Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
It is also the building most visitors misread, so the useful thing this page can do is separate the layers.
What is medieval and what is not
The palace was built by the Knights Hospitaller, who ruled Rhodes for two centuries from the early fourteenth century, as the residence of their Grand Master and the administrative heart of the order.
It was badly damaged in the nineteenth century by an explosion, and what stands today is largely a 1930s reconstruction carried out under the Italian administration, intended as a residence for Italy’s king and, later, Mussolini. The exterior follows the medieval fortress; much of the interior is that later project.
That is not a reason to skip it. It is the reason the rooms feel grander and emptier than a medieval interior would.
The mosaics, and where they came from
The floors are laid with Hellenistic and Roman mosaics brought from Kos during the Italian works. They are genuine ancient mosaics in a building they were not made for, which is a piece of history in itself and worth knowing as you walk over them.
What the visit is like
Large vaulted halls, a courtyard, wide staircases, period furnishings and the mosaic floors, plus exhibition rooms on the medieval and ancient history of the island in the lower levels.
Allow an hour to ninety minutes. The interior is cool and largely shaded, which makes it a sensible middle-of-the-day stop when the walled town is at its hottest.
Getting the most out of it
Walk up the Street of the Knights to reach it rather than arriving from the car park side. The street is the best-preserved medieval street in the town and the approach it was designed for, and it puts the palace at the end of the sequence rather than at the start.
The ticket often forms part of a combined arrangement with other sites in the old town, and terms change, so ask at the gate.
Last checked August 2026. Hours, tickets and exhibition layout change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Who built the Palace of the Grand Master?
The Knights Hospitaller, who ruled Rhodes for two centuries from the early fourteenth century. It was their Grand Master’s residence and administrative centre.
Is the Palace of the Grand Master original?
The exterior follows the medieval fortress, but much of what stands today is a 1930s reconstruction carried out under the Italian administration after the building was wrecked in the nineteenth century.
Where did the mosaics in the palace come from?
They are ancient mosaics brought from Kos during the Italian reconstruction, so they are genuine but not original to the building.
How long do you need at the Palace of the Grand Master?
An hour to ninety minutes for the halls, the courtyard and the exhibition rooms.
What is the best way to approach the palace?
Up the Street of the Knights, the best-preserved medieval street in the old town, which is the approach the building was designed for.
Next
Read things to do in Rhodes, Rhodes Old Town, or Lindos Acropolis.