Lindos: Submarine Cruise with Swimming Stop at Navarone Bay

See Lindos from a different angle. This two-hour cruise combines Acropolis and St. Paul’s Bay views with a short underwater look at local fish and reef life. You spend part of the trip on the open deck, then move into the vessel’s dry, air-conditioned submarine chamber before stopping to swim in Navarone Bay.

I especially like the mix of sightseeing and simple fun. You get useful photos of Lindos from the water, and the 30-minute swim gives the trip a proper beach break rather than a quick look over the side. The main consideration is that this is a short cruise, not a full marine expedition. The underwater viewing depends on fish being in the right place, and one child reportedly missed much of the action because the fish gathered on the opposite side of the chamber.

The price is $32.75 per person, which is fair if you want a compact boat outing without spending most of the day at sea. A drink and onboard WiFi are included, but food, extra drinks, and hotel transport cost extra or are not provided.

Key points before you book

• Two ways to see Lindos: Look up at the Acropolis and St. Paul’s Bay from the top deck, then watch the reef from the submarine chamber below.
• A genuine swimming stop: You get about 30 minutes in the clear green water of Navarone Bay.
• Fish feeding is part of the fun: You may feed fish near the underwater viewing area, though it helps to watch both sides of the vessel.
• Comfortable underwater viewing: The chamber is dry and air-conditioned, so you do not need to snorkel to see marine life.
• Transport depends on your booking: Pickup is limited to certain areas and days. The standard activity finishes back at the meeting point.
• Good value for a short outing: The fare includes the cruise, swim stop, one beverage, and WiFi, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

What this Lindos boat trip is really like

This experience works because it keeps the plan simple. You board a hybrid submarine vessel, spend time seeing the coast from above the water, then go below into the submarine section for a look at the sea life around Lindos. The boat remains the main attraction, but the views from the water give the outing its wider appeal.

From land, Lindos is dominated by its famous Acropolis. From the boat, you see the hilltop site in relation to the bays and rocky coast around it. That change in viewpoint matters. You are not touring the Acropolis itself, and you will not get the same close historical detail as you would on shore, but you get a strong photo angle and a better sense of how the town sits beside the sea.

The crew speaks Greek and English. The activity has earned a 4.7 rating from 120 reviews, with the strongest praise aimed at the scenery, the friendly crew, safety, and the swimming stop. That gives you a good idea of the trip’s character: easygoing, scenic, and designed for a broad mix of ages.

Starting the cruise and finding your meeting point

Your exact departure point depends on the option you select. The regular experience ends back at the meeting point, so check the location carefully before you book. A wrong assumption about hotel transport could make an otherwise easy outing awkward.

Optional pickup is available only from specific locations and on specific days. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, transfers operate from the Vlycha area to Kolymbia. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the service runs from Lindos to Plimmiri. You need to provide your hotel’s full name when selecting pickup.

The local operator confirms the final pickup time with you at least one day before the cruise. That detail matters because the advertised starting times can vary. Check current availability rather than planning around a fixed departure hour.

If you do not use the optional transfer, allow time to reach the meeting point on your own. Since the cruise is only two hours, arriving late can cut into the most enjoyable parts of the outing.

The first views: Lindos from the open deck

The trip begins with time on the boat’s top deck. This is where you get the broadest views of Lindos, the Acropolis, and the coast around the bays. Bring your camera or phone, since the water gives you a useful angle for photographs that you cannot get while walking through town.

The cruise includes roughly 30 minutes around Lindos. That is long enough to take in the setting without turning the experience into an all-day sailing trip. You can enjoy the coastal views, listen to the crew, and settle into the rhythm of the boat before heading below.

The Acropolis is given a short five-minute viewing segment from the boat. Think of this as a scenic pass, not a guided visit. You will see the monument from offshore, but the activity does not include entry, a walking tour, or archaeological commentary.

For a first visit to Lindos, this view is a useful addition to a day on land. If you have already spent time at the Acropolis, the boat perspective gives you something new without asking you to repeat the same sightseeing.

St. Paul’s Bay from the water

The cruise also spends about five minutes passing St. Paul’s Bay. The bay is one of the most recognizable coastal views near Lindos, and seeing it from the water puts its shape and color into better perspective than a quick roadside stop.

This is another short scenic section, so keep your camera ready. The boat does not linger for a long shore visit here. You should treat it as a photo and sightseeing moment between the longer cruise section and the underwater viewing portion.

The open deck is also the better place to appreciate the scale of the coast. Below deck, your view narrows to the marine life and reef. Above, you can connect the famous landmarks with the bays, cliffs, and water around them.

Going below into the submarine chamber

The unusual part of the activity comes when you move into the submarine section of the vessel. You remain in a dry, air-conditioned environment while looking through the underwater viewing area. This makes the experience accessible to people who do not want to snorkel or who prefer not to get wet before the swimming stop.

The chamber offers a close look at the reef around Lindos. Fish may gather near the boat, and you can try feeding them while watching through the windows. A beverage is included, and free WiFi is available onboard, so you can send photos or post a quick story during the trip.

The fish viewing is best approached with modest expectations. This is not a research vessel or a dedicated wildlife tour. Marine life is unpredictable, and visibility can vary. Still, the chance to sit below the surface in an air-conditioned cabin gives the cruise a clear point of difference from an ordinary sightseeing boat.

One practical tip is to look around rather than fixing your attention on one side. A child once watched the opposite side of the submarine and saw few fish until someone pointed out where they were gathering. Language differences made that harder at the time. If you are with children, help them check both sides so they do not miss the best view.

The Navarone Bay swimming stop

The final major part of the cruise is a 30-minute stop at Navarone Bay. The water is described as clear and green, and this is where you can get properly wet, cool off, and enjoy the sea instead of only looking at it through glass.

Thirty minutes is a useful amount of time. It gives you enough room to swim without taking over the whole excursion, though you should not expect a long beach session. Keep your swimming time in mind when deciding how much time to spend taking photos earlier in the cruise.

The bay stop also balances the underwater chamber nicely. The submarine viewing lets you stay dry and observe the sea. Navarone Bay lets you experience it directly. That contrast is one reason the outing works well for families and mixed groups, especially when some people want a swim and others prefer a boat-based activity.

The water is the main draw here, not a large set of included beach services. Food and extra drinks are not included, so plan accordingly. The tour includes one beverage, but bring your own expectations about what is available beyond that.

Comfort, crew, and the overall mood

The dry submarine chamber is a practical feature, not just a novelty. The air-conditioning gives you a break from the sun, and you can watch the water without dealing with snorkeling equipment or waves around your face. The top deck, underwater chamber, and swimming stop create a natural change of pace during the two hours.

The crew receives strong praise for keeping the trip safe and enjoyable. That matters on a boat activity with children, swimmers, and people who may be trying an underwater viewing chamber for the first time. The crew speaks Greek and English, which helps with basic instructions and the transition between parts of the cruise.

You should still listen carefully to all safety directions. The supplied information does not give details about equipment, changing rooms, or specific swimming facilities, so do not assume that every beach convenience is provided onboard.

Free WiFi is a pleasant extra. It lets you share photos while you are still on the boat, though I would give the scenery priority and post later if the connection is slow. The included beverage adds a small convenience, but the value of the trip comes mainly from the combination of coastal views, fish watching, and the swim.

Is $32.75 a fair price?

At $32.75 per person, this is reasonably priced for a two-hour coastal activity that includes three distinct elements: a sightseeing cruise, underwater viewing, and a swimming stop. You are not paying for a full-day boat charter or a meal, so the comparison should be with short excursions rather than longer cruises.

The strongest value comes from the variety. A standard boat ride may give you views but no underwater chamber. A snorkel trip may offer more time in the water but not the same dry viewing area or direct look at Lindos and St. Paul’s Bay from the deck.

The price is less attractive if you only want a long swim. Half an hour at Navarone Bay is the scheduled swimming time, and the rest of the trip is spent cruising and viewing the coast. It is also not the best fit if you want a detailed history tour of the Acropolis.

Since food and extra drinks are not included, budget for those separately if needed. Hotel transfer is also not automatically part of the experience. Pickup is optional and limited by area and day, so confirm that detail before treating the fare as a door-to-door price.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this cruise to families, couples, and first-time visitors who want an easy introduction to Lindos from the sea. Children may especially enjoy the fish feeding and the submarine windows, while adults get attractive views of the Acropolis and St. Paul’s Bay.

It also suits groups with mixed interests. One person can enjoy the scenery, another can focus on the marine life, and everyone gets a swim stop. The air-conditioned chamber is useful for anyone who wants to see underwater life without snorkeling.

You may want something else if you are an experienced snorkeler looking for a long session or a serious wildlife encounter. The underwater portion is a short part of a wider sightseeing cruise, and fish sightings can vary. The same applies if your main goal is a full tour of Lindos Acropolis. This activity shows it from offshore but does not take you inside.

The cruise is also a good choice when you have limited time. Two hours gives you a compact outing that can fit around a morning or afternoon in Lindos. Check the departure time and transport arrangement closely, since pickup patterns are not available every day in every area.

Practical advice for a smoother trip

Wear swimwear under your clothes if you want to use the Navarone Bay stop without fuss. The provided details do not confirm changing facilities, so it is wise to keep your arrangements simple.

Bring sun protection for the open deck and a phone or camera for the coastal views. You may want to keep your device secure during the swimming stop, since the activity does not state that storage is provided.

If you are traveling with children, explain that the fish may not appear evenly on both sides of the underwater chamber. Watch where the crew directs attention, and help younger children move their view if needed.

Do not count on hotel pickup unless you selected that option and received confirmation. Pickup areas and days change by region: Vlycha to Kolymbia on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Lindos to Plimmiri on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are helpful if your Rhodes plans are still shifting, but check the current booking conditions when you reserve.

Should you book the Lindos submarine cruise?

Book it if you want a short, varied sea outing with excellent Lindos views, a dry underwater viewing chamber, and a real swim in Navarone Bay. The high rating reflects the parts that matter most here: the scenery, friendly crew, safe feel, fish watching, and the swimming stop.

Skip it if you want a long snorkeling session, a full historical tour, or a day on the water with meals and extended stops. For most people staying near Lindos, though, $32.75 is a sensible price for two hours of easy coastal sightseeing with a little underwater fun mixed in.

FAQ

How long does the Lindos submarine cruise last?

The activity lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check current availability when booking.

What landmarks can I see from the boat?

You can see the Acropolis of Lindos and St. Paul’s Bay from the top deck. The cruise also includes time around Lindos itself.

Is there a swimming stop?

Yes. The boat stops at Navarone Bay for about 30 minutes of swimming in clear green water.

Do I need to snorkel to see marine life?

No. You can watch underwater wildlife from the vessel’s dry, air-conditioned submarine chamber.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is optional and limited to certain locations and days. The standard activity ends back at the meeting point.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the bay cruise, the swimming stop, one beverage, and onboard WiFi. Food and additional drinks are not included.