4 Nights in rhodes
The Dodecanese are one of the most popular Islands in Greece and attract thousands of visitors every year. With a multitude of sandy beaches and a spectacular medieval town of grandiose buildings and winding cobbled streets, it's no surprise that Rhodes is one of Greece's top destinations. The heaviest imprint on the Old Town was made by the Knights of St John, whose order drew crusaders from all over Europe. Divided into langues, the Knights each built their own auberge, a hostel with private chapel and dining hall. Elegant Ippoton Street is a seamless run of auberges, their coats of arms displayed on the walls. At one end is the Palace of the Grand Master, at the other is what used to be the Knights' Hospital, now the Archaeological Museum. The Palace, most of which was destroyed in 1856 in the latter years of Ottoman rule, was restored by the Italians. Walk south from the Palace and you'll encounter the most eye-catching Turkish building, the very large pink Suleiman Mosque. For those sandy beaches, follow the east coast, going beyond Tsambika to miss the worst of the crowds. Go on to the town of Lindos, where the Knights's Castle assimilated the ancient city's acropolis and a Doric temple of Athena to create a magnificent architectural hybrid. The cult of the sun is alive and well on Rhodes, and no wonder: The island receives on average more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Its beaches are among the cleanest in the Aegean, and its interior is still home to unspoiled mountain villages, rich fertile plains and beautiful butterflies. Some of he most beautiful sites of Rhodes are hidden in the mountain villages, Exciting nightlife, Gamble away at Casino of Rhodes.
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Within City Walls
Rhodes City
Sights to see: The Old Town (World Heritage Site) - pass through one of the gateways and by the Agora and Collachium, where the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem lived and worked, building a stronghold of Christendom in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Street of the Knights, the Grand Masters Palace, The New Town, (in neo-colonial and Italianate style, which lend grandeur to this part of the present-day town) the Old Harbor, Acropolis of Rhodes, Temple of Apollo and the Greek Stadium, The Saint Paul's bay in Lindos, The Village and the Acropolis of Lindos. |
For the Kids
Child friendly attractions include Aquarium of Rhodes (operates as a Museum and Aquarium) In the Museum are also displayed exhibits such as various kinds of sharks and other fish, toothed whales, and Mediterranean monk seals. Journey to "Rhodes Ostrich Farm" and Zoo Park. Take a closer look at these feathered birds (Over 120 ostriches) living within a purely natural environment. The Camel ride will be pure excitement! Faliraki Water Park (the biggest in Europe) for high adrenaline emotions! Valley of the Butterflies is beautifully arranged with wooden bridges. |
Lindos
This picturesque village provides a mix of history, beaches and the marina with only 700 inhabitants, Village has many historic houses known as "Captains" houses, often dating from 16th, 17th or 18th century. Made up of a network of cobbled streets all are entirely pedestrianised. Only modes of transport allowed are donkeys, mopeds and bikes. Houses are like small whitewashed boxes and sit beautifully on the hillside making it the most beautiful place on the island. The charm of this village is maintained by a preservation order which forbids any unauthorised building work. |
Faliraki
Rhodes' action resort. Go there to party. Nice beaches, a lot less winds than on the west coast and really good public transport. Faliraki is the site of one of the most beautiful beaches in Rhodes and is a great choice for anyone who wants a sun and sand holiday complete with lots of bright lights and action. The beach buzzes at night, gives you every opportunity to dance and party with a wealth of pubs, discos, music-bars and clubs. A nearby water park also makes for a great day out. Kalithea has a hilly backdrop with a cove offering a range of watersports. Video Of Nightlife. |
Valley of Butterflies
With the coming of the high summer temperatures, the moths start to leave their native areas and fly towards the gorge where, thanks to the propitious microclimate, they will survive during the arid summer months. Since the butterflies - which are actually coloured moths - in this area need quietude for their procreation and since the area is visited by many tourists, the population of the Petaloudes "butterflies" is constantly on the decline; even to a degree that it does not make any sense anymore to go there, as you will hardly see any of the moths. It is still a beautiful area regardless. |
Filerimos Mountain
One of Rhodes' beauty spots, the hillsides of Filerimos are home to cypresses and pines. Among the trees sits Moni Filerimou, its domed chapels decorated with the cross of the Knights and the coat of arms of Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson. A place of worship for 2,000 years, layers of history and traditions can be seen, from Phoenician to Byzantine, Orthodox and Catholic. The main attraction is Our Lady of Filerimos, the Italian reconstruction of the Knights' 14th-century church of the Virgin Mary. It is a complex of four chapels: the main one, built in 1306, leads to three others. |
Seven Springs
One of the most charming destinations on Rhodes, Seven Springs offers a cool, magical landscape, a real oasis, even in the heat of high summer. Named after the springs that gush cool water in this beautiful place. The water comes through a creek in a tunnel and then a journeyman lake. In these waters lives gizani, a rare fish species present in all streams of Rhodes. The tunnel carries water to the lake and was built in the 1920's and has a length of 150 meters. Halfway there is an airway with a depth of 13 meters. Unique experience to cross the tunnel with the cool water flowing beneath. |
Mountain of Profitis Ilias
The prettiest of all the mountain regions of Rhodes. It’s heavily forested and at the end of your exhilarating walk, you can enjoy some beverage at the historic, Alpine hotel that was built as a holiday resort for Benito Mussolini. The mountain has a height of 700 meters and the monastery life of many centuries. The hotels Elafos (1931) and Elaphina (1932), is Tyrolean architecture. Next to them was the villa de Vekki (1938). The forest is the most beautiful of the island. Come to the prophet Elijah, archeology, nature and history of Rhodes expects you. |
We recommend the following Dodecanese Islands....
Patmos
One of the most beautiful islands of the Dodecanese group. It is a holy island frequently named “The Jerusalem of the Aegean” and is an island that has many things to offer. It is a mountainous island with rocky soil, beautiful coastal areas and nice beaches with crystal clear waters, charming traditional villages with whitewashed cubic houses. It is one of the most religious Greek Islands because it is where Saint John the Divine had its revelation and wrote the Apocalypse. It used to be an important place of pilgrimage and belonged to the Church. From this unique past, the impressive Monastery of Saint John and signs prohibiting nude bathing and topless are remaining. If a musician were to compose and dedicate a piece to Patmos, it might be a suite for rooster, moped, and bells (church and goat), for these are the sounds that fill the air. But just because Patmos is wonderfully unspoiled, don't imagine that it's primitive. Patmians expect a heavy dose of respect for their traditions. |
Kos
Kos has been inhabited for roughly 10,000 years, and has for a significant portion of that time been both an important center of commerce and a line of defense. Its population in ancient times may have reached 100,000, but today it is less than a third of that number. The principal attractions of Kos are its antiquities -- most notably the Asklepion -- and its beaches. You can guess which are more swamped in summer. But the taste of most tour groups is thankfully predictable and limited so the congestion can be evaded, if that's your preference. Kos town is still quite vital. Because the island is small, you can base yourself in the town, in an authentic neighborhood if possible, and venture out from there. You'll get the most out of Kos by following the locals -- especially when it comes to restaurants. If you think you're in a village and see no schools or churches, and no old people, chances are you're not in a village at all, but in a resort. Kos has many, especially along its coasts. Nightlife |
Symi
Tiny, rugged Simi is often called "the jewel of the Dodecanese." Arrival by boat affords you a view of pastel-colored neoclassical mansions climbing the steep hills above the broad, horseshoe-shaped harbor. Yialos is Simi's port, and Horio its old capital. Simi's long and prosperous tradition of shipbuilding, trading, and sponge diving is evident in its gracious mansions and richly ornamented churches. Islanders proudly boast that there are so many churches and monasteries that you can worship in a different sanctuary every day of the year. Today, the island's picture-perfect traditional-style houses have become a magnet for moneyed Athenians and Italians in search of vacation homes, and Simi is a highly touted off-the-beaten-path resort. In recent years, the Simi Festival, primarily confined to August, has put Simi on the cultural map as an attractive seasonal contender offering an eclectic menu of international music, theater, and cinema, something happening virtually every night. |