Palace of the Grand Master changes access on 1 November
Published on 10/31/2026 at 12:59 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSWinter access and palace history
- The Ministry of Culture starts the winter access arrangement at the palace on 1 November 2026.
- The winter arrangement runs until 31 March, with Tuesdays closed and two exhibitions unavailable.
- Construction of the monument began in the early 14th century for the Knights of St John.
- An explosion in 1856 partly destroyed the building before its later restoration.
The Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes will change to its winter access arrangement on 1 November 2026, according to the Ministry of Culture. The museum, also called the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, stands in the Medieval City at the end of the Street of the Knights.
Winter access begins at the palace on 1 November
The Ministry lists winter access from 1 November 2026 to 31 March, with the museum available from Wednesday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays. The same notice says that the Ancient Rhodes - 2,400 Years exhibition and the exhibition on Rhodes from the fourth century AD to the Ottoman conquest in 1522 will be closed during the winter arrangement.
The change affects the main museum visit rather than a remote part of the monument. Travellers planning a visit to Rhodes after 1 November will therefore find the palace operating under a seasonal schedule, while two named exhibition areas will not be available. The winter access notice identifies the palace, the start date and the affected exhibitions on the same page.
The winter change concerns a museum shaped by restoration
The palace was built as the residence and administrative centre of the Grand Master, the leader of the Knights of St John. Construction began in the early fourteenth century, after the order had settled on Rhodes, and the building formed part of the city’s medieval fortifications.
An explosion partly destroyed the palace in 1856. Italian authorities restored it in the early twentieth century, and the interior was reconstructed in the 1930s. The upper floor now displays mosaic floors brought from monuments on Rhodes and Kos, alongside medieval furniture and other decorative objects. The ground floor contains permanent displays about ancient and medieval Rhodes, although the Ministry’s winter notice records the closure of two particular exhibitions.
That connection between the seasonal change and the building’s layered history matters for visitors. The winter arrangement does not turn the site into an empty exterior, but it changes which museum areas can be visited inside a monument whose present appearance is itself the result of several periods of construction, destruction and restoration. The heritage description of the palace records its Gothic character, courtyard plan and role in the fortifications.
Rhodes palace visit moves from summer to winter access
The seasonal change follows the summer arrangement that runs through 31 October. The official information places the building on Ippoton Street in the Medieval Town of Rhodes and identifies the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese as its custodian.
The palace’s position gives the access change a clear practical consequence. A visitor following the Street of the Knights reaches the main monument at the highest part of the Medieval City, but the winter visit must be planned around the Tuesday closure and the unavailable exhibition rooms. The wider Medieval City remains the setting for the palace, its walls, gates and former Hospitaller buildings.
Visiting Palace of the Grand Master: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The winter access arrangement begins at the Palace of the Grand Master on 1 November 2026 and continues until 31 March.
- The museum is closed on Tuesdays during the winter arrangement, while the Ancient Rhodes - 2,400 Years exhibition and the Rhodes history exhibition are closed.
- The palace is on Ippoton Street in the Medieval Town of Rhodes; the Ministry lists access by car to the Amboise Gate or Liberty Gate, followed by a walk.
- The site is a medieval monument with a central courtyard, high walls and towers, and parts of the building were restored in the early twentieth century after the 1856 explosion.
- Greek is the official language of Greece and the national currency is the euro.
Searching for Palace of the Grand Master on social platforms
These links open searches for Palace of the Grand Master on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Palace of the Grand Master
When does winter access begin at the Palace of the Grand Master?
The winter access arrangement begins on 1 November 2026 and continues until 31 March.
What changes at the Palace of the Grand Master in winter?
The museum closes on Tuesdays, and the Ancient Rhodes - 2,400 Years exhibition and the Rhodes history exhibition are closed during the winter arrangement.
Where is the Palace of the Grand Master and how do you get there?
It is on Ippoton Street in the Medieval Town of Rhodes. The Ministry lists the Amboise Gate and Liberty Gate as vehicle access points, followed by a walk.
