Rhodes

The Old Town of Rhodes is a World Heritage site and the largest active medieval town in Europe. Wandering through the picturesque streets inside the fortification walls makes a good morning, afternoon or evening trip for shopping, visiting the Palace of the Grand Masters and other sites, or to take in a special cultural event.

Phone:

N/a

Opening hours:

N/a

Address:

Rhodes Town

Visitors will either love or hate this resort, but it does arguably have the best beach on the island, and perhaps even the country. The water is warm, the golden sandy shore extends more than 2 miles, and it offers all the popular water sports. The main streets are choc-full of bars and clubs, and consequently play host to high-spirited party-goers every night of the week during summer.

Phone:

N/a

Opening hours:

N/a

Address:

About 9 miles south-east of Rhodes Town

The impressive ruins of the Doric city of Kamiros, one of the island’s three founding city states, are located on a sloping hillside, where Hellenistic houses, the Temple of Athena and a large stoa (covered walkway) are easy to pick out. Kamiros was known for its oil and wine at the height of its power in the sixth century BC, but earthquakes destroyed the city some 400 years later.

Phone:

+30 22410 75674/22410 31048

Opening hours:

Apr-Oct 8am-7.30pm; closed Mon, reduced winter hours

Address:

22 miles south-west of Rhodes Town

Another of the island’s ancient city states, Lindos is the quaint jewel of Rhodes. Its Acropolis with its temple and other ruins, towers 116m over the sea. The village is known for its captains’ mansions, unique pebble mosaic courtyards and narrow lanes. A slew of shops and restaurants cater to day trippers in summer.

Phone:

+30 22410 75674, 2410 31048

Opening hours:

Mon 1pm-7.30pm, Tue-Sun 8am-7.30pm

Address:

31 miles south-east of Rhodes Town

The dry and rocky island of Symi is more picturesque than it sounds, especially its horseshoe-shaped harbour. Hosting scores of day trippers and a resident community of British expats, the 23 sq mile island some 3 miles from the Turkish coast was known for its shipbuilding, and is still popular for its sea sponges. Symi holds an arts festival each summer of film, music, theatre and other events.

Phone:

N/a

Opening hours:

N/a

Address:

15 miles north of Rhodes island

Built in the 1930s during Italian rule, the Hydrobiological Institute of Rhodes attracts many visitors each year. Operating as a museum, aquarium and research centre for marine flora and fauna from around the Dodecanese islands, it includes exhibits of rare fish species, sea turtles and monk seals. Particularly popular is its marine exhibits below sea level.

Phone:

+30 22410 27308

Opening hours:

Apr-Oct 9am-8.30pm; Nov-Mar 9am-4.30pm daily

Address:

Kos Street, Rhodes Town

The Valley of the Butterflies, with its shady paths across streams, attracts thousands of visitors each year, as red and black Quadrina butterflies (actually moths), come to mate in mid-June, August and September. The site has come under criticism, as many visitors make noise to induce the moths to fly to see their colours, which disturbs the reproductive cycle. Their numbers are consequently in decline.

Phone:

+30 22410 81801

Opening hours:

May-Sept 8am-6pm daily

Address:

15 miles south-west of Rhodes Town

For a cool break from the sun, head to Epta Piges (‘Seven Springs’), where paths alongside streams run through pine and plane trees and peacocks roam. The paths lead to a lake, the result of a dam built by the Italians to irrigate the nearby Kolymbia plain. Visitors can either go through a 186m tunnel, or walk above it to reach the lake.

Phone:

N/a

Opening hours:

N/a

Address:

19 miles south-east of Rhodes Town

For those who want to make a date with Lady Luck, Rhodes’s Casino is in the Casino Rodos Hotel, located on Elli Beach in Rhodes Town. Table games include American Roulette, Blackjack, Casino Stud Poker and Punto Banco, plus video poker and slot machines.

Phone:

+30 22410 97500

Opening hours:

Tables games Mon-Thu 6pm-6am, Fri-Sun 24hrs; slots Mon-Sun 24hrs

Address:

4 G. Papanikolaou Street, Rhodes Town

Ta Kioupia has been much-reviewed and for good reason. Located in a rustic house in a village just outside Rhodes Town, the chef serves up outstanding traditional Rhodian fare (chick peas with pasta or aubergine salad) in mouth-watering variations. You can pick and choose from a platter, or go for the fixed menu.

Phone:

+30 22410 91824

Opening hours:

Mon-Sat 8pm-midnight; Sun noon-3pm

Address:

Argonaut Street, Tris-Ixia, Ialyssos, 4 miles south-west of Rhodes Town