Best Boat Trips in Rhodes, A Complete Guide

The Different Types of Boat Trips Available in Rhodes

Not all boat trips are the same. The term covers everything from a two-hour licence-free rental to a week-long yacht charter in the Dodecanese. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right experience for your group, budget and available time.

For shared and private options in one place, see our Rhodes boat trips guide — Symi, Lindos, east-coast swims and skippered days handpicked since 1998.

Here is an honest comparison of the main options:

Shared Day Cruises

East Coast Beach Cruise

Large boats carrying 20–99 guests depart on fixed schedules from Mandraki Harbour or other marinas around the island. Most include lunch, drinks, snorkelling equipment and two or three swimming stops along Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko and Kalithea. These are the best value per person and suit first-time visitors who want everything organised with no decisions to make on the day. See our Rhodes Boat Cruises for current shared day routes.

Lindos Day Trip

Full-day shared cruises often continue south to St Paul's Bay below the Lindos Acropolis, one of the most photogenic approaches on the island. You get time to swim in the bay and, if you wish, explore the village above. Fixed timings apply, so this suits visitors who are happy with a structured day.

Symi Day Cruise

The crossing to Symi takes 75–90 minutes each way and is the most popular island hop from Rhodes. Shared excursions typically include a swim stop and 4–5 hours ashore in Gialos harbour. Best booked early in July and August when departures fill quickly.

Private Boat Trips

Half-Day Private Charter

Your own boat, your own skipper, your own route, the most flexible option in Rhodes for 3–4 hours. Speedboats and RIBs are the common choice for couples and small groups who want two or three swim stops without committing to a full day. Typical cost: €350–€600 for the boat.

Full-Day Private Charter

A full day gives you range to reach Lindos, longer coastal loops or quieter bays south of Faliraki. Larger motorboats and sailing yachts add shade and space for families. If you find a bay you love, you stay; if the weather shifts, the skipper adjusts. Typical cost: €600–€1,500 for the boat.

Sailing Trips and Catamaran Cruises

Shared Catamaran Cruise

Shared catamaran cruises are the most family-friendly option, wide, stable decks and shade make them ideal if you are prone to seasickness or travelling with young children. Day and sunset departures run regularly from €39 per person.

Private Sailing Trip

For a quieter, wind-powered experience, a private sailing trip on a keelboat or sloop is best from May to early July and in September when the Meltemi is lighter. Prices start from €260 for a half-day with skipper.

The Most Popular Destinations from Rhodes by Boat

• Anthony Quinn Bay, The most-visited snorkelling bay on the east coast. Small, clear, rocky, spectacular.
• Symi Island, The most popular full-day trip. Pastel harbour, excellent seafood, neoclassical architecture. Crossing is about 80 minutes each way.
• Lindos, A coastal cruise along the east shore leads to St Paul's Bay and a view of the Acropolis from the sea that you cannot get any other way.
• Traganou Caves, Sea caves accessible only by boat. Shallow, calm, and dramatic.
• Tsambika and Agathi Beaches, Long sandy beaches in the east-central part of the island. Clear turquoise water, minimal crowds if you arrive by sea.

When to Go

The boat trip season in Rhodes runs from May to October. June and September are the best months: warm sea (24–26°C), lighter tourist crowds and lower prices than July-August peak. The Meltemi wind is at its strongest in July and August, this affects open-sea crossings to Symi and longer coastal trips more than sheltered-bay tours.

Book early for July and August, private boats and smaller shared cruises sell out quickly, especially at weekends.

Browse all approved boat trips in Rhodes or ask us for a recommendation.

How to Compare Boat Trips Without Reading Fifty Reviews

Online reviews for Rhodes boat trips are noisy. A five-star rating might reflect a fun DJ on a party catamaran or a quiet swim in a cave, opposite experiences that both earn praise from the right audience. Start with three filters: group size, route and what is included in the price. A €45 shared cruise with lunch and three swim stops is excellent value if you want structure; it is the wrong product if you hate crowds and fixed timetables.

Our Rhodes boat trips service page lays out shared Symi and Lindos cruises alongside private skippered options — use it as a checklist before you read dozens of conflicting reviews.

I have watched the Rhodes boat market evolve since the late nineties. The best operators are not always the ones with the largest billboards on the harbour front. Look for clear departure times, stated maximum capacity, named swim stops and a cancellation policy for bad weather. If those basics are missing from the listing, keep looking.

Hidden Costs and Fine Print Worth Checking

Shared cruises often advertise lunch and drinks included, but the details matter. Some include wine and beer; others offer water and soft drinks only, with alcohol at bar prices. Snorkelling gear may be free or rented for a few euros. Harbour fees, fuel surcharges and environmental taxes appear on a minority of bookings, always ask before you pay.

Private trips have a different fine print. Confirm whether fuel is included for the agreed route, whether a tip for the crew is customary and whether food is packed on board or ordered ashore at your expense. A private speedboat to Symi at €700 is straightforward; a private catamaran at €1,200 with catering, water toys and extended hours is a different conversation. Private boat trip options should come with a route sketch and timing estimate in writing.

Matching the Trip Type to Your Travellers

Solo travellers and couples

Shared sunset catamarans and east-coast day cruises offer social atmosphere without organising everything yourself. Semi-private tours with a dozen guests split the difference, more space, slightly higher price, often better food.

Families with children

Catamarans win on stability and shade. Avoid open speedboats for toddlers unless the crossing is short and the sea is flat. Morning departures beat afternoon chop in July and August.

Groups of six or more

Once you divide a private motorboat by six or eight guests, the per-person cost often lands near a premium shared cruise, with full control of the route. This is where private trips quietly become the best value on the island.

Building a Multi-Day Water Itinerary

Visitors staying a week in Rhodes benefit from mixing trip types rather than repeating the same shared cruise twice. Day one: a shared east-coast cruise to learn the coastline. Day three: licence-free rental for your own bays. Day five: Symi on a organised day cruise or private charter if your group is large enough. Day seven: sunset sail westward from Mandraki.

June and September make multi-day planning easier, lighter crowds, calmer mornings and more availability on private boats. Peak August requires booking private charters two weeks ahead for weekend slots. If you tell us your hotel location, group size and dates, we narrow the field to two or three trips that actually fit, not every boat on the island. Ask us for a recommendation and we will reply with honest trade-offs, not a sales pitch.

Accessibility, Mobility and Onboard Comfort

Not every boat trip suits every body. Large shared catamarans with wide decks and stable pontoons accommodate guests who struggle with steep ladders better than small open RIBs where you step down from a high gunwale. Ask about boarding assistance if anyone in your party uses a walking aid or has limited knee mobility, honesty at booking prevents awkward situations at the marina.

Shade varies dramatically by vessel: catamarans and larger motorboats offer bimini tops; bare speedboats may expose you to five hours of direct sun. Hats, long sleeves and reef-safe sunscreen are not optional on open boats. Toilets exist on bigger shared cruisers and most catamarans; small private speedboats often do not, plan swim stops accordingly, especially with children.

Turkish Coast Trips and Cross-Border Excursions

Some Mandraki operators run day trips to Marmaris or the Turkish coast with passport control at harbour. These differ from Symi routes, longer customs procedures, different currency ashore and schedules tied to border opening hours. They suit travellers who want bazaar shopping or a second country stamp more than Greek island scenery.

Do not confuse them with Symi or Lindos cruises when comparing prices. A Turkish day trip at €60 is not comparable to a Symi architecture day at €55, different duration, purpose and paperwork. Read the route name carefully on confirmation emails. When in doubt, browse organised cruises by destination rather than sorting by lowest price alone.

Questions to Ask Before You Pay

Five questions cover most disappointments: What time do we return and is that fixed? Where exactly do we swim and for how long at each stop? Is lunch included and what does it consist of? What happens if the trip is cancelled for weather? Where is the meeting point on the harbour, pier number matters in Mandraki. Operators who hesitate on clear answers are telling you something useful.

Save confirmation emails and the operator phone number in your phone before the trip. Harbour confusion on departure morning wastes the first hour of your day and stresses families with children. A two-minute check the night before prevents most of it.