by With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Rhodes, fittingly, pays tribute to the Greek sun god Helios. Beyond the many beaches, there are historical drawcards such as the ancient Acropolis of Lindos and Europe’s best-preserved and most vibrant medieval city. On the north-east coast, a trip to a hilltop monastery rewards you with a stunning seascape. There are many domestic offers: from a remote traditional village whose women’s cooperative is still faithful to old recipes, to a young vintner quietly spreading the word about wine produced with the island’s lesser-known grape varieties. Meanwhile, the windswept west coast is a walker’s dream.
For more Rhodes inspiration, check out our guides to the best hotels, restaurants, nightlife and beaches.
Find things to do by area
Rhodes Town
Experience the medieval town with an expert
Eat all the guidebooks you want but consider hiring a licensed resident guide to introduce you to this living, breathing Unesco World Heritage-listed medieval town. The archeologist-guide Portokalenia Vratsali will passionately refresh you with the finer details of the highlights such as the Grand Master’s Palace, the 11th century Church of Our Lady of the Castle and the Jewish Museum of Rhodes.
Insider tip: The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, meticulously documented by Portokalenia, is a must-visit. Walking with her down Knight Street to the museum, you will catch yourself turning around, expecting a rider on horseback to clip around the cobblestones any minute.
Contact: odysseus.culture.gr
Price: £-££
North East Coast
Pay homage to a miraculous icon
The Rhodians greatly respect the local Virgin Mary, Panagia Tsambika. Hike faithful Orthodox 300 steps to reach Panagia Tsambika monastery and its church on top of a high peak. At a newer monastery nearby, women hang votives around the icon of the Virgin, believing it has miracle-working power to bring them fertility. A common first name on Rhodes is Tsambika or Tsambikos.
Insider tip: Take in breathtakingly beautiful views of the expansive Tsambika beach and its ultramarine waters from the original monastery; on a clear day, Lindos is visible. Bring water for the trek, which is easier than it sounds because the stairs are flat.
Contact: New Abbey, 00 30 22440 22340
Opening times: Original monastery, all day; new monastery, every day, 8am-8pm
Price: Free
North Rhodes
Moth spot like a butterfly
Glenna Feileacán is interesting for young people. Walk the mile-long path through the forest alongside a lake up to the Kalopetra Monastery. Keep an eye out for the well-camouflaged Panaxia Quadripunctaria, a species of tiger moth. The golden silence, especially during the breeding season from May to September, is the only period in which you can see the elusive creature.
Insider tip: It is worth visiting at other times of the year, especially on a warm day. Start at the foot of the trail and walk up to the on-site Natural History Museum, where children can poke past a moth hatchery.
Contact: rhode butterflies.gr
Price: £
Drink from natural springs
Epta pigs it makes a diversion that children, in particular, will find fun. The name refers to seven wells that flow from the Loutani River through thick woodlands down a lake and feed a man-made lake, originally created to supply water to nearby Colombia. Take off your shoes and walk through the narrow tunnel through which the water runs.
Insider tip: Cool off under the artificial waterfall and then head up to the springs, where a wooden bridge connects the banks of a gully, to quench your thirst. While there, stop at the pub (run by the Petas family since 1945) for chargrilled goat chops.
Contact: 7 spring.gr
Opening times: The whole day
Price: Free
Taste some refined island wine
Young philosopher Jason Zafeirakopoulos brings a gentle enthusiasm to the white, red and semi-sweet wines produced by his family at the small-scale Anastasia Triantafyllou Estate, located near the Butterfly Valley. A Rhodian representative of a new generation of Greek wine connoisseurs, he conducts small group wine tastings on a sunny patio overlooking rows of sun-kissed vines.
Insider tip: Pick up a bottle of Mandilari, an intense tannin-rich red color produced with a local native grape Mandilaria, which has tart cherry and blackcurrant flavors and ages gently. You won’t find Triantafylou wines anywhere else, so they make a great gift.
Contact: estateanastasia.com
Opening times: Wine tasting must be booked in advance
Price: £-££
A sample of traditional Rhodian sweets
Make your way to the traditional village of Apollona, thought to be named after Apollo, the mythological god of light. At the Apollona Women’s Agritourism Cooperative you will find melekouni (Rhodian sesame and sweet honey originally reserved for weddings), and other treats. Lunch on farm-to-fork fare at Paraga and then drop into Piperis winery for a bottle of Athlos ruby red; it is a revelation.
Insider tip: You might come across the beautiful women in the cooperative making a batch of melekouni or a loaf of holy bread, called prosforo, for the church. Grab a bag of carrot crisp or orange colourakia (cookies), best enjoyed with coffee. You can also pick up items from the cooperative at the Apolloniatisses store in Rhodes Town (68 Apostolou Pavlou Steet).
Contact: Co-operative, 00 30 22460 91284; Shop, 00 30 22410 64322
Opening times: Co-operative, Monday to Saturday, 8.30am-6pm. Shop, Mon-Fri, 8.30am-2pm; Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 5pm-8pm; Saturday, 9am-2pm
Picnic in the mountains
Take a refreshing inland drive through pine and fir forests towards Profitis Ilias, the third highest mountain in Rhodes. Stop first at a fountain where you can see gizani, a tiny species of fish found only in Rhodes. On Eleousa’s village square, walk carefully through an abandoned Italianate building that is inhabited. Drive a little further to marvel at the deteriorating Byzantine frescoes in the minuscule 15th-century church of Agios Nikolaos Foundoukli.
Insider tip: The temperature can be a good five degrees lower here. Pack a picnic and spread it out on one of the tables in front of the church under the hundreds of year old plane trees. The hinterland views are restorative for the soul. There is even a playground.
South East Coast
Ancient wonder witness
Perched on top of cliffs 116-meters high above the town of Lindos, the Acropolis of Lindos is the most impressive archaeological site in Rhodes. The presence of the ancients is evident as you walk around the fourth-century Temple of Athena Lindia, the Propylaea and the Hellenistic Stoa. A dramatic view of two natural bays from above shows why the Knights converted the sanctuary into a fortress.
Insider tip: In summer, visit after 2pm when cruise ship passengers have left the site. It’s a substantial walk but it’s best not to leave a donkey ride to the entrance. Afterwards, pop into Gelo Blu for artisanal gelato made with fresh fruit.
Contact: odysseus.culture.gr
Price: £
the west coast
Catch the sunset on top of the castle ruins
Clamber beneath the wind-sculpted rocks and sparse remains of Monolithos Castle, a once-mighty outpost built by Grand Master d’Aubusson in 1476. Only part of the fortress’s outer walls are still standing but the spectacular views are worth the trip. the Aegean, the island of Halki and Mount Akramytis. There is a small white church dedicated to Saint Panteleimon.
Insider tip: Spend the day swimming at Fourni beach, below Monolithos village, before crossing up to the castle to witness a sublime sunset. Some say the name refers to a mysterious black monolith brought by the Knights from the Holy Land and buried there.
Download the wild west of the island
Few venture to the rugged west coast. Rhode Trip specializes in hiking tours and offers an easy full-day guided tour from the traditional village of Kritinia through peaceful pine-studded forests down to the pebble beach of Glyfada. You will enjoy panoramic views and learn about the island’s rich flora and fauna, including the fallow deer. Lunch at a seaside pub includes a local chickpea dish, Pitarudia.
Insider tip: Tour guides Vasilis and Alex enthusiastically share an in-depth knowledge of their native Rhodes and are happy to organize tailor-made private tours for families and groups of friends. These can range from one day to several days, with varying levels of difficulty.
Contact: rhodetrip.gr
Price: ££
How we choose
Every thing and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to give you their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.
