An Insider’s Travel Guide To Rhodes, Greece

Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, is more like a small country than an island. From it’s ancient history, beautiful scenery and stunning beaches, Rhodes has something to offer everyone. It’s no wonder that the island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Greece! The medieval walled city of Rhodes town and the white houses tumbling down below the Acropolis of Lindos add to the island’s unique charm, and are just a few of the reasons why Rhodes is one of the top 20 destinations to visit in Greece!

Amanda from Olive, Feta & Ouzo has called the island home for the last 4 years and is sharing her insider’s guide to this romantic island here on the blog. You’ll discover the best historical sites, excursions, and beaches that Rhodes has to offer. Warning: you’ll definitely want to plan a trip to Rhodes after reading!

Historic Rhodes

A visit to Rhodes wouldn’t be complete without seeing some of the amazing historical sites on the island! Here are a few of my favorite must-see historic sites on the island:

 

Wander the Medieval walled city

A UNESCO world heritage site, the old city captivates with a special magic. One of the best preserved medieval settlements in the world, step into the cobbled streets lined with shops, tavernas, homes and small hotels and you’re suddenly stepping back in time. Stop for a coffee and watch the world go by. Ignore the map, get lost and find yourself again in a wonderful square with tables set out under the shade of ancient trees.

You won’t want to miss the Street of the Knights, Palace of the Grand Master, and Archaeological Museum. For a different view of the city take a walk on the top of the city walls or around the inside of the ancient moat.

Socrates Street is the traditional shopping area of the old town, with 3 mosques dating from the Ottoman era one at either end and one in the middle. At the lower end, you’ll find Hippocrates square. A central meeting place, surrounded by tavernas all calling out to entice you inside, it is crowded all day long in summer with people taking pictures at the fountain in the middle and from the steps at the side.

Pro tip: head to Dorieous Square for a peaceful spot to enjoy lunch or dinner. The square with the several large trees offers a shaded escape after the crowds of Socrates street. 3 small traditional tavernas have chairs and tables around the square. To one side is also one of our favourite places to stop The Walk Inn, open all year round and the best pizza in town.

 

Explore the Castles of Rhodes

Hire a car, put on some walking shoes and head out to discover the castles built by the Knights, all in slightly different states of repair and dotted around the island. Each castle is also close to some fabulous beaches and places to eat.

 

Haraki Feraklos Castle

The ruins of this castle overlook the small bay of Haraki, with a pebble beach and promenade lined with tavernas and rooms to rent. Walking up to the castle you’ll find great views across to Lindos and down to the sandy beach of Agathi.

 

Monolithos Castle

Perched high on the top of a steep rock, park and take the steps to the top where you will be rewarded with stunning views in all directions along the coast.

There are also smaller ruins of castles at the village of Asklipio and the town of Archangelos.

Pro Tip: In the village of Monolithos turn off the main road into the village and enjoy wonderful food at The Old Monolithos Taverna. If you need to cool off after exploring the castle instead of heading back up hill go down and follow the twisting coastal road to the sandy beach of Fourni popular with locals at the weekend.

 

Ancient Greece in Rhodes

When it comes to ancient Greece there is plenty to choose from in Rhodes. Keep and eye out in the medieval town as it is dotted with ancient Greek sites.

On Monte Smith, you’ll discover the Acropolis of Rhodes, a series of archaeological sites spread out across the hill with commanding views of the city and coastline.

One of the most photographed places on the island is the Acropolis in Lindos, sitting on top of the white houses of the town and surrounded by a medieval wall. It’s a selfie stick lover’s heaven with donkeys waiting to transport you up.

Head to Ancient Kamiros where you will find the ruins of a small ancient city of the east coast of the island. There are a couple of good beach tavernas nearby.

If walking around ruins isn’t your thing head to the Throne of Helio- a 9D cinema experience detailing the ancient history of the island.

Pro Tip: For somewhere off the beaten track, hire a small off road car or quad bike and head up the highest peak of the island, Mount Attivyros. Here, you will find the Temple of Apollo. These sites are all exposed with very little shade and require some walking to appreciate all they have to offer. Go early in the day, and be sure to bring a hat and water.

Excursions

At almost 80km long and 40km wide, taking an excursion (or two!) is a great way to see a bit more the island without having to tackle driving the winding mountain roads yourself.

 

7 Springs

7 Springs (Epta Piges) is an area of natural beauty in the hills between Kolymbia and Archipoli. The Italians modified the springs to capture the water in a small lake and irrigate the fields of Kolymbia. Even in the height of summer the water still flows around the lakes. There is a taverna serving food and drink with shade at the side of one small lake. You can also walk through the tunnel to discover the lake the other side and cool your feet in the water. If you don’t like enclosed dark spaces, there is an overland route to the other side.

 

Valley of the Butterflies

In the hills between the villages of Theologs and Psinthos, you will find the Valley of the Butterflies, a protected natural park. A small river flows between trees ending in a small pond. The whole area is a habitat for a species of the tiger moth. They flock here from May ready to mate in August. As you walk through the valley, you’ll see that the trees are covered in them! There are gift shops and a café with places to sit in the shade.

 

Rhodes Wine Tour

The island is known for its wine making skills, and Rhodes is actually one of the first islands in the Aegean to cultivate grapes for wine. The slopes of the mountains are perfectly designed to ripen the grapes. There are lots small wineries dotted around the island particularly in the area of Embona. The two most famous wineries are Cair and Emery. The best way to see all the wineries and taste the wine is an organized tour, and tasting is free at all the wineries.

 

Symi Island Day Trip

Close to Rhodes and only accessible by ferry, a day trip to Symi is a must on your itinerary. The beautiful Venetian houses in pastel shades surrounding a picture perfect harbor will take your breath away. Walk the approximately 500 steps up the Kali Strata for amazing views or take a taxi/bus and walk down. Enjoy a relaxing lunch in the harbor, or go for a swim before returning to Rhodes. Sometimes boats also stop at the Panorimitis Monastery, leaving enough time to look around and enjoy a cold drink or two.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to bring water and a hat! To avoid the crowds in mid-summer, either book a smaller tour in a minibus or drive yourself around. You’ll also want to go early in the day before it gets too hot. The cheaper boats to Symi leave from the old port of Mandraki. Be sure to book a couple of days in advance before you go.

 

Must Visit Beaches

With over 40 beaches to choose from, you’ll have no problem discovering an array of smaller coves, long sandy stretches, windswept beaches, or pebbled spots.  There really are beaches perfectly suited to anyone’s taste! These are the beaches you absolutely shouldn’t miss on your visit to Rhodes:

 

Anthony Quinn

Just past Faliraki  will find this snorkeling cove. There is a small taverna on the top of the cliff overlooking the small bay below dotted with massive rocks and pools. There are sunbeds perfect for laying out on the strips of sand and even perched on rocks. Visited by the day boats from Rhodes and Lindos, this beach is popular and always busy during the summer.

 

Stegna

Down a very steep winding hill from Archangelos is the small fishing village of Stegna. Here, there are two long stretches of sandy beach ready for you to enjoy. A small harbor separates the two beaches and brings fresh fish to the tavernas that surround the bay. There are a few areas with sunbeds and umbrellas but there is also plenty of room to do your own thing away from these areas. Try Stegna Kazos for amazing seafood and the best location right on the water’s edge.

 

Lindos

Further south, the village of Lindos also offers two wonderful bays to swim in. Sunbeds and umbrellas lay close together, lining the main beach with a selection of tavernas at the back. St Paul’s Bay offers two smaller beaches, and you may even catch a glimpse of weddings as they take place in the pretty church on the end of the bay. As you turn the corner towards Lindos, be sure to look out for the viewing point, where you can park and capture a beautiful photo.

 

Glystra

South of Pefkos and Lardos lies the bay of Glystra. Sandy and shallow, it is quiet and family friendly, with umbrellas and sunbeds that have some room between them. The beach is quite uncluttered, so you’ll have room to bring your own umbrella as well. One small kiosk offers food and drinks with a smile from Tsambika who hads been there for years.

 

Prassonisi

For something completely different and unique, head to the very southern end of the island to where the seas meet. A spit of sand connected at the end with a small rocky outcrop, is where the windsurfers and kite surfers head. One side of the beach is always windy, and the other is quite calm. With camper vans, two tavernas, a few rooms to rent, Prassonisi a world away from the big beaches of Rhodes town, Ixia and Faliraki. Walk across the sand and up the hill to find a lighthouse with amazing views.

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Rhodes has so much more to offer for those that want to explore- mountain villages, rugged coastline, forests, monasteries and hidden gems wait to be discovered around every corner. This is just a glimpse of what you can do on this unforgettable Greek island.

 

This guest post was written by Amanda Settle, the blogger behind Olive, Feta & Ouzo. From the UK, Amanda has been living and working overseas for 11 years. With her husband, and 3 cats rescued in the Middle East, they moved to the Greek island of Rhodes 4 years ago. Through the blog she is slowly exploring Greece, blogging about life, culture, history, travel and food with lots of fabulous photographs.

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Have you been to Rhodes, or is Rhodes on your list of places to visit in Greece? What are your favorite things to do on the island? Let me know in the comments below!

 

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