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The Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Greece. It ranks 3rd overall in the country and received about 70,000 visitors in 2025 down from 87,000 in 2024.
I think it makes sense for it to get so many visitors: Rhodes is a popular destination for starters, but the overall setting in Lindos, with the beautiful village that can entertain and delight visitors, the panoramic views from the top and the bay of St Pauls on the side, make for a perfect picture.
That said… most people walk up, look around for 20 minutes, take a few photos and leave without understanding what they’re seeing.
If you want to explore Lindos deeper, or just plan your visit better, here is what you need to know.
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How to reach Acropolis of Lindos
To get to the Acropolis, you’ll first need to reach Lindos.
The main way is to drive of course, or to get a bus or private bus through a guided tour.
The second way is on a boat, whether you are doing a boat trip or sailing across Greece on your own. If you’re planning to arrive by car, keep in mind that the village is a pedestrian only zone, and there are only paid carparks. These fill up fast in the summer, and the price is €7 per car.
From Rhodes, expect about a one hour drive in total, depending on traffic.
The last part is always the same, from the village, you need a 20-30 minute uphill walk to the entrance of the Acropolis. For the walk, you do have two options though:
- If you find parking on the north part of the village (near Lindos Beach) you can walk around and approach the castle from behind.
- If you park on the south part of the village (near St Paul’s Bay) you will walk through the village and up the alleyways.
The part through the village does get much busier during the summer months, so if you do have the option approach from the north and then exit and leave towards the village.
The path is at times exposed to the sun and has quite a few steps. There are no guardrails, and you’ll find a lot of cobblestone parts that can be slippery, so make sure to wear proper shoes, have a hat, sunscreen and of course, water. Unfortunately, there is no entrance for people on wheelchairs.
Where to get tickets
Multiple places. The easiest is on site, however during the summer months you might miss-out and have to wait if the time slot is full.
Instead, you can just use the official Greek website to purchase tickets directly. You’ll have to select the day and the time slot, and yes they’ve gotten very strict on the time aspect recently.
You can also get tickets as part of a guided tour, like this one. It departs from Rhodes so you don’t have to worry about transport, and you also get a professional guide to tell you about what you’re seeing.
GetYourGuide also has an entry ticket + audio guide option that is what I would recommend if you’re not going with an official guide. The only issue is that you can’t get FREE entry for kids through these providers, so you might still need to get the €0 ticket from the official Hellenic Heritage website. Since you’re there, browse the list of free & reduced admissions, in case you qualify.
Why do we care about Lindos?
Of course this is a beautiful spot with great views but why does it matter as an archaeological site?
For hundreds of thousands of years, this was a religious sanctuary, a strategic lookout and later a fortified stronghold. Different civilizations built on top of each other here, and there is a lot still to be discovered.
When you walk around Lindos, you’re not looking at one ancient site, but the layers of history stacked on the same hill.
There is the story of Temple of Athena Lindia, built in the 6th centry BC and associated with the tyran Cleobulus. It was destroyed and rebuilt over time, and later became an important religious center where even Alexander the Great is said to have made votive offerings.
Then came the layers…
With the most notable being those after the arrival of the Knights of St John in 1310, who turned it into a fortified medieval fortress. Yes, there is a lot of history here.
Much of the site was systematically excavated and restored by Danish archaeologists, who played a major role in uncovering the temple, stairways, and structural layout you walk through today. That was back in 1902-1914!
The lead archaeologist was Karl Frederik Kinch, who traveled to Greece in 1894 and did excavations first in northern Greece, and the area of Halkidiki and the town of Thessaloniki where his research led to identifying a prominent monument, as the Arch of Galerius. He came back to Greece later on to work on Rhodes specifically and left before the start of World War I.
If all this sounds… fascinating, and as though it adds a layer of knowledge that you often skip.
Please just buy this book. You might be sick of seeing me mention it, but it is the one book I hope all visitors to Greece get to at least browse. The reason?
Most people associate Greece with the ancient past, which is justified but so incomplete.
The tale of its creation as a modern history, multiple wars, internal conflicts, religion and politics are equally if not more interesting to a contemporary visitor.
📔 Biography of a Modern Nation by Roderick Beaton (BUY IT!)
I have a full list of travel books you can browse as well here.
All of these facts and more… is why I usually recommend a guide.
Guides in Greece
If you’re read any of my blogs on Greece, you’ll note I always recommend visiting archaeological sites with a guide. Why?
Because it’s just… better.
There is a reason Greece has official schools for licensed guides, even if the system isn’t perfect… (don’t get me started) it allows for history to be explained in a structured and meaningful way.
It’s actually quite difficult to explain a place like this, unless you have both:
- deep knowledge
- and the ability to communicate it
Some of the best experiences I’ve had in Greece were with guides who were both. One of my all time favorites guides is Penny (Kolomvotsou) in Delphi, and Ilias (Papadopoulous) in the Peloponnese (Mycanea and Epidaurus) (you can find some great guides online here). Their immense knowledge and the way they make every rock seem interesting, is why I can do a tour multiple times per year and not get bored.
If you want to book a guide for Acropolis of Lindos, your options are simple:
- join a group tour
- book privately (great for groups)
- or try your luck on-site
Hellenic Heritage Self-Guided Tours
Of all the apps that you should download for your trip to Greece, I highly recommend downloading this one ahead of time.
It is available both as audio and transcript (so you can read the information to your kids) and is available in various languages as well.
The other thing I appreciate as a good addition is the map feature, which means you can see where each “audio volume” is supposed to be read.
The app includes only 3 of the main archaeological sites in Rhodes:
- Ialysos
- Lindos Acropolis
- and the Palace of the Grand Master
Other things to keep in mind about the Acropolis of Lindos
- The inside of the archaeological site has a lot of slippery stones. You’ll see some wooden steps, but not a lot of guardrails. Which means make sure to walk close to someone that can support you.
- Acropolis – means high city. Which is why you’ll see it across Greece in places like the Acropolis of Corinth (Acrocorinth) or Acropolis of Athens.
- The site is open until 20:00 during the summer, so if you purchase the 19:00 to 20:00 time slot, you’ll get the beautiful sunset colors and a more pleasant hike.
- Make sure to allow for extra time to get in and out of the village. The parking area can be full, so you might need to drive to the one further out, or circle for a while. (also why I recommend a tour)
- If you’re visiting with kids… you might struggle with the buggy. Toddlers should also be closely supervised as there are no guardrails in some areas with steep drops.
How to avoid the crowds at the Acropolis of Lindos?
Only two things you can do.
Visit outside peak summer. Go super early in the morning when it opens at 8:00 AM.
If you wait until 9:30 or (god forbid) 10:00, get ready to wait in a line that spreads all the way downhill.
If you are a bit flexible on when you visit, check cruise ship arrivals and avoid those early mornings as well, as they tend to get busy.
Whichever way you look, you get to see the beautiful blue water. St Paul’s Bay (on the left) and Lindos Beach (on the right). Both are great spots to visit after, so you can cool down.
FAQ for Lindos
⭐ Can I drive and park in Lindos?
Yes! But you’ll have to park outside the village in various paid parking spots. All of them are about €7 per day. It is a bit stressful and packed in the summer, so aim to arrive before 10:00 AM for closer parking spots. For a good visual, look at the first photo in this article. You’ll spot the parking areas.
⭐ How much time do you recommend I spend in Lindos?
I would say 5-7 hours are plenty for a day trip, depending on how much you enjoy shopping, exploring or being in the sun. You can always relax in nearby beaches though.
⭐ Is the walk to the Acropolis difficult?
Nope. I would say it’s more of a slow trying-not-to-run-into-people walk, and while it is uphill I did it recently on my post-surgery knee and it was fine. Take it slow and make sure to bring enough water for the summer hours.
⭐ Are there any guided trips or tours you suggested from Lindos?
Sure!
Not far from Lindos Old Town, you’ll find Vlycha Beach. There are some interesting and nice day cruise options that depart from here either for sunset dining, or exploring the caves and swimming.
- Lindos: All Inclusive Cruise with Lunch & Unlimited Drinks **$65**
- Lindos, Pefkos: Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Drinks $42
- (BEST) Lindos, Pefkos:Summer Breeze 3 Hour All Inclusive Swimming Cruise $65+
What about Rhodes in general? These are some of the tours I’ve done and love.
