Kolympia Illios

If you want to get to know Rhodes, get to know its eponymous capital city. Its medieval Old Town is the star attraction – one of the best-preserved of its kind in Europe, it’s architecturally and culturally rich, while still very much a city of today. Take a look around the Palace of the Grand Masters, a mighty fortress which has served all sorts of purposes over the years, even as Mussolini’s holiday pad. Within the complex, you’ll find the Rhodes’ Archaeological Museum, and the palace hosts all sorts of exhibitions and performances. All in all, it’s the city’s must-see.

Be sure to take a walk around nearby Mandraki Port, and follow the imposing city walls as they hug the waterfront. Rhodes Aquarium and Elli Beach are two you can easily combine, and look out for other city attractions like the Museum of Modern Greek Art and the National Theatre. Rodini Park provides a scenic spot to catch your breath, while the streets are lined with cafés, ice cream parlours and the island’s best selection of shops.

Orfanidou Street offers the biggest concentration of bars and clubs in Rhodes, while cinemas and a huge casino offer yet more options for a night out. You will find Greek cuisine and seafood well represented among the city’s countless restaurants.

Outside the city, the island is naturally beautiful and unspoilt. The Valley of the Butterflies is one of the best-loved attractions on Rhodes, and a great place to visit as a family, especially in summer. The Epta Piges (Seven Springs) are another highlight, with peaceful wooded areas and photogenic waterfalls. From Kolympia, they are just a 5-minute drive.

A must-visit further south, the Lindos Acropolis is the stand-out sight of this charming coastal village. It stands high on a hill facing the ocean, so it’s a bit of a climb to reach it but definitely worth the effort. Lindos village itself is known for some excellent restaurants with rooftop terraces looking out to the Acropolis. There are lovely beaches too, particularly the charming St Paul’s Bay.

Also in the south – in fact, as far south as you can go – there’s Prasonisi, a great water-sports beach. Look out for the landmark lighthouse which sits right at the tip of the island. If you’re into windsurfing and the like, you could also try the beaches of the west coast. You will find some interesting spots along the way – the remains of Kritinia Castle looking out into Aegean, and the fresh fish restaurants of Kamiros Skala, where you can also take boat trips to the neighbouring island of Chalki.

Read more about Rhodes

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands of Greece. It’s got a lot of history as it’s been invaded a lot by the Persians, Carians, Ottomans, Italians, and Germans.

Average temperatures go from 20’c in April up to 30’c in July/ August and down to 20’c in November. With an average of 85 rainy days a year they get sunshine for around 280 days.

The island is 90km long with Rhodes town at the northern tip. The airport (Rhodes International Airport "Diagoras") is also in the North (15km from Rhodes Town). Charter flights and Easyjet operate direct from the UK all season and out of season (Nov-March) you’d need to fly via Athens.

The Acropolis – The Acropolis that sits high above the town of Lindos is absolutely amazing and is a must see if you’re looking for some of the best views in all of Rhodes. One thing I should mention is that the climb up to the acropolis requires you to be somewhat active and able to climb stairs, lots of them. The trail begins through town and slowly but surely starts to get steeper as you climb the hill towards the acropolis. Once there, you’re rewarded with historical buildings dating back to 300 BC. Our Villa Corteau sit just underneath the ruins.

Rhodes has over 40 beaches, here are a few: 

• Anthony Quinn’s Bay – Anthony Quinn’s bay is one of the most beautiful bays. The bay is located 17km (10 mi) south of Old Town Rhodes and offers some incredible photo opportunities to say the least.
• The beach at Anthony Quinn’s bay is one of the best beaches in Rhodes. Get there early if you want to snag a sunbed and umbrella and enjoy wading around the bright blue and green water. Amazing!
• For the best views of Anthony Quinn’s Bay from above, head on up to the windy road that leads up the hill just north of the bay and you’ll find a spot where you can sit and enjoy the virtually 180 degree views of Rhodes and its coastline.
• Tsambika Beach (or Tsampika) –  Tsampika beach is located 30km (18 mi) south of Old Town Rhodes and is a great place to spend the day in the sun.  Note: Beware there is a small section where nudists congregate on Tsampika beach 
• Lakido Beach – Just opposite Anthony Quinn’s Bay is Lakido beach. It’s literally 3 minutes walking distance from Anthony Quinn’s bay so visiting both beaches in a day is totally doable. As a matter of fact, I would highly recommend visiting both if you get the chance
• Faliraki Beach – One of the most popular tourist spots on the island of Rhodes. It was known for 18-30’s holiday in the 90-2000’s but I don’t think there is that market so much now. It is quite commercialised now there are water sports and a few diving schools.

How to reach Rhodes island 

There are two ways to reach Rhodes Island: either by flight or by ferry.

By plane: If you don’t want to lose time you can fly to Rhodes (RHO) from Athens. The flight lasts 1 hour. Many direct flights also operate from many European countries, so it will not be difficult to arrive there.

By ferry: If you choose to travel from Piraeus to Rhodes with a ferry, it will surely take you much longer but travelling with a ferry in the summer nights can be pretty enticing! The port of Rhodes is located in the southern part of the island and offers bus services to the town centre. You can easily book your ferry tickets using the link below or the booking engine.

Book your ferry tickets to Rhodes here >>