Villa Ianassa

You'll find this charming villa in Afantou, on the east coast of Rhodes. The largest and most famous of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes gets 300 days of sunshine a year and has a fantastic, lively atmosphere.

Afantou was founded in the days of Mediterranean pirates - in Greek, the name means 'invisible' as the island cannot be seen from the sea. It was particularly handy for those looking to escape the pirates! In the village square, the Church of Our Lady is spectacular. White with pillars and archways, three layers high, it's a lovely atmospheric church to discover. There is also a permanent folk art exhibition, linked by a tram to the beach in the summertime.

Afantou's beach is perfect for those who like their beaches serene and quiet, with stunning turquoise waters and a 3km stretch of golden sand. On the left side, there are caves and rocks for adventurers to climb and explore. The area is also famous for creating carpets, and the landscape is dotted with olive groves and fruit trees - why not pick up some fragrant olive oil to take home as a souvenir?

Anthony Quinn Bay is just two miles from the area and definitely deserves a visit. This mesmerising beach gets its name from the actor who starred in The Guns of Navarone, a movie partly shot at this beach. He fell in love with Rhodes and ended up purchasing part of it! Dramatic rocky peaks rise from the swirling azure and jade waters - the view from the top is incredible.

Just 11km is the fabled resort of Faliraki, which has been hosting holidaymakers for many years. With a superb beach and plenty of nightlife including Bar Street and Club Street where international DJs play, you certainly won't be short of a cocktail here! In the town, hunt for souvenirs like leather bags and various handicrafts. Faliraki is also famous for its brilliant array of traditional Greek tavernas on the beach.
 
A lovely day trip is to the famous Seven Springs nature park, a magical landscape wrapped in dense greenery. The clear springs cascade gently into a small lake, where water flows all year round and visitors can swim in the lake. If you don't mind small spaces, you can navigate a narrow tunnel in the park - though the hill route is beautiful - and families can enjoy a gentle walk through the park together surrounded by flocks of peacocks, ducks and geese.

Rhodes is sometimes known as the 'Island of the Knights' as it was occupied by the Roman Empire, then the Byzantine, followed by the Ottomans. Therefore, the island is a melting pot of culture and architecture to this day, especially in the Old Town. Surrounded by fortified walls, the Old Town entrance is guarded through seven gates.

Through the Freedom Gate, you'll discover the Palace of the Grand Master, which also has captivating views and a museum of Rhodian history. The New Town showcases gorgeous Art Deco architecture, particularly the Evangelismos Cathedral, with its intricate frescoes.

The villa is just a 30 minute drive to Lindos, where the narrow winding streets contain handicrafts, jewellers and charming boutiques. The main highlight is the Lindos Acropolis, also known as the ancient citadel, perched high on a clifftop

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 >>