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Ride a Donkey to the Acropolis in Lindos Greece

While on a Mediterranean cruise our ship stopped at the Greek Island of Rhodes! We booked ourselves a half-day tour to Lindos, a small neighboring village just 1 hour from where our ship was docked in Rhodes town. Along the way, we experienced the Greek countryside, lots of wild goats, visited a traditional Greek Pottery shop, and got tons of great knowledge from our local Greek tour guide. When we got to Lindos our tour took up to the Acropolis, which was high above the village. We had two options to get to the top, we could walk or ride a donkey. That’s how we ended Riding a Donkey to the Acropolis in Lindos Greece!

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Getting to Lindos

Lindos is fairly easy to get to by bus, car or even boat. The major cruise port on the island of Rhodes is Rhodes town and is just 50 km away. The main airport on the island is located just north Rhodes town also.

By Bus

It’s quite easy to get a bus from Rhodes Town to Lindos on the public bus company KTEL Rodou, which takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Rhodes, making two stops along the way. This bus costs 5.50 euros per person.

By Car or private driver

From the airport or cruise port, you can book yourself a private driver. I would recommend this over renting a car due to the curvy roads and somewhat difficult driving on the island. Euronet is a great option for this! They will help you with luggage, have a sign and they are on time. This will cost you roughly 17 Euros per person.

By Boat

There are several great half-day tour options that will allow you to get to Lindos via boat. The views are amazing and you get plenty of time to explore the Acropolis in Lindos and the village. This is a great option––Rhodes Small-Group Boat Tour with Lindos!

Group Tour

This is how we got to Lindos and it was so easy! Our tour guide picked us up at the ship and we didn’t have to think about anything. We also learned a ton about Greek history along the way. Check out this Lindos Half-Day Tour option from Viator- Lindos Half-Day Trip.

For full details on how to get to Lindos check out the info HERE!

Brief History of Lindos

Lindos was founded by the Dorians around the 10th century B.C. and is one of six cities in the area known as the Dorian Hexapolis. In the 6th century, Lindos was ruled by Kleoboulos, one of the Seven Sages of Greece. There is a lovely statue of him still in town today. By the 8th century, Lindos become a major trading hub, but the importance of the city declined after the city of Rhodes was founded in the late 5th century B.C.

Later, in classical times, the Acropolis in Lindos was dominated by the Temple of Athena Lindia which was finalized around 300 B.C. The temple’s importance grew as more buildings were added (more about the Acropolis below). Years later the Knights of St. John added a massive fortress to the acropolis to defend the island against the Ottomans.

Today, Lindos is known for the beautiful Acropolis of Lindos, great beaches and vibrant village life.

Our Experience in Lindos

We arrived in Lindos via our tour around mid-morning. With our local tour guide, we weaved our way through the villages curvy streets to where we would start our trek to the top of the Acropolis of Lindos. Here is where we had the option to walk all the way to the top or pay a little extra to ride a Donkey. We couldn’t pass up the cool experience so we chose to ride a Donkey to the top! The ride only cost us 5 Euros per person.

Once on the Donkeys, we were led, all in a group, on the path up towards the Acropolis. The ride was a short one but let me tell you it was totally worth it! The views were absolutely amazing. The donkeys took a path along the edge of the city overlooking the bay and the village of Lindos. It was breathtaking and a little scary to be so close to the edge.

Once at the top, we had to leave our new Donkey friends. But what awaited us was so cool- the acropolis itself. Here is where we met back up with our tour guide. We got a brief history of the Acropolis of Lindos before we headed in to explore for ourselves.

Pro Tip- Make sure to dress appropriately because Greece is VERY hot in the summer months. While in Lindos the high for the day was 92 degrees Ferenhight.

The Acropolis of Lindos

High above the village sits the Acropolis of Lindos! Due to its high vantage point the site has served as a lookout point and has been used over the years by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Knights of St. John, and the Ottomans. It also makes the site difficult to excavate and learn about from an archaeological standpoint.

Today, the Acropolis offers beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea, St. Paul’s Bay and the village of Lindos. It’s also a very popular tourist attraction! Here are some of the main historical/archaeological sites at the Acropolis:

• The Doric Temple of Athena Lindia (300 BC)
• The Propylaea of the Sanctuary (4th century BC)
• The relief of the Rhodian Trireme (warship) (180 BC)
• The Hellenistic Staircase (2nd Century BC)
• The Hellenistic Stoa (200 BC)
• Remains of a Roman Temple (300 AD)
• The Castle of the Knights of St. John (before 1317 AD)
• Acropolis Hellenistic wall
• The Greek Orthodox Church of St. John (13th or 14th century)

For the full history and information on the Acropolis of Lindos check out this post!

There is a small fee to go inside the Acropolis- 12 Euros per person

Dates/Times of Operation:

1 Apr – 31 Oct Mon-Sun, 8:00-20:00
1 Nov – 31 Mar Tue-Sun, 8:00-15:00

Other Things to do in Lindos

Visit the Beach!

Lindos is on a beautiful Greek Island after all and therefore has a ton of great beach options! Lindos has two main beaches, both of which are within walking distance of the town. Other beaches on this list will require a brief taxi ride.

• Agios Pavlos Beach
• Lindos Beach
• Glystra Beach
• Vlycha Beach

Tomb of Kleoboulos

This 6th-century tomb honoring Kleoboulos who was a 6th century BC Greek poet and one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece. As a Lindo’s native, he is celebrated within the city. A statue of him sits atop the village overlooking the bay below. The tomb is debated to be his final resting spot and is assumed to be the tomb of a wealthy Lindos family.

To access the Tomb you will need to take a taxi or enjoy a nice walk. The walk will take you about 2 hours but it sooo worth it. Check out more details on taking a walk to the Tomb of Kleboulos HERE!

The Church of the Panagia

The church, originally built in 1300, is located on the left of the road on your way up to the Acropolis in Lindos and only a few minute’s walk from the main square. Featuring a high-rise stone-built campanile tower, cross-shaped octagonal dome, whitewashed walls, and red Byzantine tile roof, this church is worth a visit on any trip to Lindos. The interior features a richly decorated wooden carved iconostasis, Bishop’s throne, and impressive frescoes created by the famous Gregorios of Symi.

Other ideas to Enjoy a Day in Lindos:

• Go Shopping
• Enjoy Lunch at a Rooftop Bar
• Wander the lovely streets of Lindos
• Taste some Ouzo

Book your own Lindos Tour

Check out my other adventures in Greece HERE!