As you’d expect from an island, watersports options run to the many in Rhodes. From a fairly pedestrian cruise of the coast in a twee motorboat to a full-throttle plough through the waves on a jet ski, it’s all for the taking.
Those with a flair for adventure might want to try kayaking Rhodes’ coastal and inland waters. Or perhaps a yacht charter could fulfil your nomadic leanings? Activating your core for some stand up paddling boarding perhaps pushes things a little too far if you’re planning a leisurely one in Rhodes – but then, who can resist a challenge?
Boat trips
Let’s start things off with a fairly laid–back way to see the Rhodes coastline. Boat hire in Rhodes has to be the ultimate watersport. Free to cruise along, you are the master of your own destiny. From small motorboats to the luxury yachts at Yachtcharter Rhodes there’s a craft to suit your sailing skills.
If being captain for a day is a step too far, there are plenty of Rhodes boat trips where you can let someone else take the wheel. Don’t dismiss glass-bottomed boats for their novelty value.
If you’re not keen on snorkelling or scuba diving, they are a viable way to see Rhodes’ sea life in style. Tours leave Pefkos and head to the Lindos Acropolis daily. Prices range from €16 – €25 – depending on which tour you choose. For a huge choice of sea-based journeys, Faliraki Sealines operates trips, tours and mini cruises.
Costs: Boat hire from Watersports Rodos starts at €55 to hire a 30HP boat for one hour. For a full day’s hire, expect to pay €250. Up the stakes to a 140HP motorboat for €100 for one hour. Yacht charters at Yachtcharter Rhodes start at €1105 for a one week hire of a 6 person cruiser.
Jet ski
It would almost be easier to tell you where not to jet ski in Rhodes – such are your options. If you’re used to riding the waves, get your adrenaline thrills on in Kolymbia, Kotari or Ialysos for gorgeous coastal views.
If this is your first time on a jet ski – try a jet ski safari. You’ll be riding the waves in a group – with a group leader to show you the ropes and some hidden spots on the shore along the way. Watersports Rodos run safaris from Lothiarica Beach. Novices can whizz across the waves after some tips on how to drive the jet skis – and, once you’ve mastered your ride, you’ll take a tour of the area’s most pristine beaches. Stop offs include seal cave where you’ll hopefully spot some seals.
They also hint at the chance of seeing dolphins and turtles, though, of course, nothing is guaranteed. Jet ski hire starts at €110 per ski for 1 or 2 people. They also hire out Go Pros if you want to catch all the action on film – without risking your phone or camera!
Orbzii tip: Music lovers – keep your eyes on the coastal architecture. Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour owns a home in Pefki village. Visible from the water, it’s your chance to see how Gilmour spends his summers.
Paddleboarding
It might be an easy sport for beginners to pick up, but if you want one thing for paddleboarding, it’s calm waters. Luckily there’s a stretch of coastline in Rhodes called Stegna – where the waters are not only calm, but impressively clear. You’ll also find the good folks at Paddle Paradise who rent out boards, run paddleboarding trips and can even provide you with a bespoke paddling experience.
Our pick of their options is the sunrise paddle trip. Swap €60 and 3 hours of your time for a morning paddling into the sun, exploring sea caves and spotting fish going about their business in the waters below. In Rhodes, paddle boarding may mean an early start – but trust us, it’s worth it. If you’d rather go off alone, a paddleboard will set you back just €20 for an hour’s hire.
Orbzii tip: Stegna also happens to be home to one of the best restaurants in Rhodes. Drop into Stegna Kozas for the freshest fish dishes you’ll find on the island.
Windsurfing
Beginner or pro, if you want to windsurf in Rhodes, set a north west course for Ixia. To say the wind conditions are perfect is an understatement. The water just clocks up the bonus points further. And, as if that weren’t enough, there’s also a top–notch windsurfing club with all the gear – and experts – to get you out onto the water. Surfline Rhodes has a well–stocked cupboard of new Starboard and Severne kit to hire out, with wetsuits and accessories also ranking highly in the great gear stakes.
Summer winds waft across the seas daily – in just the right direction to make life easy for beginners. When the wind speed picks up, it also makes the ideal setup for advanced surfers looking to hone some sick moves. Costs start at just €27 for an hour’s windsurf hire – or, if you plan to be here for longer, €270 for a week. Prices are flexible with costs for hours, days or even weeks.
Kayaking
All eyes tend to be on the coast when it comes to kayaking in Rhodes. And yes, taking to the sea in a kayak will be an adventure you’ll want to take on. Deserted beaches, wild rams, birds and goats just chilling by the rocks and blue sea hues you’ll wax lyrical about for days. But, there’s also an inland artificial lake and adventure park to kayak in too.
And before you paddle as far as possible away from the ‘artificial lake’ reference, stay a while. It’s right at the heart of a protected nature reserve. As you’d expect in Rhodes, there are monuments nearby to scamper to – and there’s a thrilling zip line and archery to have a go at.
Water Parks
Have we really dropped a waterpark recommendation in on an in depth look at watersports in Rhodes? Yes – and you’ll soon see why. This is a beast of a park. The largest in Greece, Water Park Rhodes is home to all the water park classics. They are serving a lazy river, wavepool, kid’s pirate ship and many, many massive slides. It goes without saying that you’ll also not get any pesky sand in your eye here.
If beaches just aren’t your scene, this is a cracking option. One day tickets are €24 for adults and €16 for children aged 3-12. If you plan on spending more time at the park, two and three day tickets bring the cost down slightly.
Orbzii tip: If you haven’t got access to a hire car, the park operates two free bus shuttles. Hop aboard at Mandraki harbor or one of the pick up points in the south – including Pefkoi, Kiotari, Kolymbia or Lindos.
Looking to mix up your Rhodes activities on land AND sea? We’ve got you covered with our Rhodes guide to land-based activities too.
You’re all set for a thrilling trip to Rhodes. All that’s left now is to get you there. Funnily enough, we’ve got an app for that. Plan and book your dream holiday to Rhodes on the Orbzii app.
