By Plane
In addition to its year-round service between Rhodes and Athens and Thessaloniki, Olympic Airways offers summer service between Rhodes and the following Greek locales: Iraklion (Crete), Karpathos, and Santorini. The local Olympic office is at 9 Ierou Lohou (tel. 22410/24-571 or 22410/24-555). Flights fill quickly, so reserve in advance. Aegean Airlines (within Greece tel. 801/112-0000; www.aegeanair.com), in addition to flights to Rhodes, offers at least high-season flights between Rhodes and Thessaloniki and Iraklion, Crete. Tickets for any flight in or out of Rhodes can be purchased directly from Triton Holidays, near Mandraki Harbor, 9 Plastira, Rhodes city (tel. 22410/21-690; fax 22410/31-625; www.tritondmc.gr). Triton will either send your tickets to you or have them waiting for you at the airport.
The Rhodes Paradissi Airport (tel. 22410/83-214) is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city and is served from 6am to 10:30pm by bus. The bus to the city center (Plateia Rimini) is 5€ ($6.50). A taxi costs about 20€ ($26). By the way, some taxi drivers resist taking passengers to hotels in the Old City (because of the slow going in the old streets); note their number and threaten to report them, and they will usually relent.
By Boat
Rhodes is a major port with sea links not only to Athens, Crete, and the islands of the Aegean, but also to Cyprus, Turkey, and Israel. Service and schedules are always changing; check with the tourist office or a travel agency for the latest information.
In late spring and throughout the summer there are daily sailings -- some with high-speed hydrofoils or catamarans -- from and to Rhodes and many of the Dodecanense and other islands in the eastern Aegean: Kos, Kalimnos, Kastellorizo, Leros, Nissiros, Patmos, Samos, and Simi, and Tilos. The advantage of hydrofoils and catamarans is that they make the voyage in half the time, but when the wind blows, the sailings are canceled. Air quality is also poor, especially compared to that on larger open-deck excursion boats or ferries. For more detailed information about the most active ship line, Dodekanisos Seaways, see www.12ne.gr.
Wherever it is you want to go, whether by ferry, hydrofoil, catamaran, or excursion boat, schedules and tickets are available from Triton Holidays, 9 Plastira (tel. 22410/21-690; fax 22410/31-625; www.tritondmc.gr). Although travel agents throughout Rhodes city and island can issue air and sea tickets, we like Triton Holidays' focus on independent travelers.
A Helping Hand
The Dodecanese Association for People with Special Needs (tel. 22410/73-109; mobile 6940/463810) provides free minibus door-to-door service from the port, airport, and hotels -- or even if you want to go out for coffee or a swim.
