Rhodes: Explore the New and Medieval City on a Segway

Rhodes is easier to grasp on two wheels. This three-hour ride links the medieval Old City with Mandraki Harbor, giving you more ground than a walking tour while still slipping into narrow lanes. I like the small-group format and the choice between a two-wheel Segway and the steadier four-wheel Mia. The main drawback is that you need basic fitness, cannot bring a backpack, and may find the stone streets less comfortable than smooth pavement.

The route mixes major sights with quieter corners, from the Palace of the Grand Masters to the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh and the medieval moat. Guides such as George and Nikos are praised for patient instruction and good local stories, which matters if this is your first time on a Segway. At $100 per person, the tour is not cheap, but the three-hour duration, photo stops, equipment, and small group make it a fair choice for seeing both sides of Rhodes town.

Five things to know before you book

• You cover both old and new Rhodes: The route includes the walled medieval city, Mandraki Harbor, the windmills, and the modern seaside area.
• You can choose your wheels: The Segway I2 has two wheels, while the Mia Dynamic has four and may feel more reassuring for a first ride.
• The group stays small: The activity information gives a maximum of six participants, although another description says up to eight. Expect a small, personal outing.
• The moat is part of the route: You do not only view the fortifications from outside. You ride through the medieval moat and see the defensive walls from a different angle.
• Photos are easy to arrange: The guide stops at several scenic points and can take pictures for you, then send them afterward at no extra charge.
• You need sensible clothing: Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, and leave your backpack and high heels behind.

Why a Segway works well in Rhodes Old Town

Rhodes Old Town is large, enclosed by formidable walls, and packed with lanes that can take time to explore on foot. A Segway lets you move between major sights without turning the whole visit into a long march. You still stop often, but the ride gives you a wider look at the city in one outing.

I like the balance here. You get famous monuments, but the tour also reaches narrow alleys and less obvious corners. That helps the medieval city feel like a real place rather than a line of postcard stops.

The Segway also keeps the pace lively. You are not sitting in a vehicle watching the walls pass by, and you are not walking from one end of the old city to another in the heat. You control your own machine, follow the guide, and pause for photos and explanations.

This is especially useful if you have only a short stay in Rhodes. In three hours, you see the main old-city sights and then continue to the harbor, windmills, Fort St. Nicholas, and the lighthouse. A walking visit can cover all of these areas, but it takes more energy and careful planning.

Getting started at 37 Ippodamou Street

The tour begins at the Rhodes by Segway office at 37 Ippodamou Street. If you have trouble finding it, the backup meeting point is the Hamam Baths at Arionos Square. An escort on a Segway can meet you there and guide you the short distance to the office.

Plan to arrive ready to listen. The experience begins with an orientation and a full safety briefing before you head into the city. That first lesson is important, especially if you have never used a Segway.

The instruction is one of the most praised parts of the experience. George is described as patient and reassuring, while Nikos is noted for explaining the controls carefully and making sure people were comfortable before setting off. You should not feel rushed onto the street before you understand how to move and stop.

The two machines give you a choice. The Segway I2 uses two wheels and is the more familiar style. The Mia Dynamic has four wheels and is a useful option if you want extra stability. One participant specifically found the four-wheel Mia the better choice, so ask about it if balance is a concern.

The published details contain two group limits, one saying up to eight people and another giving a maximum of six. The more restrictive figure is the safer expectation. In practice, a group capped at six should feel personal, with a better chance to ask questions and receive help during the lesson.

Riding through the medieval moat and Old City

The early part of the route takes you into the old city, where the walls and fortifications give Rhodes its powerful character. You ride through the medieval moat, a feature many visitors see only from above or from the edge of the fortifications.

That section is a real reason to choose this tour. The moat gives you a different view of the defenses and lets you appreciate the scale of the walls. It is also a welcome change from riding along the main streets, with space to get used to the Segway while taking in the stonework.

The route includes the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh. This stop adds a quieter religious and architectural note to the tour. It also shows why a guided ride can be useful: a guide can point out details that are easy to miss when you are focused on finding your way through the lanes.

You will make short pauses for photographs and sightseeing. One listed break lasts about five minutes, while other pauses allow roughly ten minutes. These stops are not long enough for a full independent visit inside every monument, so you should treat the outing as an overview rather than a replacement for museum visits.

That distinction matters. If you want to study every room of the Palace of the Grand Masters or spend a long time at each church, book separate time for those sites. The Segway tour is designed to show you the city’s shape and main landmarks, not to provide extended indoor access.

The Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Masters

The Street of the Knights is one of the tour’s strongest historic sections. Its stone surface and medieval buildings create a dramatic route toward the Palace of the Grand Masters. Moving along it by Segway gives you a clear sense of the street as a processional route rather than just another lane.

The scheduled visit here lasts about 20 minutes. That is enough for a guided look, photographs, and an explanation of the setting, but not an unhurried architectural study. Keep your camera ready, since the street is one of the most memorable parts of the old city.

The Palace of the Grand Masters follows as a major closing point within the medieval section. You stop for about 30 minutes to admire the imposing exterior and hear about its role in Rhodes. The building gives the tour a strong focal point after the moat, church, and smaller lanes.

You should check what type of access is included if entering the palace is important to you. The supplied tour details describe guided sightseeing at the palace, but they do not list an admission ticket or promise an interior visit. The safe assumption is that the tour provides an outside visit unless your booking confirmation says otherwise.

This is one reason I would not use the tour as your only Old Town visit. Use it first to get oriented, then return on foot to the places you want to examine closely.

Mandraki Harbor, windmills, and Saint Nicholas

After the medieval city, the route heads toward Rhodes’ modern seaside area. This change gives the outing a useful rhythm. You move from fortifications and stone lanes to open water, harbor views, and the Aegean breeze.

At Mandraki Harbor, you get free time and a photo stop of about ten minutes. The harbor is a good place to pause because the views open up after the enclosed streets of the Old City. You can take photographs while the guide explains the setting and points out the next parts of the route.

The windmills of Mandraki are another short stop, listed at about ten minutes. They provide a distinctive harbor backdrop and a clear photo opportunity. You may find this section less historically dense than the Old Town, but it gives you a welcome change of scenery and helps you see the city as a port as well as a medieval stronghold.

The route also reaches Fort St. Nicholas and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas. The lighthouse sits at the entrance to Mandraki Harbor, making it a natural point for views across the water and back toward the town.

The information lists Fort St. Nicholas as a guided sightseeing stop of about ten minutes. It also separately identifies the lighthouse at the harbor entrance. The precise amount of time at each point may vary, but you should expect short visits rather than a long stay at the fort.

This modern-city section is valuable because it prevents the tour from becoming a narrow Old Town circuit. You see how the medieval center connects with the waterfront and the present-day city.

What the three-hour timing really gives you

The stated duration is three hours, with roughly 30 minutes for the first Old Town sightseeing section, short photo breaks, 15 minutes at the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh, another 30-minute guided section, and further pauses along the harbor. The Street of the Knights receives about 20 minutes, and the Palace of the Grand Masters about 30 minutes.

The schedule adds up to a full outing, but it should not be read as a rigid minute-by-minute promise. Streets, traffic, group confidence, and photo stops can change the pace. The guide may spend more time helping a new rider and less time at a stop where the group is ready to move on.

I like that the tour includes an alternate route back to the office. You do not simply retrace the same streets. That gives you another look at the city and helps the three hours feel like a proper circuit.

The small group also affects the timing. With six people or fewer, the guide can notice if someone needs another practice turn, answer questions, or stop for a group photo without creating a long delay. That personal attention is more useful here than on a large coach tour because everyone is operating a moving machine.

Photo stops and the practical details

You will have several chances to stop for pictures. If you do not have a camera or prefer not to manage one while riding, the guide can take photographs and send them afterward at no extra charge. That is a thoughtful touch, particularly at the harbor and along the medieval streets.

Wear comfortable shoes. You need to stand and control the Segway for the duration, so high heels are not allowed. Sunscreen is also sensible, since parts of the route are outdoors and the harbor section can feel exposed.

Backpacks are not allowed. This is an important detail for anyone arriving from a day of sightseeing or a cruise stop with a full day bag. Keep your belongings light and confirm the storage arrangement with the operator before you arrive, since the supplied information does not explain where a larger bag can be left.

Hotel pickup and drop-off can be arranged on request, but it is not included in the stated $100 price. The normal meeting point is the office, with the Hamam Baths as a fallback location.

The tour is offered in Greek and English. If you need another language, this activity is unlikely to suit you based on the information available.

Is $100 a fair price for this Rhodes tour?

At $100 per person, this is a premium sightseeing option. You are paying more than you would for a self-guided walk, but you receive three hours of transport between distant parts of town, an orientation session, safety equipment, a live guide, and a small group.

The value improves if you are short on time or want to avoid a long walk in the heat. You cover the old city and the harbor in one organized route, with someone handling navigation and explaining the sights. The photo service also removes the need to ask strangers to take pictures.

The price is harder to justify if you already know Rhodes well, plan to spend a full day walking slowly, or mainly want to enter the palace and churches. In those cases, the Segway ride may feel like an extra activity rather than the best way to spend your sightseeing budget.

I see it as a good fit for an active introduction to Rhodes. It combines transport, a guided overview, and a bit of fun. The four-wheel Mia also gives the price more value for someone who wants the experience but feels unsure about a standard two-wheel Segway.

Who should choose this experience?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a quick sense of both Rhodes town and the harbor. It also suits couples, friends, and small family groups who enjoy learning while moving rather than sitting through a long indoor tour.

First-time Segway riders are welcome, provided they can manage the basic physical demands. The instruction is designed to get beginners comfortable before the route begins, and the guide can help you choose between the two-wheel and four-wheel equipment.

This is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or anyone over 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms. You also need a basic level of fitness. The activity requires standing, riding, stopping, and handling the machine for three hours with breaks.

You should skip it if you dislike operating equipment in public spaces, want a slow museum-focused visit, or need to carry a backpack. In those cases, a walking tour or self-guided visit may fit better.

Should you book the Rhodes Segway tour?

Book it if you want to see a lot of Rhodes town in three hours and like the idea of mixing history with an easy outdoor ride. The strongest reasons are the small group, patient induction, access to the moat, and the route linking the medieval center with Mandraki Harbor.

I would book early if the group size matters to you, and I would request the four-wheel Mia if you are nervous about balance. Arrive with comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and no backpack. If your schedule changes, cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Skip it if you want long interior visits or a completely relaxed walking pace. For most active visitors, though, this is a smart way to get oriented, see more of Rhodes, and enjoy the city without spending the entire day on foot.

FAQ

How long does the Rhodes Segway tour last?

The tour lasts three hours, including the safety briefing, guided sightseeing, riding time, and photo breaks.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Rhodes by Segway office at 37 Ippodamou Street. If you have difficulty finding the office, an escort can meet you at the Hamam Baths in Arionos Square and lead you there.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide speaks Greek and English.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity information gives a maximum of six participants in one place and says groups are limited to eight in another. The more specific operating limit is six participants, so you should expect a small group.

Are helmets provided?

Yes. A helmet, Segway equipment, an orientation session, and a full safety briefing are included.

Can I choose a four-wheel Segway?

Yes. The equipment includes the two-wheel Segway I2 and the four-wheel Mia Dynamic. Ask the operator about your preference during booking or at the start.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen. High heels and backpacks are not allowed.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, but they can be arranged on request.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.