Those who hope to get a mooring place in the town port of Rhodes during the high season, are looking for a needle in a haystack. However, Rhodes marina is a great place to start your Mediterranean adventure, among the Dodecanse islands or even the Turkish coast.
![Marina Rhodos Mandraki – Crowded Port in front of Historical Background]()
Location & Approach Mooring your boat in this marina is a real privilege since the Rhodos Mandraki marina is actually the old town harbor. Now if you remember your history, the entrance of the old harbor of Rhodos is said to have been guarded by the Colossus, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Sadly, the Colossus is long gone but the sailors can still enjoy that ancient mystique in a modern setting.
The marina is located in the north part of Rhodos island, along the other ports of the old town, being the furthest to the north, with the coordinates 36°26' N 28°14' E. From out at sea, the marina is easy to spot thanks to the medieval castle that sits just above it on a hill. Also, opposite the marina, the skipper can see the main market street.
The fact that the Mandraki marina is actually the old town port means that it’s not going to offer the facilities of a modern private marina, but regardless of that fact, it seems to be very popular with the crowds, especially during the summer months when a berth at this marina is very hard to come by.
A reason for that could be the position of the Rhodes island and the Rhodea town in particular, a gateway to the Dodecanese island and even the shores of Turkey. Also, the marina is conveniently situated just 30 minutes from the airport by car and 20 minutes from the commercial ferry by foot. This connects with numerous islands in Greece and with resorts in Turkey, such as Marmaris.
Also, during the summer, the prevailing wind in the area is the Meltemi which blows from the northwest to the west with forces of 4-6 Beaufort causing some problems for yachts. North of the port entrance there are rocks and shallow waters that should be avoided.
Infrastructure & Ambience The marina has 120 berths which are never enough during the summer months, a reason for which a booking in advance would be a good idea. Berths have water and power supply (220V) as well as the basic facilities of toilets, hot water showers, a mini market and grocery shops, a parking lot and a taxi stand for those sailors with a trip around town in mind.
However, there is an additional bus terminal within walking distance of the marina grounds, in case ther are things you can’t find there. Also within walking distance of the marina is Rhodes’ main commercial street where you’ll find a wide assortment of shops, banks and restaurants, everything a tourist needs.
Other than the fact that it gets busy during the summer time, the fact that the facilties here are pretty basic, Mandraki marina is really a great place to moor, since the ancient town of Rhodes is a starting point for many itineraries in the Mediterranean.