This
is an updated version of our original 'Rhodes' page. We have made many more
journeys to the island since the original guide appeared. Some of the
information we gave has been updated and we have learned a lot more about even
more nooks and crannies of the island. We have decided this time to divide the
island into sections, perhaps making it easier for people to follow a route. It
will take a while to completely update this page so bear with us! We have divided the island into
Rhodes Town, the West Coast, East Coast, Central and South areas. Within each
area there are a wide variety of sights to visit-something for everyone! RHODES TOWN Guide books have mountains of
information about Rhodes Town. We would like to give you a more personal view.
The Old Town is as spectacular as you would expect it to be for the
best-preserved medieval town in Europe. The Grand Master's Palace is well worth
a visit, especially if approached by the well-known Street of the Knights. You
might have to dodge large guided groups, in various languages, and beware if
wearing high heels-this area of Old Rhodes Town is cobbled! There are other historical
sights and museums to see in Old Town. We particularly enjoyed going up the
Clock Tower-you can't miss it if you go up the main Socrates Street-which gives
great views over the Old Town and the harbour. There are many many shops,
mainly geared towards tourists. You can buy typical tourist souvenirs, leather,
paintings, even fur. Beware in that the prices in Rhodes Town, like any capital
city, can be higher than other places. There have been noticeable price rises
since the introduction of the Euro. There are plenty of
restaurants, some being quite expensive. There are certainly no shortage of
places to eat and drink. If you're feeling energetic,
you can walk around the whole moat surrounding the Old Town. We've done it in
August, quite slowly and with plenty of water! We've also walked around the moat
in April, when the moat was full of wild flowers-very beautiful. Leaving the Old Town and going
into the New Town, you'll probably walk along the harbour front. On the 'town'
side of the road, there are a number of cafe/bars selling wonderful cakes. Worth
it for a one-off treat but not cheap. On the other side of the road, you walk
past the boats offering diving trips, trips to Symi and Lindos. Please note that
many of the shops in the New Town follow the tradition of closing 2-5p.m.. Koskinou A lovely village with hidden narrow streets and
typically Greek doorways which lead into courtyards of the houses. There is an
excellent taverna there, Yianni's, which is open during the evenings and is just
off the main square. We have also enjoyed a pleasant coffee at the small museum,
which is actually an old Greek house, full of artifacts. Kalithea Most well-known for the old Italian-built spa which
has been undergoing renovation for as long as we've been going to Rhodes. Over
the past couple of years, the lower section near the beach, has been finished
and opened. It is well worth a look and you can walk through the old spa to
reach the main Kalithea Bay. This bay is rocky and is used as a diving centre.
There are sunbeds and the water is crystal clear. Just to the right of the bay
is a beach, sand and big rocks, which can be easily accessed from the car park
at the beginning of the spa. Faliraki No doubt most of you will have seen all the coverage
Faliraki has received over the past few years! The last two years have seen a
dramatic decline in tourist numbers there as the young crowds have moved on. It
is still a lively place with its bars, bungee jumps, big wheel etc. There are
two main parts to Faliraki, the main streets and further along the coast, the
massive hotels. The beach is very sandy with sunbeds and every watersport
imaginable. Faliraki is also home to the Waterpark. This is off the coast road
as if you're heading towards Rhodes Town. The Waterpark is very good, lots of
attractions, including a children's section. It's quite expensive so best to
plan a whole day there. The food inside is reasonable and there are lockers for
storing valuables. There is a high lifeguard presence and it is run very safely.
It can get very very hot there in high season. It's in an exposed position and
it is very easy to get burnt, so plenty of high factor suncream is required! Ladiko Bay A rocky bay, rumoured once to be owned by Anthony
Quinn. Fairly quiet, one cantina for food and drink. Afandou The beach is huge-7km-mainly small stones but
becoming surprisingly sandy in recent years. There are areas of sunbeds and some
watersports. There is quite a sharp drop into the sea so some care is needed
with small children and non-swimmers. A road leads up into the village of
Afandou. This is a working village but the main road and square has tourist bars
and a variety of restaurants, serving from fast food to traditional Greek food
and Italian pizzas. The square has bars with soft armchair seating outside,
opposite the church.
The information here is not meant to be a complete travel guide to Rhodes, nor
could it be. We have tried to give the reader a feel for the various places
worth visiting on the island. By definition the comments we make are our opinion
and the list of places is not exhaustive. One of the pleasures of a holiday on
Rhodes is the discovery of a deserted area of beach, an unusual route through a
scenic valley or a vista for a meal which is the definition of life on a Greek
island. We have tried to give you a taste of what is available to whet your
appetite.
Rhodes Town at night is worth a visit. The shops, restaurants and bars are all
open and you can visit the Light and Sound show, a laser and light show about
the history of Rhodes. It is interesting but don't expect the sort of
spectacular laser show we have become accustomed to in recent years.
Rhodes Town is a safe place to be. There are touts about in high Summer. They
can be persistent but best just to walk on. There are the Tourist Police around,
who will help with any problem you might have. They are distinguished from
normal police by the flag badges on their uniforms showing the languages they
speak. On the odd occasion we have had to talk to them, we have found them to be
very helpful.
Kolimbia
Further down the coast from Afandou, this is a resort favoured by Germans. Well known for its long avenue of trees leading into the village. There are three bays, two sandy and one rocky. A lot of the resort has been over-ridden by a huge all-inclusive complex completed two seasons ago. This has had a big impact on the tourism in the resort but you can still find a variety of shops and restaurants there.
Archangelos
Another working large village. It has its tourism side but is not specifically geared towards that activity. Quite similar to Afandou.
Haraki/Agathi Beach
We have to admit that we have only visited Haraki a couple of times. It has a sea front, apartments and some facilities. Our favoured spot is Agathi Beach. This is reached from the road down to Haraki, along a bumpy but well-defined road. The beach is a smallish bay. There are three cantinas and watersports. At the beginning of the beach, there is an area where you can settle without sunbeds. The slope into the sea is shallow and therefore safe. The sea is clear. There are shower and toilet facilities on the beach. Lovely place!
Kalathos/Vlicha
A small village. We've never really stopped there, just travelled through on our way to Lindos. There seems to be quite a bit of development going on in the area. Vlicha beach can be accessed by turning off the main road. It's a wide bay with the usual facilities.
Lindos
Much has been written about Lindos and a considerable amount can be learned from any guide book about Rhodes. We enjoy Lindos more in the evening. It gets very busy and very hot during the day. There are many coach and boat tours there and the streets are narrow-we're sure you can imagine the scenario! Most people park at the top of the hill on the main road and walk down into the square. There is parking along the beach road, which is off to the left just before the square. Lindos is vehicle free apart from small delivery trucks. There are plenty of tourist shops, restaurants and bars tucked away through the narrow streets. Not far after leaving the square, you'll notice the main church on your left. If it's open, it's worth looking inside-amazing interior! You will be expected to cover you shoulders and the woman there will provide a cover if necessary. If you keep heading upwards, you'll eventually reach the acropolis. The acropolis is spectacular and the views, especially of St Paul's Bay are the best to be had. There is an entrance fee of a few euros. Some people travel up to the acropolis on a donkey from the main square. Personally we think it seems a bit unfair on the poor donkeys, but each to their own. The acropolis is still supposedly being renovated but it is a very slow process. The prices in the shops tend to be a bit cheaper than Rhodes Town and they have the same range of products. Rooftop restaurants are popular and these give a great view of the acropolis at night, which is floodlit. There's a good bus service to Lindos along the road from Rhodes Town so it's easy to manage a trip there without an organised tour. Lindos in Winter is totally surreal! The shops are closed and the shutters pulled tight, but some bars remain open and if you're out there, it's worth a visit just to see the contrast.
Lardos/Pefkos
Both of these are close to Lindos. Each has its tourist side and is also where a lot of the Summer inhabitants of Lindos can be found in the Winter. Pefkos has undergone a lot of development in recent years and many holidaymakers head here now.
Gennadi
The last large village on this coast. It has some tourism but appears to be
mainly a working village. Around Gennadi, there is a massive lot of development
going on, looking to be holiday homes. This area used to be quite deserted but
is filling up rapidly! Quite what effect this will have on this area remains to
be seen.