Most families come to Rhodes for the beaches and the sunshine. That’s entirely reasonable – the beaches are excellent and the sunshine is reliable. The island has more hours of sun per year than almost anywhere else in Europe, the east coast is sheltered and calm, and you’re never far from a stretch of sand worth stopping at.

But Rhodes is also one of the most historically layered destinations in the Mediterranean. It was a major power in the ancient Greek world, a key stop on Roman trade routes, the headquarters of the crusading Knights of St John for over two centuries, and later under Ottoman and Italian rule – each leaving something visible behind. That’s a lot of history in a relatively small place.

The good news for families is that the ancient stuff here tends to actually be impressive rather than just a pile of stones with a placard. Here are seven sites worth putting on the itinerary.

1. Palace of the Grand Master

The Palace of the Grand Master sits at the heart of Rhodes Old Town and announces itself immediately – it’s a proper medieval fortress, built on Byzantine foundations and later taken over by the Knights of St John as their headquarters. Inside you’ll find grand halls, intricate mosaic floors and enough armour and artefacts to keep castle-obsessed children occupied for a good while. Adults tend to be caught off guard by how much of it survives and how well it reads as a building with a story.

Families wanting easy access to the Old Town should look at Amus Hotel & Spa, a five-star property a short drive from the historic centre, with multiple pools, restaurants and sea views.

Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, Rhodes

2. Street of the Knights

Just outside the Palace, the Street of the Knights is one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe – and it looks it. The cobbled road is flanked by the old inns of the different knightly orders, each one built in the Gothic style of their home country. It doesn’t take long to walk, which makes it ideal for families with younger children, and it slots neatly into a broader morning or afternoon in Rhodes Town without feeling like a detour.

Street of the Knights, Rhodes

3. Acropolis of Lindos

The climb up to the Acropolis of Lindos is part of the experience – steep enough to feel like an adventure, but manageable for most children. At the top, you get ancient temple remains, defensive walls dating back thousands of years, and views down over the whitewashed village and the turquoise bay that are hard to beat. The village itself is worth time too: narrow lanes, rooftop restaurants, traditional Lindian houses with their distinctive pebble courtyards.

Lindos Princess Beach Resort & Spa is a natural base for this part of the island – all-inclusive and set on a private beach, with family facilities and easy access to Lindos itself.

Acropolis of Lindos, Rhodes

4. Ancient Kamiros

Sometimes called the Pompeii of Rhodes, Kamiros is an ancient Greek city on the northwest coast that was buried under an earthquake and only rediscovered in the 19th century. What makes it work particularly well for families is how legible it is – you can still clearly make out streets, houses, a water cistern system, public buildings. It turns what might otherwise feel abstract into something children can actually picture themselves walking through. The setting, on a hillside above the sea, is beautiful too.

Families looking for a classic all-inclusive Rhodes holiday may want to consider Rodos Princess Beach Resort & Spa. Set on Kiotari Beach, the resort combines family-friendly facilities, multiple restaurants, pools and activities for all ages, making it easy to balance sightseeing with downtime.

Ancient Kamiros

5. Kallithea Springs

Slightly different in character from the island’s ancient sites, Kallithea Springs is an Italian-built complex from the 1920s, constructed around thermal springs that had been drawing visitors since antiquity. The architecture – all arches, domes and decorative mosaics – is striking, and the setting on the coast makes it a relaxed place to spend part of a day. It’s the kind of place that looks better the more you wander around it.

Guests staying at Amus Hotel & Spa are well placed to combine a visit here with time in Rhodes Town. The five-star resort is just a short drive from the Old Town and offers multiple pools, restaurants and sea views.

Kallithea Springs

6. Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

The museum is housed in the medieval Hospital of the Knights, which is worth the visit on its own. Inside, the collection takes you from prehistoric Rhodes through the ancient Greek and Roman periods – statues, pottery, mosaics, grave goods. Older children with any interest in history will find things to engage with; younger ones often end up just as captivated by the scale of the building and its courtyard. It’s a good option for a hot afternoon when the beach feels less appealing.

For families who prefer a quieter pace after busy sightseeing days, Princess Sun Hotel & Spa offers panoramic sea views, family-friendly facilities and a relaxed all-inclusive atmosphere overlooking Kiotari Bay.

Archaeological Museum, Rhodes Town

7. Throne of Helios

Not every history stop has to mean wandering around ruins, and the Throne of Helios is a useful change of register. It’s an immersive experience using moving seats, visual effects and virtual reality to tell the stories of Rhodes – the Colossus, the gods, the Knights. It’s unapologetically aimed at the entertainment end of the spectrum, which makes it particularly good for teenagers or younger children who’ve run out of patience for ruins, and a decent way to give the island’s myths and history some narrative shape.

Families travelling with older children may also enjoy Princess Andriana Resort & Spa. Alongside its waterpark, sports facilities and extensive dining options, the resort offers plenty of excitement between sightseeing adventures, making it particularly popular with families travelling with teenagers.

Rhodes, Greece

Add Athens to the trip

If Rhodes sparks an appetite for more Greek history, it’s worth tacking a few days in Athens on either end of the trip. The Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum and the Plaka neighbourhood offer a completely different register – urban, layered, epic in scale – and tend to be particularly rewarding for grandparents and older children.

Titania Hotel Athens, part of H Hotels Collection, sits in the centre of the city with most of the key sights walkable, and currently has up to 32% off stays until 31 August 2026.