Rhodes, Greece: Holidaying on the Greek Island of Rhodes

The Greek Island of Rhodes lies off the coast of Turkey (see the two maps below).

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Greek Islands and is the largest Island to be found in the Aegean Sea. The majority of locals live in the North of the Island, in Rhodes Town.

Dotted around the rest of the Island there are beautiful beaches, tourism, some loud and noisy resorts, beautiful countryside and unspoilt areas also. Rhodes has a greener countryside in the North and in late Spring it is full of flowers.

Despite the fact that tourists flock to Rhodes it is possible to avoid the worst of this. Try not to visit during the busiest times of year and keep away from the obvious tourist areas.

We visited Rhodes late in April. Although we stayed in a quiet resort as soon as May 1st arrived the area changed. Tourists seemed to appear by the bucket load and all the bars and shops were full.

Choose the best time to visit to suit you. If you like peace and quiet try late Spring or late Summer. Rhodes is not really an all year holiday destination so travel from November until March is not usual.

If you love bustling night-life, clubs, music, bars and busy resorts. visit Rhodes between late May and late August.

Our accommodation was not far from the airport. We were between the coast and the village of Tholos. As such we could sit on our balcony and see Turkey on a clear day. Walking along the road at the side of our hotel would lead us into the pretty village of Tholos and beyond into the countryside.

Faliraki on the east of the Island is for those who like getting drunk and being thoroughly over the top. However, I have heard that the local police are trying to clean up this town. Be careful if you stay here as it can get too lively at times.

Lindos, also in the East, has tiny houses that look like sugar lumps scattered around a hill that has an acropolis at the top. If you stay here you will find that no traffic is allowed within a particular boundary of Lindos. This could mean that you have to lug your bags quite a way your self. Donkeys tend to be the mode of travel, if anything.

Just outside of Lindos there are smaller villages and beaches.

Rhodes Town is a busy city and the capital of Rhodes. We visited this town quite a lot on the local bus and loved it. However, I would not recommend Rhodes Town as a base unless you want lots of hustle and bustle. Rhodes town has plenty of large, modern hotels for those looking for a touch of luxury.There are nearby resorts such as Kremasti which will offer you the best of both worlds. Easy access to the capital but a relatively peaceful base.

In the south of the island both Lardos and Pefki have a good reputation for hotels. The terrain is more arid in the South of Rhodes and the area is generally less developed.

• If you love walking you will find that there is beautiful countryside everywhere. In Spring, when we visited the island was full of flowers. Of course later in the year it will be less so as this Island does get hot. We did feel remarkably safe bobbing about no matter what time of day or night.
• Take a boat trip from Rhodes town to Turkey. This is a day trip and takes you over to Marmaris. Marmaris is a busy, over commercial resort but it does have a good bazaar where you can sit and haggle for the goods you want to buy.
• You can also take a boat trip out of Rhodes Town to the nearby Greek Island of Symi. You first stop of at one side of the Island where there is a monastery. The boat then takes you around to Symi Harbour which is full of venetian style buildings, shops and tavernas. However the tourist boats all tend to arrive at once and it can get busy. We found it OK as we visited in low season.
• Travel around the Island of Rhodes on the local buses. From Rhodes Town you can get local buses to places such as Lindos. Work out your timetable from Rhodes Town. If you miss a bus and have to get a taxi do not worry too much as they are competitively priced. Make sure you get a price before you set off though.
• Hire bicycles. Although Rhodes is hilly in parts there are plenty of flat roads around the coast. We found the traffic quite light and enjoyed cycling around in the sun. It does get very hot though so take some sun screen and water with you.
• Visit the Valley of the Butterflies. The insects are actually moths. The timne of year when we visited was the wrong season for the moths. However we enjoyed a long, circular walk from our hotel to the Valley. It was tiring and for much of it we did not pass any tavernas and the like. So again you will need sun screen and bottled water. You have to pay to enter the Valley and it is a pleasant area to explore but of course it will be much better in June or July when the moths arrive. I have read though that these are diminishing possibly due to climate change and the like.
• Visit Rhodes Town. RT has more than one great beach. There is the Palace of the Grand Masters to explore and more. RT is laid out along cobbled streets and there little alleys, bars, tavernas, shops, restaurants and little squares all over the place. There is an interesting fish museum near the headland in Rhodes Town. My Husband also enjoyed a days fishing in Mandraki Harbour, with the locals. Along Mandraki Harbour's main road there are tavernas where you can sit outside and watch the world go racing by. There is a good market in Rhodes Town also.
• Go clubbing in Faliraki if you feel adventurous.
• Discover the wildlife of Rhodes. The natural one that is. We came across a giant green lizard on our travels and some beautiful birds, of the feathered kind.
• Visit Lindos and either walk or take a donkey ride up to the acropolis. Shop in the myriad of small streets after lunch. There are places to eat here on the flat roofs of buildings. Finish of with a dip in the beautiful blue water that surrounds Lindos.
• Have a day at the beach near to Lindos. St Paul's Bay is fairly unspoilt and has a lovely beach away from the hustle and bustle of Lindos.
• Hire a car and explore the Rhodes Town that is away from the tourists. There are little villages, churches and more waiting for you to discover them.

When we visited Rhodes it was late April. We had already seen Easter that year back in England but it was Easter on Rhodes. Above all of the cobbled streets of Rhodes Town there religious decorations.We walked to the village of Tholos one evening and the locals were celebrating Easter with a church visit followed by a bonfire. They were all dressed up in their Sunday best. As they left the church they held a statue and display of Christ above their heads. This was then ceremoniously set alight. We felt very privileged watching as if we were intruding on something private. However Rhodes people always take you to their hearts. As part of their Easter celebrations many carried painted hard boiled eggs and small Easter biscuits, Whether you were shopping or on a boat trip some local or other would give you something like this as an Easter gift. Those that could not speak English would simply smile and thrust an egg or a biscuits at you. Such warm people.

We took the boat trip out of Rhodes Town to Symi and loved this tiny Island. It would be well worth vacationing there.

In Rhodes Town there are a couple of statues, on high towers, near to the harbour where it is reputed that the Colossus of Rhodes once stood. This is widely believed to be a myth and not fact though.

When you eat at a taverna, especially in the evening, you will always receive something extra. Once you have paid the bill and getting ready to leave a small cocktail or spirit would arrive at your table. I guess this may be to encourage you to return the next evening but it is still a nice gesture. When I had to refuse such a drink as I had just taken some medication a bowl of ice cream quickly replaced the drink. Much nicer anyway.

If you eat in the tavernas where the locals eat you will find the fare more traditional. In the village Taverna Hubby's favourite dish was squid. In Rhodes Town Market our favourite was Giros. This was a kebab type meat wrapped in a pitta bread. It had salad but the extra special ingredient was their unique mayo.

We found the prices good but perhaps in high season everything would be more expensive. We flew to Rhodes from Manchester Airport and flying time was around 31/2 hours. Where we stayed near Tholos was only 1/2 hour from the airport.

I loved Rhodes and there is nothing that I can really complain about. I guess for some it may be too commercial but if you pick your destination and resort well it does not have to be.