The boat had barely cleared the harbour wall when I looked back at Rhodes Town and thought, “Why didn’t I do this on day one?”
I’d spent three days walking the medieval streets, eating grilled octopus, and sweating through the midday heat. All great. But seeing Rhodes from the water — the fortress shrinking behind us, the east coast opening up into a string of turquoise coves — that changed the whole trip.
If you’re planning to book a boat tour in Rhodes, this guide covers everything I wish I’d known before I went: the different types of cruises, which ones are worth the money, and the practical stuff that nobody mentions until you’re already on deck wondering where the sunscreen went.
Best overall: All Inclusive Day Cruise with BBQ — $76. Six hours, three swimming stops, Greek BBQ, and unlimited drinks. The one most people should book.
Best for style: Catamaran Cruise with Lunch — $83. Same idea but on a catamaran with more deck space and a buffet-style lunch. Worth the upgrade.
Best value: Sunset Cruise with Greek BBQ — $35. Three hours, a swim at Kallithea Springs, and the sunset over Rhodes harbour with a cold drink in hand.
- What Types of Boat Tours Run from Rhodes
- Day Cruise vs Symi Trip — Which Should You Pick
- The Best Rhodes Boat Tours to Book
- 1. Rhodes All Inclusive Day Cruise with BBQ and Unlimited Drinks —
- 2. Rhodes All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise with Lunch —
- 3. Rhodes Sunset Cruise with Greek BBQ —
- When to Book a Boat Tour in Rhodes
- Where Boats Depart From
- Tips That Will Save You Time and Money
- What You’ll Actually See From the Boat
- What to Do Before and After Your Cruise
- More Rhodes and Greece Guides
- More Greece Guides
What Types of Boat Tours Run from Rhodes
There are four broad categories of boat trips leaving from Rhodes, and they’re different enough that picking the wrong one will leave you disappointed.
All-inclusive day cruises are the most popular. These run about five to seven hours, stop at two or three swimming coves along the east coast (Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Beach, and Kallithea Springs are the usual rotation), and include a BBQ lunch and unlimited drinks on board. Prices range from about $55 to $85 per person. They leave in the morning and return mid-afternoon.
Symi island day trips take you across to the neighbouring island for a few hours of wandering, swimming, and lunch. The speedboat versions get you there in about an hour; the slower boats take around two. These are a full-day commitment — seven to ten hours — and they’re less about swimming and more about the destination. Symi’s harbour, with its pastel neoclassical houses stacked up the hillside, is genuinely one of the most photogenic spots in the Dodecanese.
Sunset cruises are the short, affordable option. Three hours, usually departing around 5:30 or 6pm in summer, with a swim stop at Kallithea Springs, snacks or a light BBQ, and open bar. They’re a smart choice if you don’t want to lose a full day or if you’ve already done a daytime cruise and want something different.
Lindos boat trips take you down the coast to Lindos — either as a scenic day trip with swimming stops or as a faster speedboat transfer. It’s a good alternative to the bus if you’re prone to car sickness on the winding coast road, and you get the views thrown in.
Day Cruise vs Symi Trip — Which Should You Pick
This is the first decision most people get stuck on, so let me make it simple.
Pick the day cruise if: you want a relaxed day on the water with swimming, food, and drinks — basically a floating pool party with Greek scenery. You don’t need to be anywhere specific, you just want to swim in beautiful coves and eat well. Great for couples, groups of friends, and families with older kids.
Pick the Symi trip if: you’re a destination person. You want to walk around a new island, eat at a harbourside taverna, take photos of those famous coloured houses, and maybe visit the Panormitis Monastery. The journey is part of the experience — the Dodecanese island-hopping feeling. Better for people who’d rather explore than lie on a boat deck.
If you have time for both: do the day cruise first (it’s more laid-back and gets you comfortable on the water) and the Symi trip on a separate day. They’re completely different experiences and don’t overlap at all.
One thing to know about the Symi speedboats: they’re fast but they bounce. If you get seasick, take something before you board. The slower boats are smoother but eat into your time on the island.
The Best Rhodes Boat Tours to Book
I’ve gone through the full list of boat tours running from Rhodes and narrowed it down to three that cover different styles, budgets, and experiences. Each has thousands of traveller reviews backing it up, and I’ve cross-referenced the details with what I actually experienced on the island.
1. Rhodes All Inclusive Day Cruise with BBQ and Unlimited Drinks — $76
This is the all-rounder. Six hours on the water with stops at Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko Beach, and one more cove that rotates depending on conditions. The All Inclusive Day Cruise includes a proper Greek BBQ lunch — we’re talking grilled chicken, souvlaki, salads, the works — plus unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and water.
The crew on this one get consistently high marks for being friendly without being overbearing. Nobody’s pushing you to buy anything extra. You eat when the food comes out, you swim when the boat anchors, and you lie on deck the rest of the time. At $76 per person for six hours of food, drinks, and three of the best swimming spots on the east coast, it’s hard to argue the value.
One thing: grab your spot on the upper deck early in the morning. The shaded lower deck is fine, but the views are better up top and it fills up fast.
2. Rhodes All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise with Lunch — $83
If the day cruise above is the reliable all-rounder, the catamaran cruise is its slightly fancier sibling. Same concept — six hours, swimming stops, food, unlimited drinks — but the boat itself is the upgrade. Catamarans are wider, more stable in choppy water, and have more space to move around.
The lunch is buffet-style rather than BBQ, which some people prefer because you can go back for more. The crew provides snorkelling gear and pool floats, and there’s a freshwater shower on board for rinsing off between swims. At $83 it’s only $7 more than the standard cruise, and that small bump gets you a meaningfully better boat.
The catamaran is particularly good if you’re going with a group of four or more — the extra deck space makes a real difference when everyone wants their own patch of sun.
3. Rhodes Sunset Cruise with Greek BBQ — $35
This is the budget pick, and honestly, it might be the one I’d recommend to someone who can only do one thing on the water in Rhodes. Three hours, departing in the late afternoon, with a stop at Kallithea Springs for a swim before the sunset cruise loops back toward the harbour as the sun drops.
The boat on this one is a converted pirate ship — yes, really — which sounds gimmicky but actually works. The crew are theatrical without being annoying, and the upper deck has bean bags where you can lie back and watch the sky change colour. The BBQ is solid (grilled meats, salads, bread) and the drinks are unlimited.
At $35 per person, this is almost suspiciously cheap for what you get. Three hours of food, drinks, a swim, and a sunset — there’s nothing else in Rhodes at that price point that comes close. Book it for your last evening on the island and thank me later.
When to Book a Boat Tour in Rhodes
Season: Boat tours run from late April through October, with peak season in July and August. May, June, and September are the sweet spot — warm enough for swimming, fewer crowds on the boats, and lower prices. Early October still works but some operators start reducing schedules.
Time of day: Morning departures (usually 9-10am) are best for day cruises because the water is calmest and the light is incredible for photos. Sunset cruises obviously leave in the late afternoon. If the wind forecast shows anything above 25 knots, expect the Symi speedboats to be rough — the slower ferry-style boats handle wind better.
How far in advance: In July and August, book at least a week ahead — the most popular cruises sell out. In shoulder season (May, June, September), two to three days is usually fine. Sunset cruises fill faster than day cruises because they’re cheaper and shorter, so don’t leave those to the last minute even in quieter months.
Weather: Rhodes gets almost no rain from June through September. When the Meltemi winds blow (typically July-August), the west coast gets choppy but the east coast stays sheltered — which is exactly where most boat tours go. Check the forecast, but don’t overthink it. If the seas are genuinely too rough, operators will cancel and refund you.
Where Boats Depart From
Most tours leave from one of two spots in Rhodes Town:
Mandraki Harbour is the historic port with the three windmills and the deer statues (where the Colossus of Rhodes supposedly stood). This is where most of the tourist-facing boats dock. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Old Town gates and easy to find.
The commercial harbour (Akandia) is further south and handles the larger catamarans and some of the Symi ferries. It’s still walkable from the Old Town — about 15 minutes — but if you’re staying in Faliraki or Ixia, check whether your tour offers hotel pick-up. Many do, especially the Symi day trips.
A few tours depart from Kolymbia or Faliraki instead of Rhodes Town. This is handy if you’re staying on the east coast and don’t want to taxi into town at 8am. The confirmation email will always specify the exact meeting point — just make sure you read it the night before rather than the morning of.
Tips That Will Save You Time and Money
Bring a waterproof phone pouch. You will want your phone for photos at every swimming stop, and saltwater plus phones equals regret. A $5 pouch from any shop in the Old Town solves the problem.
Wear reef shoes or water sandals. Some of the swimming stops have rocky entries, not sandy beaches. Your feet will thank you.
Apply sunscreen before you board. You will forget to reapply once you’re distracted by the views and the food. The Aegean sun in July is no joke — I got burned through a t-shirt.
The upper deck fills first. If you want the best views and the most sun, arrive at the departure point 15-20 minutes early. The shade-seekers usually get the lower deck by default, but on a catamaran you’ll have more options.
Cash for tips and Symi. Most boats accept cards for onboard purchases, but if you’re stopping in Symi, the smaller tavernas and shops may be cash-only. Bring 20-30 euros just in case. Tips for the crew are appreciated but not expected — 5-10 euros is standard if the service was good.
Don’t book two boat trips on consecutive days. You’ll be sunburned and exhausted. Space them out with a day exploring the Old Town or a trip to Lindos by land in between.
What You’ll Actually See From the Boat
The standard east coast cruise route hits three spots that deserve a mention:
Anthony Quinn Bay is the headline act. Named after the actor who filmed “The Guns of Navarone” nearby (and reportedly fell in love with the place), it’s a small cove with emerald-green water surrounded by pine-covered rocks. It’s gorgeous, but in peak season you’ll share it with 15 other tour boats. Morning is better — the afternoon trips get the crowd.
Ladiko Beach sits just next to Anthony Quinn and is slightly less famous but equally pretty. Some tours stop here instead, others hit both. The water is shallower and calmer, which makes it better for snorkelling if you’re not confident in deep water.
Kallithea Springs is a restored Italian-era spa complex with a small pebble beach. It’s the most “produced” of the three stops — there’s an actual building, a bar, and lounge chairs you can rent. The sunset cruises favour this spot because the light through the stone arches at golden hour is genuinely spectacular.
If you take the Symi route, the scenery changes completely. The open water crossing is nothing special (ocean, horizon, maybe some dolphins if you’re lucky), but arriving into Symi harbour is a moment. The coloured houses rise from the waterfront in a way that looks almost painted — it’s one of those places that genuinely looks better in person than in photos.
Most Symi trips also stop at Saint George’s Bay for a swim. It’s a sheltered beach with clear shallow water — warmer than the east coast coves because it’s more enclosed. The monastery at Panormitis is worth the 20 minutes if your tour includes it, though it’s not a life-changing stop.
What to Do Before and After Your Cruise
If your boat leaves at 9 or 10am, get to the Old Town early and walk the Street of the Knights before the crowds descend. It’s one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe, and at 7:30am you might have it to yourself. Grab a coffee from one of the bakeries near the harbour and walk along the sea wall.
After an afternoon cruise, you’ll be salty, sun-tired, and hungry. The restaurants along Ippokratous Square in the Old Town are decent but touristy — for better food at lower prices, walk two blocks deeper into the backstreets. The locals eat there, which tells you everything.
If you’re doing a sunset cruise, you’ll get back around 8:30-9pm. Perfect timing for a late dinner in the Old Town, which is when Rhodes is at its best — the stone walls lit up, the narrow streets finally cool, and the crowds from the cruise ships long gone.
More Rhodes and Greece Guides
If you’re spending a few days in Rhodes, our guide to booking a Lindos tour covers the other big day trip from the island — the acropolis there is genuinely impressive and pairs well with a boat day if you stagger them. Planning to island-hop from Rhodes? The Santorini caldera cruise is one of the standout boat experiences in Greece, and our Zakynthos Shipwreck Beach guide covers another world-class boat trip. Back on the mainland, the Acropolis tickets guide and Athens food tour guide are worth reading if Athens is on your itinerary — and if you’re looking at another Greek island boat trip, our Corfu boat tour guide follows the same format as this one.
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More Greece Guides
If you are spending time in Rhodes, a boat tour pairs well with a day exploring on land. The Lindos tour takes you to the clifftop acropolis and the village below — one of the best land-and-sea combinations on the island.
Beyond Rhodes, the Dodecanese has more to offer on the water. The Kos island cruises run dirt-cheap three-island loops nearby, while the Santorini wine tours and caldera cruises show a completely different side of the Greek islands.