According to Greek mythology, the island was a gift of the gods. Zeus presented the nymph, Rhodes, to his son Helios, the sun god, as his bride. That is why Rhodes is called the Island of the Sun. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
In 1309, the Byzantine era came to an end when the island was occupied by forces of the Knights Hospitaller. Under the rule of the newly named «Knights of Rhodes», the city was rebuilt into a model of the European medieval ideal
Today:
Rhodes is a very popular destination that people around the world visit for it’s History but not only for that Rhodes is also known for it’s nightlife and iconic places that you see almost in every corner of the Island.
Places you should see:
• The Colossus of Rhodes which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient WORLD
• Acropolis ofLindos Here you’ll admire the impressive Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, built in the 4th century B.C.
• The Palace of the Grand Master IS certainly the highlight of the Old Town.
• Kámiros was one of the three most powerful cities of ancient Rhodes and flourished during the 6th and 5th century BC
• The highest mountain on Rhodes, the imposing Mt. Atáviros, with its rocky summit and green slopes, is an eternal symbol of the island. The amazing view will compensate those who will make the effort to reach its summit!
• Archángelos was rebuilt in medieval times away from its initial site by the sea (to guard it from pirate raids) and the Knights of Saint John later protected it by building a castle. The tradition of ancient arts and crafts – such as pottery and hand-made tapestries – is more evident in Archángelos than anywhere else
Best beaches in Rhodes
Glystra beach
Stegna beach
Anthony Quinn Bay: The beach Anthony Quinn became famous by the movie “The Guns of Navarone” which filmed there starring the famous actor Anthony Quinn.
Agathi Beach
Traounou Beach
Nightlife:
Soho old town: countless locals dancing there until early hours
Todo Bien: The Latin hot-spot of Rhodes will make you feel like you’re in Cuba.
Ostria Beach Bar: Hosting frequent summer parties, it guarantees endless fun until the late hours with loud music.
Restaurants:
• Alter Ego Summer
• Melenos Roof Top Dining
• Kerasma Restaurant
• Patria Restaurant
• Ambrosia
Visit other Greek Islands that are close to Rhodes:
• Tilos: To the north west of Rhodes you will find Tílos, with its imposing mountains, rocky and steep coasts, beaches with crystal clear water and caves and medieval castles.
• Kastellorizo: has a long story history.
• Symi an hour away from the post of Rhodes today Symi attracts many visitors thanks to its beautifully preserved neo-classical buildings and the famous Archangel Michael monastery at Panormitis
Extra tip for trekking enthusiasts:
Following breathtaking routes on foot is the ideal way to discover the unique natural beauty of the island: try the two-hour route from Filérimos to the coast through a magical pine-tree forest, tour the Valley of the Butterflies (3 hours), go from the village of Salakos to the summit of Profitis Elias following a breathtaking route that takes 4 hours to complete, walk from Kritinia Castle to Kritinia village through a lush green valley (4 hours) or, if you are an experienced hiker, take the opportunity to conquer the summit of Ataviros, a beautiful six-hour walk!
Getting there:
• By aeroplane from the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki. There are also connections to and from other Greek islands such as Kos, Leros, Mytilini, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete (Iráklion city). Flights are operated by Olympic Airways and Aegean Airlines. Beginning this year, Ryanair will also be operating direct flights to Rhodes from Frankfurt Hahn, Brussels Charleroi, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Bologna, Cagliari, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Liverpool, London, Stockholm and Kaunas.
• By ship the Port of Rhodes has daily connections to the port of Piraeus. The trip lasts approximately 12 hours with intermediary stops at the islands of Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos and Kos. Rhodes is also connected directly to all the other islands of the Dodecanese and Crete
Getting around:
•By Bus- Roda: Municipal bus company that serves Rhodes city as well suburban areas (Koskinou, Faliraki, Ialysos, Kremasti, Airport, Pastida, Maritsa, Paradeisi) and the west coast of the island
• KTEL: Limited liability private transport company that serve villages and resorts in the east coast of the island
Car and motorbikes :
You can also rent a car in Rhodes or motorbike as Rhodes has plenty of Car Rental companies International and locals too.
Taxi:The island is served by 450 taxis.
At the end, Rhodes it’s definitely a destination that you should visit it combines history, culture, nightlife and beautiful beaches in a way that is very rare.