Holidays in Rhodes are quite popular among tourism lovers around the world. This Greek island beckons with a variety of activities, with its small size, culture and history. In this article you can find detailed information about traveling to this region, as well as reviews of tourists who have already been there.
General information
Holidays in Rhodes should be planned only for lovers of sunny weather, because most of the year people here are enveloped by solar heat. Among all the Greek islands, this is considered the most fertile and diverse. For the most active vacation, it is better to go to the north coast, where an incredible number of tourists gather in the season. On the south side there is a more calm and measured life. You can fly here by direct flights - during the seasonal holidays, the airlines launch flights to the small capital of the same name on the island. Another route could be a flight to Athens, and from there with a change you can get to Rhodes itself.
Famous Resorts
For lovers of noisy and active holidays in Rhodes, a resort called Faliraki is provided. You can safely go on vacation here with a large company, and it will definitely pass unforgettably. Life here does not stop all day, and at night it only grows. Young people are guaranteed a lot of emotions, new acquaintances and feelings.
Couples with a child here settle for the sake of a magnificent water park. The best hotels for families with children in Rhodes are located in the north of this resort. It’s calmer there, because the youth is concentrated in the center. It also makes sense to settle near the beaches of Kolymbia and Lindos. In the first case, travelers are guaranteed unforgettable snorkeling, and the second location is famous for unforgettable comfort. Plus, Lindos has great excursions. You don’t have to agree to them, because you can see the most famous places on your own, you just need to rent a transport at the hotel.
Hotels and travel
It is worth noting that it is not cheap to rent hotels for holidays in Rhodes. The infrastructure on the island is designed for generous visitors, and therefore almost all possible places of residence are marked with a deluxe class. The hotels have their own kitchen, entertainment and a swimming pool on site, but the average price is about seventy euros per day. The cost of apartments starts at 40 and reaches up to 125 currency units. Budget accommodation places can be found, but there is a risk of encountering not very high-quality service.
There are no problems traveling around the island. Luxury lovers can rent a car at the hotel for a week, which will cost them 200-300 euros. An alternative can be a taxi if you want to take a ride along a predefined route. You can use a bus as a budget option, but it will take more time. Bicycle and motorbike rentals are also possible, but the first option is preferable because of the sun, steep roads and drivers that are not too tidy.
Beaches and variety of establishments
Rhodes hotels for families with children, alone or with your loved one, should be chosen depending on the beach. If you want to be where there are a lot of people, then Faliraki or Lindos would be a good choice. It has excellent service, clear water and well-developed infrastructure. It is also worth remembering the huge number of young people who are constantly having fun here.
The beaches on the east coast are pretty typical, and the west coast is a paradise for windsurfers. Ladiko beach is considered the most picturesque, where there are both sandy and rocky areas. It is worth noting that because of the tourist popularity in Rhodes, you can visit a wide variety of catering establishments: there are Greek taverns, English pubs, Italian restaurants and all this is quite a lot in any area of ​​the island. Every traveler should try fish and fresh seafood dishes here. They are the basis of the kitchen, but other dishes are also abundant here.
The first and must-see attraction
Even if you booked an all-inclusive holiday in Rhodes, you should definitely leave your hotel for sightseeing. The first of these is the Mandraki harbor - one of the most popular on the coast. According to legend, it was here that the Colossus of Rhodes stood, which is included in the list of seven wonders of the world. Plunging into history here is so simple that you don’t even need to make an effort, it’s enough to go around the harbor along the well-known kilometer route. Its beginning lies at the end of Yeru Lahu street on the seashore. It’s better to move counterclockwise. In the course of this small route, various interesting places will open to the eye. This list contains several old churches, Freedom Square, Mandraki Mills and much more. Here you can spend a huge amount of time enjoying the spirit of ancient eras.
Ancient reminders in all its beauty
At the end of the route along the Mandraki harbor, during the best holiday in Rhodes, a fortress of the same name with the island looms. It was built by the knights defenders of the region in order to defend themselves from external threats. It is perfectly preserved due to the quality construction during the Middle Ages. Its length is four kilometers, and the defense function, as at that time, was simply excellent. To get inside, you have to walk through eleven gates, which are hung with the corresponding heraldry of the defenders.
No less exciting will be a trip through the Old Town, where every detail acts as a museum exhibit. The walls and gates in Rhodes, which were built to protect the local population, are perfectly preserved. Such historical memos just need to be seen with your own eyes! Start your journey from Symi Square, see the ruins of the ancient temple of Aphrodite and move on.
Age of the Knights in Rhodes
Holidays in Greece on Rhodes simply obliges tourists who love history to look at some places. One of them is the Palace of the Great Masters, with its formidable architecture as if immersed in times of constant battles, castles, tournaments and wars. In the fourteenth century, the fortress was erected for the masters of the Order of the Hospitallers, who was then quite a powerful force in Europe. Knights controlled vast territories near the Mediterranean Sea, and the Palace was the place where leaders and the great master himself sat. Legend has it that a temple to Helios was once erected on this site, but there is no evidence of this. Rhodes was an ideal strategic point for the military order, and therefore the island's defense was at the highest level. After the order left for Malta, the island was captured by the Turks. Now it is just a magnificent historical building in which you want to spend time and take a look from the heights of the island.
Ancient city
To stay on the island of Rhodes as complete as possible, everyone should visit Lindos. This is a magnificent ancient city, which is already about three thousand years old. Leave here in the morning or in the evening, so that the sun does not interfere with enjoyment. The acropolis deserves the greatest attention here, which is second only to the Athenian in size and grandeur. Here are the ruins of the temple of Apollo of Pythia, which was built in the second century BC. Nearby you can see the Pythian stadium, where games were held in Ancient Greece in honor of the god Apollo, and a marble amphitheater for speakers. In Lindos, it is also worth paying attention to the well-preserved castle and the ruins of a church built in the era of early Christianity. After that, it is worth to climb to the top of the city to enjoy the beautiful view. Such an excursion will take half a day, but will be remembered for a long time.
Places of worship
Holidays in Rhodes can be useful if you wish. For example, visit the Tsambika monastery and spend some time there praying to God. In Greece, this place is famous throughout the country, but not because of history or architecture. It is in the walls of this monastery that the icon of the Virgin Mary, which is considered miraculous, is stored. All couples who experience misfortune, especially when it comes to childlessness, come here for help. Cases were recorded when prayers really helped people.
A slightly less popular religious building is the Suleyman Mosque, built in the early 16th century, and reconstructed after three hundred years. They named it in honor of the Ottoman emperor, who annexed the island to his empire. For a long time, Suleiman’s troops could not gain a foothold in Rhodes, but still won. In honor of this, a mosque was built on the site of the ruins of the Christian Church of the Apostles.
Another piece of history
Complete the tour of the historical sites in Rhodes should be two places - the castle of Monolithos and the city of Kamiros. In the first case, the ruins of a once impregnable structure will be opened to the eyes of a traveler, which served as an ideal protection for the population. The castle was erected on a mountain, from where the sea was clearly visible. Sentinels from afar saw ships of pirates or other enemies. The walls served as excellent defenses for a long time, but over time the need to hide disappeared. Nobody watched the fortress, as a result of which the main part collapsed. Now tourists can only wander around the ruins that still breathe history.
The city of Kamiros deserves attention already because it is one of the most ancient settlements in Greece. Even in the era of antiquity, he was assigned an important role in the social life of Rhodes. Now it is an archaeological reserve, which is visited by tourists from all over the world. Everyone can touch the times of myths and brave heroes.
Nature reserves
If you spend holidays with children in Rhodes, then you should definitely visit the Valley of the Butterflies. This truly unique reserve is located 30 kilometers from the capital. The name does not convey the true essence of the area. In fact, this is not a valley, but a narrow zone along the gorge and to the very top of the hill. Life here is in full swing thanks to a wide variety of butterflies of all kinds. Local rivers and lakes create a favorable microclimate for their development and reproduction. Walking here will be a pleasant entertainment not only in an aesthetic sense - the air is filled with a vanilla smell, and together with odorous resins the impression of a living and real nature in the park is created.
Another beautiful place is the Rodini landscape park, which was founded by the Romans. This is one of the oldest reserves on the planet. Personalities such as Cicero and Julius Caesar once walked around this territory. Wildlife with different plants and animals is present in the reserve.
Positive reviews
Positive reviews about holidays in Rhodes note the diversity of the island's nature in the eyes of tourists. You can’t see everything in one run. People report magnificent beaches and friendly people in hotels, as well as cafes and restaurants. Some travelers say that they have become almost family, having met in the same tavern. Problems with entertainment never arise, except with the choice of options. The youth resorts are provided with developed infrastructure with the ability to have fun day and night. For history buffs, there is simply an incredible amount of memos from different eras, on which you can spend weeks and time, it will not seem enough. Rhodes with its diversity can easily article a native place for many people. History, wildlife, beautiful beaches and resorts - all this is noted by a huge number of people in the comments about the rest.
A bit of negativity
It is fair to say that negative reviews from tourists on holidays in Rhodes were noticed from tourists. There are fewer than positive ones, but some points are worth noting. This primarily concerns prices, which are often overpriced for tourists. Often the cost in stores is not set, and the price for entry in some places come up with the head. The traffic here is unpleasantly striking - drivers are not confused by UNESCO protected areas, for them there are no traffic rules here.
Also in Rhodes, there is a chance of encountering poor service. If you book apartments in little-known hotels, you may encounter, for example, poor cleaning. Travelers warn of the possibility of settling in a room that is simply exposed in the photo from a good angle.
Transport is recommended to be rented only in hotels due to possible car breakdowns right on the way.