Rhodes: Discover the Medieval City on a Segway

Rhodes’ Medieval City is much easier to appreciate when you can glide through its narrow lanes, moat, and fortifications without spending the whole day on foot. This two-hour Segway tour links the major sights with quieter corners that are easy to miss when you stick to the main shopping streets.

I like the small groups of up to eight and the careful beginner training. I also like the photo stops, especially since guides such as Bill, George, and Nikos will take pictures for you and send them afterward. The main consideration is that busy streets can make the ride slow and require close attention, particularly later in the day.

Key points at a glance

• Ride inside the medieval moat: See Rhodes’ walls and fortifications from a route that is difficult to cover on foot.
• Reach more than you would walking: The tour connects the Palace of the Grand Masters, Street of the Knights, Old Town lanes, and Mandraki harbor.
• Beginner-friendly instruction: A safety briefing and practice session come before the group sets off.
• Small groups matter: With no more than eight people, the guide can watch your riding and adjust the pace.
• Photos are included: Your guide can take pictures during the stops and send them to you later.
• Plan for comfortable movement: Wear flat shoes, bring sunscreen, and leave large bags and luggage behind.

Why a Segway works well in Rhodes’ Medieval City

Rhodes Old Town is compact on a map but tiring under the midday sun. Its stone lanes, uneven surfaces, slopes, and long fortified walls make walking worthwhile, but not always efficient. On a Segway, you can cover more ground while still moving slowly enough to notice doorways, arches, churches, battlements, and local life.

I see this as a sightseeing tour first and a riding activity second. The Segway gives you range, while the guide gives the route meaning. You pass through famous places, but you also ride through back streets and less polished corners where people live, shop, and gather in the shade.

The tour is especially useful early in a Rhodes visit. In two hours, you get a map in your head: the main entrance points, the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights, the moat, the harbor, and the seaside edge of the city. You can then return later to the places you want to explore at a slower pace.

The tradeoff is that this is not a quiet ride through empty lanes. Rhodes Old Town can fill with pedestrians, especially later in the day. You will need to slow down, steer carefully, and follow the guide closely. One afternoon tour also felt quite stop-and-start because of crowds. An early morning departure or the 5 p.m. tour can be more comfortable in hot weather and may reduce some of the foot traffic.

Starting with training at 37 Ippodamou Street

You meet at the local partner’s office at 37 Ippodamou Street. The activity includes a Segway, helmet, orientation session, and full safety briefing. The guide does not simply hand you the controls and send you into the Old Town.

The first practice period is important if you have never used a Segway. You learn how to stand, move, stop, turn, and manage your speed. Guides such as George and Nikos have been especially patient with first-time riders, and several older participants found they felt comfortable after about ten minutes of practice.

That does not mean you need athletic ability. You do need a basic level of fitness and enough balance to remain standing during the ride. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or anyone over 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms.

I recommend comfortable, flat shoes. High heels are not allowed, and large bags or luggage should not be brought along. Sunscreen is also a sensible choice, since the route includes open sections near the harbor and fortifications.

The tour can use newer equipment with two or four wheels, according to the booking information. Ask the local office what setup applies to your departure if that matters to you.

Through the Old Town’s lanes and daily life

The first section takes you through Rhodes’ Medieval City for about 20 minutes. This is where the Segway earns its keep. You can move through narrow streets and lanes without the tiring pace of a long walking tour.

The route is not limited to the most photographed streets. It includes smaller alleys and areas where you see the Old Town as more than a museum. One of the appealing details is the chance to notice local residents sitting together in the shade, along with shops, restaurants, and ordinary corners that are easy to pass without a guide.

Your guide will stop at several points for photographs and explanations. The amount of historical detail can vary by guide. Nikos, Vasilis, Bill, and George have all been praised for combining clear local information with an easy manner, while one past tour had less historical explanation than expected. If history is your main reason for booking, tell the guide at the start that you would like more context at each stop.

The Old Town section can feel crowded. Pedestrians may step into the riding path, and narrow streets require patience. This is not a fast scooter-style trip. The advantage is coverage, not speed.

Riding the Medieval Moat and fortifications

The route then reaches the Medieval Town Moat, with about 30 minutes devoted to riding and guided sightseeing. For me, this is one of the most distinctive parts of the experience.

From the moat, you get a different sense of the scale of Rhodes’ defenses. Instead of viewing the walls from a busy street, you ride along the fortifications and see battlements, stonework, and the broad defensive space around the city. A guide can point out how the city was shaped by invasions and different periods of occupation.

This section also gives you room to ride for longer stretches than you may find in the tight Old Town lanes. It is still important to stay with the group and watch the surface. The tour is designed for basic fitness, not for racing or advanced riding.

There is a short photo and sightseeing stop along the way. These pauses are useful because the tour is not just a moving view. You have time to look around, ask questions, and take pictures without trying to steer at the same time.

The moat route is also a good reason to choose this activity instead of simply renting a vehicle on your own. You get access to a planned route and a guide who knows where the group can ride safely. The route may change slightly based on conditions and pedestrian traffic, so do not expect every departure to feel identical.

The Street of the Knights and the Palace

The tour includes about 15 minutes along the Street of the Knights. This is one of the most atmospheric lanes in the Medieval City, with stone buildings and a strong sense of the city’s medieval military past.

A Segway changes how you experience this street. You are not simply walking down it while trying to keep up with a guide. You can pause, look upward at the buildings, and listen to the explanation without using up energy on a long crossing of the Old Town.

The next stop is the Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes. You have around ten minutes for a photo stop, free time, and sightseeing. The palace is an imposing landmark, and the exterior gives you a clear visual anchor for the city’s fortified character.

The time here is enough for photographs and a short look around, but it is not a full interior visit. If you want to study the palace rooms, mosaics, or museum displays, plan a separate visit. This Segway tour is built to connect several areas rather than provide extended time at one monument.

The Church of the Virgin of the Burgh is also included among the Old Town sights. Along with the Street of the Knights and the palace, it helps balance the ride between major landmarks and smaller historic corners.

Out to Mandraki harbor and the Aegean breeze

The route continues toward Rhodes’ modern seaside area. This change of setting is welcome after the close lanes of the Medieval City. You ride near the water, feel the Aegean breeze, and pass the famous windmills.

The Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas sits at the entrance to Mandraki harbor and is another key photo point. The harbor section gives the tour a wider view and adds variety to the stone lanes and fortifications.

The supplied route information places this seaside ride within the overall journey, though the timed itinerary gives more detail for the Old Town, moat, Street of the Knights, and palace. One past participant specifically wished for more time at the windmills and the end of the marina. I would treat the harbor portion as an attractive addition, not as a long coastal ride.

That distinction matters if you are comparing this tour with a dedicated waterfront Segway trip. The main purpose here is the Medieval City. The harbor gives you a change of pace and a few strong views, but it does not replace a full harbor excursion.

Photo stops that make the day easier

You can stop at several scenic points during the tour. If you do not have a camera ready, the guide can take photos and send them afterward at no extra charge.

This is a small feature, but it improves the experience. Handling a phone while riding is awkward and unsafe, and group members often end up with plenty of pictures of everyone except themselves. Guides such as Bill and George have also been praised for taking photos and videos during the ride.

The stops are short, usually around five to ten minutes. That gives you enough time for a picture and a quick look, but not enough for a long independent visit. If you prefer a slow historical tour with extended time inside each sight, this will feel brisk.

I like the balance for a first visit. You see a large part of the city, get useful photographs, and still have time later to return to the palace, harbor, churches, or lanes that caught your attention.

How much value do you get for $76?

At $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look around Rhodes Old Town. You can walk through the city for free, and a self-guided visit costs only whatever you spend on admission, food, or drinks.

The value comes from the combination of equipment, instruction, a local guide, a planned route, safety supervision, and the amount of ground covered in two hours. If you would otherwise pay for several short sightseeing activities or struggle with the heat and hills on foot, the price becomes easier to justify.

A small group makes a difference here. With a maximum of eight people, the guide can keep an eye on beginners and make photo stops without managing a large crowd. Some departures have had only two, three, or four participants, though group size can vary.

I would book it if you want an efficient first look at Rhodes, enjoy trying something active, or have teenagers who are unlikely to enjoy a long walking tour. Families with older children have found it a good way to hold their attention while still learning about the city.

I would skip it if you want long museum visits, detailed academic history, or a leisurely meal stop. I would also avoid booking it at the busiest time of day if crowded lanes make you nervous.

The price includes the Segway, helmet, induction, and safety briefing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you arrange your own way to the meeting point.

Choosing the right time and group

The two-hour duration is long enough to cover the main route without turning the activity into an all-day commitment. Still, timing matters in Rhodes.

A 9 a.m. departure can be a smart choice because the Old Town is quieter and the heat is usually easier to manage. A later 5 p.m. tour can also work well, especially in summer, when the sun is less harsh than at midday. The exact starting times depend on availability.

The small-group format helps, but it cannot remove every difficulty caused by crowds. A group of eight Segways still needs space, and some streets may require you to wait or move at walking speed.

I would arrive ready to begin, with sunscreen applied and loose items secured. You should not bring a suitcase or large day bag. The most enjoyable approach is to keep your hands free, listen to the guide, and treat the ride as a guided look at the city rather than a race from monument to monument.

Who will enjoy this Rhodes Segway tour?

This activity suits you if:

• You want to see the Old Town without walking every street.
• You are a first-time Segway rider and prefer patient instruction.
• You like a mix of famous sights, narrow alleys, fortifications, and waterfront views.
• You are visiting with teenagers or older children.
• You want a small group rather than a large coach-style excursion.
• You like having photos taken during the day.
• You have only a short time in Rhodes and want a broad introduction.

It may not suit you if:

• You are pregnant or have a mobility impairment.
• You weigh more than 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms.
• You need a fully wheelchair-accessible activity.
• You dislike standing for two hours.
• You want a quiet, slow visit inside the palace or churches.
• You find crowded pedestrian streets stressful.
• You expect a long, uninterrupted ride beside the sea.

English and Greek are the available tour languages. The guides named in past departures include Bill, George, Nikos, Nicos, Vasilis, Irene, Amalia, and Nicolai. The exact guide depends on the date, but the strongest pattern is careful instruction, friendly conversation, and a willingness to take photos.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those options are useful if your Rhodes plans depend on ferry schedules, cruise timing, or changing weather.

Should you book the ride?

I would book this tour if you want a lively, practical introduction to Rhodes’ Medieval City. The best parts are the moat, the back lanes, the small group, and the chance to connect the palace and Street of the Knights with Mandraki harbor in a single outing.

Book early in the day or later in the afternoon if you can. Wear comfortable shoes, expect some stop-and-start riding, and understand that the palace and other sights are viewed from outside or given short stops rather than full museum visits.

For $76, you are paying for access to more of the city in less time, plus instruction and a guide who can make a first ride feel manageable. If that sounds more useful than a long walk, this is a strong choice. If your priority is detailed history or extended time inside monuments, use the Segway as an orientation and save another half-day for exploring on foot.

FAQ

How long does the Rhodes Segway tour last?

The tour lasts two hours, including the orientation, guided riding, sightseeing stops, and photo breaks.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at the local partner’s office at 37 Ippodamou Street.

What sights are included?

The route includes Rhodes Old Town, the Medieval Town Moat, the Street of the Knights, the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh, and the modern seaside area near Mandraki harbor. The route also includes views of the windmills and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas.

Is the tour suitable for first-time Segway riders?

Yes. The activity includes an orientation and full safety briefing before the ride begins. Guides provide practice and wait until participants are comfortable enough to set off.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to a maximum of eight participants.

What languages are offered?

The live tour guide is available in English and Greek.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen. High-heeled shoes, luggage, and large bags are not allowed.

Who should not take this activity?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or people over 264 pounds, or 120 kilograms. Participants should have a basic level of fitness.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.