[Greece Self-guided Trip Day 1] Crossing the Aegean Sea, Stepping onto Rhodes Island's Knight's Path

Itinerary Overview Today is the day we transition from Turkey to Greece — bright and early, we set sail by ferry from Marmaris, heading to the historic city on the Aegean Sea — Rhodes. Although the travel process was quite complicated, we successfully arrived and strolled along the Street of the Knights, visited the Grand Master's Palace, and in the evening enjoyed a seaside sunset and a relaxed night at a bar, officially kicking off the Greek leg of our journey! 📍Today's Route: Marmaris Pier → Rhodes Port → Hotel → Street of the Knights, Grand Master's Palace → Pebble Beach Sunset and Drinks at the Bar Cross-sea Transfer: Departing Early Morning for Rhodes On days when we have to transfer transportation, it's usually hard to sleep soundly. When I woke up at five in the morning, Mom was already up too, deciding to read her novel to stay awake, while I tried hard to squeeze in a bit more sleep. We got up to wash up at six — this hotel was the only one in the whole Turkey trip that didn't serve breakfast (though we were heading out at seven anyway, so we wouldn't have had time to eat it). We were supposed to gather at 6:50, and all the group members arrived on time with their luggage in hand, heading downstairs. One of the perks of traveling with elders is punctuality — but this time, I was actually the last one to arrive 😝. The reserved taxi arrived on time, and four people fit perfectly in one car; the agreed price was 250 lira. After arriving at Marmaris pier, we were among the earliest, but within a few minutes more travelers kept arriving one after another. The overall process was more complicated than expected: Ferry company counter checks passport ➤ paper ticket Baggage security check (fairly relaxed, water is allowed) Customs clearance ➤ present passport, ticket, and pass through customs After completing the procedures, we could still browse a bit at the small duty-free shop before boarding.This time I specifically chose a spot in the middle of the ship to avoid seasickness. Overall the voyage was fairly smooth, with only some sections of sea showing slight rocking.

▲ Reaching the inspection checkpoint before Marmaris Marina

▲ Departure photo from Marmaris Harbor: officially bidding farewell to Turkey, heading to Greece on the Aegean Sea

▲ Views from the Ship Arriving at Rhodes: A Transportation Hiccup and Check-in Entering Rhodes required going through customs and passport control once again. It was only then that we discovered the disembarkation point was different from where we'd expected — walking to the hotel would take nearly 30 minutes, which was really inconvenient with our luggage. We negotiated on the spot with a taxi driver, and a 10-minute ride cost us 40 euros — pricey, but fast and hassle-free. After arriving at the hotel, there was another tedious process: We had to fill out detailed personal information (as required by the Greek government) We had to pay an additional 10-euro-per-room-per-night accommodation tax We arrived at Rhodes around 10 a.m., but didn't manage to check in successfully until 12 noon.

▲ MITSIS Hotel Group Old Town of Rhodes: Historical Relics and Medieval Atmosphere After a short rest and lunch, we walked to Rhodes' most famous Old Town area, heading towards the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights. As we made our way along the coast, the crystal-clear water was truly stunning. Along the way, we passed stone pillars said to be the remains of the ancient "Colossus of Rhodes," one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — now only the base and commemorative pillar remain.

▲ The Azure Aegean Sea

▲ Statue of the Sun God Memorial Column 📍 Palace of the Grand Master: Admission: 20 euros (no audio guide available inside at the moment) 1st Floor: Artifacts unearthed from the museum, including pottery, mosaics, statues, etc., divided into 5-6 themed exhibition areas, such as the life of the Knights, everyday items, instruments of war, etc.

Second Floor: Recreating residential spaces and official halls, with videos showcasing the history, mission, and construction of the Knights Order on Rhodes Island

The palace retains a complete medieval courtyard-style layout, with an open central courtyard surrounded by covered corridors and domes. The floor features an extensive collage of ancient Roman-style mosaics, making it one of the most exquisite visual highlights within the palace.

Although the number of exhibits isn't large, the overall atmosphere is full of a sense of history, and the building itself is a spectacular exhibit 📍 Street of the Knights: Free to visit, coats of arms of knights from various countries can be seen on the building exteriors Each building has a slightly different architectural style, reflecting the architectural culture of different countries, making it a paradise for history lovers

▲ Knight Street Brimming with Medieval European Charm

▲ The exterior of the Grand Master's Palace is also great for photos Stone beach sunset and Rhodes nightlife After leaving the Grand Master's Palace, we walked back along the coastline to the hotel for a short rest, then headed out again after seven o'clock to the beach behind the hotel. This is a stone beach, so if you're not wearing sandals, it's basically a "free foot massage." Around eight o'clock the sun set in the west, golden light spilling over the sea and the stones—it was such a peaceful, romantic scene. After dinner we picked a bar by the sea. The atmosphere there wasn't as lively as in Marmaris, but both the performance and the surroundings were very comfortable. At that time Rhodes hadn't yet entered the peak tourist season, so overall it was still pleasantly quiet.

▲ Stone Beach Sunset Scenery

▲ A Corner of a Nighttime Bar Trip Summary and Tomorrow's Outlook Although the cross-border transfer and entry procedures on the first day were somewhat cumbersome, the coastal scenery of Rhodes and the charm of the old city have already made us start to fall in love with this small island. Tomorrow we will have the whole day to explore Rhodes deeply, and then take a domestic flight to the capital of Greece—Athens, to begin our final cultural journey. 📌 Complete Record of Free Travel in Turkey & Greece Turkey Section Day 1-2: First Impressions of Istanbul | Day 3: Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar Day 4: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Wonder｜Day 5: Green Line Underground City Exploration Day 6: Sky Mirror & Konya Whirling Dervish Dance｜Day 7: Antalya Amphitheater & Old Town Day 8: Salda Lake & Golden Pamukkale｜Day 9: Marmaris Resort Day Greece Chapter Day 1: Rhodes Knights' Path｜Day 2: Morning Swim in the Aegean & Old Town Tour Day 3: Delphi & Monastery Day Trip｜Day 4: Athens Acropolis Classic Route Day 5: Flea Market and Acropolis Museum | Day 6: Attica Department Store and Archaeological Museum