Acropolis of Rhodes
The ancient Acropolis of Rhodes sits high on a hill overlooking
the city's west. In the past, it featured sanctuaries, large
temples and public buildings, all set on stepped terraces
interspersed with gardens. Today's remains date back to the 2nd
century BC, though excavations continue at the site.
The Stadium, however, has been fully excavated and restored, as
has the Temple of Athena Polias on the site's northern edge.
Visitors can also see the Nymphaia, a marble Odeon, the Temple of
Pythian Apollo and the remains of the Gymnasium. In their day,
these sites were used for recreation, worship, lectures and musical
events.
All in all, the acropolis is hugely atmospheric and worth
visiting. Views from the top are tremendous.
Address:
Diagoridon 68, Rodos 851 00
Rhodes Acropolis
shadowgate
Karpathos
From Rhodes it is a short ferry crossing to the hospitable
island of Karpathos where the clock has stood still in the
delightful village of Olymbos in the south. Here the locals go
about their business much as they did in Homer's time, wearing
their traditional costumes and preserving their language and
culture, partly with the aim of attracting tourists but also
because they are proud of their heritage and want to preserve local
customs. They are particularly proud of their unique houses, built
of carved stone and decorated inside with gorgeous embroidery and
other colourful folk art décor. The island has great beaches and
unspoilt villages and is a pleasure to explore, with a picturesque
bay and a monastery at Kyra Panagia, the Diafani village on a
promontory to the north, and forested mountains. Karpathos is also
renowned for its feast days and weddings. Visitors who happen to
catch one in progress will usually receive a warm invitation to
join the festivities. Just four nautical miles from Karpathos is
the smaller island of Kassos, linked by ferry, which has a tiny
community of fishermen still living the way they have for
centuries.
Apella beach, Karpathos
Kostas Limitsios
Filerimos Hill
Filerimos Hill used to be the citadel of the ancient town of
Ialysos, and its large plateau is home to some intriguing
historical attractions. On the eastern side of the hill, see the
foundations of the Athena Polias temple and an early Christian
basilica, dedicated to Virgin Mary, as well as a Byzantine church.
The Monastery of Filerimos, which is thought to have been built by
knights, and was later renovated by Italians, is an important
archaeological site where Mycenaean pottery and a Doric foundation
have been unearthed. A lovely path to the west, lined with cypress
and pine trees, leads to an impressive crucifix at the centre of a
small square. Apart from all the exciting archaeological ruins and
artefacts, this is a pretty area which offers visitors lovely views
from the vantage of the hill with some great photo opportunities.
Despite its wealth of ancient artefacts and historical significance
Filerimos Hill is not as crowded with tourists as some of the other
sites on Rhodes which is also a great advantage for those who like
to avoid crowds. Bring a picnic and stroll through the area soaking
up the sun, the history and the beautiful views.
Address:
Nine miles (15km) from Rhodes town
Filerimos
Tango7174
Rhodes Old Town
With buildings and monuments dating back hundreds of years, Old
Town offers a wealth of historic attractions and has been declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The medieval streets feature Gothic
windows and paved courtyards lit by traditional street lamps. The
most famous of these is the Street of Knights (or Knights Avenue)
which leads to the Palace of the Prince Grand Master. This palace
displays several artefacts from as far back as the 13th century,
when the crusades first came to Rhodes. The shops and stalls of
Socrates Street are worth browsing for local jewellery, pottery and
clothes. Although there are many gates through which to enter the
Old Town, one of the best starting points is Eleftheria (Liberty)
Gate, where you'll come to Simi Square which contains the ruins of
the Temple of Venus, thought to date from the 3rd century BC.
Getting lost in the Rhodes Old Town is almost obligatory: there are
about 200 streets and they don't even have names so it can get
confusing. Getting lost here is rather wonderful but when you need
to find yourself again ask for Socrates Street, which is the 'main'
street of the area. The Old Town is completely pedestrianised.
Old Town
Jacob Munk-Stander
Rhodes Beaches
The beaches on Rhodes Island are a great attraction for
visitors. There are about 45 attractive beaches on the island so
there is a lot for visitors to choose from! Afandou beach is quite
undeveloped and therefore good for those who don't like a crowd.
Faliraki beach, on the other hand, is usually quite crowded and has
all the necessary amenities including sunbeds, umbrellas,
watersport facilities, restaurants and beach bars to enjoy. The
shallow waters of Faliraki beach make it a popular holiday spot for
families with children, as do the great facilities. The Faliraki
Waterpark and Luna Park distinguish this beach from others on the
island as they feature water slides, kamikaze slides and a gigantic
wave pool, as well as fully trained and certified lifeguards for
safety. Faliraki Beach is on the northeast of the island, just over
seven miles (12km) from Rhodes town. Kalathos beach has
crystal-clear waters, wooden sunbeds and bamboo umbrellas (very
eco-friendly!) and Kallithea beach is renowned for its hot
medicinal springs and beautiful palm trees. Lindos beach is right
beneath the castle of the same name and is a peaceful little cove,
great for a quick dip after visiting the castle.
Elli Beach
linmtheu
Petaloudes - Valley of the Butterflies
A wonderful place to take the kids while on Rhodes is
Petaloudes, the Valley of the Butterflies, although any
nature-lover will enjoy this unique experience. This attraction
sees a myriad of beautiful butterflies colouring its skies and kids
can follow them along the narrow streams, and over the rustic
little bridges. The shaded walkways lead to rock pools and
waterfalls, and carry a vanilla scent emanating from the local
storax trees. The best time to visit the valley is after the rainy
season (which ends in late May) when the high humidity in the area
sees thousands of Jersey Tiger Moths, which are in fact butterflies
despite their name, cover the landscape. They are attracted by the
Oriental Sweet Gum trees in the area and can be found in the valley
throughout the summer. The Valley of Butterflies is a natural park
and a protected conservation area which is lovely to visit even
when the butterflies are not around. There is a small Natural
History Museum at the entry to the valley where visitors can learn
more about this unique ecosystem.
Address:
20 minutes from Rhodes airport, near Kalamonas
village.
Petaloudes
maarten sepp
Marine Aquarium
Children love the Marine Aquarium on Rhodes Island, enamoured by
its diverse range of live Eastern Mediterranean specimens including
sea flowers, turtles, octopuses and strange-looking decapods
(crustaceans with 10 limbs). This venue has been used as an
aquarium-museum and research station since 1963 and as such it
displays an interesting collection of preserved and mounted marine
specimens, as well as numerous scientific instruments. The aquarium
is housed in an interesting Art Deco building which was designed by
an Italian architect when the island was under Italian rule. It is
officially known as the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes and is
far more than a museum; the station is a research centre and a
rescue and rehabilitation centre for aquatic animals which works to
re-release animals back into the wild once they have been
sufficiently cared for and rested. The Marine Aquarium is a very
well-respected institution, although it is not as big as many
modern aquariums. The aquarium creates an underwater atmosphere
which captivates visitors of all ages and the air conditioning
ensures that it is a cool and refreshing place to be, especially on
a hot summer day.
Address:
Cos Street, Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes
Jellyfish
Shadowgate
The Rhodes climate ensures hot, dry weather in summer and mild
winters. Temperatures in peak tourist season (July and August)
range from 82ºF (28ºC) during the day to 72ºF (22ºC) at night,
which is a bit cooler than some other Greek islands. Rainfall is
almost non-existent in summer, though showers can be expected
between October and March.
Despite the heat being oppressive by some standards, summer
remains the most popular time to visit Rhodes. June, July and
August see the island packed full of tourists, with prices
escalating accordingly.
Spring and autumn may be the best times to visit. Late spring is
particularly lovely, with most of the benefits of summer and fewer
disadvantages. That is, the sea is getting warm, there are fewer
people, and Rhodes is particularly lush. Early autumn visitors will
find Rhodes warm without being swelteringly hot, balmy water and
fewer tourists than in summer.
Rhodes Diagoras International Airport
Location: The airport is located just nine miles (14km) from Rodos
on the island of Rhodes in Greece.
Time: GMT +2
Getting to the city:
Buses run between the Airport and the city of Rhodes. The bus
stop is located between the new and the old terminal and tickets
can be purchased from the bus driver.
Car Rental:
Avis, Sixt and Hertz all provide rental cars at Rhodes Diagoras
International Airport.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis can be caught from outside the terminal. They are
generally metered but, if no meter is available, passengers should
agree on a price before leaving the airport. The trip into Rhodes
Town is about 25 minutes.
Facilities:
ATMs, a bank, currency exchange facilities, left luggage
lockers, duty-free shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, snack
kiosks and medical facilities are all available and the airport is
accessible to disabled persons.
Parking
Short and long-term parking is available at Rhodes Diagoras
Airport and is located directly opposite the terminal.
Rhodes is one of the liveliest islands in Greece. Its varied
nightlife comprises bouzouki clubs, Greek folk dance nights and
dance clubs.
The streets off Faliraki beach are home to many popular cafes,
bars and clubs. All told, Faliraki is a great place to party.
There's a casino next to Elli Beach.
Old Town also has a number of good entertainment venues, such as
the Alexis Taverna. The establishment has hosted Winston Churchill
and Jackie Kennedy. The Son et Lumiere (Sound and Light) show at
Palace of the Grand Masters is excellent. Visitors can see
traditional Greek dancing at the Nelly Dimoglou Dance Theatre.
Rhodes offers a variety of night-time diversions, ranging from
the cultural to the purely hedonistic. Visitors often find an
atmospheric restaurant and enjoy a long, drawn-out supper,
preferably with a lovely view and some locals around them. Many of
the bigger hotels have their own restaurants, bars and
entertainment programmes, and all the big resorts offer
entertainment options.
Rhodes is a major port with sea links to Athens, the islands of
the Aegean and Crete, as well as to international destinations such
as Turkey, Cyprus and Israel. Most international and inter-island
ferries dock at Rhodes Town's commercial harbour, where travellers
will find high-speed catamarans, hydrofoils, car ferries or flights
to other islands in the Dodecanese.
Rhodes receives direct flights from some airports in the UK
during summer, and it's easy to catch a connecting flight from
Athens. Public buses service the coastal towns around the island,
while bus tour cover island excursions.
Shared taxis are available for shorter distances, though Rhodes
taxi drivers have a bad reputation for overcharging or receiving
payoffs from hotels. Visitors should always agree on a fare before
setting off. Rental car agencies are readily available all over the
island. Horses, donkeys and bicycles are fun ways to explore the
more rural and scenic areas. Walking is also a good option in many
parts of Rhodes.
While Rhodes' most popular 'modern' attractions are its
beautiful beaches, this island's rich past has laden it with a
wealth of cultural and religious sites. Visitors can wander Old
Town's charming streets and experience an old-world way of life.
Or, they can climb Filerimos Hill to visit the medieval ruins.
There are interesting castles at Kastellos and Monolithos. The 200
BC Acropolis of Rhodes is another must-see.
Rhodes has a number of terrific beaches, where visitors can sun
themselves, scuba dive or surf. Options include Rhodes Town,
Lindos, Faliraki, Tsambika and Ixia. There are also smaller and
quieter beaches at Ladiko and Afandou.
Children usually enjoy Rhodes' beaches and other attractions.
The Valley of the Butterflies, local aquarium and the Faliraki
Water Park are excellent choices.