In Rhodes the gaze is already turned to Turkey, yet the island is deeply, undeniably and proudly Greek. Island of myth (remember the famous Colossus?), it was one of the first Greek islands to be colonized by tourism and is still one of the most loved.
No wonder: situated in the southern Aegean, a sea of the typical blue color that has made so popular the seaside resorts of Greece, Rhodes is an island of large size (about 100 km between the northern and southern tip) and millennial history, able to offer to international travelers a wide variety of attractions.
True, the majority of tourists come here for the beaches: many, beautiful, for all tastes. But here, sunbathing and diving in the water can be interspersed with interesting cultural visits (perhaps to the historic districts of the city of Rhodes or the archaeological site of Kamiros), days of fun in theme parks or in the nightclubs of Faliraki, exciting boat trips to the nearby island of Symi or refreshing walks in the woods of the hinterland.
Don’t miss the enchantment of Lindos, the romantic town that of all the resorts of Rhodes best embodies the image of picture-postcard Greece, with its cascade of white houses sloping down to a blue sea and delightful little restaurants with rooftop terraces.
In short, Rhodes is an all-inclusive island: for the price of a single vacation you’ll have relaxation, fun, romance, culture, nature and gastronomic delights combined with the friendliness and joie de vivre that distinguish the Greek people. An ideal destination for everyone: young people, families, couples, solo travelers, groups of friends.
Despite being one of the most distant Greek islands, Rhodes is one of the easiest to reach. The reason is simple: the island has an international airport served by numerous low cost flights to/from the main European airports.
It’s a different matter for those who want to travel by ferry: it is necessary to arrive in Athens first and then take a ferry from the port of Piraeus. This is a very long journey and much more expensive than a direct flight.
There are instead direct ferries to / from all the islands of the Dodecanese, with daily or weekly departures depending on the island.
Rhodes is a very large island, so it is good to choose carefully place to stay in Rhodes to avoid spending many hours of the vacation to move by car.
Most of the places of tourist interest are located along the east coast; among these the two most famous are Lindos and Faliraki.
Lindos is the most beautiful and romantic town of the island, with a quaint old town and beautiful beaches; Faliraki is instead the most popular seaside resort, with many hotels, bars, stores and clubs: it is recommended to families who want services and comfort and to young people looking for nightlife.
The city of Rhodes, the capital of the island, is located on the northern tip and satisfies a bit ‘all with its many cultural attractions, equipped beaches and neighborhoods of nightlife.
The west coast is particularly popular with surfers and tourists who want the convenience of an all-inclusive resort.
The entire coast of Rhodes is scattered with enchanting beaches bathed by a clean and blue Aegean sea, both sandy and rocky, equipped or free. The island is therefore perfect for those who love vacations by the sea because the quantity and variety of beaches satisfy all tastes.
The most famous beaches of Rhodes are concentrated along the east side of the island, less beaten by the dreaded meltemi wind and therefore more suitable for those who want to spend long days of leisure lying in the sun; the windy west coast with its long sandy beaches is perfect for surfing.
The beaches of Rhodes town and surroundings are ideal for those who want to combine sea life and city life. If, on the other hand, you love peace and solitude, head to the southern part of the island: you will discover splendid wild-looking beaches ignored by mass tourism.
The best way to move around Rhodes is to rent a car: in this way you can explore the island in freedom, leaving when you want and stopping whenever you want. Keep in mind that many of the most beautiful beaches are difficult or impossible to reach by public transportation.
There is a local bus service run by the Ktel company that touches all the main towns on the east and south coast of the island, including some inland towns. However, the services are not very frequent, so it is important to check the timetable before travelling.
Cabs are reasonably priced and a better way to get to the airport, especially if there are two or three of you sharing the expense.
The easiest way to get around the island without a car is to use the hop on hop off tourist buses. The ticket, for one or more days, allows unlimited travel with stops at the island’s main tourist attractions.
The most typical excursion is certainly that by boat to the island of Symi, not far from Rhodes, but you can also take part in a guided day tour to the attractions of the hinterland as Kallithea or the Valley of the Butterflies.
Rhodes is the most eastern among the inhabited islands of Greece. It is part of the Dodecanese, an archipelago of Greek islands bathed by the Aegean Sea which are closer to Turkey than to mainland Greece: the coasts of Turkey are less than twenty kilometers from the city of Rhodes, while Athens is more than 500 km away!