Rhodes: Hop-on Hop-off Bus and Submarine Tour

Rhodes shows two very different faces here: the historic city from a double-decker bus and the clear water around Mandraki Harbor from the Poseidon Submarine. The submarine is not a fully submerged vessel. Its lower viewing cabin sits 2.5 meters below the surface, while the boat itself stays afloat.

I like the wide city circuit and the chance to use it for basic orientation before returning to places you want to explore. I also like the underwater windows, the diver feeding the fish, and the free underwater photos. The main drawback is timing: buses may arrive only once an hour, and several riders have found that some headphone sockets or audio channels did not work.

Key points at a glance

• The Poseidon Submarine stays above water: You watch marine life from a lower cabin while retaining access to the open deck.
• Mandraki Harbor is the submarine meeting point: This central location also gives you views of the Old Town walls and harbor landmarks.
• The bus covers Rhodes City’s main sights: Stops include Monte Smith, the New Marina, Old Town, the aquarium, and the west beachside.
• The audio guide comes in nine languages: Options include English, Greek, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish, and Hebrew.
• The bus schedule needs planning: If you get off for photos or sightseeing, the next bus may not arrive for about an hour.
• The $41 price covers two separate outings: That makes the combination useful for families and first-time visitors who want variety in one booking.

Two ways to see Rhodes in one day

This experience combines a sightseeing bus with a short boat trip. The pair works well because they answer two different questions: What should I see in Rhodes City, and what does the coast look like from the water?

The bus gives you a broad look at Rhodes. You pass historic areas, modern streets, harbor facilities, beaches, and higher ground with views over the city. The audio guide is intended to add background as you ride, though the system depends on a working headphone socket and clear commentary.

The Poseidon Submarine departs from Mandraki Harbor, in the center of Rhodes. You can use the two parts on the same day, or use them on different days according to the activity information. The pass is valid for one day from first activation, so check the operating arrangement carefully if you want to split the two rides.

At $41 per person, I see the price as fair if you plan to use both parts. The bus alone is mainly a convenient orientation tool, while the submarine adds the unusual element. If you only want a detailed walking tour of Old Town, you can spend less by exploring on foot. If you want a simple city overview plus a family-friendly water activity, the combination makes better financial sense.

Riding the bus around Rhodes City

The bus route is designed to help you get your bearings. You can board at Mandraki Harbor or any listed stop, rather than making your way to one fixed departure point.

The bus tour includes an audio guide in nine languages: Greek, English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish, and Hebrew. Free WiFi is included. In practical terms, this means you can listen while watching the city pass by, but you should not rely on every audio outlet working perfectly. Several people found that only one socket in a row worked, or that their commentary channel was silent.

The route is advertised with 12 bus stations. The named stops include:

• Acropolis of Rhodes and Monte Smith
• San Francisco
• New Marina
• Tourist Harbor
• Old Town of Rhodes
• Rhodes City Center
• Town Hall
• Psaropoula Square and the Diagoras Statue
• Aquarium
• Rhodes Horizon at Kato Petres
• Grand Hotel on the west beachside

These stops are useful for different reasons. The Acropolis of Rhodes and Monte Smith take you to higher ground, where the views over Rhodes Town are one of the strongest parts of the ride. This is a good place to stay on the bus if your main aim is a city panorama, though it is less useful if you want to spend time examining individual ruins.

The San Francisco stop serves as a link between the higher part of the city and the center. The New Marina and Tourist Harbor show the working and leisure sides of the waterfront. They are useful reminders that Rhodes is more than its medieval walls.

The Old Town of Rhodes is the key stop for most visitors. From here, you can continue on foot into the walled city, with its lanes, stone buildings, and major monuments. The bus is not a substitute for walking inside Old Town. It gets you close, but the best details are found at street level.

The Rhodes City Center and Town Hall stops are practical for shopping, cafés, civic buildings, and a closer look at modern Rhodes. Psaropoula Square, marked by the Diagoras Statue, brings you toward the coastal side of town.

The Aquarium stop is useful if you want to combine this tour with a separate visit. The Aquarium area also helps connect the city center with the western shore. At Rhodes Horizon, or Kato Petres, and at the Grand Hotel on the west beachside, you get a different view of the coast and hotel district.

Why the hourly bus schedule matters

The hop-on hop-off idea sounds flexible, but the timetable makes it less spontaneous than the name suggests. The bus may run about once an hour, so getting off for a photograph can turn into a long wait.

I would use the first circuit as an orientation ride if possible. Stay aboard, listen to the commentary, and note which stops deserve a return visit. Then choose only one or two places to leave the bus. This approach keeps the day moving and prevents a short stop from consuming an hour.

The schedule is less of a problem if you simply want a scenic circuit. It becomes more important at Monte Smith, Old Town, and the waterfront, where you may want time on foot. If you have a tight shore-excursion schedule, leave room for the wait between buses.

The audio system is another practical point. Most of the time, the guide should help explain what you are seeing, but some passengers have found broken headphone sockets or missing commentary. If your seat has no sound, try another outlet before giving up. The ride still provides useful views, but it becomes much less informative without the narration.

The Poseidon Submarine at Mandraki Harbor

The submarine portion is the more distinctive half of the package. It leaves from Mandraki Harbor, a central and busy meeting area. The exact boat or kiosk may not be immediately obvious, so allow time to find the correct departure point and look for clear Captain’s Tours or Poseidon Submarine signage.

It is important to set your expectations correctly. This is a surface boat with a lower underwater observatory. The vessel remains above sea level, and the viewing hull sits about 2.5 meters below the surface. You can leave the lower cabin and walk on deck at any time.

That design has real advantages. You do not spend the entire outing in a closed underwater compartment. You can watch the fish through your personal viewing window, then return to the deck for air, harbor views, and the walls of Old Town.

The deck also gives you a good look back toward Rhodes. From the water, the medieval walls, windmills, and harbor setting appear in a different arrangement than they do from the city streets. The calm sea around Mandraki adds to the appeal, especially for anyone who wants a gentle boat outing rather than a fast ride.

Watching fish through the underwater windows

The lower cabin is the main attraction for children, but adults can enjoy it too. The water is described as clear, and the underwater section gives you a direct view of marine life close to the boat.

A diver enters the water to feed the fish. That brings the fish nearer to the viewing windows and creates the most memorable part of the cruise for many people. Free underwater photos from the diver are included, which gives you a small keepsake without adding a photo charge.

The underwater time is not especially long, so treat it as a focused viewing session rather than a full marine-life expedition. One family expected to remain inside a submarine for the whole trip and found the arrangement different. The boat is better understood as a harbor cruise with an underwater viewing cabin.

There is also a bar on board, but drinks cost extra. Food and personal expenses are not included. Bring only what you need, and budget separately if you want to buy a drink.

The submarine has an English audio guide. Unlike the bus, it does not offer the same range of language choices in the supplied information. Commentary begins as the boat leaves the harbor, although music can sometimes make it harder to hear. If the underwater viewing matters more to you than narration, this may not be a major concern. If you want detailed explanation throughout, keep your expectations modest.

Old Town, the harbor, and the views from the water

The two parts of the tour complement each other best around Old Town and Mandraki Harbor. On the bus, you approach the city as a collection of streets, monuments, and viewpoints. From the boat, you see the walls and windmills from the outside, where their position beside the water becomes clearer.

I would not use the bus as my main Old Town experience. The walled city deserves time on foot, and the bus cannot take you into its narrow lanes. Instead, use the route to locate the Old Town stop, then explore independently before returning to another stop.

The harbor cruise is also not a replacement for a longer coastal excursion. Its value comes from the combination of deck views and the underwater cabin. You get a brief look at marine life, then a different angle on the city without committing to a full-day boat trip.

That balance explains why the experience works especially well for families. Children receive the excitement of an underwater window and fish feeding, while adults get city views and a simple introduction to Rhodes. It also suits first-time visitors who want to see several districts before choosing where to spend more time.

Who should book this Rhodes combination?

I would recommend it to you if you want a relaxed overview rather than a guided walking tour. It is useful for first visits, family groups, and anyone who likes mixing sightseeing with a short water activity.

It is also a good fit if you have limited planning time. The bus stops near major parts of Rhodes City, and the submarine leaves from a central harbor. You can build your day around the two rides without arranging separate transport.

I would be more cautious if you dislike fixed timetables or want to explore at your own pace. The hourly bus service means you need patience after getting off. I would also think twice if detailed commentary is essential, since audio equipment may not work at every seat.

The activity is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a practical option for people who need that feature. For families, the vessel is described as suitable for adults and children of all ages, although the lower viewing cabin may be the main attraction for younger visitors.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and the reserve-now, pay-later option make the booking less rigid. Those policies are useful when your Rhodes plans may change, but they do not alter the need to plan your bus stops carefully.

My verdict on the $41 price

At $41 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Rhodes. It is also not simply a sightseeing bus ticket. You are paying for two forms of transport and two kinds of viewing: a city circuit from the upper deck and a marine view from below the surface.

The strongest value comes when you use the bus for orientation, stop at Old Town or Monte Smith, and make time for the submarine. If you ride only a small portion of the bus route and skip the boat, the price becomes harder to justify.

The submarine is the part I would prioritize. The fish feeding, clear water, underwater windows, and free photos provide something you cannot get from a normal city bus. The bus then adds practical value by connecting the harbor, historic center, viewpoints, aquarium area, and west beachside.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want a broad first look at Rhodes and a short, easy underwater viewing trip. The submarine is the stronger feature, while the bus is most useful as a scenic orientation ride and a way to reach several parts of the city.

Plan around the hourly schedule, test the audio equipment early, and allow extra time to find the submarine meeting point at Mandraki Harbor. If you want a leisurely day of independent walking, take the bus as a bonus rather than your main plan. If you want variety, family appeal, and a straightforward introduction to Rhodes for $41, this combination is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where does the submarine tour depart from?

The Poseidon Submarine departs from Mandraki Harbor, located in central Rhodes.

Can I board the bus at a place other than Mandraki Harbor?

Yes. You can meet the tour at Mandraki Harbor or at any of the listed bus stops, including Old Town, the Aquarium, Monte Smith, and the Grand Hotel west beachside stop.

Is the boat a fully submerged submarine?

No. The vessel remains above sea level, while its underwater observatory sits about 2.5 meters below the surface.

Can I go outside during the submarine cruise?

Yes. You can leave the underwater cabin and walk on the deck at any time during the cruise.

What languages are available on the bus audio guide?

The bus audio guide is available in Greek, English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish, and Hebrew.

Is the submarine audio guide available in several languages?

The supplied activity information lists an English audio guide for the submarine cruise.

Can I use the bus and submarine on different days?

Yes. The activity information says you can use the bus tour and submarine cruise on the same day or on different days. The pass is listed as valid for one day from first activation, so check the timing when booking.