By air
Rhodes (RHO), ~15 km
Europe · Greece
Rhodes, Greece
A medieval old town and a knights' castle
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to October — the long season
Don't miss
The Palace of the Grand Master
The Street of the Knights
The Acropolis of Lindos
Anthony Quinn Bay
Things to do
The Old Town
The acropolis of Lindos
The beaches
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
St Paul's Bay below Lindos
Questions travellers ask
How long is the season on Rhodes?
It's a long one — May to October. Pack swimwear.
What should I explore on Rhodes?
The Old Town, the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights, then the Acropolis of Lindos and Anthony Quinn Bay.
What's a hidden gem on Rhodes?
St Paul's Bay, below Lindos.
What dish should I try on Rhodes?
Pitaroudia, which are chickpea fritters.
About Rhodes
- Island
Where it is
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece, in the south-eastern Aegean Sea about 18 km from the southern coast of Turkey, with its capital, Rhodes Town, on the island's northern tip.
History
In 408 BC the island's three cities, Lindos, Ialysos and Kameiros, joined to build the city of Rhodes. The Knights Hospitaller ruled from the early 14th century until Suleiman the Magnificent took the island in 1522, and after nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule and a period under Italy from 1912, Rhodes was united with Greece after the Second World War.
People
Rhodians speak Greek. Villages celebrate their saints' days with panigyria, festivals of music and dancing, and island specialities include melekouni, a sesame-and-honey sweet traditionally shared at weddings, and pitaroudia, chickpea fritters.
Known for
- The medieval Old Town and the Street of the Knights
- The Palace of the Grand Master
- The Acropolis of Lindos
- Anthony Quinn Bay
- The Valley of the Butterflies
Did you know?
The Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was toppled by an earthquake in 226 BC, only decades after it was completed.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.