Villa Zephyr

You have a lot to see on Rhodes, one of the largest Greek islands. Happily, with most of the island within an hour’s drive of the capital, it’s easy to pack a lot in.

The medieval Old Town is the highlight of the capital city, also called Rhodes. Located in the north east of the island, Rhodes Town prides itself on being one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. It’s not stuck in the past, however. You’ll find it buzzing with life in its many restaurants, bars, shops and the busy New Market on the harbourside.

The big attraction of the fortified town is the Palace of the Grand Masters, parts of which you can tour. Within the complex, you’ll find the Rhodes’ Archaeological Museum and, nearby, the famous Street of the Knights with its seven inns. The palace hosts various exhibitions and performances too, so it’s worth checking out what will be happening when you’re there.

The scenic Mandraki Port is also close, as are the Rhodes Aquarium and Elli Beach. Landmarks like the Rhodes Acropolis and the Fort of St Nicholas are worth looking out for, while the Museum of Modern Greek Art and the National Theatre provide an introduction to the local culture.

Rhodes Town’s nightlife is the stuff of legend. A huge casino stays open late into the night, and there’s clubbing and countless bars on Orfanidou Street and, in the Old Town, Miltiadou Street. If you’re dining in town, you’ll find traditional Greek cuisine and seafood are menu staples, but there’s a good variety of food on offer all around the city.

About 10km from Rhodes Town, the 15th-century Filerimos Monastery is found on a hill above Ialyssos. An impressive building, where you can also see the foundations of an Ancient Greek temple, the monastery lies on a route that offers some stunning hilltop views over the island.

If beautiful countryside is your thing, the Valley of the Butterflies is one of the best-loved attractions on the island, at its finest in the summer when the butterflies are most likely to swarm into the valley. The Epta Piges (Seven Springs) are another highlight, with the waterfalls complemented by a lake and peaceful woodland.

The jewel of the south, the whitewashed village of Lindos is known for its sophisticated nightspots and rooftop restaurants. There are also lovely beaches, St Paul’s Bay being an idyllic standout, but the big landmark is the Lindos Acropolis. Standing high on the clifftop, the climb is steep but the views are truly breathtaking.

Right at the southern tip of the island there’s Prasonisi Beach with its landmark lighthouse. Prasonisi is a popular spot for kite-surfers and windsurfers, and you can find several alternatives on the western coast where conditions are similarly good. Among the highlights of this quieter stretch of coast are the remains of Kritinia Castle and Kamiros Skala village, famed for its fish restaurants.

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands of Greece. It’s got a lot of history as it’s been invaded a lot by the Persians, Carians, Ottomans, Italians, and Germans.

Average temperatures go from 20’c in April up to 30’c in July/ August and down to 20’c in November. With an average of 85 rainy days a year they get sunshine for around 280 days.

The island is 90km long with Rhodes town at the northern tip. The airport (Rhodes International Airport "Diagoras") is also in the North (15km from Rhodes Town). Charter flights and Easyjet operate direct from the UK all season and out of season (Nov-March) you’d need to fly via Athens.

The Acropolis – The Acropolis that sits high above the town of Lindos is absolutely amazing and is a must see if you’re looking for some of the best views in all of Rhodes. One thing I should mention is that the climb up to the acropolis requires you to be somewhat active and able to climb stairs, lots of them. The trail begins through town and slowly but surely starts to get steeper as you climb the hill towards the acropolis. Once there, you’re rewarded with historical buildings dating back to 300 BC. Our Villa Corteau sit just underneath the ruins.

Rhodes has over 40 beaches, here are a few: 

• Anthony Quinn’s Bay – Anthony Quinn’s bay is one of the most beautiful bays. The bay is located 17km (10 mi) south of Old Town Rhodes and offers some incredible photo opportunities to say the least.
• The beach at Anthony Quinn’s bay is one of the best beaches in Rhodes. Get there early if you want to snag a sunbed and umbrella and enjoy wading around the bright blue and green water. Amazing!
• For the best views of Anthony Quinn’s Bay from above, head on up to the windy road that leads up the hill just north of the bay and you’ll find a spot where you can sit and enjoy the virtually 180 degree views of Rhodes and its coastline.
• Tsambika Beach (or Tsampika) –  Tsampika beach is located 30km (18 mi) south of Old Town Rhodes and is a great place to spend the day in the sun.  Note: Beware there is a small section where nudists congregate on Tsampika beach 
• Lakido Beach – Just opposite Anthony Quinn’s Bay is Lakido beach. It’s literally 3 minutes walking distance from Anthony Quinn’s bay so visiting both beaches in a day is totally doable. As a matter of fact, I would highly recommend visiting both if you get the chance
• Faliraki Beach – One of the most popular tourist spots on the island of Rhodes. It was known for 18-30’s holiday in the 90-2000’s but I don’t think there is that market so much now. It is quite commercialised now there are water sports and a few diving schools.

How to reach Rhodes island 

There are two ways to reach Rhodes Island: either by flight or by ferry.

By plane: If you don’t want to lose time you can fly to Rhodes (RHO) from Athens. The flight lasts 1 hour. Many direct flights also operate from many European countries, so it will not be difficult to arrive there.

By ferry: If you choose to travel from Piraeus to Rhodes with a ferry, it will surely take you much longer but travelling with a ferry in the summer nights can be pretty enticing! The port of Rhodes is located in the southern part of the island and offers bus services to the town centre. You can easily book your ferry tickets using the link below or the booking engine.

Book your ferry tickets to Rhodes here >>