Rhodes, greece
Attractions Guide

Rhodes is the eastern-most Greek island and also one of the largest, located just south of Turkey near Symi and Kos Islands, hosting an array of ancient and medieval attractions.

The island of Rhodes's main city is also named Rhodes, in which you'll find a massive fortified medieval Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the city's tall imposing walls are intact and very well-preserved.

Some of the most impressive gates to the Old Town include the Gate of Amboise and the Marina Gate. The walls also contain many striking fortifications and bastions you can explore, such as the St. Georges Bastion on the northwestern side of the walls.

It's possible to walk along the trail where the castle-like fortification's Moat once was, starting from the Pirgos Agios Pavlou tower (near Mandraki and the Freedom Gate) and walking counter-clockwise to Gate Karretou. This trail includes gardens, cannonballs, and incredible views, with a one-way distance of about 1.4 miles (2.3 km). Along the trail are several passageways connecting to the Old Town that you might like to also explore.

Old Town Rhodes's top attraction is the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a huge castle-like palace. This imposing gothic structure was originally built in the 7th century and features intricate ancient mosaics and historic interiors. On certain days during the week you can gain access to walk atop the city's walls near the palace.

Be sure to wander around and explore the streets of the Old Town, where you'll see many historic structures such as the impressive Medieval Roloi Clock Tower. Another must-see attraction here is the castle-like Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, which contains a remarkable collection of ancient and medieval artifacts from Rhodes and surrounding islands.

Just north of Rhodes's Old Town you can walk along the ancient harbor wall, where you'll find three beautiful traditional Rhodes Windmills. At the end of the pier you can admire the medieval Fort of St. Nicholas.

The very end of the harbor wall is where one of the seven wonders of the ancient world was though to have stood, the Colossus of Rhodes. This massive bronze statue stood over 100 feet tall (30 m) at the entrance to the ancient port of Rhodes over 2,200 years ago.

In the town of Lindos you'll find the awe-inspiring Lindos Acropolis, an ancient hilltop citadel used by many different cultures over thousands of years including the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. This giant fortification sits atop a hill high above the coast, surrounded by beautiful white houses and buildings.

Within the Acropolis you'll find many ancient and medieval structures, the most impressive being the partially-standing ancient Greek columned structures. From atop you can also take in breathtaking panoramic views over the extremely scenic landscape and coastline around Lindos.

Be sure to see the sandy Lindos Beach with its clear green waters and incredible views of the Acropolis. On the other side of the Acropolis is the gorgeous St. Paul's Bay, which has two tiny beaches and is also very scenic, hosting views of the backside of the Acropolis.

Another amazing beach you might like to visit is at Anthony Quinn Bay, with its clear vivid green and blue waters surrounded by a scenic bay. The bay is located just south of Rhodes City and north of Lindos, along the eastern coast of the island.

Anthony Quinn Bay can also be reached via a bus that runs a few times a day from Rhodes, requiring a short walk of approximately 0.4 miles (0.6 km) each way from the bus stop.

On the western side of Rhodes you might like to visit the ancient Greek ruins of Kameiros. This remarkable ancient Greek city was destroyed by earthquakes long ago. From the ancient ruins you can also take in striking views over the ocean. You can reach this remarkable site directly from Rhodes via a bus that runs a few times a day.

Castle of Monolithos (Car/Motorbike Only)

You can continue beyond Kameiros to the Castle of Monolithos if you like. This 15th century ruined hilltop castle offers extraordinary views over the coast, accessible via a short steep hike. The castle is located near the island's westernmost point.

From Rhodes City you can take the ferry to the small nearby island of Halki (Chalki), where you'll find the ruins of an incredible Medieval Castle atop a steep hill, surrounded by fortified walls. The castle ruins are an excellent place to explore. From the castle you're rewarded with brilliant panoramic views stretching to neighboring islands. The hilltop around the walls of this castle is covered with rugged rocks and an impressive ruined medieval village.

If you'd rather relax at the beach, you might visit the beautiful Ftenagia Beach, just south of the harbor bay.