Rhodes: Discover the Medieval City on a Segway

Rhodes Old Town rewards a closer look. This two-hour Segway tour gives you an entertaining way to cover its cobbled lanes, fortified moat, Street of the Knights, and seaside sights without spending the whole day walking. I like the small groups, limited to eight people, and I especially like that guides such as George, Bill, Nikos, and Vasilis take time to help beginners feel steady before setting off.

I also like the practical extras: guides stop for photographs and can take pictures for you, then send them afterward at no added cost. The main thing to consider is that riding through the Old Town can be slow when the streets are crowded, and some riders may want more detailed historical explanation than the tour provides.

Key points at a glance

• The moat is the unusual highlight: You ride through and around Rhodes’ medieval defensive moat, seeing walls and fortifications from a useful ground-level view.
• Beginners get careful instruction: A short lesson and safety briefing come before the group leaves, and past riders in their 60s have found the Segways easy to manage.
• You see more than the main streets: The route includes narrow lanes, quieter corners, the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh, and parts of the city many people miss on foot.
• The tour reaches the harbor: After the Old Town, you head toward Mandraki, the windmills, the Aegean waterfront, and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas.
• Small groups improve the ride: With no more than eight participants, the guide can watch your progress and adjust the pace.
• Timing matters in summer: An early or late departure can help with heat and crowds, although the exact starting times depend on availability.

Getting comfortable on the Segway

You meet at the local partner’s office at 37 Ippodamou Street. The experience begins with an orientation, a helmet, and a full safety briefing before you enter the Old Town.

If you have never used a Segway, do not let that stop you. Several riders who were complete beginners picked up the controls quickly, and one couple in their 60s felt confident after about ten minutes of patient tuition from George. The machine responds to your body movement, so the key is to relax, look ahead, and avoid stiffening your knees.

The equipment includes Segway I2 models, as well as newer equipment described as having two or four wheels. The supplied information does not specify which model every participant receives, so you should ask the operator if that matters to you.

The orientation is more than a formality. Rhodes has narrow lanes, uneven surfaces, pedestrians, and busy stretches. A good guide will want you comfortable before moving into those conditions. George, Bill, Nikos, and other guides have been praised for giving calm, practical instruction rather than rushing the group.

You need a basic level of fitness, but this is not a strenuous athletic activity. You will be standing for much of the two hours, steering, stopping, and adjusting your balance. Wear comfortable shoes, use sunscreen, and leave luggage or large bags behind. High heels are not allowed.

The first roll through Rhodes Old Town

Once everyone is ready, the group begins in the Medieval City. This is where the Segway earns its keep. On foot, you can spend a long time moving between the main sights, and the cobbles and slight inclines can make the going tiring. On a Segway, you cover more ground while still moving slowly enough to notice doorways, stonework, and small lanes.

The route is not simply a straight ride from one famous monument to another. Guides take groups down narrow alleys and quieter back streets, offering a look at the lived-in side of the Old Town. You might see local residents sitting in the shade and socializing, while shops and restaurants occupy the more heavily used lanes.

That mix is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You get the headline sights, but you also see how the medieval center functions as a real neighborhood. It is more revealing than racing between postcard views.

The first Old Town segment lasts about 20 minutes, followed by a short photo stop. Expect a moving introduction rather than a full lecture at every building. If you want detailed facts about every stone, you may find the commentary light. Some riders felt the tour could have offered more historical detail, while others enjoyed the relaxed pace and accessible explanations.

Riding inside the medieval moat

The approximately 30-minute ride through the Medieval Town Moat is the most distinctive section. Rhodes is famous for its fortifications, and the moat lets you appreciate their scale from below and alongside the walls.

This is not just a quick photo stop. You spend meaningful time riding through the defensive area, with chances to view the city walls, battlements, and fortification details. Guides also explain how invasions and occupations shaped the city, though the amount of historical information can depend on the individual guide.

The moat route also gives you a break from the tightest lanes. You can make better progress here, although the surface may still require careful steering. Your guide controls the pace and watches for difficult portions, which is especially useful if this is your first Segway ride.

A short break and photo stop follows. The guide can take pictures of you during the tour, which solves a common problem: trying to hold a phone while balancing on a moving machine. The photographs are sent after the activity at no extra charge, according to the tour information.

The Street of the Knights and the Palace

The route continues along the Street of the Knights, one of the Old Town’s most impressive medieval thoroughfares. Its stone buildings and strong architectural lines make it one of the places where a guide adds real value. You can pause, look around, and hear about the role of the street within the fortified city.

The Street of the Knights section lasts about 15 minutes. It is not an extended museum-style visit, so set your expectations correctly. You will be riding and sightseeing, not entering every building or receiving a long formal talk.

The next major stop is the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. You get about ten minutes for photographs, free time, and sightseeing. The palace is an imposing landmark, and this pause gives you a chance to take it in without trying to steer at the same time.

The tour does not list interior entry to the palace, so plan on viewing it from outside unless the operator tells you otherwise. That is important if you are choosing this as a substitute for a dedicated palace visit. This activity is best understood as an overview of the city, not a full archaeological or museum tour.

Nearby, the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh adds another architectural stop. The route includes this church along with other less obvious corners, giving you a broader sense of the Old Town than a simple ride down the busiest commercial streets.

From medieval walls to Mandraki Harbor

After the main Old Town sights, the experience moves toward Rhodes’ modern seaside area. This change of setting keeps the two-hour route from feeling repetitive. You leave the enclosed medieval streets and feel the Aegean breeze along the waterfront.

The harbor section includes the famous windmills and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas, positioned at the entrance to Mandraki Harbor. These open views make a pleasant contrast with the stone lanes and high walls of the Medieval City.

The supplied itinerary gives more detail for the Old Town, moat, Street of the Knights, and palace than for the harbor portion. One rider specifically hoped for more time at the windmills and the end of the marina, so you should not assume that every waterfront landmark receives a long stop.

Still, reaching the harbor adds real value. It shows how the old fortified center connects with modern Rhodes, and it gives you different photo opportunities. The sea breeze can also be welcome after time on warm stone streets.

The return follows an alternative route, allowing you to see additional parts of the city rather than simply retracing your path. In two hours, that matters. The tour is designed to provide an overview, not to linger at one monument for half an hour.

What the guides add

The guide can make or break a small-group vehicle tour, and the strongest praise here goes to patience, friendliness, safety, and local orientation.

George has been especially appreciated for working carefully with first-time riders, finding quieter lanes, and taking photographs. Bill has been praised for his humor, relaxed manner, and close attention to beginners. Nikos has been described as a strong source of Greek historical information and a careful instructor around trickier parts of the route.

Other guides named by riders include Vasilis, Nicos, Nicolai, Irene, and Amalia. The consistent pattern is a friendly and attentive approach. Some guides also recommend places for dinner, which can be useful if you are still deciding where to eat in Rhodes Town.

The level of historical detail can vary. If you want a formal, heavily researched lecture, this may not satisfy you at every stop. If you want clear explanations, practical guidance, and a friendly introduction to the city, the format works well.

Crowds, heat, and the best departure time

Rhodes Old Town is not an empty film set. It is a working historic center filled with pedestrians, shops, restaurants, and uneven lanes. A Segway helps you cover distance, but it does not give you a clear path through a crowded street.

One rider found progress slow and tricky during a busy period, especially because the route involved frequent stops. That is a fair criticism. You should expect a sightseeing ride, not a fast circuit.

Time of day makes a difference. An early 9 a.m. departure was praised for quieter streets. A 5 p.m. tour was also appreciated because it avoided the worst midday heat. In the height of summer, these options may be more comfortable than a midday ride.

The provider supplies bottled water at the start and, according to one detailed account, again during the tour. This is useful in Rhodes’ warm climate, though you should still bring sunscreen and wear light, comfortable clothing.

Is the $76 price fair?

At $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Rhodes Old Town. You can walk the streets independently for far less, and a self-guided visit lets you stop as long as you like at the palace, churches, shops, and harbor.

The value comes from combining several things in two hours: equipment, a helmet, instruction, a guide, a small group, the moat, the major medieval sights, hidden lanes, and a section of the waterfront. You also avoid the fatigue of walking the entire route on hot cobbles.

For a first visit, I think the cost is reasonable if you value orientation and want to cover a lot in a short window. It is particularly useful for a cruise stop, a short stay, or a family group that may lose patience with a long walking tour.

The value is weaker if you already know Rhodes well or want long, detailed time inside individual monuments. The tour does not include hotel pickup, palace admission, or a separate museum visit, so budget and plan for those independently.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms make it easier to fit the tour around changing plans, but check the available departure time before booking.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this for first-time visitors who want a broad look at Rhodes Town without committing to several hours on foot. Families with teenagers are a strong match, since the activity adds movement and fun to the sightseeing.

It also suits adults who are curious about Segways but have not tried one. The careful instruction and small groups help, and past riders across a wide age range have managed well.

This is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or anyone over 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms. The tour requires basic fitness and comfortable balance while standing. If you have concerns about steering on cobbles or spending two hours upright, contact the operator before reserving.

Groups larger than eight will be split or need another arrangement, since the advertised maximum is eight participants. A smaller group is a real advantage here, particularly in narrow streets where the guide needs to keep everyone together.

Should you book the Rhodes Segway tour?

Book it if you want to see a lot of Rhodes Old Town in two hours, enjoy a little movement, and like the idea of riding through the moat and narrow lanes. The combination of medieval walls, the Street of the Knights, the Grand Master’s Palace, and Mandraki Harbor gives you a strong first look at the city.

Choose an early or late departure if you can, especially in summer. Expect a relaxed sightseeing pace, not a speedy ride, and understand that the historical commentary may be lighter than on a dedicated walking tour.

I would skip it if you prefer to move slowly through museums, read every inscription, or avoid crowds and uneven streets. For most first-time visitors who want an easy, social introduction to Rhodes, the tour offers a lively way to get oriented, with patient guides and enough variety to justify the price.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes Segway tour?

The tour lasts two hours, including the orientation, safety briefing, riding time, photo stops, and sightseeing pauses.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at the local partner’s office at 37 Ippodamou Street in Rhodes.

Is the tour suitable for Segway beginners?

Yes. The experience includes an orientation and full safety briefing before departure. Guides provide instruction and wait until participants feel comfortable riding.

What sights are included?

The route includes Rhodes Old Town, the Medieval Town Moat, the Street of the Knights, the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh, the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, the harbor area, the windmills, and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a Segway I2, helmet, orientation session, and full safety briefing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Who cannot join the tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or people over 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms. Participants should have a basic level of fitness.