Things to do in Rhodes

The Unesco-protected Old Town

One of the best-preserved medieval settlements in the world, the Old Town of Rhodes has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. Protected inside its imposing walls – a boundary between past and present – is the island’s coat of arms. Every stone tells a story. Ancient statues, marble crests, fountains, mosques and hammams, the Clock Tower with its breathtaking view of the Aegean… a rich heritage left behind by past civilisations.

From Grand Masters to the Street of the Knights

The most famous road in the Old Town is the Street of the Knights, restored just as it was in the Middle Ages. Here you’ll find the inns of the ‘tongues’, or national guards, that made up the Order of the Knights. At the highest point of the road is a significant attraction: the grandiose castle known as the Palace of the Grand Masters, with its enormous towers, now a wonderful museum.

Cosmopolitan Mandraki

Mandraki is the city’s beach road with a picturesque small marina, numerous cafes, restaurants, clubs, impressive sights and attractions. Guarding Mandraki’s marina, from the tops of two tall limestone columns, are the island’s emblems: a deer and doe. At the edge of the dock stands the small fort of Agios Nikolaos, built in the 1460s.

Along the coastal road, public buildings erected by the Italians are sure to impress you: the New Market, National Bank of Greece, Government House, National Theatre, Archbishop’s Residence, City Hall and famous Grande Albergo delle Rose, one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe in the 1930s that today houses the Rhodes Casino in one of its wings. In front of the aquarium, you’ll find one of the island’s most cosmopolitan beaches.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Although no traces of the statue remain, it is said that the Colossus of Rhodes (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) once stood in place of the statues of deer now found at the harbour. According to the stories, ships sailed beneath its giant legs and every night the passage was closed with an enormous chain.

Lovely Lindos

The ancient Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most popular shrines of antiquity, surrounded by walls constructed by the knights, standing 116m above sea level. Here, you’ll admire the impressive Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, built in the 4th century BC. The village of Lindos, built on a slope, is the most attractive and popular on the island. In the summer, its little streets fill with visitors bar-hopping and window-shopping or buying gifts, like the island’s famous decorative plates.

Fun in Faliraki

Faliraki is a popular with young tourists. The atmosphere is super-charged and there are plenty of activities to enjoy, such as water sports, go-carting and bungee jumping.

Valley of the Butterflies

In a lush, green canyon, about 1km wide, there is a unique forest with “zities” trees that look like planes. The smell of the nectar they secrete attracts millions of butterflies of the species Panaxia guadripunctaria, with its trademark: four orange dots on each wing. Tread carefully so as not to scare these miraculous little angels away!

A stay for every taste

Rhodes is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. You’ll find accommodation for every taste, from large hotel chains and all-inclusive resorts to boutique hotels in the Old Town.

Beaches aplenty

Beach lovers will be left fully satisfied on Rhodes. Topping the list are Kiotari, Kallithea, Agathi, Apolakkia, Kolymbia, Anthony Quinn, Lindos & St.Paul’s Bay, Lardos, Afandou with its golf course, Traounou with its motocross tracks, Tsabika. All wonderful, with sand, clear water and water sports. Windsurfers flock to Prasonissi at the southerner part of the island.

Source : https://www.discovergreece.com/