Rhodes, Greece

In the days of old, knights found the island of Rhodes, close to the Turkish shore at the merging of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, and set it up as a fortress to protect the Christian west from the invasion of the 'heathens' from the east. Today the island, the main one of the 12 making up the Dodecanese group, is still subject to invasion but now the intruders are tourists; they come to revel in what is reputedly the sunniest Greek island, and to have fun in the medieval city the knights left behind.



The town of Rhodes, on the northern point of the island, has preserved its picturesque walled old city as a playground for visitors. In ancient times the harbour here was guarded by the legendary Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but now some statues of deer have taken its place. Nevertheless the old part of the city has plenty of wonders still to offer and the modern part of the town is just as vibrant.



The rest of the relatively large island offers miles of beaches, interesting archaeological sites and natural beauty spots. The best beaches are on the east coast, between Faliraki and Lindos. Lindos is renowned as a particularly picturesque town that has been designated a protected historic settlement; Faliraki, on the other hand, is a developed resort ar

Attractions Acropolis of Rhodes The ancient Hellenic acropolis of Rhodes sits high on a hill in the western part of the city, and once consisted of a monumental zone full of sanctuaries, large temples, public buildings and underground vaults. The buildings were set on stepped terraces interspersed with gardens. The remains of the buildings on the Acropolis date back to the 2nd century BC, but all has not yet been excavated at the site. The Stadium, however, has been fully excavated and restored. Also still to be seen are the ruins of the Temple of Athena Polias on the northern edge of the site, the Nymphaia, which is made up of four cave-like constructions cut into the rock - once used for recreation and worship - a small restored marble Odeon thought to have been used for musical events or lectures, the Temple of Pythian Apollo, and the remains of the Gymnasium. Although some visitors may be disappointed that there isn't more to see, the acropolis is hugely atmospheric and there is enough to capture the imagination. It is worth making the walk up just for the sensational views from the top; if you are a keen photographer then the ruins and ocean views make for amazing photo opportunities. Concerts are sometimes held in the ancient sports arena. 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. Karpathos From Rhodes it is about a three hour 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. 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. Petaloudes - Valley of the Butterflies A wonderful place to take the kids while on Rhodes Island 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 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. There are cafés and gift shops to enjoy, and don't miss the old Italian windmill near the entrance. 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, water sport 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 Water Park 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, about 7.5 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. 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. Resorts See our separate guides to the following Rhodes holiday resorts: Lindos, Rhodes Town, Faliraki and Ixia