Things to do in Rhodes

It’s been a while since I last posted, but man 2019 has just been flying right past me! Between getting engaged, starting a new job AND moving house, I barely find any time to write, which makes me super sad because I love writing! There are only 4 months and a bit left of 2019, and I have set myself a challenge that I will write a blog post on here at least once a week for the rest of the year. I always have cool content ideas, it’s just about being strict with myself and sitting to write them out, and today I am starting with a travel post all about Rhodes!

After a few very hectic months at work I really needed a break, so I in July I headed off to Rhodes, Greece for some fun in the sun. I have been to Greece before last year (you can read my Athens, Mykonos and Santorni posts), and I absolutely loved it. I love Greek food, Greek architecture and everything about the country, so I twisted my parents arm to go to Rhodes (they wanted to go to Turkey), as Rhodes has always attracted me. It’s quite far down the Greek islands, which is why we didn’t visit it last time, and it’s a pretty big island so there is quite a bit to do and explore!

Firstly, I took my own advice from last year and booked a flight from Rhodes back to Athens. It’s not worth spending all of that time in a ferry, when the costs of airplane vs ferry are much of a muchness. The flight to Rhodes from Athens is 50 minutes long, as I paid around 130 euros. Named the island of the Knights, Rhodes is the capital of the Dodecanese Islands, an island which is ideal not only for those who want to relax but also for those looking for an action-packed holiday! With its bright green hills, rich green valleys and uninterrupted line of golden beaches, Rhodes is truly a gorgeous place.

Visit Old Town Rhodes

One of the first things you should do, is visit the magnificent Old Town Rhodes. One of the best preserved medieval settlements in the world, the Old Town has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site! In the Old Town every stone tells a story, a history of 2,400 years. Ancient statues, marble crests, fountains, castles, mosques and hammams, the Clock Tower with its breathtaking view of the Aegean, a rich heritage left behind by past civilizations.

You can easily spend the whole day inside the Old Town, checking out The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, The Roloi Clock Tower, The Street of Knights, The Byzantine Art Museum, shop in its little streets, and have multiple Baklavas in the cute side-walk cafes. Old Town Rhodes certainly has a medieval charm to it, and a must-do while visiting Rhodes.

See the beautiful village of Lindos

I really wanted to visit Lindos, even though we were staying quite far from it (as in a 60 euro cab far), but I couldn’t resist this charming little village. We went quite early to Lindos and I feel like we got to savor it when the village was just busy waking up itself. I do recommend going as early as you can(we got there around 8:30am) because as the day gets busier, the little narrow streets gets more full, and then it’s harder to enjoy yourself.

If you walk all the way down the Lindos village you will find yourself at St Paul’s Bay which is also a beautiful sight- plus the bay is shaped like a heart- it’s too sweet! Lindos has plenty of rooftop bars and cafes where you can enjoy yourself having an ice cold Aperol Spritz while overlooking this charming village.

Climb the Acropolis of Lindos

Inside the village of Lindos is its gorgeous Acropolis. Built on a huge rock, 116 meters above the sea, Lindos’ Acropolis is surrounded by fortified walls built by the Knights of Rhodes. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the island’s many strongholds! We managed to climb to the top of the Acropolis by 9am (it’s not a hectic climb so don’t stress if you are not super athletic like me ;)), but again I recommend going early because it avoids the crowds, and the heat!

Inside the walls, you will discover the remains of an ancient theater and the last vestiges of the Temple of Athena, built on top of the Acropolis. There are only a few columns left, but the place is still worth a visit: from there, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea and the village of Lindos. You can also take some beautiful pictures, as this Acropolis is not as strict as the one in Athens, so you can get some beautiful shots in. Entrance is 10 euros and it totally worth it.

Beach away!

There were SO many beautiful beaches and bays in Rhodes, and we tried to explore a different one every day. As I mentioned St Paul’s Bay is gorgeous, we also visited the Anthony Quinn beach (named after the actor) and the Faliraki beach. I would also suggest paying a visit to Prasonisi (this sand beach separates the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea) and the Kiotari. A lot of the resorts will also have a private beach, so make sure you schedule in enough time to just relax and beach away.

Visit the Mandraki Harbor

Guarding Mandraki’s marina, from the tops of two tall limestone columns, are the island’s emblems: a deer and doe. At the edge of the dock stands the small fort of Agios Nikolaos, built between 1464 and 1467. The famous windmills of Greece line up this harbor, and make for one pretty sight! Just to the right of the harbor you will find a modern city, with a shopping center, large hotels and resorts, numerous cafes, restaurants, clubs, impressive sights and attractions, but also traditional villas called marasiotika. I loved just walking around in Rhodes’ modern city of Mandraki, because I can never pass up any chance to hit up a Sephora!

Things that I wish we got to do but didn’t have the time, so I guess I will have to come back for them 😉

Valley of the Butterflies

In a lush, green canyon, about 1km wide, there is a unique forest with cities, trees that look like planes. The smell of the nectar they secrete attracts millions of butterflies of the species Panaxia guadripunctaria, with its trademark four orange dots on each wing. Tread carefully so as not to scare these miraculous little angels away!

Kallithea Springs

Opened in 1929, the springs were renowned for Kallithea spring water’s curative and therapeutic properties. The springs are located east of the island, 9 km away from Rhodes City. The springs are surrounded by beautiful coves and make it a great spot to relax and unwind after exploring the thermal springs, you can head down to one of Kallithea’s many beaches which are known for their warm water making them a great place to take a quick swim

Take a Day Trip to Symi Island

I so wish I got to do this, but we simply ran out of time! It takes just under 2 hours to reach Symi from the Port of Mandraki, Rhodes’ modern city. This island is filled with historic structures, like the Monastery of Archangel Michael Panormitis, a former 18th-century church. Symi is also popular for its colorful and sophisticated houses that surround its coastline. It looks beautiful, and I am definitely making a note to visit it when I am in Rhodes again.