Rhodes: Discover the Medieval City on a Segway

Rhodes on a Segway feels like skipping ahead in time. You cover major sights and tucked lanes fast, with the Medieval City walls, moat, and harbor in the same 2-hour loop. I especially like the photo-friendly stops and the way a guide helps you learn quickly and feel in control right away.

Two things I really like: first, the route strings together big ticket landmarks like the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Street of the Knights, plus less-obvious corners you’d miss on foot. Second, the small group size (up to 8) keeps the experience relaxed enough to enjoy the views, not just rush through them.

One possible drawback: Rhodes Old Town can get crowded, and this style of tour is still part sightseeing hop and part Segway navigation, so progress can feel stop-and-go in busy lanes.

Key highlights worth your attention

• Small-group size up to 8, which makes training and pacing feel more human
• Segway training plus safety briefing so beginners can get moving fast
• Palace of the Grand Masters, Street of the Knights, and the Medieval Moat on one route
• Mandraki Harbour area, including the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas viewpoint
• Guides take photos if you don’t have a camera, then send them after the tour

Why this Rhodes Old Town Segway route works

Rhodes Old Town is the kind of place where walking is romantic, but also slow. Cobblestones, tight lanes, and climbs around the walls can eat up your energy before you see the key stops. On a Segway, you get that same medieval setting, but with enough speed to actually cover more ground in the time you have.

This tour is built around moving efficiently through the Medieval City, then shifting gears toward the seaside. That combination matters. You get to feel the walls and fortifications, then later catch sea breeze near Mandraki Harbour.

I also like that this isn’t just a line on a map. You make photo stops at memorable points, and the final return route is planned to show you more of the city rather than repeating the same path.

Price and timing: is $76 for 2 hours worth it?

At $76 per person for a 2-hour experience, the value comes from how much you pack in. You are not just riding. You’re pairing Segway time with multiple guided sightseeing stops, including the palace area, the knights’ street, and the moat.

Two hours sounds short until you think about what that means in Rhodes Old Town. Walking between major sights can take longer than you expect because lanes narrow and crowd density changes minute by minute. With a Segway, you spend less time moving between stops and more time at the stops themselves.

If you’re on a tight schedule, this format can be a smart use of your afternoon. If you have all day and love wandering slowly, you might prefer a walking day plus a separate harbor stroll. But if you want a focused highlights tour without exhausting yourself, the timing fits well.

Meeting point and getting yourself ready

You meet at the local partner’s office at 37 Ippodamou Street. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan to get there on your own.

Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen. Avoid high-heeled shoes, and don’t bring luggage or large bags. Rhodes Old Town is already space-limited, so keeping your kit minimal makes the whole experience easier.

On the comfort side, the tour requires basic fitness. It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or anyone over 264 lbs (120 kg). If any of those apply, you’ll want to choose a different way to explore.

Training on the Segway I2: how it feels before you start gliding

The experience starts with an orientation session and a full safety briefing, then a quick induction to get you riding. Expect a calm first phase where the guide shows you how to move and stop safely.

In recent experiences, the training phase seems to click quickly for most people. One couple mentioned they were confident in about 10 minutes, and several guides were praised for being patient with first-time riders. That’s a big deal in Rhodes, because you’ll be maneuvering through real streets, not empty parking lots.

You ride a Segway I2 and use new equipment, including options with 2 or 4 wheels depending on the setup. Either way, the main goal is the same: you learn enough to handle turns smoothly so the sightseeing part feels fun.

Also note the guides take the “photo stops” seriously. If you don’t want to worry about your camera, they can take pictures of you and send them after the tour at no extra charge.

Palace of the Grand Masters and the Road to knighthood

Your first big stop is the Palace of the Grand Masters. This is one of Rhodes Old Town’s most imposing sights, and it sets the tone for what you’re about to see. Even if you don’t memorize every fact, the scale and stonework help you understand why Rhodes mattered.

From there, you ride along the medieval core toward the Street of the Knights. This stretch is famous for a reason. It feels like you’re moving through a living piece of medieval planning, where buildings and street rhythm guide your attention.

This part of the tour is where the payoff of Segway speed shows. You can stay in the historic zone without constantly stopping to recover from walking on uneven ground. And because the guide is on hand, you get context during the ride, not only when you’re already surrounded by other tourists.

One small practical note: if you want clear photos of the street details, arrive to your viewpoint early in the stop. Even though the schedule is controlled, narrow lanes mean crowding can happen fast.

The Church of the Virgin of the Burgh and the Medieval Moat ride

After the knights’ area, you move toward the Church of the Virgin of the Burgh and then into one of the tour’s signature experiences, the ride through the Medieval Moat.

The moat portion is special because it’s not just another viewpoint. You get to experience how the city’s defenses shaped daily geography. Walking around walls and fortifications can be impressive, but on a Segway you can cover the defensive perimeter with less fatigue, which makes it easier to look around and connect the dots.

Photo stops along this segment matter. You want to grab angles where the fortifications and layout are visible. The guide’s job is to pace you and keep you safe while you move through tighter sections.

As for guidance style, the overall experience has been praised for friendly, patient teaching and practical navigation. Some people did wish they’d heard more historical detail at certain points, which is worth keeping in mind. If you want deeper facts, you might enjoy reading a bit before you go so you can connect the dots yourself.

Mandraki Harbour, windmills, and the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas viewpoint

After the medieval core, the tour heads toward Rhodes’ modern seaside area. This shift is not random. It gives you a breather and a different mood, with Aegean sea air and open harbor views.

You’ll ride past the famous windmills, then pause for a view at the Lighthouse of Saint Nicholas, which sits at the entrance of Mandraki Harbour. That harbor approach is a great reminder that Rhodes Old Town isn’t isolated. It’s a city with a working waterfront and a long history of sailors, trade, and arrivals.

If you’re traveling during warmer months, this sea-area pacing can feel like a “reset.” You still get sightseeing, but the environment is less cramped than the medieval lanes.

The tour also includes an alternative route back to the starting point. That matters because it helps you see more city fabric, rather than simply reversing the exact same path.

How guides and small groups shape your actual experience

Most people remember two things after a Segway tour: how comfortable they felt on the ride, and how much they learned or enjoyed at each stop. Here, those come together because group size stays limited to 8 participants.

That cap is why the guides can slow down for beginners without holding everyone up for long. In multiple experiences, guides were praised for being patient and attentive, with names like Bill, Vasilis, George, Nikos, and Irene showing up in recent bookings. You might get a different guide on your date, but the pattern is clear: the best tours keep you feeling safe and include time for photos.

Another detail I like is that the guides can recommend dinner options. One experience specifically mentioned a helpful dinner suggestion, which is a reminder that these tours happen inside the real city, not only in monuments on a checklist.

What to watch for: crowds, depth, and the stop-and-go rhythm

This is not a long, uninterrupted cruise. It’s a route with photo stops and guided moments. That’s usually what you want on a 2-hour Old Town tour, but it can feel more stop-and-go in crowded conditions.

If you’re doing this in peak season, expect busy lanes around the medieval core. A couple of experiences also noted that progress can slow in areas packed with tourists. If you’re sensitive to that, consider choosing an earlier departure when the streets might be calmer. One person mentioned they were glad they booked an early slot because the area felt quieter.

On the “history depth” side, the tour seems strong on storytelling and practical orientation, but it can vary by guide. Most experiences praised guides for enthusiasm and clear explanations. A smaller number of people wanted more historical facts and felt the stops were a bit convenient versus fully guided. So if you care a lot about lecture-style history, I’d plan to supplement with a quick guidebook or museum visit before or after.

Who this Segway tour suits best

This tour is ideal if you want:

• a fast way to see Rhodes Old Town highlights without spending your whole afternoon walking cobblestones
• a guided route that includes defense walls and harbor views in one go
• a fun activity that works even if you’re trying Segways for the first time

It may be less ideal if:

• you want long, detailed museum-style explanations at each stop
• you dislike any stop-and-go rhythm
• mobility limits or the Segway height or weight requirements might affect you

In family groups, it also appears to work. Several accounts described teenagers and mixed ages enjoying the ride because it’s engaging and less tiring than constant walking.

Should you book Rhodes by Segway?

I think you should book this tour if your goal is simple: maximize your Rhodes Old Town time and keep energy for dinner and sunset. The combination of major landmarks, a defensive moat segment, and a harbor viewpoint is a strong use of a 2-hour window. Add in a small group, training that helps beginners, and photo help, and it becomes a pretty efficient way to experience the city.

Skip it, or at least think twice, if you’re looking for heavy, uninterrupted history narration, or if you already know you’ll be uncomfortable with the Segway learning curve. Also skip if you fall into the stated limits for pregnancy, mobility impairments, or weight, because this activity is not set up for those needs.

If you want Rhodes in highlights form, with medieval walls and sea air together, this is a very reasonable bet.

FAQ

Where does the Segway tour start?

The meeting point is at the local partner’s office at 37 Ippodamou Street in Rhodes.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

How much does it cost?

The price is $76 per person.

What’s included in the tour?

It includes the Segway I2, a helmet, an orientation session, and a full safety briefing.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

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

What language are the guides?

The tour is guided in English and Greek.

How big is the group?

It is a small group capped at a maximum of 8 participants.

What should I bring, and what should I avoid?

Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen. Avoid high-heeled shoes, and don’t bring luggage or large bags.

Can I get photos if I don’t bring a camera?

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

Is it fully refundable if plans change?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.