Things to do

Things to See in Rhodes

The Modern City of Rhodes: The modern city of Rhodes consists of the historical downtown - which is also its administrative, cultural and commercial centre - and the suburban quarters. Many of the city's historical buildings, often housing the local and regional authorities and agencies, also play host to numerous cultural events throughout the year. The city offers visitors a rich market with in-numerous opportunities for the purchase of both local products and designer brands by Greek and international firms, echoing the latest trends in fashion, at attractive prices.

The Medieval Town: The figures of the maidens, Caryatids, support in the roof of the the southern balcony of the temple are copies. Five of the six Maidens that once adorned the temple are displayed in the Acropolis Museum, while the sixth is displayed in the British Museum. The earlier Byzantine city was extended and the walls fortified by the Knights of Saint John in the 14th and 15 centuries, creating the medieval city of Rhodes we see today. Eleven gates lead to the interior which is in turn, divided into two sectors: the "Collachium", where the Knights loved and where the most important Knights'' houses are still to be found, and the "Burgh", the main city. Rhodes soon rose to become the capital city of an independent state, minting its own currency and developing standalone financial activities. Researchers of that particular period are unanimous on the realisation that thanks to reciprocal compromises and a flexible attitude, Hellenes, Crusaders and their descendants from as manu as eight different areas in Europe managed to dwell in this city in perfect harmony for more than 200 years. Rather than religious, linguistic or national fusion, what this cohabitation yielded was genuine cultural and social progress. The "Old Town", as the local referred to it, is currently one of the best preserved fortified medieval towns in the world, hence its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Network. Wandering through the maze of its cobblestone paved streets, revealing at the sight of the majestic knightly residences and public buildings, admiring the genius behind the masterfully built fortifications, the moat, the bastions and barbicans, the byzantine Christian shrines and the mosques, the squares, the house gardens and courtyards, the visitor enters a time capsule, gently sliding back in times gone by and that in a settlement that remains very much alive, bustling with activity, ready to surprise you, yours to discover... The Palace of the Grand Master - admittedly the most imposing of all edifices in the Old Town - used to host the headquarters of the Master of the Knightly Order of St. John whilst also serving the purpose of a fortified stronghold. Built in the 14th century on the remains of a byzantine for, the two-storey complex has been arranged around a square inner courtyard. A considerable part of the Palace was destroyed during the Ottoman years and ruined it stood until the 30s, when architects from Italy were commissioned to restore it to its actual splendour.

Hippocrates Square: Located in the Old town, at the end of Socrates Street, the main shopping thoroughfare of the Old Town, lies Hippocrates Square. Around the Square are many bars, restaurants and night-clubs.

Saint Stephen's Hill: Known locally as Monte Smith, Saint Stephen's hill marks the site of the acropolis of ancient Rhodes. The green and beautifully laid out archaeological park contains the Hellenistic stadium, built in the 3rd century BC, where the athletic events of the Alioi Games took place. These were a part of the major festival of the ancient Rhodians held in honour of the sun god Helios. Next to the stadium is the small restored Roman Odeon. Just as in ancient times, events are still staged here today. On the summit of the acropolis stands the temple of Pythion Apollo, the patron deity of the city. From here the panoramic view of the city and the sea as well as the beautiful sunset are just breathtaking.

Ialysos: Ialysos (also known as Trianda), the birthplace of many Olympic medallists, featuring magical sunsets and an incredible tourist infrastructure, a cradle of civilisation, a place of worship, sports and entertainment, was one of the three famous ancient cities of Rhodes. The first people having settled here were the Kares (a pre-Hellenic race), followed by the Phoenicians. This was the birthplace of Diagoras, the greatest Olympic champion of antiquity as well as of Timokreon, the celebrated poet. The area of the verdant hill Filerimos hosts the ruins of Ancient Ialysos - amongst them, what remains of the ancient Greek temple of Athena Polias. During the Byzantine Era, the hill was used as a natural fortress. A monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built here in the 13th century. During the rule of the Knights, the monastery passed into the hands of Catholic monks who expanded its facilities and lent the area great prestige. Today's visitors may see the ruins of the ancient acropolis and monastery in their restored version of the interwar period, upon an initiative of the Italian government at the time the island was under Italian rule. The visitor's steps follow the path of the Passion, with stations along the cypress-clad tail to bring to mind the Passion of Christ during his ascent to the Calvary.

Lindos: The ancient city-state of Lindos experienced great naval and cultural prosperity. Home of the savant ruler Cleobulus, it was admired for its wealth, beauty and strategic position. Lindos has been home to great artists, such as Chares, designer and sculptor of the Colossus of Rhodes, Lysippus, Pythokritos son of Timocharios, who along with Athinodoros and Agisandros created the Nike of Samothrace and the Laocoon Group, as well as the historiographer Evagoras of Lindos. Upon reaching Lindos, one may admire the panorama of the village from afar, but the view is equally captivating from the sea, reserved to those visiting Lindos on a day cruise setting our from Mandraki harbour of Rhodes. The traditional village, with its whitewashed houses, the mansions of the ship masters, its Byzantine churches and cobblestone streets, lies at the foot of the Acropolis. Following the path through the village or hiring a donkey from the square, one may ascend all the way up to the ancient citadel. Visitors may enjoy the blue sea at the beach of Lindos, which also features facilities for water sports or at the bay of Apostle Paul. Finally, its numerous stores restaurants and clubs cater to the needs of even the most discerning visitors. Be sure to take a visit to the Acropolis of Lindos which rises imposing on a 116m cliff, surrounded by powerful walls, like a podium overlooking the sea. At its top stand the ruins of the temple of Athena Lindia of the 4th century BC, the Propylaea, the great Hellenistic Stoa and the Byzantine church of St. John.

Kamiros: Kamiros was one of thethree great ancient cities of Rhodes that reached its hey day in the 6th and 5th century BC, thanks to its developed agricultural economy. The ruins of the city and neighbouring necropolis were uncovered in 1859 in what had over the centuries become a wooden area. Its grand public buildings, the Agora, temples, private residences and the Acropolis at the hilltop witness the glamour and wealth of ancient Kamiros. In the aftermath of the foundation of the City of Rhodes in 408 BC, Kamiros started to decline. It is a very important archaeological site, as the ancient village is preserved in excellent condition. The remains of the enclosure and the pavilion of a temple of the goddess Athena Kamirada were found in the acropolis of Kamiros. Important findings from the area now adorn the collections of the British Museum and the Lourve, while only a few, such as the famous headstone of Krito and timarista, from the end of the 5th century BC, are found in the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes.

Kalithea: At the bay of Kallithea, the Italian spa complex, the exotic vegetation and the sea create a cinematic backdrop. Refurbished and tastefully restored, its facilities are open to the public.

The Valley of ht eButterflies: The Valley of the Butterflies is a unique habitat of rare natural beauty and unequaled ecological value for the butterflies of the phylum Panaxia Quadripunctaria is an extremely popular destination for thousands of holidaymakers on the island of Rhodes. It boasts of a natural environment of unequaled beauty composed by lush vegetation and an adorable made of gargling streams along the masterfully designed pathways throughout the area that visitors take to visit this site.