Getting Around Rhodes: Transfers, Buses, Cars & Insider Advice
Rhodes is bigger than most first-timers expect — about 80 km long — so how you get around shapes your whole trip. Here’s an honest breakdown of every option, from public buses to private transfers, and when each one makes sense.
From the airport
Rhodes International Airport (RHO) sits on the west coast, about 14 km from Rhodes Town. After a long flight, the last thing you want is a taxi-rank scramble in the heat. A pre-booked private transfer means your driver is waiting with your name, tracks your flight for delays, and takes you straight to the door.
Public buses
Rhodes has a reasonable KTEL bus network linking the main towns and resorts. It’s cheap and fine for simple coast routes, but services thin out in the evening and barely reach inland villages or remote beaches. Expect crowds and standing room in peak summer.
Renting a car
A rental gives freedom if you’re confident driving abroad. Be aware: the Old Town is pedestrianised, summer parking in Rhodes Town and Lindos is genuinely difficult, and mountain roads are narrow and winding. Great for explorers, less ideal for a relaxed holiday.
Taxis vs private transfers
Street taxis work for short hops but can be scarce at peak times and harder to pin down for fixed prices. A private transfer is pre-arranged at an agreed fare, with a professional driver who knows the island — ideal for airport runs, day trips like Symi, and reaching the mountain villages.
On an island this size, the right transport isn’t a detail — it’s the difference between a relaxed holiday and a stressful one.
Quick decision guide
- Airport & port runs: private transfer, every time.
- Resort beach days: public bus or short taxi.
- Group day trips: private transfer — split the cost.
- Remote villages & beaches: car hire or private driver.
Travel Rhodes the comfortable way
Reliable, fixed-price transfers across the whole island — airport, port, and door-to-door.
Get a Quote