Rhodes travel guide

Rhodes - the charming one

When you think of the island of Rhodes, the first thing that comes to mind is the 30 metre high statue, which was one of the seven wonders of the world in ancient times. An earthquake in the 3rd century caused the colossus to collapse - it is still unclear whether the statue really stood in the Mandraki harbour of Rhodes Town. Nevertheless, not only the island's capital, but the entire Dodecanese island is worth a visit. The Acropolis of Lindos, the Butterfly Valley, the beach at Tsambiki: On the island, which lies just 10 kilometres off the Turkish mainland, significant archaeological sites and breathtaking natural landscapes are waiting to be discovered. The island, which borders the Aegean Sea to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east, has something to offer every type of holidaymaker - from water sports enthusiasts to hikers and beach holidaymakers!

Rhodes, Rodes or Ρόδος - all these names for the island - and its capital - have long been translated as "rose". However, the name actually has its origins in ancient mythology: according to Diodorus Siculus, Rhode was the daughter of the sea god Poseidon and Halia and the wife of the island's most important god, Helios. She was one of the sea nymphs who are sometimes depicted riding through the sea on the backs of hippocampi, ketea and dolphins. Among other things, the rose is the emblem of the god Helios, to whom the Colossus of Rhodes is dedicated.

Weather and climate

Anyone planning a holiday on the southernmost of the Greek islands should expect plenty of sunshine, as Rhodes is one of the sunniest regions in Europe. On average, the sun shines more than seven hours a day on the Dodecanese island. In July, there are even up to 13 hours of sunshine. This makes the sunny summer months, when the temperature rarely drops below 23°C, the best time to travel to the island. With the exception of the west coast, where temperatures are always somewhat more moderate due to the winds, temperatures on Rhodes can exceed 34°C and even 40°C in some places. Due to the Mediterranean climate, the island remains very warm at night, with average temperatures of 21°C.

The water temperatures also match the midsummer weather conditions: off the coast of Rhodes, beach and bathing holidaymakers as well as water sports enthusiasts can expect an average of 20°C from June to November. Temperatures only drop slightly towards the end of October. Nevertheless, you can still expect a summery 26°C well into the autumn. There is virtually no rain from May to October. Rainfall only occurs in the winter months, with almost a fifth of the annual rainfall falling in January alone. From December to February, the rainfall is spread over nine to ten rainy days at 15 - 20°C. Water temperatures are still around 15°C,

Flora and fauna

In spring, the rose island of Rhodes transforms into a small plant paradise, delighting visitors with a sea of flowers consisting of poppies, daisies, broom, cyclamen and peonies. Boucavillia, ibiscus and oleander also play their part in Rhodes' floral splendour. Observant hikers will discover wild herbs that are native to the island - including oregano, sage, mint, saffron and thyme.

Almost all year round, you can also see the large plantations where fruit and vegetables are grown - aubergines, tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes are harvested twice a year due to the favourable climatic conditions. Figs, melons and citrus fruits are also available on the island almost all year round. This is why they characterise Rhodian cuisine as much as herbs, fruit and olive oil, which is obtained from the olive trees that are grown extensively on the island. Viticulture is also important: wine also grows almost everywhere on the island, especially around Embona and on the slopes of Attavrios.

Thanks to the many flowering plants on Rhodes, there are many bees on the island. Beekeeping plays a major role on the island and produces many different, very flavourful types of honey. Apart from this, there are many wild herds of sheep and goats on the island, which hikers will encounter, especially in the south of the island. Roe deer and stags, partridges and pheasants, rabbits, weasels, martens and foxes, which are also typical in northern Europe, live in the wild.

Some areas, such as Archangelos and Laerma, are also home to wild boar. More typical of the Mediterranean island are the many lizards, amphibians and insects, especially butterflies. In summer, the rare butterfly species Panaxia quadripunctaria, better known as the "Spanish flag", can be found in the famous butterfly valley to reproduce.

World Heritage Site in Rhodes Town

Rhodes Town is located in the north of the island and is particularly worth a visit for its old town surrounded by mighty city walls, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. But apart from the 4 km long medieval city wall and the 2.5 km long moat, there is much more to discover in the island's capital that tells the story of the island's eventful history. We present the highlights that are most worth seeing:

Historic old town:

The old town of Rhodes, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, should not be missed on your trip. Divided into the Collachium, the Turkish quarter and the Jewish quarter, there is so much to discover in the historic old town that you should definitely decide in advance what you want to see - and what you can do without. While you can stroll through the shops and souvenir shops in the main streets or watch the hustle and bustle of city life in cafés and restaurants under old plane trees, there are plenty of sights to discover.

The old town of Rhodes still presents itself as it did in medieval times - as you can best see on the Street of the Knights. You should also visit the Temple of Aphrodite, Platia Mouseiou, the Clock Tower, the reconstructed Grand Master's Palace, the Church of Agios Fanourios, Platia Ippokratou, the city walls and the Gate of St Mary. There are also several Byzantine churches and Ottoman-era mosques. Take your time and drift through the streets of Socrates and the many surrounding alleyways to complete the picture of the old town!

Street of the Knights and Grand Master's Palace:

Knights' Lane, or Odós Ippotón in Greek, is one of the highlights of Rhodes Old Town. It leads up to the Grand Master's Palace and has remained unchanged for centuries, with no modern cafés, shops or tavernas. Walking up the street, you get the feeling of being transported back to the Middle Ages. Once at the top, the impressive Gothic-style castle, which was the official residence of the Grand Masters of the Order of St John, awaits. It also served as a prison and powder magazine. After the Grand Master's Palace was destroyed in an explosion, it was rebuilt from scratch under Italian rule, so that today's castle is a replica of the original. You can visit the castle every day from 8am to 8pm in summer and from 8am to 3pm in winter.

Mandraki:

Mandraki is the name for the ancient war harbour of Rhodes Town, but also for the lively district bordering the coast. Many visitors come to the harbour to see some of the city's most important sights - the Deer Cow statue, the windmills and St Nicholas' Fortress. You will learn to appreciate the lively harbour atmosphere, where there is always something going on. If you don't take a boat from here for a day trip, you can stroll into the city centre, shop in the shops or eat in the cafés and restaurants. The Néa Agorá is also located here, a striking building with seven corners, in the interior of which you can still admire the relief of the fish market hall. There are several cafés around the building where you can watch the bustling harbour atmosphere late into the night.

Places of interest on Rhodes

Acropolis of Lindos

The Acropolis of Lindos is located on the east coast of the island, around 50 kilometres from Rhodes Town. The complex, which is said to have been built as early as 800 BC, was extended during Greek and Roman antiquity with various vaults and cisterns, while the castle building and the castle church were built in Byzantine times. Today, many of the buildings can be visited on a tour.

St John's Castle of Monolithos

A tourist attraction on Rhodes is the castle of Monolithos, which towers on a rock above the sea a few kilometres outside the village of the same name. You can reach Monolithos, which is located on the southern tip, via the west coast road. Park your car in the village and walk the last 300 metres to the castle via a staircase.

Faliraki

A popular holiday resort on Rhodes is Faliraki - around 18 kilometres from Rhodes Town on the east coast of the island. Tourists are drawn to the region around Faliraki for the long, gently sloping sand and pebble beaches, the thermal baths of Kalithea, the Water Park or Antony Quinn Bay. As the town is only 20 minutes from the airport and is an ideal starting point for boat trips or ferries to Lindos, Faliraki has many hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs as well as small shops.

Valley of the seven springs

The Valley of the Seven Springs - Epta Piges in Greek - is one of the excursions you should definitely make during your Rhodes holiday. Near the village of Kolymbia in the north of the island is a wooded area where seven springs join to form the River Loutanis. This flows into a waterfall in a reservoir that was created in 1930 as a drinking water reservoir. You can walk through the 185 metre long tunnel through ankle-high water to get to the other side, where you emerge into the open at the spring pond. However, swimming is not permitted in the pond as it is still a drinking water protection area. The valley is also special for another reason: the waters are home to rare fish species endemic to Rhodes, such as the Ghizani carp fish. If you're lucky, you might see free-range peacocks, geese and ducks cooling off in the water as you walk along a watercourse through the dense forest: