Rhodes is a wonderful island for exploring the great outdoors. As well as magnificent beaches, you’ll find nature reserves and countryside that are a joy to discover.
At the top of the island, the capital city which share its name is a good place to start – the Old Town in Rhodes city is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. The Palace of the Grand Masters is the main attraction of this impressive UNESCO World Heritage site, and often hosts exhibitions and performances. You can also look around a portion of the palace itself.
Within the complex is Rhodes’ Archaeological Museum, and the medieval town’s intriguing buildings provide another interesting way to uncover its history. Other notable attractions include the Museum of Modern Greek Art and the impressive National Theatre, while Mandraki Port is a pleasant place to take a waterside walk. The ever-popular Elli Beach and Rhodes Aquarium are also just up the road.
The city boasts the biggest and boldest nightlife on the island, centred on Orfanidou Street. If clubs and bars aren’t your style, you could try the casino or any number of restaurants – there’s an international range of places to eat in town.
Outside Rhodes city, you have excellent outdoor attractions like the Valley of the Butterflies, to the west of Faliraki, and the Epta Piges (Seven Springs), near Kolymbia. Both of these are idyllic spots with areas of woodland – perfect for walking – and showcase the natural beauty of the island to the full.
The stunning Prasonisi Beach attracts surfers and kite-surfers to the southern end of the island, and a landmark lighthouse sits right at the tip. There are numerous fine beaches further north – Afantou, Archangelos, Agathi and Lindos are just some of those on the eastern coast, while the quieter west offers up Ialyssos, Kameiros and Soroni. The beaches on the western side, like Prasonisi, offer good wind-surfing conditions.
If you’re after sporting activity, the island delivers everything from scuba-diving to golf and horse-riding, and with such expansive areas of countryside, walking and cycling are great ways of exploring. Want to go bungee-jumping? Faliraki in summer is the place for you.
Countless buildings of historical interest dot the Rhodes landscape, from remote ruins like the Aegean-facing Kritinia Castle to the Filerimos Byzantine Monastery and the medieval fort at Asklipio. The Lindos Acropolis is definitely worth a visit – it’s a steep ascent to the clifftop site but you’ll be rewarded with some stunning Mediterranean views.
