Lindos Acropolis Reviews: Everything About Entry Fees, Transportation Options, Climbing Methods & Essential Tips Based on Our Recent Visit to Ancient Fortress
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This one will be useful for those who want to visit the Acropolis in Lindos and learn more about the place before visiting. I will detail the opening hours, ticket prices and ways to get to this place.
Also, you will learn about available excursions and main attractions, and I will also give some useful tips to make your trip as comfortable and memorable as possible.
Acropolis in Lindos (Rhodes Island): what it is interesting and worth visiting
Today Lindos is a tiny town in the southeast of Rhodes. In Homer’s time, it was one of the most powerful polities in the ancient Greek world, famous for its brave sailors and successful merchants.
The Acropolis of Lindos is a silent witness to its former greatness, second only to the world-famous Acropolis of Athens. But despite its secondary importance, it is not to say that it has been neglected by tourists, especially since there are still a lot of white spots in its history.
Entering the city you can remember the myth about the love of the sun god Helios with a nymph. They had sons: Lindos, Kamiros and Ialisos, who founded three city-states named in their honor.
Lindos is home to the second most important Acropolis, after the world-famous Acropolis of Athens
In fact, Lindos was founded not by the son of a god and a nymph, but by the Dorian Greeks. This city was the main city on the island for a long time, and moreover, it was the monopolist of the Mediterranean trade.
Lindos were the first in Europe to compile a code of maritime law, later called the “Rhodes Law”. Their town was famous for its sculptors, and it was here that the master Haret created the famous Colossus for the “new” city of Rhodes.
The jagged walls of the castle and fragments of the Master’s Palace are the legacy of the Hospitallers, who created here a powerful system of fortifications in the XIV-XV centuries (another interesting sight of Lindos, which should be combined with a tour of the Acropolis, if time permits)
Timetable and ticket price for Acropolis of Lindos
The schedule of the Acropolis of Lindos depends on both the season and the day of the week. From April to October it is open, from 8.00 to 20.00. From November to March it is open from 8.30 to 15.30.
Tickets to the Acropolis of Lindos cost 12 euros, young visitors (under 18) go free. If you are an EU resident and at least 65 years old, you will only pay 6 euros.
On some days the entrance to the Acropolis is free: March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September and on national holidays.
How to get to the Acropolis in Lindos
First you need to get to the city of Lindos, this can be done by:
- bus (fares start at 2.2 euros, bus transportation is provided by DES RODA and KTEL);
- rented car (prices for cars start from 20 euros for manual transmission if you take a few days, gasoline costs about 1.7 euros per liter. To rent a car you must be 21 years old and at least 1 year of driving experience. It is obligatory to have an international driver’s license). I wrote about the nuances of renting a car in Rhodes in this article;
- cab (prices depend on the distance and on average, a trip will cost 20-60 euros).
The Acropolis is located on a high hill, so the last part of the way will have to be overcome either by walking up the stairs or along the path on a donkey (5 euros).
Location of the Acropolis in Lindos on the map of Rhodes Island
What you can see at the Acropolis
Behind the walls there is a staircase that leads to the 1st level. Here, during the Byzantine period, barrels of water and grain were stored and many statues have been preserved. The main attraction of the 1st level are the rock carvings of the Podium and the relief image of a ship, which dates back to 170 BC.
The second level contains a knights’ fortress and a temple from the Roman period.
In the 2nd century BC in honor of General Gagensander at the steps leading to the sanctuary, in the rock was carved an image of triemiolia – ancient Greek warship
On the 3rd level is the 87-meter long Hellenistic Portico, built approximately in the 3rd century BC. Its facade is decorated with 42 Doric columns. Nearby lie the ruins of the Byzantine church of St. John, from which you can climb the stairs to the Propylaea.
And finally, on the very last level of the Acropolis, right on the precipice of the cliff, is the temple of Athena Lindia, with dimensions of 8×22 meters. It was built in the 4th century BC, later it was partially reconstructed, but in fact, now there are only ruins, except for 6 columns standing on a pedestal.
The temple of Athena of Lyndia is relatively small: only 22×8 meters. A statue of the goddess once stood in the center of the temple
The ancient inhabitants sacredly honored the goddess Athena, whose prayers to which, according to their beliefs, saved the city from destruction by the Persians during the campaign of Darius I in 490 BC
The southern edge of the cliff offers a panoramic view of the sea and the harbor of the Apostle Paul, who came here to preach Christianity. To the right of the harbor is an ancient theater.
If you walk to the west of the Acropolis of Lindos, you can see the necropolis, where a well-preserved tomb from the 2nd century B.C., from which you can judge the architecture of that period.
The Acropolis is of interest not only to history buffs, but also to those who enjoy viewing platforms. From the rock on which the Acropolis stands, there are excellent panoramic views of the two harbors, the sea, the city of Lindos and the island itself.
The cliff on which the Acropolis sits offers wonderful views of the surrounding area of Lindos
What to consider when visiting the Acropolis
Since September 4, 2023, the Acropolis has introduced quotas for visits: now, per day, the site will receive no more than 20,000 people, while previously it received up to 23,000 visitors per day. Thus, the Greek authorities want to solve the issue of crowds of tourists and prevent the destruction of the monument, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
At first, the restrictions are introduced in test mode. The system will finally work from April 1, 2024: will be introduced pre-booking visits, and the flow will be evenly distributed throughout the day, as previously most tourist groups preferred to climb the famous mountain before noon.
At the same time, the time that tourists will spend in the Acropolis is not going to be limited. According to statistics, most visitors do not stay on the hill for more than 45 minutes.
If the experiment is recognized as successful, it will be extended to other particularly popular Greek sights.
Useful tips for those who want to visit the Acropolis in Lindos
- Climbing the 116 meter high hill where the Acropolis of Lindos is located is quite time consuming. Crowds of tourists are half the problem, it is wise to go to see it in the morning, staying the day before in one of the hotels nearby.
- By the way, there are no hotels in Lindos itself, and traveling around the city is possible only on foot or on local donkeys.
The Acropolis can be climbed on foot or by donkey
- It is better to descend the hill on foot: the stairs are quite slippery, and poor animals often gallop down them in anticipation of the tasty carrots that await them at the bottom.
- In any case, before climbing should buy a bottle of water, wear comfortable shoes, preferably on rubberized soles (to avoid slipping), and generously smeared with sunscreen.
- At the top of the rock, especially in summer, it is very hot, there is practically nowhere to hide from the scorching rays, there are no stores selling water. But, in addition to seeing the Acropolis, you can look at the beautiful views of the surrounding area.
Other useful links and interesting information:
- Oia city in Santorini: A Traveler’s Guide. From Airport Transfer to Secret Viewpoints, Accommodation Prices, Hidden Beaches – Everything You Need to Know Before Your Trip in 2025
- Things to do in Santorini: Exploring Blue-Domed Churches, Black Sand Beaches, Local Cuisine and Ancient Ruins on this Stunning Greek Island