Rhodes

Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος, Ródos) is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and one of the most visited destinations in Greece, drawing over two million tourists annually. The island's crown jewel is its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Medieval Old Town, one of the best-preserved fortified medieval cities in Europe, built by the Knights of Saint John during their two-century rule (1309–1522). Beyond the walls, Rhodes offers a compelling mix of ancient archaeological sites — including the legendary acropolis at Lindos — long sandy and pebble beaches, a mountainous interior blanketed in pine and cypress forests, and a lively resort culture along its northern coast.

The island sits in the southeastern Aegean, just 18 km off the Turkish coast, and enjoys a hot Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days per year. Summers are dry and scorching, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C in July and August, tempered by the prevailing meltemi winds. Winters are mild and rainy, with January averages around 12°C. The northern coast is the centre of mass tourism, packed with large hotel complexes, organised beaches, and nightlife in resorts like Faliraki and Ialysos. The southern coast is quieter, with long unspoiled stretches of coastline around Gennadi and Prasonisi that attract surfers and those seeking solitude.

Rhodes is divided broadly into the fortified Old Town (a living neighbourhood with shops, restaurants, mosques, and synagogues), the modern New Town (Mandraki harbour area with its promenade and market), and the surrounding island. The interior is hilly and largely agricultural — olive groves, vineyards, and citrus orchards — with villages like Archangelos, Laerma, and Sianna offering a glimpse of traditional island life far from the resort strip. Lindos, on the southeast coast, is the island's second major attraction after the Old Town: a whitewashed village cascading down to a sheltered bay beneath an ancient acropolis.

By Plane

Rhodes International Airport "Diagoras" (RHO) is on the west coast, approximately 14 km southwest of Rhodes Town near the village of Paradisi. During the summer season (April–October), direct flights operate from dozens of European cities on charter and low-cost carriers including easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, and Jet2, in addition to domestic services by Aegean Airlines and Sky Express from Athens (approximately 1 hour, year-round) and Thessaloniki.

Transport to Rhodes Town: a taxi costs approximately €23–25 and takes 20–25 minutes. The airport bus (route operated by KTEL) runs to the Neá Agorá (New Market) bus terminal in Rhodes Town; fare is approximately €2.50. There is no rail or metro. Many resorts in the north (Faliraki, Ialysos) can be reached by the same KTEL bus network.

By Car / Road

By boat: Rhodes is accessible by ferry from Piraeus (Athens), with the journey taking 12–18 hours depending on the vessel. High-speed catamarans cut this to roughly 5–6 hours but are more expensive. Companies operating the route include Blue Star Ferries and Dodekanisos Seaways. Ferries also connect Rhodes with other Dodecanese islands — Symi (about 1 hour), Kos (2–3 hours), Karpathos, and Tilos. International ferries run from Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye, and Datça in Turkey during the summer months. Cruise ships dock at the Commercial Port just east of the Old Town.

Public buses are the main form of local transport. Two companies operate: BODA (white-orange buses serving the northwest coast, including the airport and Ialysos) and KTEL (white buses serving the east coast to Lindos and the south). All routes radiate from the Neá Agorá (New Market) terminal in Rhodes Town. Fares depend on distance: Rhodes Town to Faliraki is approximately €2, to Lindos approximately €5.50. A separate city-bus operator, Roda, runs routes within Rhodes Town with a stop along the Mandraki sea promenade; route 5 goes up to the Acropolis for about €1. Timetables are posted at some stops but services are often late and crowded in summer — signal the driver if you want to board.

Taxis are dark blue with white roofs. The meter starts at €1.22 with a minimum fare of €4. A trip from Rhodes Town to Faliraki costs about €18; within city limits the flat fare is €5 (or €4 shared). Call ☎ +30 2241 069800 (€1.90 surcharge). Fares double between midnight and 05:00. Always confirm the meter is running — some drivers attempt to switch it off and charge a fixed (inflated) rate.

Car and motorbike rental is widely available and the most practical way to explore the island's interior and southern beaches. Roads are generally good; the main east coast road from Rhodes Town to Lindos (about 50 km) is a well-maintained two-lane highway. Fuel stations are common in towns but scarce in the mountainous interior — fill up before heading to Monolithos or Laerma. Parking in Lindos is restricted; you must leave your car at one of the lots at the top of the village and walk down.

Medieval Old Town — The UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortified city built by the Knights of Saint John. Enter through one of the massive gates (Marine Gate on the harbour side is the most dramatic) and wander the cobblestone Street of the Knights, lined with the medieval inns of the various "tongues" (national groups) of the Order. The Old Town is a living neighbourhood, not just a museum — it has shops, restaurants, mosques, a synagogue, and residential areas inside the walls.

Palace of the Grand Master — At the top of the Street of the Knights, this imposing fortress-palace was rebuilt by the Italians in the 1930s after a 1856 ammunition explosion destroyed the original. The interior has magnificent mosaic floors (brought from Kos) and period furnishings. Open daily; entry approximately €8.

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes — Housed in the former Hospital of the Knights, a beautiful Gothic building surrounding a courtyard. Collections include funerary stelae, Hellenistic sculptures, and the Aphrodite of Rhodes. Entry approximately €6.

Lindos Acropolis — The ancient acropolis perched above the whitewashed village of Lindos, with stunning views over St. Paul's Bay. The site includes the remains of a 4th-century-BC Doric temple to Athena Lindia, a Hellenistic stoa, and a medieval fortress built by the Knights. Open daily from 08:00; entry approximately €12. The donkey path from the village is an experience in itself, though walking is equally easy.

Colossus of Rhodes Site (Mandraki Harbour) — The legendary bronze statue of Helios, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is believed to have stood at the entrance to Mandraki harbour around 280 BC. It no longer stands, but two deer statues on the harbour breakwater mark the traditional spot. The harbour promenade, lined with three medieval windmills, is one of the most photographed spots on the island.

Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) — A lush, shaded valley in the island's interior where millions of Jersey tiger moths (Panaxia quadripunctaria) gather from June to September. Wooden walkways wind through the ravine along streams and waterfalls. Entry approximately €5. Located about 25 km southwest of Rhodes Town.

Kamiros — The ruins of one of Rhodes' three ancient city-states, perched on a hillside overlooking the sea on the northwest coast. Less visited than Lindos, it offers a quiet, evocative walk through Hellenistic streets, a Doric temple, and an agora. Entry approximately €4.

Monolithos Castle — A 15th-century castle built by the Knights of Saint John atop a 240-m rock on the southwest coast. The ruins are modest but the panoramic views across the western sea are spectacular. Free entry, accessible by car via the road from Apollakia.

Beach-hopping the east coast — From the lively organised beaches of Faliraki and Tsambika in the north to the secluded coves around Pefki and the windswept dunes of Prasonisi at the island's southern tip, Rhodes has a beach for every mood. Prasonisi is particularly famous as a wind- and kitesurfing spot where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet.

Scuba diving and snorkelling — Several PADI-certified dive centres operate in Rhodes Town, Kalithea, and Faliraki. Popular dive sites include a sunken cargo ship near Lindos, the underwater caves at Kalithea Springs, and reef dives around the small island of Alimia. Expect to pay €50–80 for a two-dive excursion with equipment.

Hiking the interior — The mountainous interior offers marked trails through pine forests and past Byzantine chapels. A popular route is from Profitis Ilias (the island's highest point at 798 m) down through the village of Salakos. The walk from Monolithos to Siana passes through aromatic herb-scented hillsides.

Wine tasting — Rhodes has a winemaking tradition dating to antiquity. The island's main cooperative, CAIR (in the village of Embonas), produces whites from Athiri grapes and reds from Mandilaria. Several smaller producers offer tastings — Emery Winery in Embonas is open to visitors.

Day trip to Symi — A small, jewel-like island about 1 hour by high-speed ferry from Rhodes, famous for its neoclassical harbour town and sponge-diving heritage. Easy day trip; return ferries run in the late afternoon.

Medieval Town walking tours — Guided tours cover the Ottoman quarter (the "Hora"), the Jewish quarter with its Kahal Shalom Synagogue (the oldest in Greece), and the Knights' quarter. Several operators run 2–3 hour walks; the tourist information office can recommend guides.

Rhodes has a robust food scene blending Dodecanese island cooking with broader Greek and minor Asian influences from its centuries under Ottoman rule. Local specialities include pitaroudia (chickpea fritters flavoured with mint), lakani (a slow-cooked goat stew), melekouni (a honey-and-sesame confection served at weddings), and fresh grilled octopus at the harbour tavernas. Seafood is excellent everywhere along the coast.

• Budget: In Rhodes Town's Old Town, the market area around Sokratous Street has numerous souvlatzidika (souvlaki joints) where a pita souvlaki costs €3–4. For a sit-down meal, try the tavernas on the back streets away from the main tourist arteries for better quality at lower prices.
• Mid-range: Mavrikos in Lindos (operating since 1933) is an institution serving refined Dodecanese dishes — try the local goat with artichokes. Mains €12–20. In Rhodes Town, Tamam on the Old Town's waterfront offers creative Greek-Mediterranean cuisine in a converted Turkish bathhouse.
• Upscale: Colossos on Akti Kanari promenade in Mandraki specialises in fresh seafood with harbour views; expect €30–45 per person for a full dinner with wine. Marco Polo Mansion inside the Old Town offers fine dining in a beautifully restored medieval mansion.
• Vegetarian/vegan: Greek cuisine is naturally accommodating — horiatiki (Greek salad), gigantes (baked giant beans), spanakopita (spinach pie), and grilled halloumi are widely available. Dedicated vegetarian restaurants are rare but most tavernas can accommodate.

The local spirit is souma, a grape-based distillate similar to Turkish raki or Greek tsipouro — often served complimentary as a post-meal digestif in tavernas. Greek wine is increasingly good; look for the Rhodes appellation wines (PDO Rhodes) made from Athiri (white) and Mandilaria (red) grapes. Mythos and Fix are the standard Greek lagers. Coffee culture is strong: freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino (iced) dominate in summer, while traditional elliniko kafé (Greek coffee) is served year-round.

Rhodes Town's Bar Street (Orfanidou Street in the New Town) is the main nightlife strip with cocktail bars and clubs. The Old Town has more atmospheric options — rooftop bars with views over the illuminated fortifications. Faliraki is the island's party resort, with clubs and open-air bars geared toward a younger British and Scandinavian crowd. In Lindos, the rooftop bars above the village square fill up for sunset.

Tap water in Rhodes is desalinated and generally safe to drink but has a slightly flat taste; most residents and visitors buy bottled water. Bottles of 1.5 L cost about €0.50 at supermarkets.

Budget: Stay Hostel in Rhodes New Town offers dorm beds from approximately €18–25 per night and private rooms from €50, with a central location near the harbour. Mango Rooms in the Old Town provides simple but clean doubles from around €45 in the low season. Camping Rhodes, on the coast near Paradisi, has tent pitches from €10.

Mid-range: Hotel Attiki in the Old Town, set in a restored medieval building, offers doubles from €70–100 depending on the season. Mitsis La Vita on the Mandraki waterfront is a reliable three-star option with sea views from approximately €80–120. In Lindos, Lindos Sun Hotel on the road above the village has a pool and acropolis views from about €90–140.

Upscale / heritage: Amathus Elite Suites in Ixia is a five-star boutique property with rates from approximately €200–350. Rodos Park Suites & Spa just outside the Old Town walls combines modern luxury with proximity to the medieval quarter, from about €180–300. For a heritage experience, the Marco Polo Mansion inside the Old Town offers individually designed rooms in a 15th-century building from approximately €150–250.

Rhodes' Old Town is a shopping labyrinth, with everything from genuine local crafts to mass-produced souvenirs. Look for handmade leather sandals and belts (a tradition from the cobblers' stalls in the Old Town), locally produced olive oil and honey (the pine honey from the island's forests is particularly prized), hand-painted ceramics, and sponges (natural sea sponges from Symi and Kalymnos are sold throughout the island). Local wines from the Athiri and Mandilaria grapes, and the anise-flavoured spirit souma, make good gifts.

The Neá Agorá (New Market) in Mandraki sells fresh produce, spices, and local products. The Tuesday market near the bus station has clothing and household goods. In the Old Town, the Socrates Street area is the main commercial drag — haggling is common in souvenir shops, though not expected in restaurants or food shops. Upscale boutiques and jewellery stores cluster along the Street of the Knights and Ippoton Square.

Symi — Approximately 1 hour by high-speed ferry from Rhodes. A tiny, photogenic island with a neoclassical harbour town painted in ochre, rose, and cream. Perfect for a day trip or an overnight stay.

Lindos (day trip if staying in Rhodes Town) — About 50 km south along the east coast, 1 hour by car or bus. The acropolis and whitewashed village are unmissable even if you're basing yourself in the capital.

Kos — About 2.5 hours by ferry. Another Dodecanese island rich in ancient ruins (the Asklepion where Hippocrates practised medicine), beach resorts, and a lively harbour town.

Turkey (Bodrum or Marmaris) — International ferries run in summer: Bodrum is approximately 1 hour by fast ferry, Marmaris about 1 hour. Easy for a day trip or a change of scenery — remember you're crossing an international border (passport required).

Karpathos — About 4–5 hours by ferry south of Rhodes. A mountainous, less-touristed Dodecanese island with spectacular beaches and traditional villages where women still wear folk dress daily.

Halki — Just 45 minutes by ferry from Kamiros Skala (reachable by car from Rhodes Town in about 1 hour). A tiny, car-free island with a pastel-coloured harbour and a population of around 300. A peaceful escape from Rhodes' bustle.