Car Rental in Rhodes

Picking up in town suits you if you arrived some other way and only want a car for part of your stay. You can't drive into the Old Town. Since 14 April 2026 no vehicle without a permit may enter the walled medieval town: only permanent residents with a special permit, and delivery vehicles between 06:00 and 09:00. The rules make no exception for visitors or hotel guests.

The supplier brings the car to your hotel or sends you directions to their office, and confirms which after booking. If you're staying inside the walls, the handover is outside them, at the nearest street a car can reach, and you walk in with your luggage.

Parking in Rhodes town

• The Old Town is closed to visitors' cars (see Rhodes City above). Park outside the walls and walk in through one of the gates.
• Free car park at Akandia: the municipality runs a free car park at Akandia port, with a free minibus via the moat (Tafros), the tourist port and Kolona to the Town Hall. It runs from morning to late evening, with shorter hours at weekends.
• Paid street parking in the centre is marked with blue P signs. Pay at the meter or, since May 2026, on your phone: scan the QR code on the meter or go to parking.rhodes.gr, enter the plate and choose how long. The price is shown before you pay.
• In July and August a space in the centre is hard to find. Leave the car at Akandia and take the minibus.
• Outside Rhodes town parking is usually free, except in Lindos (see Trips).

On the road

• The east coast road from Rhodes town past Faliraki and Kolymbia to Lindos is the island's main road: well surfaced, and the easiest driving on Rhodes. Expect 80 km/h or less on most of it, and lower through villages and resorts.
• The west coast and the hills: the road past Kamiros and Kritinia towards Monolithos is quieter but climbs and winds more, and the hill roads inland, such as the one up to Embonas, are in good condition but winding. An ordinary car manages them; just allow more time.
• Fuel: fill up before heading to the far south or the far west. The last stations are at Lardos, Gennadi and Kattavia in the south-east, and at Embonas, Kritinia and Apolakia in the west. There is none at Prasonisi, and little or nothing between Kritinia and Apolakia, around Siana and Monolithos. Stations take cash and cards.
• Wildfires: in summer a fire can close roads at short notice. In July 2023 fires in the south-east closed roads and some 19,000 people were moved from homes and hotels. Emergency alerts reach phones from 112: follow them, and don't drive towards smoke.