Lindos Acropolis

The Acropolis of Lindos crowns a rocky promontory about 116 metres above the sea above the village of Lindos on the east coast of Rhodes, in the South Aegean region of Greece. The site was a sanctuary of Athena Lindia from early antiquity, and the surviving Doric temple dates mainly to the 4th century BC. Visitors approach through the whitewashed village, then climb a steep path and stairway to the entrance gate and ticket office. Inside the walls, they pass the medieval fortifications built by the Knights of St John, who reinforced earlier Byzantine walls, then ascend a monumental Hellenistic stairway cut into the rock. The stoa, a long Hellenistic colonnade with a distinctive stepped front, is among the most photographed features, and the Temple of Athena Lindia stands above it on the highest terrace. Sea views from the edge look down on St Paul's Bay, a nearly enclosed cove, and across the village rooftops. Conservation works have long affected the site, with scaffolding and restricted areas sometimes appearing, so visitors should expect parts of the monument to be fenced. A visit lasts about two hours, including the walk up from the village; donkey rides along the lower path are offered but are discouraged for animal welfare reasons by many visitors. Summer is the busiest time, and the queue at the gate and the narrow staircases can become congested between late morning and early afternoon, when tour groups from across the island arrive. The best strategy is to enter at opening, around 08:00, when temperatures are lower and the crowds are smaller. The adult ticket costs about 20 EUR, with free entry for eligible young visitors, and hours shrink in winter. KTEL buses from Rhodes Town take about an hour and a quarter, followed by a 15 to 25 minute uphill walk.