- Destinations
- Europe
- Greece
- Rhodes
Rhodes
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, who
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.
Information & Facts
Climate
The Rhodes climate ensures hot, dry weather in summer and mild
winters. Temperatures in July and August range from 82ºF (28ºC)
during the day to 72ºF (22ºC) at night. Rainfall is almost
non-existent in summer but showers can be expected between October
and March.
Getting Around
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 the commercial harbour of Kolóna in Rhodes town,
and there is a choice of high-speed catamarans, hydrofoils, car
ferries or flights to other islands in the Dodecanese group. Public
buses service the coastal towns around the island or it is possible
to organise a bus tour for island excursions. For shorter distances
shared taxis are available, but Rhodes taxi drivers have a bad
reputation for overcharging or receiving payoffs from hotels.
Rental car agencies are easily available.
Kids Attractions
Children love going on holiday to Rhodes Island, not only for
its fun-filled beaches but also for a number of other natural and
scenic attractions. The Valley of the Butterflies has kids
searching the skies to see the diversely coloured creatures in
flight, while the local aquarium has them entranced by the wonders
of the ocean. The Faliraki Water Park will also keep children
entertained for hours!
Language
Greek is the national language, but English is widely
spoken.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents.
Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellers
cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are
widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient
method of obtaining euros.
Night Life
Rhodes is one of the liveliest islands in Greece with a varied
nightlife composed of bouzouki clubs, Greek folk dance nights and
dance clubs. The streets off Faliraki beach are home to many
popular cafés, bars and clubs. There is also a casino next to Elli
Beach for those who want to roll the dice. Old Town has a number of
good entertainment venues including the Alexis Taverna, which has
hosted Winston Churchill and Jackie Kennedy. The Son et Lumiere
(Sound and Light) show at Palace of the Grand Masters is excellent,
and to see traditional Greek dancing visit the Nelly Dimoglou Dance
Theatre.
Shopping
Rhodes is a great place to shop, with a vast selection of
jewellery, ceramics, carpets and leather goods, as well as local
wine, honey and olive oil on sale. The best shopping in Rhodes is
in the Old Town, which has outlets selling modern, classic and
antique reproduction jewellery, as well as leather goods available
on Socrates Street. Near the Palace of the Prince Grand Master
there is a shop with antique carpets, paintings and porcelain. Be
warned that many shops in Old Town close between November and March
when tourists are scarce.
Local thimati honey can be bought in the villages of Siana and
Vathi, while hand-woven carpets are sold in the villages of Lindos,
Afandou and Archangelos, and in some of the monasteries. Lace and
embroidery are also available in various shops throughout the
island. The Ministry of Culture Museum has a shop selling
reproductions of ancient statues, friezes, tiles and vases.
The town of Rhodes has outlets offering local wines, Greek olive
oil and some uniquely-styled shoes, as well as the usual book
stores and clothing retailers. Ceramics are available from the
Keramik factory outlets, and there are numerous gift shops near the
main beaches selling cheap souvenirs, T-shirts and beachwear, along
with colourful seashells that are more often than not imported from
other places.
Sightseeing
While the most popular 'modern' attractions on Rhodes are its
beautiful beaches, this Mediterranean island's rich past has laden
it with a wealth of historic architectural, cultural and religious
sites that must be explored! Wander the charming streets of the Old
Town and experience day-to-day life, little changed for centuries,
or climb Filerimos Hill to visit the medieval ruins. There are
interesting castles at Kastellos and Monolithos, and don't miss the
Acropolis of Rhodes, the ancient settlement's terraced ruins dating
from 200 BC.
If you want to spend your time at the beach though, Rhodes has a
number of good ones where visitors can sun themselves or enjoy
watersports like scuba diving and surfing, including resorts like
Rhodes Town, Lindos, Faliraki and Ixia. There are also smaller and
quieter beaches at Ladiko and Afandou, and nude sunbathing is
allowed at Tsambika.