Rhodes – Amazing Island of the Sun and Medieval Knights
Welcome to Rhodes, the Island of the Knights. Rhodes is the capital of the Dodecanese and perfect for a relaxed holiday with its bright green hills, long golden beaches and blissful valleys.
But also, if you are looking for an action-packed holiday, Rhodes will take you to the test with great diving, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Add in the excellent hotels, restaurants and the nightlife in Faliraki and Rhodes City, the special blend of cosmopolitan and traditional on the island and numerous cultural and archaeological sites and you have got the perfect holiday destination.
Top 10 Things to do in Rhodes
Where is Rhodes Greece?
Map of the Dodecanese Archipelagos
How to Get to Rhodes?
How to Get Around in Rhodes?
What is Rhodes Greece Famous for?
Rhodes Island – What to See?
Petaloudes (butterflies) Valley
Kremasti Town near Petaloudes Valley
Archangelos Village
Ancient Kameiros
Rhodes Beach Guide
Halki (Chalki) Island
Ialysos near the Ancient Polis of Ialysos
Mt. Attavyros – The Highest Point in Rhodes Island
Monolithos Castle
Prasonisi – A Windsurfer´s Paradise
What to Do in Rhodes?
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
Scuba Diving in Rhodes
Mountaineering at Mt Attavyros
Thermes Kalithea Baths
Weather and Climate in Rhodes Island
Top 10 Things to do in Rhodes
- See the medieval City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Stroll along the streets on the Island of the Knights
- Go on a daytrip to Tilos, Chalki and Kastellorizo to enjoy beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters
- Explore the Acropolis of Lindos
- Enjoy the serenity of the Valley of Butterflies
- Discover Prasonisi, popular for windsurfers and kitesurfers
- Taste the delicious Pitaroudia
- Walk around Mandraki and take a snapshot of the deer statues at the port entrance
- Visit the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Ialysos on Filerimos Hill
- Watch the sunset from the impressive castle of Monolithos
Where is Rhodes Greece?
Rhodes island is situated 363 km east-south-east from Greece mainland and 18 km from the southern shore of Turkey.
Map of the Dodecanese archipelagos
How to get to Rhodes?
You can reach Rhodes by ferry from Piraeus port /Athens with routes available 4-5 times per week but prepare yourself for a long journey lasting 16-18 hours. The easiest way to reach Rhodes Island is flying. Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras”, one of the busiest airports in Greece. It receives domestic flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, and other cities in Greece as well as flights from many countries in Europe. The flight duration from Athens to Rhodes is approx. 50 minutes.
How to get around in Rhodes?
The island of Rhodes is shaped like a spearhead, 79.7 km long and 38 km wide. The city of Rhodes is located at the northern tip of the island, as well as the site of the ancient and modern commercial harbors. Diagoras International Airport (IATA code: RHO) is located 14 km to the southwest of the city in Paradisi. The road network radiates from the city along the east and west coasts.
What is Rhodes Greece famous for?
Rhodes island – What to see?
Rhodes Tours
TICKETS & THINGS TO DO:
Besides the city of Rhodes, the island is dotted with small beautiful villages and beach resorts, among them Faliraki, Lindos, Kremasti, Haraki, Pefkos, Archangelos, Afantou, Koskinou, Embona (Attavyros), Paradisi, and Trianta (Ialysos). Rent a car for a few days and drive around the island to see them all.
Petaloudes (butterflies) Valley
The Petaloudes Valley is home to thousands of the Rhodes subspecies of the Jersey Tiger Moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria rhodosensis) that cover the entire landscape after the wet season (late May) due to the high humidity in the area. The Oriental Sweetgum trees in Petaloudes Valley give off a scent that attracts the moths and creates a unique biotope. Due to the increased amount of visitors, the Euplagia are facing population issues as they have no stomach and when disturbed tend to fly frequently and thus deplete their energy.
Kremasti town near Petaloudes Valley
Kremasti is a town located on the west coast of the island, 12 km from the capital of Rhodes, on the road to the airport. It has a population of about 4,400 people (2001 census) and is the administrative center of the Municipality of Petaloudes.
On a hill near the center of town are the ruins of a medieval castle. The local church, Panagia Katholiki (Virgin Mary) is one of the largest and most beautiful on the island. The interior is decorated with murals and wood carvings. Next to the church is the municipal library, in an impressive building featuring classic Greek columns. The main road is lined with shops and restaurants. Kremasti has a beach on the Aegean Sea. It is not far from Petaloudes Valley.
Ancient Kameiros
Kameiros is an ancient city on the island of Rhodes. It lies on the northwest coast of the island. It was the heart of an agricultural region, and constituted one of three city states on Rhodes. Kameiros nowadays is a municipal unit stretching inland into the north-central part of Rhodes with its seat in Soroni.
Read moreRhodes Beach Guide
In Rhodes you will find countless beaches around the long coast of the island. Discover the 40 best beaches in Rhodes. Find the list here below.
Organized beaches in Rhodes island
- Lindos Beach (Megali Paralia) – Sandy, located 48 km from Rhodes Town
- Lindos Beach (Limanaki Agios Pavlos) – Sandy, family friendly, located 48 km from Rhodes Town
- Ladiko Beach – Pebbled, family friendly, located 20 km south of Rhodes Town
- Ladiko Beach – Pebbled, nudism friendly
- Agathi Beach – Sandy, family friendly, located 38 km southeast of Rhodes Town
- Kallithea Beach – Pebbled, family friendly, diving club, water sports, located 8 km south of Rhodes Town
- Elli Beach – Pebbled, family friendly, harbour, water sports, located in Rhodes Town
- Afandou Beach – Pebbled, family friendly, water sports, located 19 km south of Rhodes Town
- Faliraki Beach – Sandy, family friendly, diving club, party, water sports, located 16 km south of Rhodes Town
Halki (Chalki) island
Coordinates: 36°14′N 27°34′E
Halki is a Greek island in the Dodecanese archipelago in the Aegean Sea, some 6 km west of Rhodes. With the area of 28 km2, it is the smallest inhabited island of Dodecanese. It is part of the Rhodes region. It has permanent population of 330 (increased during the summer months), concentrated in the only village Emborio. The community is divided in two parts, Chorio (also spelled Horio) and Emporio (the port). A ruined medieval castle of the Knights of St. John overlooks the old town of Chorio and the chapel contains some of the original frescoes.
You can reach Halki island by boat from the Kamiros Skala Dock, which is situated 30 km south-west of Rhodes city near the Ancient ruins of Kamiros.
Ialysos near the ancient polis of Ialysos
Ialysos (also known as Trianta), is the second-largest town on the island of Rhodes. It has a population of about 12,000, and is located eight km west of the town of Rhodes on the island’s northwestern coast. The town is situated near the site of the ancient Doric polis of Ialysos, homeland of the famous ancient boxer Diagoras of Rhodes. The municipal unit consists of the town Trianta/Ialysos and the surrounding areas.
Ialysos has become a tourist destination, with several hotels and resorts located on the coast, especially in the new settlement of Ixia, situated between the towns of Ialysos and Rhodes. Being on the usually windward north-western coast of the island, it is also a noted location for wind-surfing.
Mt. Attavyros – the highest point in Rhodes island
Attavyros is the westernmost municipality on the island, occupying the central portion of its western coast with a population of about 3,300 (2011). The seat of the municipality was in Empona. Emponas is a mountainous village with 1,250 inhabitants, halfway up Attavyros, a gray rocky mountain of 1,215 m height. On top is a temple of Zeus. The village is the centre of wine industry on Rhodes and attracts many tourist daytrips.
Monolithos castle built by the Knights
Monolithos is a village located 10 km south-east of Apolakkia and 30 km from Prasonisi. Outside the village is the Venetian Castle, built on top of a 100 m rock. This castle was built in 1480 by the Knights of Saint John to protect the island from attacks. In fact, this castle was never conquered. The Castle of Monolithos is widely ruined today but it offers great views of the sea and the two islets opposite to it. Inside the Castle, there are two chapels that are no longer used. Access to the castle is by a staircase cut into the rock.
Prasonisi – a windsurfer´s paradise
Prasonisi cape is a part of the island of Rhodes. It is located 92 km from Rhodes town; 40 km from Lindos, at the southern-west part of Rhodes.
Dodecanese Tours
TICKETS & THINGS TO DO:
What to do in Rhodes?
Windsurfing and kitesurfing
Strong winds and wavy water conditions makes Rhodes the perfect spot for freestylers, racers and kite-surfers. Both in Ialysos and in Ixia Bay you will find organized windsurfing and kitesurfing centres. Take this opportunity to learn windsurfing in Rhodes, one of the best windsurfing locations in Europe – or improve your technique in perfect conditions. There are also good conditions for kitesurfing near Fane on the northwest coast of the island, between Ialysos and ancient Kameiros at ‘Meltemi at Delfini’.
Kitesurf Introduction
3 HOURS INTRODUCTION COURSE
Windsurfer’ World at Ixia Bay
Windsurfing Center Rhodos in Ialysos
Windsurfing at Prasonisi
Scuba diving in Rhodes
Here you’ll find information and booking opportunities for some Rhodes diving centers. Rhodes offers many great diving spots where species of flora and fauna of colour and beauty should be reason enough for you to experience scuba diving.
Mountaineering at Mt Attavyros
Mt Attavyros is a challenging 2-3 hours climb to the island’s highest point (1215 m). On leaving Embonas on the road towards Siana, drive up one of the agricultural roads on the left and find a place to park. On foot, you continue up through the wine growing area in the obvious direction. There is no explicit marked path but red paint on rocks towards the top marks the best route. It is a steep climb with many large loose rocks. The descent can be especially tricky. It is also possible to drive up the mountain: the approach road comes from the South.
Thermes Kalithea Baths – a must-visit!
Kalithea Bay on the east coast is a must-visit on your holiday in Rhodes island. The entrance fee is € 5. Visit the ancient thermal baths and see the interesting museum about the history of the place. There is a small cove where you can swim too, but you have to buy access to a sunbed with umbrella.
Weather and climate in Rhodes island
Rhodes has a mild Mediterranean climate with sunny and dry summers and mild winters. During the months of July and August the refreshing Meltemia winds are blowing, making the temperatures more bearable. Rhodes island has a rather humid climate and during autumn and winter you will experience some heavy showers.
| April | May | June | July | August | September | October | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | 17° | 21° | 25° | 29° | 29° | 25° | 21° |
| Sea | 17° | 20° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 23° | 22° |
