Historical, romantic, Mediterranean. The largest island in the Dodecanese archipelago, Rhodes is warm, atmospheric and diverse. Its fascinating attractions and paradisiacal beaches attract tourists to return year after year.
Rhodes is a holiday destination for families, couples and solo travellers alike. There’s something for everyone on the island, whether you’re looking for something active or a more leisurely activity. How about a day in the green and blooming Butterfly Valley? Or visit the old town of Rhodes, where monuments and buildings from different eras are spectacularly intertwined?
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Greek mythology describes how the god Zeus mercifully divided the world between the gods of Olympus. Zeus had inadvertently forgotten to invite the sun god Helios to take his place, and no one else remembered to think of him when the world was divided up. Helios was furious. He demanded of Zeus that the next earth to rise from the sea should be reserved for him. It is said that the lush, flower-bedecked Rhodes rose from the Mediterranean as soon as Helios made his demand. Helios then settled on the island.
Over the millennia, Rhodes has been part of Byzantium, Italy and the Ottoman Empire, among others. The island has been part of Greece since 1947. Rhodes’ chequered history is also reflected in its architecture. The medieval old town contrasts with the new town of Rhodes, whose infrastructure is influenced by both neoclassical and oriental styles.
Old Town of Rhodes
Surrounded by medieval walls, this historic site is divided into three parts: the Royal Quarters, the Turkish Quarters, and the Jewish Quarters.
The first part houses most of the museums and art galleries. In the Turkish part there are mosques and a hamam bath. In the Jewish quarter you will find a synagogue and a Jewish museum.
In Rhodes, the archaeological museum is well worth a visit. The old town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Valley of the Butterflies
Located in the northern part of the island, about 26 km from the town of Rhodes. The lush natural park is particularly popular with families with children and has good walking trails. Butterflies can only be found in the valley during the summer months. At other times, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the valley.
The Seven Springs (Epta piges)
The Seven Springs area is one of Rhodes’ most famous natural sites, and according to legend, the source of love and youth.
Tsambika beach
Located on the east coast of the island, this beach is one of the most beautiful on the island. In addition to the beach, it is famous for its monastery, which requires a climb of about 300 steps to reach. At the top of the hill is a small Byzantine church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with stunning views.
Lindos
Located on the east coast of Rhodes, the ancient city of Lindos was founded 2000 years before the beginning of time. Founded by the Doorians, Lindos was once a major port town.
The main attraction of the town is the Acropolis of Lindos, which offers spectacular views. The Acropolis is one of the most picturesque sites on the island.
Fortress of Monolithos
A hill on the west side of the island, the ruins of the fortress date back to the 15th century. At one time the fortress was one of the oldest in Rhodes. Today, only the outer walls and a couple of chapels remain. Getting to the top requires a bit of a challenge, as you have to climb up a narrow flight of stairs. There is also a small beach of Fourn nearby. The easiest way to reach the area is by rental car.
Anthony Quinn Bay
The bay is named after a popular Mexican-American actor. Poukama is located near the popular resort of Faliraki. It is very congested during the busiest summer months.
Faliraki Water Park
The water park is a particular favourite with families with children. The park is clean and well maintained. The park is open on a weather permitting basis.
Rhodes has over 220 kilometres of coastline, with dozens of smooth sandy beaches, pebble beaches and quiet coves where you can bask in the sun and relax. The most popular beaches are probably the so-called Windy Beach and Ellin Beach, near the town of Rhodes. These are very popular with tourists due to their convenient location and wide range of services.
However, the best beaches are on the east coast of Rhodes. When considering where to bake, it’s worth bearing in mind the time of year – in hot, dry summer months, a pebble beach may be a more pleasant option than a sandy beach. The only paid beach on the island is Kallithea Therme, where the entrance fee is €3. Parasol and chair hire is around €5 on all public beaches.
The western Aegean coast attracts water sports enthusiasts. Temperatures are cooler, winds stronger and waves higher on this side of the island. The blue flags of the European Union fly on many of Rhodes’ beaches as a sign of cleanliness and safety.
For families with children. Low-lying beaches popular with families with children include Tsambika, Agia Agathi, Afandou and Faliraki. Almost all beaches on Rhodes are family-friendly during the day, but beaches linked to popular resorts such as Faliraki get crowded with party-goers, especially in the summer evenings.
Anthony Quinn, Katsouni, Kyoto, Prasonisi, Kalathos and Kamiros are popular with adult tourists. Some of these also have their own nudist areas.
For those who love peace. Peaceful beaches include Stegna Beach, Fourni Beach, Kathara, Agia Agathi and Glystra Beach. Many of these can also be easily reached by bus.
For those looking for an experience. Kallithea beach offers a wide range of water activities and the opportunity to take a dip in the famous Kallithea hot springs. Golfers will enjoy their time at Afandou beach, next to the most important golf course in Rhodes. For windsurfing enthusiasts, head to the windy Ialysos beach, 3 km from the capital Rhodes.
For those who appreciate the range of services on offer. Beaches with good facilities include Tuulinen beach and Ellin beach, as well as Pallas beach north of Lindos village and the central part of Faliraki beach.
On the island of Rhodes, the best place to shop is Rhodes Town, but the charming alleys of Lindos are also a good place to shop. In Lindos, the most popular shopping items are leather goods, lace and other local handicrafts. Tourist-oriented shops, especially in the most popular resorts, sell items such as food and beachwear. In the old town of Rhodes, there are numerous small shops selling souvenirs, clothes, antiques and handicrafts. Sponges, jewellery and other typical Rhodes souvenirs are sold near the walls. The front of Kolona harbour is also a good place to buy souvenirs.
The modern district outside the walls is the best place to buy groceries, as there are hardly any food shops in the old town. In the new part of town, especially around Plati Kipru Square and Amerikis Street, you will also find shops of well-known fashion stores. There are several Finnish and other Nordic shops near the beaches, where some domestic products are available.
Good buys include ceramics, sculptures, decorations, icons, paintings and other art. Jewellery, watches, gold and silver are well stocked in the Old Town. Alcoholic beverages, especially Ouzo, are also popular souvenir purchases. For food, olive oil is a good quality take-home, but spices, olives, honey and preserved fruit are also worth buying as souvenirs. For sweets, baklava and loukoumi are popular local treats.
Food shopping is best done in larger supermarkets. Lidl is about 5 km from Rhodes town. The local supermarkets Sklavenitis and AB are also cheaper than the smaller ones, but they are often located far from the beaches or town centres. The best way to get to the shops is by taxi or rental car, for example. The markets are open from Monday to Saturday from around 8am to 9pm and closed on Sundays.
The currency in Rhodes is the euro, and it is advisable to carry some cash with you. Payment cards are accepted in supermarkets and restaurants, but it is a good idea to have cash on hand for bus travel.
On Sundays most shops are closed, except for the small shops in the resorts. Otherwise, opening hours follow the rhythm of local life. Shops are generally open from 09:00 to 10:00 and from 14:00 to 15:00. Shops often close for siesta and reopen around 17.00 and stay open until around 21.00. Many shops, particularly popular with locals, close on Saturday afternoon and open on Monday morning.
In Rhodes, you should be prepared for prices that are not far from those in Finland.
Alcohol is cheaper than in Finland, but food is close to Finnish prices in medium-sized shops.
The narrow alleys of the old town of Rhodes are best explored on foot. Otherwise, taxis are the easiest way to get around the urban area. The minimum fare is around €7.
Examples of taxi fares: from Ixia to Rhodes 13 eur, from Ixia to the airport 19 eur, from Ixia to Butterfly Valley 28 eur, from Ixia to the water park 24 eur, from Ixia to the Seven Fountains 40 eur and from Ixia to Lindos 67 eur. A taxi from Rhodes town to the airport costs between 20 and 30 eur.
There is a regular bus service between the resorts and Rhodes town. The easiest way to buy a bus ticket in advance is either at a mini-market near the bus stop or at a ticket machine in the town. You can also buy a bus ticket on the bus, but please make sure you have pocket money. The ticket price starts at €2.50.
Rhodes. The island’s capital, Rhodes, is a fascinating place to visit for its historic and spectacular sights. The town is divided into two parts – a modern new town and an old town built in the 15th century, full of tavernas and temples. The area was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
In the old town of Rhodes, you can learn about the history of the Jewish inhabitants of the area, as well as the mosques built during the Ottoman Empire. You can visit the synagogue, the hamam baths, the archaeological museum, boutiques and cafés on your visit. The Old Town is also just a stone’s throw from the beaches popular with tourists – Ellin Beach and Windy Beach.
In the new city, on the other hand, there’s plenty to keep the holidaymaker going. There are festivals, clubs and casinos, as well as stylish and trendy shopping centres.
Faliraki. On the stunning long east coast of Rhodes lies one of the island’s most popular resorts, Faliraki. The area offers peace and quiet for those who want it, lively nightlife for those who crave it and a fine beach almost 5 kilometres long for sun worshippers. Faliraki’s golden beach is considered one of the best in Rhodes. It is perfect for families with children, with soft sand, warm and clean water and few strong waves.
The area is also home to Europe’s largest water park, Faliraki Waterpark. The water park is perfect for children and adults alike – there’s enough activity to keep you busy for several days of your holiday.
From Faliraki you can walk or drive just under five kilometres to the neighbouring bays of Anthony Quinn and Ladiko. The walkway runs along beautiful cliffs and along the way you can visit the Astronomy Cafe observatory.
Lindos. Lindos is a combination of quality beach holidays and exciting adventures on narrow streets. The small town of Lindos is located on a high hill on the eastern coast of the island. The picture-postcard beauty of the town hides a labyrinth of narrow streets with small shops and restaurants.
The best beaches of Rhodes start south of Lindos, from the bay of Lardos to Plymyr. The beach infrastructure may not be as developed as in Faliraki or Ialyssos, but the area is very beautiful and clean. The paradise beach, which starts at Lindos, is almost 30 km long and ends at Prasonis, the southernmost resort of Rhodes.
Lindos is a stunning resort with sandy beaches and picturesque lagoons. There’s everything for a great holiday: delicious food and drink, comfortable hotels, stylish restaurants, tavernas, bars and nightclubs.
Do you enjoy Greek traditional music? Folk songs accompanied by bouzouki that you can hear in local taverns as the evening fades? Or do you want to dance until dawn to electronic music in youthful clubs? Maybe you’re into jumping on stage yourself and wowing the crowd with your karaoke bangers?
If you want to experience a taverna night with Greek food and music, we recommend heading to the small villages around the resorts, inhabited by locals. There are also restaurants on the outskirts of the towns, which are popular with locals. For up-to-date tips on cultural holidays, contact our destination guides.
The lively nightlife is mainly concentrated in Rhodes town, especially on Orfanidou Street. In addition, clubs and pubs can also be found in the areas of Faliraki, Lindos and Ialysos. For example, you can sing Finnish karaoke in the new town of Rhodes, on Evdomis Martiou street.
Airlines: several different airlines fly from Finland to Rhodes. At Aventours, we fly to Enter Air.
Airport: Rhodes airport (RHO)
Distance to resorts from airport: 20-25 minutes
Flight time from Finland: 4 hours
Language: greek
Time difference: 0 hours
Population: about 50 000
Passport: Finnish citizens need a valid passport or chip card to travel to Greece
Currency: euro
Tipping: it is customary to tip 5-10% of the total amount of the invoice
Electricity: in Greece (230V 50Hz, plugs and sockets are type C and F)
Air tax: €1.50 – €10 per room per night depending on the hotel classification. Hotel tax payable in cash on site
Water: usually clean and potable, but may have a mineral taste. We recommend drinking bottled water.
1. Pack your hiking boots in your suitcase and hike to the top of Mount Attávyros at 1215 metres. From the top, you’ll have stunning views of the Ida Mountains of Crete, where the god Zeus himself is said to have been born.
In terms of weather conditions, trekking trips are most enjoyable in spring or autumn. The lush green surroundings of Mount Attávyros offer extensive hiking trails, which can take up several days of your holiday.
2. Take a day trip to the thriving Butterfly Valley near the village of Thelologos! The Butterfly Valley, or Petaloudes, is an impressive sight with its waterfalls and wildlife. Please walk through the valley slowly, as loud noises disturb the butterflies’ rest.
3. Did you know that Rhodes has amazing diving waters? The island offers excellent opportunities both to start diving as a hobby and for more independent underwater activities.
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