piraeus, book with Blue Star Ferries. Rhodes is served daily, and exact departure times appear when you book. For hops to nearby islands, other companies serving Rhodes include Dodekanisos Seaways, Hellenic Seaways, SAOS Ferries, Sea Dreams and Seajets. If you're bringing a car, Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways, Hellenic Seaways, Sea Dreams and SAOS Ferries all run car ferries from Rhodes.

What should Americans know about getting around Greece?

Transportation strikes in Greece can interrupt traffic, public transportation, taxis, seaports and airports, and demonstrations can disrupt transportation with little notice. If you plan to drive, Greek law requires you to carry a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. Talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving is illegal. The day before you travel, check the KTEL timetable for your date, especially the last bus back from Lindos, and confirm that no strike is planned.