Rhodes: Discover the Medieval City on a Segway

Rhodes Old Town is a maze of stone lanes, slow crowds, and sudden sea views. This Segway tour makes it interesting because it turns that walk into a smooth, efficient loop through the Street of the Knights and over to the Medieval Moat fortifications.

I like two things a lot here: you get real time on the Segway with lots of photo stops, and the route hits both the medieval center and the modern waterfront within the same 2-hour window. One big consideration, though, is practical fitness and suitability, since the tour is not for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or anyone over 264 lbs (120 kg).

You’ll meet at 37 Ippodamou Street, get an orientation and full safety briefing, then ride with a live guide through the Palace of the Grand Masters area, the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh, the moat, and out toward Mandraki harbor for windmills and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas. And if you do not want to wrestle with a camera, your guide can take photos for you and share them after the tour.

Key highlights at a glance

• Small group of up to 8 for a more personal ride through tight streets
• Segway induction and full safety briefing before you start moving
• Street of the Knights and Palace of the Grand Masters as your early anchor sights
• Medieval Moat route including fortifications and walls you would miss on foot
• Mandraki harbor viewpoints with windmills and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas
• Guide photography help if you do not bring your own camera

Why this Segway tour works in Rhodes Old Town

Rhodes is one of those places where the best sightseeing is not only about big monuments. It is also about tiny sightlines. A Segway lets you cover more turns and corners than walking, so you can actually spend time looking at the details, not just moving between them.

The tour’s design makes sense for Rhodes Old Town. You get the medieval core first, then you slide toward the waterfront. That matters because Rhodes can feel very closed-in inland, then suddenly open up near Mandraki harbor. Mixing those moods in one outing keeps it from turning into one long, same-y loop of streets.

Two more practical reasons I like this format. First, it is a 2-hour experience, which is long enough to learn the rhythm and still feel fresh when you finish. Second, the small group size helps with flow. You are less likely to get stuck behind a mass crowd the way you do on the busiest walking routes.

Getting going: meeting at 37 Ippodamou Street and learning the Segway fast

The tour starts at the partner office at 37 Ippodamou Street. After you meet up, you get a quick orientation session and a full safety briefing. That is not just “here are the safety rules,” it is the setup that lets most people feel confident enough to ride through narrow lanes.

You ride a Segway I2 with a helmet, and the tour notes equipment can be 2 or 4 wheels depending on the setup. Either way, the point is the same: you are not just pushed out right away. The guide helps you get comfortable before you start the sightseeing portion.

A detail that really matters in Rhodes is control on uneven pavement. Old Town streets are cobbled and tight. Even if you consider yourself a careful rider, you still want that initial coaching time. The tour’s early training plus the guide staying with you during the key streets is what makes the experience feel safe and not stressful.

If you are a first-timer, plan to pay attention during the practice. And if you already know how to ride, you still benefit from the guide’s local coaching, since “city riding” has its own feel compared to open spaces.

Palace of the Grand Masters: your first big medieval landmark

Your first sightseeing stop centers on the Palace of the Grand Masters. You will admire the imposing architecture before you move onward. This is a smart first anchor because it orients you. Once you can place the palace in your mental map, the rest of the Old Town loop becomes easier to follow.

You spend a guided block of time here, followed by more riding through the medieval lanes. This pacing also helps if you just got through the Segway induction. You are not thrown into the most complex roads immediately. You start with a major visual payoff, then you build from there.

What I like about starting at a monument like this is that it gives your ride a storyline. You are not randomly gliding from stop to stop. You are building an understanding of Rhodes as a stronghold, not just a photogenic town.

The Street of the Knights, plus the charm of photo stops

Next up is the Street of the Knights. It is one of those famous Rhodes spots where the street itself feels like history. The tour includes guided time here and a dedicated riding segment so you can move along without getting bogged down.

You also get stops for photos throughout the ride. There are scheduled breaks and short sightseeing pauses, so you can step off, look around, and grab a few angles that show off the medieval feel. If you want pictures but do not want to think about timing, the guide can take photos and send them after the tour at no extra charge.

From what guides do well on this route, the strongest “value moment” is likely the combination of movement plus stopping. A walking tour can give you the looking part but slows down too much in tight areas. This Segway setup helps you reach the places you want, then gives you permission to slow down for the photos.

The Church of the Virgin of the Burgh and the maze effect of side streets

As you work your way through Old Town, the route includes the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh along with other “secret spots” and narrow alleys. That phrase can sound marketing-y, but on Rhodes it is the whole point. The Old Town is famous for its major sights, yet it is the small lanes that make it feel lived-in.

Guides on this tour have a reputation for pointing out what you might otherwise miss. Names that come up include Bill, Vasilis, George, Nikos, Irene, and Amalia. More than the name, the pattern is clear: riders tend to praise patient instruction and friendly guidance, plus the extra attention to the best angles and calmer bits of street.

Even if you know the major landmarks already, this part of the ride is where you feel the benefit of using a Segway instead of walking. You can turn into a side lane, look at the architecture, and still keep moving through the loop.

The Medieval Moat: fortifications you can actually ride through

One of the most distinctive parts of the experience is the Medieval Moat segment. The tour includes a longer guided ride time here, plus time to learn what you are seeing.

This is where Rhodes stops being just about walls in the distance. When you are riding near the moat and its fortifications, you get a better sense of defensive design. You can notice how the walls shape movement and where sightlines open up.

It also breaks up the pace. After the tighter internal Old Town streets, the moat area feels like a different layer of the city. That layer is partly visual and partly emotional. You can almost feel the idea of separation between outside pressure and inside safety, which is hard to grasp from a single viewpoint.

If you like history but also like to keep moving, this is the stop that tends to justify the whole format. On foot, you can see pieces, but on a Segway you can cover the surrounding defensive layout in time to still enjoy the rest of the city.

Rounding out the loop toward Mandraki harbor and Saint Nicholas

After the medieval center, you head toward Rhodes’s modern seaside area. The tour includes the view and breeze of the Aegean Sea, plus rides past famous windmills. You also get a viewpoint at the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas, located at the entrance of the Mandraki harbor.

This is not random scenery. It is a contrast break, and it also helps you understand why Rhodes developed where it did. The island’s energy is split between stone city walls and the working and leisure feel of the harbor.

The windmills and lighthouse are also photo-friendly. You get open sightlines and a different kind of Rhodes texture. Instead of narrow medieval streets under archways, you get broader compositions, sea air, and the sense of space.

Finally, the tour uses an alternative route back to the starting point to see more of the city. That matters because it reduces the feeling that you simply rode out and then returned the same way. Even with a short 2-hour duration, this helps the ride feel like a loop with a beginning, middle, and end.

Timing, pacing, and small-group reality in tight streets

The tour runs for 2 hours, and it is built around short guided segments plus breaks. The flow looks like this in practice: a start in Old Town for a guided riding segment, a break and photo stop, then a longer moat ride, another break, the Street of the Knights, and time at the Palace area again for photos and sightseeing.

On paper, this sounds tidy. In real life, Rhodes Old Town can be busy. One thing to consider is that your ride can become a start-stop pattern when you are moving through the most popular lanes. That does not ruin the tour, but it does mean you should not expect nonstop cruising the whole time.

That said, the small group size of up to 8 participants is a big help. It keeps the Segway line manageable and makes it easier for the guide to keep everyone together without turning the whole ride into slow traffic.

If you want a calm sightseeing experience, pick your time wisely. A less crowded Old Town improves everything, including the feel of the route and the quality of your photos.

Price and value: what $76 gives you in 2 hours

At $76 per person for a 2-hour experience, this is not a budget activity. But value in Rhodes is about what you can pack in without losing time or energy.

Here is the value case as I see it:

• You combine Segway training with guided sightseeing, so the time is doing double duty.
• You cover both medieval landmarks and waterfront viewpoints in the same outing, which is harder to do on foot in just 2 hours.
• The small group size helps you get attention, especially if you need a patient coach like the guides riders mention, such as Bill or George.

Where it might feel pricey is if you are expecting a long, deep historical lecture at each stop. The tour is primarily about moving efficiently through the city with guided context and photo moments. If you want long stops and lots of factual breakdown time at every monument, you might want to pair this with another Rhodes history visit later.

But if your goal is to see more than you would walking, and you want it to feel fun while you do it, the price is easier to justify.

What to wear and bring for a smooth ride

Keep it simple. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring sunscreen because you are riding through open areas and getting breaks for photos.

Avoid high-heeled shoes. Also plan to travel light because luggage or large bags are not allowed. If you are carrying shopping bags or a bulky backpack, this is one of those times you will regret packing for comfort instead of for mobility.

One more practical note: you should have a basic level of fitness. That does not mean you need to be an athlete, but you do need to handle getting on and off the Segway, maintaining balance, and moving through the city route.

Who this tour is for, and who should skip it

This experience fits best if you want:

• A fun way to see Rhodes Old Town beyond the main busier streets
• More coverage than walking would allow in the same time
• A guided ride with photo stops and the option for the guide to take photos
• A route that includes both medieval sights and the harbor area

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, and anyone over 264 lbs (120 kg). If you fall into any of those categories, it is better to look for an alternative Rhodes sightseeing option.

Also, be honest about your comfort with operating a self-balancing vehicle. The tour provides orientation and safety briefing, and many guides are praised for patience, but you still need to be willing to focus for those first minutes.

Booking the tour: should you do it?

I would book this Segway tour if your Rhodes priority is to see the medieval core plus the Mandraki harbor area without spending your day walking cobblestones. The best part is the mix: major landmarks like the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Street of the Knights, plus the distinctive loop around the Medieval Moat, then a lighter, sea-breeze finish with windmills and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas.

Skip it if you want long history lectures at every stop, or if you cannot comfortably meet the fitness and rider suitability rules. And if you are particularly sensitive to crowds, plan your timing, because the Old Town can get busy and that can slow progress.

If you match those expectations, this is one of the few ways to experience Rhodes Old Town as both a medieval fort city and a modern harbor town, all in one afternoon-sized outing.

FAQ

How long is the Rhodes Segway tour?

It lasts 2 hours.

Where is the meeting point?

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

What is the group size?

The tour is limited to a small group of up to 8 participants.

What languages are offered for the live guide?

The live tour guide speaks English and Greek.

What is included in the price?

Included are the Segway I2, a helmet, an orientation session, and a full safety briefing.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What should I bring or wear?

Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen.

What is not allowed during the tour?

High-heeled shoes are not allowed, and luggage or large bags are not allowed.

Are there photo stops and can the guide take photos?

Yes, the tour includes several photo stops. If you do not have a camera, the guide can take photos of you and send them after the tour at no extra charge.

Who is the tour not suitable for?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, and anyone over 264 lbs (120 kg).