Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes Palace

Address: Palace of the Grand Master, Rhodes Old Town, 85100 Rhodes, Greece

Website: https://odysseus.culture.gr/

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a medieval fortress and palace located on the acropolis of Rhodes Old Town and one of the island’s principal monuments. It was constructed and modified by the Knights Hospitaller during their rule in the 14th century and later repaired in the 20th century.

The palace complex contains fortified halls, courtyards and defensive structures typical of Hospitaller military architecture; its interiors have been restored to display exhibitions on Rhodes’s medieval history. The surrounding town walls and bastions form one of the best‑preserved examples of a Crusader and medieval fortified urban centre in the eastern Mediterranean.

Following medieval use the palace suffered damage over centuries and underwent significant restoration in the 20th century under Italian administration, which reconstructed large parts for use as a museum and state reception venue. Today the site functions as a museum and event space within the Old Town.

Geographically the palace stands within the walled medieval Old Town of Rhodes, close to Mandraki Harbour on the northeastern tip of the island and a short walk from the modern town centre and ferry terminal.

• Location inside Old Town: The palace is located inside Rhodes’s UNESCO‑listed medieval Old Town, which is a compact pedestrian area with ramparts and narrow streets best explored on foot.

What to See#

• Grand Master’s Palace complex: The main fortified palace complex rebuilt and expanded by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century on the acropolis of the medieval town of Rhodes.
• Courtyards and exhibition rooms: Inner courtyards, halls and restored chambers that display medieval architecture and house exhibitions on the island’s history and the Knights’ rule.
• Medieval fortifications: Curtain walls and bastions forming part of Rhodes’s extensive medieval fortifications that surround the Old Town and link to the palace.

The Palace of the Grand Master is inside Rhodes’ Medieval City (Old Town) near the harbor. From Mandraki harbour or the Old Town gates it is a short walk (typically under 10 minutes). If arriving by air, Rhodes International (Diagoras) Airport is about a 15-25 minute drive to Rhodes Town (roughly 10-15 km) and ferries from other islands disembark at Mandraki close to the palace.

• Visit first thing in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday influx from cruise ships and coach tours that swarm the Palace area.
• Make time to go inside rather than just viewing the exterior - the interior displays and the ramparts give better context and far superior views of the Old Town than exterior-only photos.
• Pair the palace visit with a walk along nearby fortifications and quiet side streets; many visitors concentrate on the palace façade and miss the adjacent halls, small museums and defensive walkways.