Monte Smith Trail

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Monte Smith Trail: Easy Rhodes Acropolis Walk

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

Monte Smith Trail scored 64/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 64
Scenery & wildness 45
Varied terrain 83
Accommodation 74
Food & support 68
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Monte Smith Trail is a short, easy 2.3 km loop around Monte Smith, the low hill on the western edge of Rhodes Town in Greece. It is a single-day urban heritage walk, usually taking 1–2 hours on the hill, linking the Acropolis of Rhodes, the Temple of Pythian Apollo, the ancient Stadium, the Odeon and west-facing Aegean viewpoints. It suits casual walkers, families and history-focused hikers who want an accessible archaeological-park stroll rather than a long-distance waymarked trail.

Route Overview

The walk loops the Monte Smith hilltop, also known as Agios Stefanos or St Stephen’s Hill. If starting on foot from Rhodes Town, many walkers approach from the harbour or casino area, taking about 30–40 minutes each way before beginning the compact circuit of the monuments and viewpoints. On the hill, follow quiet roads, lanes and gravel/dirt paths through the open archaeological park, passing the Temple of Pythian Apollo, the Stadium, the restored Odeon and the site of the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus. For longer Greek walking routes with archaeology, compare the Ancient Eleusis Way, Ancient Mycenae to Epidaurus or Delphi to Chrisso Trail.

History of Monte Smith and the Acropolis of Rhodes

The Acropolis of Rhodes crowned the upper town of the ancient city founded in 408 BC. Most visible remains are Hellenistic, including the Temple of Apollo, the Stadium used for the Haleion Games in honour of Helios, and the Odeon. The hill’s modern name recalls British admiral Sir William Sidney Smith, who used it as an observation post in 1802. Italian archaeologists excavated the site from 1912, and Greek archaeological work continues today.

Notable highlights

Acropolis of Rhodes: The open hilltop archaeological park preserves the upper town of ancient Rhodes, with scattered Hellenistic ruins spread across gentle, walkable ground.
Temple of Pythian Apollo: The signature landmark of the route, marked by re-erected Doric columns from a 2nd-century-BC temple and especially atmospheric near sunset.
Ancient Stadium: A well-preserved 3rd-century-BC stadium about 200 m long, with restored stone seating and links to the Haleion Games honouring Helios.
Restored Odeon: A small reconstructed marble theatre beside the Stadium, with seating for roughly 800 and occasional modern use for events.
Sunset viewpoints: The west side of the hill gives cliff-edge views over Ixia bay and the Aegean, with Turkey visible in clear weather.

Challenges to expect

The walking is easy, but the site is exposed. Expect mostly paved roads and lanes, with some gravel or dirt paths where sturdy shoes help. There is very little shade, so summer heat is the main issue; start early or late in the day and carry water. Navigation is simple around the hilltop, but this is not a formal long-distance waymarked trail.

956

Ranked #956 of 974

See the Top 100 →