The sunny island of Rhodes has been one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Mediterranean for many decades. The reasons for this popularity are on the one hand the many beautiful beaches and on the other hand the large number of interesting sights. Although almost 2 million visitors come to the island in southeastern Greece every year, there are still small villages that have remained untouched by mass tourism.
The large holiday centres are located in the north of Rhodes, east and west of the capital. In the towns of Ialyssos, Ixia or Faliraki , guests will find hotel complexes of various categories and all the facilities that guarantee a pleasant holiday. If you like it quieter and more original, you should choose accommodation south of the picturesque town of Lindos . Here everyone will find plenty of space on the beach, can taste local specialties in the small taverns on the water and get in touch with the locals.
The most beautiful sights of Rhodes
The Grand Master’s Palace – The Crusader Castle in the Old Town of Rhodes
In the middle of the old town of Rhodes rises the Grand Master’s Palace, the residence of the Knights of the Order of St. John. The mighty fortress was built in the 14th century. After the island fell into the hands of the Ottomans, it was used as a prison and powder magazine. In 1856 there was an explosion of ammunition. Later, the building was restored by the Italians. In 1988, the mighty walls of the castle, together with the old town of Rhodes, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old fortification still impresses today. Rhodes Town, its old town and also the Acropolis are generally a worthwhile destination.
Petaloudes – The Butterfly Valley
The Valley of the Butterflies is a popular destination for holidaymakers, especially in the months of June to September. Because in these months a particularly large number of butterflies settle here. Among other things, they are attracted by the oriental amber trees planted in the valley – a species that otherwise only grows in Asia. Butterflies of the rare Russian bears come to the valley particularly often, but also many other insects. Fenced paths, stairs and wooden walkways lead through the 5-kilometre-long natural landscape. Past waterfalls, the route climbs up to the monastery of Kalopetra. The Valley of the Butterflies can be entered via three different entrances.
Kameiros – Rhodes’ Pompeii
Kameiros is one of the oldest settlements in Rhodes and is one of the three ancient founding cities of the island, which includes Lindos . In contrast to Lindos, Kameiros is no longer inhabited today. When the Dorians settled here around 1,000 BC, they founded a typical city of the ancient Greeks. The city complex extends over several terraces. Visitors will find the remains of the Acropolis, a temple and the Stoa. In 226 BC, a violent earthquake hit Kameiro. The people rebuilt the city, but when Kameiros was hit again by an earthquake in 139 AD, they gradually left the city.
The Acropolis of Lindos
Lindos should not be missing on any Rhodes trip. The village with its winding streets and white houses is not the only attraction. Near the village rises the Acropolis of the once ancient city. A good 116 meters up to the castle hill, which can look back on thousands of years of settlement history. The first temple complex was reached around 800 BC. There are also the remains of a temple of Athena, an imperial temple of the Romans and a temple of Psythiros. At the southern end of the complex are the remains of an ancient theatre, which dates back to the 4th century BC. From the Acropolis there is also a beautiful view of Lindos.
Epta Piges – Seven Springs
“Epta Piges” means “Seven Springs”. This is a nature park with impressive watercourses and a dense forest. Especially if the heat is a problem, it’s worth a visit: thanks to the many rivers, waterfalls and dense vegetation, the Epta Piges is comparatively cool. The eponymous seven springs make their way through the forest area and unite their waters in a lake. A pleasantly cool underground tunnel leads to a pond. In addition to beautiful flora, visitors will also find ducks, crabs, peacocks and turtles.
The weather in Rhodes
The climate in Rhodes is Mediterranean with hot, rainless summers and pleasantly warm temperatures in winter. Even in November, the weather is usually still wonderful and the sea still invites you to swim. Rain falls mainly in the months of December to March, but even during this time you can often experience a blue picture-book sky. Rhodes is one of the sunniest areas in Europe and is spoiled with more than 300 days of sunshine every year.
Outside the summer season, only a few foreigners travel to the island, although spring and autumn offer fantastic conditions for a holiday stay. If you like hiking or cycling, you can get to know a completely different side of Rhodes during this time. Lushly blooming flowers and bushes, fragrant herbs and lots of greenery dominate the landscape. The most important sights and archaeological sites are also not overcrowded during this time and can be visited at your leisure.
The most beautiful resorts in Rhodes
Rhodes Town
No matter in which place you have chosen your accommodation, a trip to Rhodes Town should not be missing from any holiday program. Rhodes, with its millennia-old history, naturally also has a modern part – the new town. Here you will find branches of all international chains in the clothing and catering industry as well as numerous local shops that invite you to look and buy.
The medieval old town is dominated by the Grand Master’s Palace, the former seat of the Order of St. John. Together with the old town, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and is one of the main attractions of Rhodes. A visit to the interiors and cellar vaults is definitely worthwhile, as is the outdoor area with the courtyards. Afterwards, most visitors will take a stroll through the streets and alleys around the palace. A walk through Ritterstraße, where the individual countries had their representations at that time and where some consulates are still located today, is also recommended. Along the Mandraki harbour with its many excursion boats and yachts, a beautiful promenade invites you to stroll. From here you have the best view of the place where the Colossus of Rhodes is said to have stood at that time. Although modern research now has doubts about this location of the 30 m high bronze statue, the two columns with a deer and a hind are among the most photographed motifs. All illustrations on postcards and souvenirs show the sun god Helios standing there with his legs apart as the entrance to the harbour.
Most visitors come to the Greek dream island of Rhodes to simply unwind, enjoy the beach and the waves and relax. However, Rhodes offers much more than that – from ancient cities to vibrant party miles to breathtaking natural spectacles, holidaymakers can discover and enjoy the most beautiful places in Rhodes to their heart’s content.
Stunning Old Town with UNESCO World Heritage Site Title
On the north coast of Rhodes is the town of the same name, which is the administrative center of the island. With about 54,000 inhabitants, Rhodes Town is also the most populous city on the island. Rhodes Town is easily accessible from all over the island. Numerous providers offer day trips, but getting there by public bus or rental car is also easy and uncomplicated. Rhodes Town welcomes its visitors with its old town, which has been inhabited for over 2500 years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The high walls and narrow streets invite you to discover and walk and in the winding streets within the old town there are countless shops and cafés. The surrounding city walls and the Grand Master’s Palace are an exciting mix of Greek, Venetian, Ottoman and Venetian architecture. On Monte Smith, visitors to Rhodes Town will also find the ancient stadium and the Acropolis. The rest of the city is also interspersed with buildings from three millennia and thus still keeps many a jewel hidden for its visitors. Rhodes Town has a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, as well as plenty of shopping, so one day in the island’s capital is barely enough.
The highlights of Rhodes Town
- Mandraki Port: The port was built around 400 BC. For a long time, the port was considered the location of the ancient wonder of the world “Colossus of Rhodes”, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In the meantime, however, it is assumed that it stood a little further away from the harbor.
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Hippocrates Square with Owls Fountain
Central center of the city with countless bars and restaurants that invite you to linger. Attention: Be prepared for many short conversations with the restaurant employees who want to lure you into your restaurant. -
Fortification wall and Grand Master’s Palace
The Grand Master’s Palace is an impressive 14th century building located on the highest point of Rhodes Town. Inside the palace, the elaborately designed mosaic floors in Greek and Italian style are particularly worth seeing. Take advantage of the unique view of the city and the sea.All around, Rhodes Town is surrounded by a defensive wall with a total length of 5 km. The construction of the city wall lasted two centuries.
Lindos – winding streets and white houses
If you are looking for a typical Greek village straight out of a picture book, you will find it in Lindos. This beautiful place is home to just 700 inhabitants, but in summer it becomes one of Rhodes’ biggest tourist attractions. The picturesque town nestles against a hill, on the top of which stands the Acropolis, a castle from the time of the Crusaders. The entire city is a pedestrian zone, as cars would not even fit through the narrow cobblestone streets. Instead, tourists and locals alike stroll through the streets and enjoy the decelerated feeling of Lindos. The city is interspersed with so-called “captain’s houses”, historic buildings, some of which date back to the 14th century. However, the sometimes quite steep path up to the Acropolis does not necessarily have to be covered on foot, as numerous donkey handlers offer the services of their animals at the foot of the hill. Once at the top of the Acropolis, visitors are offered an incomparable view of the picturesque Lindos and the hinterland of Rhodes, as well as the often deep blue Aegean Sea.
Faliraki – the party capital of Rhodes
To really let it rip on your holiday in Rhodes, it is best to go to the coastal town of Faliraki on the east coast of the island. In Faliraki there are countless bars, clubs and pubs that invite you to dance, party and drink every evening until the morning hours during the summer season. According to the party mile, Faliraki also attracts many younger holidaymakers.
But not only the nightlife in Faliraki is worth a visit, but the place is also home to one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island. This connects directly to the north of the former fishing village and today’s city center and slopes gently into the sea, which also makes it the ideal beach for families with children. Even further north is Anthony Quinn Bay, one of the most picturesque bays in Rhodes. In and around Faliraki there are numerous providers of water sports, so that no wish remains unfulfilled in this area.
The WaterPark adventure pool is equipped with water slides and a wave pool, which provides fun and action. Not far away is the historic city of Rhodes, which offers other attractions and is ideal for day trips. The city of Rhodes is about 15 kilometers away and can be easily reached by bus. Thus, you can experience diversity and explore the historic old town of Rhodes in peace.
Fun and action in the city of Faliraki!
The town of Faliraki is very busy during the summer months and offers guests an unforgettable time. While the morning and morning time in Faliraki tends to be accompanied by a quiet atmosphere, the city comes alive from the afternoon onwards. In the various beach bars you can experience the good atmosphere with entertaining music, in restaurants you can see real delicacies on the plates. In the evening, the various discotheques and bars are particularly popular to spend convivial hours with your friends and make new acquaintances. Faliraki, as a lively city, does not even allow boredom to arise among the guests. In addition to the numerous restaurants, the beautiful beach is also completely convincing. If you want to relax and long for a quiet sunbath, you will certainly feel at home on the well-kept sandy beach. On the beach, you can enjoy sunbathing to recharge your body’s energy and recharge your batteries. Lovers of water sports also get their money’s worth in Faliraki. In Faliraki there is the opportunity to actively move on the wakeboard and on the water skis and thus prove your sportiness.
Beautiful accommodations for high demands!
Over time, Faliraki has developed into a true tourism hotspot. Here you will find great hotels in different star categories to meet the different demands of the guests. The hotels impress with great service and good facilities to make your beach holiday a positive experience. Many hotels are in a very good location, from which you can reach the beach in no time. Families are also welcome in the numerous family hotels. In the family hotels there is a great offer for young and old, so that every age group can experience a pleasant holiday.
Ialysos – seemingly endless beaches and exciting kitesurfing events
In the northwest of the island, not far from Rhodes Town, lies Ialysos, the second largest city on the island. About 12000 people are at home here, even if the number increases significantly every year in summer. Ialysos is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Rhodes and year after year thousands of visitors plunge into the turquoise blue waters. The town itself has a variety of shops and restaurants and thus offers everything you need on holiday. A special highlight in Ialysos are the annual kitesurfing events, as the perfect conditions for this sport prevail here. Visitors can also be introduced to the sport by one of the many kitesurfing instructors who offer their services here.
Asklipio – original Rhodes
In the interior of Rhodes lies the picturesque village of Asklipio. With its just 300 inhabitants, it is quite manageable, but nevertheless a worthwhile destination for culturally interested holidaymakers in Rhodes. Visitors can not only get to know an original Greek way of life, which has so far been largely spared from tourism, but also discover numerous ancient buildings. First and foremost is the church Kimissis tis Theotokou directly on the village square, which was built as early as the 11th century. Above the village is the ancient fortress of Asklipio, of which only ruins can be visited today. After a visit to the historical sites, the best thing to do is to relax with a typical Greek coffee in the town or in the rustic tavern directly on the village square.
The most beautiful beaches of Rhodes
Rhodes offers very different beaches for all tastes. There are light, fine sandy beaches, small bays or wide pebble beaches. Many of them have been awarded the blue flag for excellent water quality and clean coasts. In 2018, 25 of these coveted awards were presented in Rhodes. One of the most beautiful beaches is located below the monastery of the same name, about 30 km from the capital – Tsambika Beach.
With its crystal-clear water and gently sloping shore, it is also very suitable for families with small children and is popular with locals and holidaymakers alike. Due to this popularity, however, you have to be prepared not to be alone here. However, there are other beautiful beaches where there is enough space even during the high season. On the east side of the island, south of Lindos and on the west side below the airport, there are miles of pebble beaches, which are really deserted at some distance from the large hotels. The beaches of Afandou, Traganou and Kolymbia can also be recommended without reservation. If you value a wide range of water sports, bars, cafés and restaurants, you will find these facilities in Faliraki, Ialysos and Ixia, for example.
A very special experience is a trip to the southern tip of the island, to Prasonisi. Due to the constantly blowing strong wind, this is the absolute surf and kite hotspot. It is a unique experience to watch these athletes perform their daring manoeuvres and jumps. For swimming, you can choose between the beaches on the “wave side” and the shore side with calm sea.
Lindos, the white village
High above the small village of Lindos is the Acropolis, which is one of the most visited sights in all of Greece. The place is car-free and so you can stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets and look for souvenirs in the small shops. Afterwards, you can sit down for refreshment in one of the magnificent courtyards with the artistic pebble mosaics or on one of the many roof terraces. A visit to Lindos is definitely part of a Rhodes holiday.
Other attractions in Rhodes
The Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) is a wooded area in the interior where millions of butterflies of a single species (called the Russian bear or spotted harlequin) have settled. The reason for this is the oriental sweet gum tree, which occurs exclusively here and attracts them with its scent. Although Petaloudes usually has a lot of visitors, the hike in this green idyll is an experience that you will certainly remember for a long time.
Not far away is another forest area with numerous springs, streams and small lakes. The highlight in this park called “7 Piges – 7 Springs” is the walk through an underground brick canal with ankle-deep, ice-cold water. The special thing about it is the absolute darkness in the shaft, which makes this undertaking a little adventure for children and adults.
Rhodes – in contrast to Crete – can easily be circumnavigated by car in one day. If you rent a car for three days, you have the opportunity to take a look at all the attractions of the island at your leisure and to make a swimming stop every now and then. During such a tour, however, you should definitely “venture” into the mountains of the island’s interior.
It is surprising that you will meet very few tourists here, because on these roads, which always allow wide views, you get a comprehensive impression of the magnificent landscape. Again and again you make surprising discoveries on the way: Suddenly there is a huge round water basin right next to the road, which was built as a swimming pool for Mussolini during the Italian occupation period, or you come across a hotel in Salakos that would fit better into the Alps in terms of architecture. Rhodes is far too good for a pure beach holiday and, with the exception of the months of July and August, when the thermometer often rises to 35° C, it is also an ideal destination for adventurous hikers and nature lovers.
Questions and Answers about Rhodes
- Do I need vaccinations for Rhodes?
- Special vaccinations are not required for Rhodes. However, it is recommended to keep the standard vaccinations up to date in accordance with the vaccination calendar of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO).
- How long is the flight from Germany to Rhodes?
- The flight time from Germany to Rhodes is usually between 3 and 4 hours, depending on the departure city in Germany and the exact flight connections.
- What passport do I need to enter Rhodes?
- Rhodes is part of Greece and thus part of the European Union. For EU citizens, a valid identity card or passport is sufficient. For non-EU citizens, the general entry requirements for Greece apply.
- Are there any requirements for customs in Rhodes?
- Since Rhodes is part of the EU, the usual customs regulations apply within the EU. For travellers from non-EU countries, EU import regulations apply.
- What payment methods can I use to pay in Rhodes?
- In Rhodes, payment is made in euros. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. However, it is advisable to have cash with you as well, especially in smaller towns or for smaller purchases.
- How much do you tip in Greece?
- In Greece, it is customary to tip 5-10% in restaurants, provided that the service was satisfactory. In cafes and bars, it is customary to round up the bill. Taxis are also often rounded up.
- How much do common foods cost in Rhodes?
- Food prices in Rhodes can vary depending on the location and business. In general, prices in supermarkets are cheaper than in tourist areas. Fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and local products are often inexpensive. In restaurants, prices vary depending on the location and type of restaurant, but are usually cheaper than in many other European holiday destinations.
Important Information for the flight from Germany to Rhodes
- Flight duration: The average flight time from Germany to Rhodes is about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the departure airport in Germany.
- Direct flights and stopovers: There are direct flights from various German cities to Rhodes, especially during the holiday season. Outside the high season, flights with stopovers could be offered.
- Airports in Germany: Many major airports in Germany offer flights to Rhodes, including Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Stuttgart.
- Destination airport in Rhodes: Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras” is the main airport on the island and is located about 14 km southwest of the city of Rhodes.
- Entry requirements: As an EU citizen, you need a valid identity card or passport to enter Rhodes. For non-EU citizens, the general entry requirements for Greece apply.
Cheap flights at
Holidays in Rhodes
- New Year’s Day (Protochronia): January 1
- Epiphany (Theophania): January 6
- Purification of Mary (Ypapanti): February 2
- Independence Day: March 25
- Good Friday (Megali Paraskevi): Date varies (Easter according to the Julian calendar)
- Easter Sunday (Kyriaki tou Pasha): Date varies
- Easter Monday (Deutera tou Pascha): Date varies
- Labour Day (Protomagia): 1 May
- Assumption Day (Kimisis tis Theotokou): 15 August
- Ochi Day: October 28
- Christmas (Christougenna): December 25
- Boxing Day (Synaxis tis Theotokou): December 26
The climate in Rhodes
| Month | Average temperature (°C) | Rainy days | Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12 | 11 | 148 |
| February | 12 | 9 | 105 |
| March | 14 | 6 | 75 |
| April | 17 | 3 | 30 |
| May | 21 | 1 | 15 |
| June | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| July | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| August | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 25 | 1 | 5 |
| October | 21 | 4 | 65 |
| November | 17 | 6 | 88 |
| December | 13 | 10 | 145 |
