Fun Things to do in Rhodes Island, Greece

If you have chosen Rhodes for your vacation then congrats, you have made a great choice! Rhodes is one of the best Greek islands and offers almost any kind of holiday you could want. If you want peace and quiet, you ll find it on Rhodes. If you want activities and night-life, Rhodes has got it. If you want to explore history and culture, that is there too. There is something interesting to do every day.

According to Greek mythology the island of Rhodes was said to be formed by a union between the sun god Helios and the nymph Rhode. Maybe it will come as no surprise that Rhodes has one of most favourable sunshine records of all the Med islands.

Rhodes island is one of my favorite Greek islands. I visited Rhodes in peak time of August and had great time, only wish i had stopped there a little longer. I would definitely go again and again and again… it is so wonderful, fantastic views, very pretty place and there are so many fun things to do.

So in Rhodes Island you can:

1) Enjoy some of the most amazing beaches

When you think of a Greek island  I bet you picture a beach with absolutely beautiful crystal clear water. Rhodes Island is full of amazing beaches. And if you don’t like one beach, just move a kilometre down the road to the next one!

Here is a list of some of the best beaches of Rhodes.

Tsambika Beach

Tsambika (or Tsampika) is by far my favorite beach in Rhodes island, located 26 km southeast of Rhodes town, on the East Coast of the island. It is a long organized beach, with fine, golden sand and crystal clear sea. The water is so soft and smooth, like swimming in silk.

You can find swimming and sunbathing facilities wide range of water sports for rent. Up on the top of the hill is the Monastery of the Virgin of Tsambika, from which the beach has taken its name.

Kallithea Beach

Kalithea beach is a small sandy cove, about 10 km from Rhodes Town on the East Coast of the island. The main beach is very small with fine sand. There are also several, small but organized beaches scattered around the rocks.

The old constructions of the spa, going back to the period of the Italian domination, the impressive exotic vegetation and the palm trees, along with the rocky coast, form an excellent scenery–like landscape.

The beach has shallow, crystal clear waters and it is well organized with umbrellas, sun beds, shower and a restaurant for refreshments and snacks. For me it’s the best place to enjoy a drink or a coffee during the day but for swimming I prefer the Tsambika Beach.

For more info click here

Lindos – Main Beach

This beautiful small, sandy beach with the crystal clear water, is located about 52 km from Rhodes Town, on the East Coast. Lindos beach is very well organized with swimming and sunbathing facilities wide range of water sports for rent.  The beach of Lindos gets very crowded by mid-day in the summer since every Rhodes visitor will visit Lindos at least once during their stay.

The walk down to the beach is a pleasant one, but the climb back up towards the village is steep. Several locals with donkeys would ferry you up to Lindos for five euro.

For more info click here

Faliraki Beach

Faliraki is one of the most popular beaches of the island of Rhodes and gets very popular in summer.  Faliraki is located at the north east part of Rhodes, about 14 km from the city of Rhodes and about 10 km from the airport. The beach is more than 5 kilometers wide and highly organized with crystal clear sea. In the beach you can find everything you might need. There are a lot of tourist facilities, including umbrellas, sunbeds, watersports (ringos, water skiing, banana boats, pedalos and more) but Faliraki is more known for the wild nightlife.

Anthony Quinn Beach

Anthony Quinn Beach is just 4.3 km south of the village of Faliraki. At the beach, the pine trees are reaching down to the water’s edge and the water are emerald green. It’s mostly popular with young people – especially Italians – since the sharp rocks both in and out of the water are not ideal for families with young children or elderly people. The land was bought by Quinn during the filming of The Guns of Navarone in Rhodes. However, it was reclaimed by the Greek government in 1984 due to a change in property law.

For more info about this beach click here

Prasonisi Beach

Prasonisi is situated at the most Southern part of Rhodes island, about 95 km away from Rhodes town. During the summer, it is a small peninsula and in winter it is a small islet. The beach is usually windy on the west side, but sheltered on the east. Consequently, windsurfers enjoy the conditions on one side of the beach, while sunbathers congregate on the other.

2) Walk through the past

The island of Rhodes is known for the Colossus of Rhodes, one the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It took the Greek sculptor Chares 12 years to create the 120 foot high bronze statue ( the tallest statue in ancient times) of the sun god Helios in the early 200s b.c.  But, the mighty statue that stood guard over Rhodes Harbour was destroyed by an earthquake 56 years after it was completed. Such a pity 🙁 Doesn’t it remind you of The Statue of Liberty?

The deer statues, located in the Mandraki harbor where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood, are a beautiful sight in themselves.

Today the big pull is the Medieval City (also called “The Old Town”) where the Knights Templar held sway between 1307 and 1522 before being overthrown by Suleiman the Magnificent and forced from Rhodes with only as much wealth as they could carry. Nowadays the Old Town is among the best-preserved Medieval Towns of Europe, with strong walls, an impressive castle, paved paths and elegant stone mansions.

The Medieval town contains a number of sites, including the clock-tower, Socrates Square, the Jewish Square, the old Haman, Suleiman Mosque, the Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes

Dominated by The Palace of the Grand Master, the fortified Medieval City is beautifully preserved and fully merits it’s UNESCO world heritage label.

For more info click here

If the past tickles your interest, then your sightseeing list must include ancient Kamiros, Ialysos and Lyndos.

According to Pindar, Helios lay with Rhoda (Nymph of the island of Rhodes and daughter of Poseidon) in her island and soon after she gave birth to seven sons. The older three sons, Ialysos, Kamiros and Lindos divided the island of Rhodes into three major parts and named the strongest cities of each part after themselves. This account by Pindar reflects the contemporary archaeological evidence of the three major ancient cities of Rhodes: Lindos, Ialyssos, and Kamiros; All three cities are mentioned in the Iliad by Homer. The island was inhabited as early as the late Neolithic period (4000 B.C.).  In 408 B.C. the three major cities of the island – Ialyssos, Kamiros and Lindos – founded the city of Rhodes.

Located close to the promontory of Agios Minas, ancient Kamiros is one of the most significant historical and archαeological sites of the Rhodes island.

The ancient city was built on three levels. At the top of the hill was the Acropolis, with the temple complex of Athena Kameiras and the Stoa.

Kamiros has been often compared to Pompeii, something which is not correct since Kameiros did not fall into decline because of a natural disaster. Its decline, like the decline of Ialyssos, was the result of the gradual abandonment by its residents. In 1929 archaeologists localised the ruins of the ancient city, and the excavations which brought it back to life continued till the end of World War II.

The Ancient city of Ialyssos is located about 5 miles from Rhodes Town. There you can see the Mycenaean tombs, a Doric fountain with four impressive lion’s heads, and a large temple dedicated to Zeus and Athena Polias. Other points of interest include the reconstructed Church of Our Lady of Filerimos, and the underground Byzantine chapel, Agios Georgios.

3) Rent a car and drive to Lindos, an ancient village with its acropolis overlooking the Aegean sea.

Wherever you are staying on Rhodes island there really is no excuse not to take a day out from your busy beach and tanning schedule to take a visit to the beautiful village of Lindos.  Its easy to get to and well worth the trip.

380 ft up on a hill sits The Acropolis of Lindos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Rhodes, that is surrounded by the modern day village of Lindos and Pefkos to the south.  

The history of the temple and acropolis begins in the 9th century BC when the first temples and offerings were built for and by the cult of Athena Lindia.  Over the years as faith and rulers changed it was burnt down and destroyed and rebuilt in various forms, and finally rebuilt in 342 BC in what’s left of its current form.

4) Get lost in the Rhodes Town

The town is amazing – it has amazing food, and a sweet little home town feel. It is full of history and that makes it for a great place to get lost. If you get lost in this small town you’ll have nothing to worry about, there is beauty behind every corner and there is always a path that will take you out to the main streets which are Socrates Street, Orfeos and platia Ipokratous. You can see the ruins of the temples of Zeus, Athena poliados, and Apollo.

5) Visit the Valley of the Butterflies, walk through the trees, over streams and around ponds and waterfalls, looking out for the winged creatures.

Butterfly valley is also worth seeing.  Situated approximately five kilometers south east of the village of Theologos (or Tholos), in the western side of the island of Rhodes, the Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) is a luxuriant ravine with abundant running water, it is one of the most attractive destinations on the island and attracts thousands of tourists each summer. Petaloúdes is actually a seasonal home not to butterflies but Jersey tiger moths, which are attracted by the oriental sweetgum trees which grow densely in this valley. Due to the increased amount of visitors, they are facing population issues as they have no stomach and when disturbed tend to fly frequently and thus deplete their energy.

You can climb to the 18th-century chapel of Kalópetra at the top of the valley. As it takes about one hour I didn’t dare to, not because I am lazy 🙂 but in the middle of August it’ s extremely hot so I prefered to enjoy the sea and I didn’t regret it.

6) Explore The Seven Springs nature park and see the beautiful flora and fauna of Rhodes.

One of the biggest draws on the island is the location of the Seven Springs, right next to the village of Kolymbia.

In this amazingly beautiful place you will see wild Peacocks and ducks which thrive of the small streams and the near lake, the flora in this part of the island is also amazing with some very large and strange vegetation growing.

Around the area of Seven Springs you will happen on some wonderful walking trails and this area is very popular with ramblers and hikers visiting the island.

Two of the main walking options are following the dark tunnel down about 180 metres to the lake or follow the road that lies above the actual tunnel which will bring you down to the lake.

If you get hungry there is a great family Taverna.

7.  Enjoy food, have a drink and dance all night long

Are you looking for places to eat and drink in Rhodes island?

For food, I would suggest avoid touristic spots. Ask for taverns,tsipouradika and mezedopoleia.

Go to Koukos to try traditioanal food, ask local people where they go. I asked a friend who lives in Rhodes and he recommended me the Tamam Restaurant for a really tasty food.

The location isn’t very scenic but all dishes we tried were unbelievably tasty and the owner, Andreas, super friendly.

Especially the dessert….yummmm…. have no words to describe it.
Tel. 2241 073522
Location: Leontos 1

I also asked a taxi driver for a sea side taverna and he suggested the Koza’s seaside restaurant.

This offers standard Greek food with no pretensions, but its location is delightful, drink ouzo and relax with the soothing sound of the waves.

The owner showed us the traditional way to eat, we tried it and I would suggest you to try it too 🙂 Dip a piece of bread into olive oil with salt and balsamic (I am not sure about balsamic but if you will ask the owner he will be happy to tell you) it’s fun and tasty. Yes I know it doesn’t sound tasty, I didn’t expect it to be but it turned out to impress us, you can see my friend below how she enjoyed it.

The owner and his menu list will make you laugh so much…below I attached this funny menu, read it!

Tel. 22440-22632
Location: Stegna | Archangelos

Now about the nightlife….

Rhode’s nightlife is notorious, it starts late and continues until dawn.

The locals usually hang out at the bars and clubs of the Old city but you can find streets with bars all over the city (Rhodes Island has over 100 bars!).

Miltiadou str. in the Old town and Orfanidou str. in Niochori are the two main “nightlife streets” in the town of Rhodes. Lindos has also great nightlife. If you are young and wild  I’d recommend you Faliraki place. I think it’s the best place for students and youths.

8. Have a break from the tourist-crazed Rhodes Town and take a day trip to the nearby islands.

image via: zingarate

The best and the closest islands you can visit are:

Symi Island, called ‘the jewel of the Dodecanese.’ : the most picturesque and the most popular day trip about an hour away by the fastest craft.

Karpathos Island and Kastelorizo: the most traditional and the less touristy islands about two hours away by the fastest craft.

Halki: the smallest inhabited island of Dodecanese, internationally known as the island of peace and friendship. Explore the island on foot, take a swim and enjoy the local cuisine.
about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Rhodes

Marmaris-Turkey: shopping paradise!!! Wander around the many shops to purchase in really law prices leather goods, clothes and carpets.
about 1 hour from Rhodes

Booking.com