Find cheap holidays to Rhodes
In the days of old, knights found the island of Rhodes, close to the Turkish shore at the merging of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, and set it up as a fortress to protect the Christian west from the invasion of the 'heathens' from the east.
Today the island, the main one of the 12 making up the Dodecanese group, is still subject to invasion but now the intruders are tourists; they come to revel in what is reputedly the sunniest Greek island, and to have fun in the medieval city the knights left behind.
The town of Rhodes, on the northern point of the island, has preserved its picturesque walled old city as a playground for visitors. In ancient times the harbour here was guarded by the legendary Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but now some statues of deer have taken its place.
Nevertheless the old part of the city has plenty of wonders still to offer and the modern part of the town is just as vibrant.
The rest of the relatively large island offers miles of beaches, interesting archaeological sites and natural beauty spots. The best beaches are on the east coast, between Faliraki and Lindos. Lindos is renowned as a particularly picturesque town that has been designated a protected historic settlement; Faliraki, on the other hand, is a developed resort area bustling with young visitors.
Rhodes Sightseeing
While the most popular 'modern' attractions on Rhodes are its beautiful beaches, this Mediterranean island's rich past has laden it with a wealth of historic architectural, cultural and religious sites that must be explored. Wander the charming streets of the Old Town and experience day-to-day life, little changed for centuries, or climb Filerimos Hill to visit the medieval ruins. There are interesting castles at Kastellos and Monolithos, and don't miss the Acropolis of Rhodes, the ancient settlement's terraced ruins dating from 200 BC.
If you want to spend your time at the beach though, Rhodes has a number of good ones where visitors can sun themselves or enjoy watersports like scuba diving and surfing, including resorts like Rhodes Town, Lindos, Faliraki and Ixia. There are also smaller and quieter beaches at Ladiko and Afandou, and nude sunbathing is allowed at Tsambika.
If you are travelling with kids Rhodes is a great island to explore as children enjoy the beaches as well as a number of other natural and scenic attractions. The Valley of the Butterflies has kids searching the skies to see the diversely coloured creatures in flight, while the local aquarium has them entranced by the wonders of the ocean. The Faliraki Water Park will also keep children entertained for hours.
Rhodes Nightlife
Rhodes is one of the liveliest islands in Greece with a varied nightlife composed of bouzouki clubs, Greek folk dance nights and dance clubs. The streets off Faliraki beach are home to many popular cafés, bars and clubs. Faliraki is a great place to party if you are looking for a youthful resort scene. There is also a casino next to Elli Beach for those who want to roll the dice. Old Town has a number of good entertainment venues including the Alexis Taverna, which has hosted Winston Churchill and Jackie Kennedy. The Son et Lumiere (Sound and Light) show at Palace of the Grand Masters is excellent, and to see traditional Greek dancing visit the Nelly Dimoglou Dance Theatre. Rhodes offers a variety of night time diversions ranging from the cultural to the purely hedonistic and there should be something for everybody on the island. If in doubt, find an atmospheric restaurant and enjoy a long, drawn-out supper, preferably with a lovely view and some locals to observe. Many of the bigger hotels have their own restaurants, bars and entertainment programmes and all the big resort areas offer entertainment aplenty.
Rhodes Shopping
Rhodes is a great place to shop, with a vast selection of jewellery, ceramics, carpets and leather goods, as well as local wine, honey and olive oil on sale. The best shopping in Rhodes is in the Old Town, which has outlets selling modern, classic and antique reproduction jewellery, as well as leather goods available on Socrates Street. Near the Palace of the Prince Grand Master there is a shop with antique carpets, paintings and porcelain. Be warned that many shops in Old Town close between November and March when tourists are scarce.
Local thimati honey can be bought in the villages of Siana and Vathi, while hand-woven carpets are sold in the villages of Lindos, Afandou and Archangelos, and in some of the monasteries. Lace and embroidery are also available in various shops throughout the island. The Ministry of Culture Museum has a shop selling reproductions of ancient statues, friezes, tiles and vases.
The town of Rhodes has outlets offering local wines, Greek olive oil and some uniquely-styled shoes, as well as the usual book stores and clothing retailers. Ceramics are available from the Keramik factory outlets, and there are numerous gift shops near the main beaches selling cheap souvenirs, T-shirts and beachwear, along with colourful seashells that are more often than not imported from other places.
Rhodes Climate
The Rhodes climate ensures hot, dry weather in summer and mild winters. Temperatures in July and August, the hottest months and peak tourist season, range from 82ºF (28ºC) during the day to 72ºF (22ºC) at night, which is a bit cooler than some of the Greek islands, although still quite hot enough! Rainfall is almost non-existent in summer but showers can be expected between October and March. Despite the heat being somewhat oppressive by some standards summer remains the most popular time to visit Rhodes and during June, July and August the island is packed full of tourists with prices escalating accordingly. The lure of summer in Greece is obvious but for those who would prefer not to get caught in the crowds the best time to visit is in spring or autumn.
Late spring, May, is particularly lovely on the islands with most of the benefits of summer and fewer disadvantages; by May the sea is getting warm, there are fewer people, and Rhodes is as lush as it gets. Early autumn, September, is also a great time to visit Rhodes because it is warm without being swelteringly hot, the water is almost as balmy as during summer, and most of the tourists have left.