Rhodes airport arrivals: what really happens between landing and your hotel

• Where it is: Rhodes International Airport "Diagoras" sits next to the village of Paradisi, about 14 km south-west of Rhodes Town.
• What you go through: leaving the aircraft, passport control if you arrive from outside the Schengen Area, baggage reclaim, then the arrivals hall.
• Where the time goes: rarely inside the building. It goes outside, when you have not arranged how you will leave.
• Your options at the exit: public bus, a taxi from the rank, a hire car, or a private transfer booked in advance.
• What to do now: book your transfer before you fly, with your flight number and luggage count to hand.

If you searched for Rhodes airport arrivals, you probably want more than a list of landing times. You want to know what happens once the aircraft door opens. How long until you are outside? Where do you find a ride? Will the cases and the pushchair fit?

This guide walks you through it, from touchdown to your hotel door. You will see where people usually get stuck and what you can sort out from home, so your holiday starts when you land and not an hour later.

What actually happens at Rhodes airport arrivals?

At Rhodes Airport arrivals, you go through four stages: leaving the aircraft, passport control where it applies, baggage reclaim, and the arrivals hall. The airport has been run by Fraport Greece since 2016, and the route through the building is simple. You will not get lost.

What no arrivals board tells you is the fifth stage: how you leave the airport. That is where you find out whether you will be in your room shortly, or standing in the sun while the children ask if you are nearly there.

Who this guide is for, and who it is not for

This guide is for anyone landing in Rhodes who wants to know what to do from the first minute.

• It is for you if this is your first time on the island and you do not know how the airport works.
• It is for you if you are travelling with children, older relatives, or a lot of luggage.
• It is for you if your flight lands late at night or very early in the morning.
• It is for you if you are meeting someone and want to know when they will really walk out.
• It is not for you if you only want the live flight board. You will find that on the official airport website or your airline's app.

What worries people most when they land in Rhodes?

The biggest worry is not the flight. It is the first forty minutes after it. You step off tired, it is hot, your phone is at 20%, and you have a hotel address without knowing how far away it is.

Rhodes is a big island. Rhodes Town is about 14 km from the airport, but Lindos, Pefkos and Kiotari are much further south. Staying in Ixia is one thing; staying in Gennadi is quite another. If you have not worked that out beforehand, you find out at the exit, which is the worst possible moment.

In summer, several flights often land close together. The exit then fills with people looking for the same thing as you, at the same time. Those who arranged it in advance simply walk on. Everyone else waits.

There is one more thing for travellers from outside the EU, including the UK. Since the EU's Entry/Exit System began in October 2025, non-EU passport holders may need additional border-processing steps. Allow some flexibility at passport control rather than planning your pickup to the minute.

What are the steps from the aircraft to the exit?

The order is always the same. Once you know it, nothing catches you out.

1. Leaving the aircraft. In Rhodes, you are usually taken from the plane to the terminal by airport bus. Keep children close and your hand luggage zipped.
2. Passport control. If you arrive from a Schengen country, there is normally no border check. If you arrive from outside Schengen, you will go through passport control.
3. Baggage reclaim. Check the screen for your flight's belt. If you have a pushchair or bulky item, ask where it is delivered, because it does not always come out on the same belt.
4. Arrivals hall. Here you find car hire desks and cash machines. This is also where your driver waits if you have booked a transfer.
5. Leaving the airport. The taxi rank and bus stop are outside the terminal.

How do you leave the airport, and which option suits you?

You have four main ways to leave, and each suits a different kind of traveller.

Option	What you gain	What to bear in mind	Suits
Public bus	Low cost	Set timetable, stops along the way, no door-to-door drop-off	A traveller with one bag and time to spare
Taxi from the rank	Available on the spot	Queues when several flights land together, metered fare	One or two people with little luggage
Hire car	Freedom for your whole stay	Paperwork and collection straight after a flight, unfamiliar roads	Anyone planning to tour the island
Pre-booked private transfer	Someone is waiting, and you know the vehicle and cost beforehand	Needs booking before you travel	Families, groups and late arrivals

Which mistakes does almost everyone make when arriving in Rhodes?

Most mistakes are made before the trip, not at the airport.

• "I'll find something when I get there." You usually will. The question is when, and after how long a wait. What to do: arrange your transfer when you book your flights.
• Not counting the luggage. Four people with four large cases, a pushchair and hand luggage do not fit in every car. What to do: state how many pieces you have in advance.
• Forgetting the child seat. Not every vehicle at the exit has one. What to do: ask for it when you book.
• Not knowing exactly where you are staying. "Somewhere in Lindos" is not enough. What to do: have the name and address of your accommodation written down.
• Treating landing time as exit time. Leaving the plane and collecting bags come in between. What to do: provide your flight number rather than a rough pickup time.
• Letting your phone die. Your booking and contact number are on it. What to do: keep a charged power bank in your hand luggage.

How do you organise your arrival, step by step?

Five things done before you fly are enough to walk out of the airport without searching for anything.

1. Write down the basics. Flight number, arrival time, passenger count, luggage count and whether you need a child seat.
2. Find out where your accommodation is. It makes a real difference whether you are staying in Rhodes Town, Faliraki, Lindos or Kiotari.
3. Run a search in the form. On the Dodekanisos Services Car Transfer page, enter your departure point, arrival point, date and number of passengers.
4. Ask for three things to be confirmed. Exactly where you meet the driver, what happens if your flight is delayed and the final cost.
5. Keep the confirmation on your phone and on paper. If the battery dies, the printed copy saves you.

The vehicles are a Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 2008 and Peugeot 3008. Each takes up to 4 passengers and up to 4 pieces of luggage, with a child seat available. If there are more of you, mention it from the start so an appropriate solution can be suggested.

A scenario you will recognise

Picture landing on a Saturday afternoon in July with your partner, two children and four suitcases. The little one slept on the flight and woke up crying. Your hotel is on the east coast.

In the first version, you have arranged nothing. You walk outside, see the queue at the taxi rank, and join it. When your turn comes, you discover there is no child seat and the fourth case does not fit easily. You start your holiday irritated.

In the second version, you booked a week earlier. You declared four people, four bags and one child seat. You walk out, meet the driver at the agreed spot, the cases go in the boot and your child is strapped in. On the way, you look at the sea instead of your watch.

The flight was the same. The difference was five minutes of work from your sofa.

What should you have ready before you land?

Go through this list the night before, and you will not need to think about anything at the airport.

1. Flight number and arrival time.
2. Name, address and phone number of your accommodation.
3. Exact number of passengers and bags.
4. Child seat request, if you are travelling with a small child.
5. Transfer confirmation on your phone and printed.
6. Contact number for the transfer company.
7. Charged phone and power bank.
8. Water and a snack for the children in your hand luggage.

What should you take away from all this?

Arrivals at Rhodes Airport are not difficult. Only the exit becomes difficult when you leave it to chance. You get through the building quickly. How you reach your accommodation is the one decision worth making before you leave home.

Book your transfer before you fly.

Run your search at dodekanisosservices.gr/en/car-transfer: choose your departure point, arrival point and date.

If you have questions, contact the team on (+30) 22410 70590, daily from 07:00 to 21:00.

Frequently asked questions about Rhodes airport arrivals

Question	Answer
How far is Rhodes Airport from Rhodes Town?	Rhodes Airport "Diagoras" is next to Paradisi, about 14 km south-west of Rhodes Town. Journey time depends on the time of day and traffic, so do not plan it to the minute.
How long does it take from landing to the exit?	It depends on whether you go through passport control and how quickly the bags arrive. When several flights land together, the wait grows. That is why you provide your flight number for the transfer rather than a rough pickup time.
What happens if my flight is delayed?	Ask this when you book and request the answer in writing. Always provide your flight number so the company knows which arrival it is waiting for.
Will four people fit with their luggage?	The Dodekanisos Services vehicles (Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 2008 and Peugeot 3008) take up to 4 passengers and up to 4 pieces of luggage. If you have a pushchair or extra items, mention this when booking.
Is a child seat available?	Yes, a child seat is available in all three vehicles. Request it when you book so it can be fitted before you arrive.