A Lindos bus tour carries visitors from Rhodes Town and the east-coast resorts to the white village of Lindos and its acropolis. It features among the Greece tours listed on Greece VIP.
This post covers tour types, pickups, the drive, what is included, the drop-off, free time, the public bus and reviews. Weather, the best time and common questions come last.
What is a Lindos bus tour?
A Lindos bus tour is a coach ride from a Rhodes hotel to Lindos and back. It leaves free time to explore the village at an easy pace.
Lindos sits on Cape Krana on the east coast, 50.4 km by road from Rhodes Town.
The bus listings describe the trip as a transfer rather than a led tour. One full-day listing states plainly that no tour leader rides on board.
One reviewer compared the ride to a taxi with a single quick photo stop.
Lindos can also be reached by boat, public bus, car or minibus. Parking near the village is hard for drivers, one operator notes.
- Start: Hotel or port.
- Distance: 50.4 km.
- Format: Free time.
A Lindos bus tour suits travellers who want the village without driving or parking.
Which types of Lindos bus tour run?
Lindos bus tour types range from express morning runs to evening trips and combinations with Seven Springs. Each sets a different block of free time in the village.
The express morning transfer aims to reach Lindos before the peak crowds. It adds a panoramic photo stop on the way back.
A full-day relaxing transfer drives direct and leaves a generous block of free time. It stops for photos at Amphitheatre Hill on the way home.
Evening trips escape the daytime crowds and heat. Guests see the village, the acropolis and dinner in the lanes.
Combinations add Seven Springs, Kallithea Springs or the Butterfly Valley. The Butterfly Valley route reaches Lindos over mountain roads and through traditional villages.
Private buses carry groups of up to eight people, by day or by night.
- Morning: Before the crowds.
- Evening: Cooler air.
- Combos: Springs and valleys.
A Lindos bus tour in the evening trades beach time for sunset and dinner.
Where does a Lindos bus tour pick up?
A Lindos bus tour picks up across north and east Rhodes, from Ialyssos and Ixia to Kolymbia. One popular coach lists 68 pickup options, including the cruise port.
Pickup points sit at hotel gates, roadside bus stops and taxi ranks.
In Rhodes Town, one operator stops at the town hall square, the Marina Gate and the Akandia gate.
Along the Kallithea–Faliraki road, pickups use numbered roadside stops such as F7, F9 and F12. The drive to Lindos starts after the last pickup in Faliraki.
Pickup in front of the hotel is not always possible. Guests whose hotel is missing from the list send its name and get the nearest point.
Cruise passengers board at the terminal. One operator refunds in full if the ship does not dock in Rhodes.
- Options: Up to 68.
- Stops: Hotels, taxi ranks.
- Cruise: Terminal pickup.
Visitors who want a led walk through the village can compare the Lindos tours.
What does a Lindos bus tour see on the drive?
A Lindos bus tour follows the east coast of Rhodes past villages, vineyards and olive groves. The driver points out villages and views along the route.
From Faliraki the road runs 35.9 km to Lindos. Kolymbia lies 26.9 km away and Archangelos 18.6 km.
The eucalyptus road into Kolymbia passes an Italian canal that carried Seven Springs water. A 6th-century basilica lies in ruins midway.
The castle of Archangelos stands on a 216 m hill east of the town. Its walls run 240 metres.
An audio app on the passenger’s phone tells the history of Rhodes and Lindos during the drive. The driver hands out a QR code to unlock it.
The viewpoint stop is Amphitheatre Hill, above Lindos. A reviewer said the driver stopped at two photo points hard to reach on foot.
- Route: East coast road.
- Photo stop: Amphitheatre Hill.
- Audio: Phone app.
A Lindos bus tour shows the acropolis rising above the sea at its viewpoint stop.
What does a Lindos bus tour include?
A Lindos bus tour includes hotel or port pickup, an air-conditioned coach, a driver and a photo stop. Acropolis entry, food and drink stay extra.
Transfer-style tours add an English-speaking driver and a map of Lindos with highlights and tips.
Exclusions cover the acropolis ticket, a licensed escort, personal expenses and optional tips. The Butterfly Valley combination excludes both entrance fees.
Extras in Lindos include the village shuttle bus and beach sunbeds.
One noon-to-night trip carries no more than 19 people. An east-coast trip uses a minibus for 20 or a coach for 50.
The popular free-time bus offers free cancellation up to a day ahead.
- Included: Pickup, driver, map.
- Extra: Acropolis ticket.
- Cancel: Up to a day ahead.
Passengers on a Lindos bus tour bring pocket money for the entrance fees, since none are included.
Where does a Lindos bus tour drop off in Lindos?
A Lindos bus tour drops passengers at the main parking area at Krana Square. The village centre is a short walk away, or a quick ride on the local shuttle bus.
Lindos village is fully car-free. The road ends at a square that opens into a maze of white lanes.
The driver explains the way down and gives the meeting point and departure time.
On one tour, a driver gives a short orientation on the village layout, key sights and walking routes.
One reviewer said the walk down looked far but turned out short. Another was glad the driver mentioned the shuttle back up, which saves a steep climb.
Coaches stack up later in the morning on the single steep road into Lindos, one reviewer warned.
- Drop-off: Krana Square.
- Village: Car-free.
- Shuttle: Back uphill.
Passengers who want the hilltop site can compare the Lindos acropolis tickets.
What can visitors do with free time on a Lindos bus tour?
Free time on a Lindos bus tour covers the acropolis, the white lanes, lunch, shopping or a beach. Captains’ mansions from the 17th century line the pebbled lanes.
The mansions have heavy wooden doors, arched windows and black-and-white pebble courtyards called chochlakia. Today they hold boutiques, jewellery shops and rooftop restaurants.
Restaurants rise in tiers, so rooftop terraces look over the village and the Aegean.
Lindos has three sandy beaches: small Pallas beach, the busy main beach and St Paul’s Bay. Bicycles and canoes can be rented at the main beach.
The donkeys that carry visitors up to the acropolis are nicknamed the “Lindos taxi”. A volunteer welfare group watches over them and reports abuse.
The owners’ association says it refuses riders over 80 kilos. One reviewer simply walked up and down without the donkeys.
- History: Acropolis, mansions.
- Beaches: Three choices.
- Donkeys: 80 kg limit.
A Lindos bus tour leaves room for a swim at St Paul’s Bay below the acropolis.
How does the public bus compare with a Lindos bus tour?
The public KTEL bus runs from Rhodes Town down the east coast to Lindos, stopping at beach resorts. A Lindos bus tour adds hotel pickup instead.
KTEL buses leave from bays across the road from the municipal kiosk in Rhodes Town. There is no terminal building.
In Rhodes Town, riders buy tickets before boarding, or as e-tickets online.
Buses get very busy when day trippers leave Lindos, and riders who board mid-route can end up standing.
Timetables change through the season, and east-coast services run reduced or not at all on Sundays.
The Lindos stop sits on the main road, a short walk downhill into the village. Lindos St Paul’s has its own stop, numbered 47.
- Public: Timetable changes.
- Tickets: Kiosk or online.
- Tour: Hotel pickup.
A Lindos bus tour beat the public line for comfort and air-conditioning, one reviewer found.
What do reviewers say about a Lindos bus tour?
Reviewers of a Lindos bus tour praise friendly drivers, comfortable coaches and clear pickup information. Complaints focus on air-conditioning, crowds and short free time.
The free-time bus scores 4.6 out of 5 from 2,848 reviews. It was booked 33 times in the past 24 hours.
The evening escape scores 4.8 from 863 reviews. Its reviewers enjoy friendly, funny drivers and well-balanced free time.
One reviewer praised a driver who stayed calm on roads made dangerous by sudden bad weather.
One reviewer found Lindos very commercial but worth seeing once. Another felt the free time was short for both the acropolis and the lanes.
A three-stop trip scores only 4.1 from 11 reviews, after complaints about changed plans.
- Praise: Friendly drivers.
- Complaint: Weak air-conditioning.
- Tip: Arrive early.
Visitors who want waterfalls first can compare the Seven Springs trips.
How does weather shape a Lindos bus tour?
A Lindos bus tour in summer meets fierce heat on steep, cobbled lanes. Model data for the Lindos area logged a 41.2 °C peak on 21 July this year.
August peaked at 40.1 °C on 24 August. Every August day reached 32 °C or more, and 30 of 31 July days did.
The Lindos station, 45 m up, logged 35.9 °C on 23 June this year. September peaked at 37.2 °C on the 7th.
September brought 28.6 mm of rain, with 21.2 mm on 17 September. Gusts reached 93.3 km/h on 5 February.
Last April was wet at the station, with 157.0 mm and 82.2 mm on 25 April alone. Last year’s total came to 663.6 mm.
Transfers run rain or shine. A reviewer suggested an umbrella or poncho and a plastic bag for wet things.
- Peak: 41.2 °C model.
- Wettest day: 82.2 mm.
- Gust: 93.3 km/h.
A Lindos bus tour in the heat works best as a morning or evening run.
When is the best time for a Lindos bus tour?
A Lindos bus tour is easiest on foot in spring and autumn, when the lanes stay mild. Morning and evening runs dodge the midday heat in summer.
The Lindos station averaged an 18.3 °C high in March this year, with 44.6 mm of rain.
Last November averaged a 22.5 °C high in the model data, with 66.0 mm of rain. Model data put 25 July days this year at 35 °C or more.
Lindos is very busy with day-trippers and cruise passengers, even out of season. One reviewer felt lucky that no cruise ship was in that day.
July, August and September book up early, though last-minute seats still sell.
One reviewer felt an afternoon trip beat a morning visit because of the heat.
- Spring: 18.3 °C in March.
- Summer: Evening runs.
- Peak months: Book early.
A Lindos bus tour in the evening adds the lit acropolis and rooftop dinners.
What do travelers ask about a Lindos bus tour?
Travelers ask about distances, access, children, prams and the acropolis queue. Lindos is hilly with steep, cobbled walkways, so grippy shoes help.
How far is Lindos from Rhodes airport?
Lindos lies 50.1 km by road from Rhodes airport and 41.8 km from Kallithea Springs.
Is a Lindos bus tour wheelchair friendly?
No. The village has inclines and cobbled lanes, and the acropolis has steps but no elevator. A public shuttle reaches the main square.
Can children join?
Yes. One parent with children aged 11 and 14 had a great day. Another said the children tired of walking in the heat.
Can prams come on board?
One popular bus welcomes prams but not electric wheelchairs. A Seven Springs combination bans baby carriages, so check the listing.
How can visitors skip the acropolis queue?
A prepaid acropolis ticket skips the queue, which gets long in high season.
Visitors who add the medieval city can compare the Rhodes Old Town tours.