Tips for visiting the Acropolis of Lindos with kids, Rhodes

One of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and one of the best-known places to visit in Rhodes for families, you shouldn’t miss the Acropolis of Lindos with kids.

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Sitting on a clifftop above the village of Lindos, the Acropolis dates back thousands of years, with the ruins of ancient temples now tucked inside defensive walls built by the Knights of St John in medieval times, all towering over the sea 100m below.

With a chance to wander amid the ruins, as well as exploring the village and heading to nearby beaches, it’s easy to fill a day in Lindos with kids. But if you’re planning to visit the Acropolis, don’t set off without reading my tips first.

Is it worth visiting the Lindos Acropolis with kids?

The short answer is yes! The site really is spectacular, both to explore and for its views back down, not to mention millennia of history.

If you’re visiting with very little ones, it’s certainly not buggy-friendly, and there are some steep drops and uneven sections, so you’ll want to keep tight hold of toddlers.

There are some quirky highlights to spot which will help to bring it alive for older kids (and usually a sunbathing cat or two to add to the entertainment), plus it’s fun clambering around to get to different parts and fascinating for those who love history.

The site isn’t huge either, so if you avoid the crowds – read on for tips on how to do that – you won’t be spending hours there, if your kids have a short attention span for ruined temples.

What time is best to visit Lindos?

Arrive early! I can’t stress this enough, especially in peak season or when cruise ships are visiting.

The gates open at 8am, and if you turn up then (or shortly afterwards, like us) & you’ll probably share the site with just a handful of others. It also lets you explore before the worst of the heat.

When we left at around 9.30am, the queue was huge with hundreds of people in the line stretching down the hillside.

If you’re visiting out of season, it’s worth doublechecking the opening hours (and cruise ship arrivals). Lindos Acropolis is always popular but there’ll be far fewer people on a quiet day in March compared to the summer holidays.

Is it worth prebooking tickets?

Definitely. You can prebook tickets online, which lets you walk straight in to the turnstiles to have your tickets scanned rather than having to buy them at the ticket office. There are two-hour time slots, with the earliest at 8am – check here for the full opening hours, which are limited in the winter months.

There are signs dotted around with QR codes to buy tickets, so if you’ve visited without prebooking and found a giant queue, you can scan and skip that wait though.

Adult tickets currently cost 12 Euros, while children aged 6-25 from countries not in the EU pay 6 Euros. Under fives are free, as are EU citizens aged under 25.

To get skip-the-line tickets, you can book directly on the Hellenic Heritage site. Alternatively, you can buy from sites such as tiqets (with a small discount using my link and the code MUMMYTRAVELS6) and have the tickets scanned on your phone – no need to pick them up from the ticket office.

Get Your Guide also sends the tickets direct to your email, and allows you to add an audio guide as well.

How do I get to Lindos Acropolis with kids?

While there is a bus route from Rhodes Town to Lindos, most people visiting the Acropolis will come by car or as part of a tour.

It’s easy to travel there independently, and means you have the flexibility to beat the big groups but it’s worth knowing that you can’t drive to the acropolis – the only way to get to the site at the top of the hill is on foot from Lindos village or by donkey.

There are two routes to take up to the Acropolis. As you head into Lindos village, if you turn to the left, the route will take you up the winding path along the hillside towards the site, while the other leads through the village climbing up a string of steps to approach the acropolis from the opposite side.

My preference is to take the winding path up, as you get some great views up to the Acropolis as well as back down to the sea, and it’s more interesting to climb with kids – it’s easy to imagine people thousands of years ago following a similar route.

Then take the route through the village to head back down. It’s lined with little stalls and shops, as well as tavernas, so it’s easy to pick up a few souvenirs along the way (whereas you might need to rush past on the way up) – plus going down steps is easier than going up!

Both routes take a similar amount of time. If you’re coming from St Paul’s, you’ll come from the opposite side of Lindos, but it will lead you to the same routes.

Where can I park?

You can’t park in the village itself, although there are several options within a short walk. There is parking by the nearby sandy beach if you’re planning to head down to the sea afterwards, including some free parking as well as paid parking.

It’s a few minutes walk back uphill towards the village and the route up to the Acropolis.

Alternatively, there are a handful of spaces on the road leading downhill to Lindos village – this private parking is paid (expect to pay around 5 euros in high season) but it cuts out some of the walk.

Otherwise, the majority of people leave their cars in the bigger car park at the top of the hill, known as Lindos Central Parking. With room for 300 cars, you’d be unlucky not to find a space.

Or on the other side of Lindos, St Paul’s Parking takes you a slightly different route but also has lots of space and costs around 6 euros for the day.

Do I need a donkey?

Honestly, no. Happily the donkeys do look well cared for, but unless you have mobility issues, anyone of average fitness can tackle the walk and climb.

My 11-year-old had no issues at all (she was faster than I was), and there were younger kids who managed equally well.

If you are planning to visit with little ones and the walk is too much for little legs, you’ll pass the donkeys in the village to arrange a ride – if you do arrive early, you may find you get there before the donkeys do, so it’s worth bearing that in mind.

What is there to see at the Acropolis of Lindos?

Unlike a lot of ancient sites in Greece, the Acropolis of Lindos has been added to over the years, so you can discover different elements from across the centuries.

The site itself is thought to date back to the 9th or 10th century BCE, with Lindos becoming most powerful in around the 6th and 7th century BCE. Lindos is old enough that it’s mentioned by Homer as one of the Greek cities which took part in the Trojan War.

Within a few centuries, the city near Rhodes became the most important political centre, while Lindos become its key religious site – the famous ruins of the temple to Athena Lindia date from the 4th century BCE, built on the site of an earlier temple.

Later, the Knights of St John (or Knights Hospitaller) built their castle here by 1317 on top of older Byzantine fortifications.

The site itself isn’t huge but as it’s set over several levels, it takes a while to walk around, as you climb from the entrance, through the medieval fortifications and up to the Temple of Athena Lindia, as well as some of the other sections of ruins in between. We spent around an hour inside.

There are paths or steps through most areas, but you can also wander off to get closer to some sections of ruins – fun for kids, although the ground off the path can be a bit uneven for toddlers.

Here’s what else to look out for at Lindos Acropolis with kids:

The ship relief

One of the first things you can see after entering the site is a huge ship carved into the rock; a triemiolia or trireme, which was a type of ancient warship used in Rhodes.

The boat by Pythokritos, as it’s known, was sculpted in the rock in the early 2nd century BCE, and while not all of it is visible, you can see see the curving prow and other details.

Originally this was the base of a statue to an admiral, Agesandrus, so you can imagine how imposing it must have been when it was intact.

The Knights Hospitaller buildings

One of the ‘new’ additions to the site, the Knights of St John added their castle and fortified the site with huge walls stretching over 500 metres around the hillside.

From the ship relief, you climb the stone steps up to the next level of the acropolis, which takes you inside the building – look out for the coats of arms as you go.

You’ll walk through the administrative building, added in around the 14th-15th centuries CE – it’s certainly one of the most memorable locations for offices, with some huge column bases tucked into corners before you emerge into the sunlight again.

The other main medieval building is the Byzantine church of St John, later turned into a mosque after the Ottoman invasion. During our visit, you couldn’t go inside, but you can look at the decorative exterior and spot the door connecting it to the administrative building.

The temple of Athena Lindia

The final climb up the 34 steps to the sanctuary and the remains of the Temple to Athena are what makes a visit to the Acropolis of Lindos so memorable.

The huge columns soar up to the cloudless sky, dwarfing everyone who walks up. It’s not hard to imagine the awe those visiting the intact temple must have felt.

Once there would have been ornate statues inside, although these are long gone. You can see stone bowls designed for collecting offerings though under the imposing columns.

Other highlights of Lindos Acropolis

There are all kinds of little details to look out for – inscriptions carved into rocks, bits of statues, and the remains of other temples.

Some of the other architectural highlights include the Propylaea of the Sanctuary – a gateway leading to a covered walkway – and the Hellenistic Stoa, which sits to the sides of the Propylaea staircase. Dating from the 3rd century BCE, 26 columns still survive.

Realistically it’s the experience of exploring that’s more interesting for kids, than knowing the specific architectural features though.

One other fun detail to keep kids engaged is the story of the tyrant Kleoboulos, who ruled Lindos. So the myth says, he was punished for disrespecting Athena by being turned into a rock – which can still supposedly be found at the entrance to the Acropolis. As to which one it is? No-one can say for sure, but it’s fun to speculate.

It’s worth knowing that there is conservation work going on at the site, partly to fix the unsympathetic restoration done by the Italians in the 1930s – while it helped bring parts of the site to life once more, the materials used are damaging some of the remaining ruins. Parts of the site may therefore be closed while this takes place.

Do also take a few moments to soak in the views down to St Paul’s Bay and Lindos Bay which are fantastic – the different blue and turquoise shades of the sea are simply beautiful, and on a clear day, you can see for miles.

Do I need a guide?

There are some signs and boards giving information on what you can see, but they’re fairly limited. If you’re looking for a brief overview, that is a good starting point, but if you want more, you’ll need some kind of guide or guidebook.

If you book tickets from Get Your Guide there’s an option to get an audio guide with your ticket, while most guidebooks for Rhodes have some information on Lindos.

If you do want lots of detail, you’ll need to book a guide – either a group guided tour or you can hire a private guide. Otherwise don’t expect to see lots of guides waiting at the site, so it’s best to make other arrangements in advance.

What should I bring if I’m visiting Lindos with kids?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential – you don’t necessarily need trainers, but walking sandals are a better idea than flipflops given the walk up and the uneven ground inside.

It’s well worth bringing a hat too, as you won’t find much shade while you’re exploring, along with plenty of water and any snacks your kids might want.

There is a cafe near the entrance to the Acropolis, but (unsurprisingly) it’s pricy, although the fresh juices are lovely – there are also toilets next to the cafe, as there are no facilities within the acropolis site.

What else is there to do in Lindos with kids?

Lindos itself is a picturesque little village, all whitewashed alleys, but very touristy – as you wander the narrow streets, you’ll find stalls and shops with (lovely!) souvenirs galore, as well as plenty of bars + tavernas.

It’s easy to while away some time browsing or relaxing with a drink after your climb to the Acropolis, as well as strolling around the winding lanes to see what you stumble across. It’s pedestrian-only which makes it a relaxing place to wander with kids.

There are also a couple of beaches sitting below the village – both with soft sand, Lindos Beach is bigger, busier and you’ll find loungers galore plus kayaks to rent, while Pallas Beach is smaller and quieter, with shallow water that’s perfect if you’re visiting Rhodes with toddlers and younger kids.

Nearby St Paul’s Bay is pebbly and a longer walk from any car parking, but may be quieter if you’re looking to paddle.

On the route round towards St Paul’s Parking, you can also see the remains of the Theatre of Lindos, cut into the rocks, which could once have seated around 2,000 people, and the nearby Tetrastoon building, thought to have been used for rituals.

Where else can I discover history on Rhodes?

For a relatively small island (albeit the largest in the Dodecanese), Rhodes is a history-lover’s paradise – its strategic location means it was at the centre of trade routes and fought over by a variety of cultures and civilisations.

That also means that you’re spoiled for choice if you’re looking for other historic sites on Rhodes – according to legend, the first settler on the island was the son of Hercules, Tlipolemos, who helped found the three major cities; Lindos, Ialyssos and Kamiros.

On the opposite coast to Lindos, Ancient Kamiros is the oldest city on the island, where you can see the remains of shops, homes and baths, as well as more temples. The site is more spread out than Lindos but tends to get fewer visitors – there’s also more shade under the pine trees.

The third ancient site of Ialyssos is near Rhodes Town, and you can also discover the Temple of Apollo and Acropolis of Rhodes just outside the island’s capital.

For more recent history, Rhodes Town itself has a wonderfully preserved medieval centre, including buildings from the time of the Knights of St John and some of the old city walls.

Or around an hour from Lindos, Monolithos Castle was also built by the Knights of St John, with its hilltop setting giving fantastic views – originally designed to warn of attack from the sea.

For more tips on things to do in Rhodes with kids, check out my top picks, as well as my review of the Gennadi Grand Resort where we stayed for part of our trip

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Main image/Theatre of Lindos courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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