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Venice, Italy

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Rhodes, Greece

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Rhodes, Greece

Named the sun island or island of light, there are few days when the sun doesn't shine. With the natural beauty of the island and the monuments from her long and often turbulent history, Rhodes offers a plethora of leisure alternatives. Visit Lindos, the most impressive archaeological site on Rhodes, and the temples to the gods. Relax on one of many wonderful, long stretches of beach. Tour the picturesque villages, orange, lemon and olive groves and the vineyards.

Average temperature in September is mid 80’s for highs, and high 60’s for lows.

Below is a short overview of Rhodes, Greece. For more detailed information click on the link below which includes the history of Rhodes, maps and photos of some of he most famous places you may want to visit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes,_Greece

General Information

Rhodes is the principal city of the Greek island of Rhodes in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Rhodes has been famous since antiquity as the site of a bronze statue, the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Erected between 292 and 280 BC the Colossus stood 107 ft. high. It was destroyed when Rhodes was hit by an earthquake in 226 BC. This event marked the end of Rhodes grandeur due to the frequent invasions by the Turks and Arabs. The Turks reigned for a long time until in our contemporary age, the Italians settled there occupying it up to the end of the war renovating and connecting the main cities. Since 1948 Rhodes has belonged to Greece. The city is divided into two separate parts. The northern part is modern and devoted to new tourist structures; the southern part is clearly medieval. In the medieval city there are many remains of all the historical periods of the island. Rhodes history is full of legends and myths. It is one of the most important islands in the Mediterranean.

Rhodes is truly a vacation destination with something for everyone: sunshine, spectacular beaches on the Aegean Sea, a medieval walled fortress city, and much more. Lindos, 31 miles from Rhodes, is the most beautiful village in the island, with its narrow alleys and white houses. The majority of these houses preserved the external decorations dating back to the 15th century. The village is dominated by the Acropolis that was built on top of a hill.

Place to Visit 

Rhodes Town is divided to the new town and the old town from the big medieval wall. The beauty of Rhodes town is the old town with the medieval castles, houses and streets. The Medieval City was divided into three parts: the northern part included the Acropolis of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master while the southern part include Hora, were the commoners lived The 'New' Hospital houses the town's Archaeological Museum which is impressive not only because of the large number of relics but because the building itself is so monumental and has been the Archaeological museum since 1916. At the port the visitor will find Mandraki Harbor with its circular Market and the Cafes at the seafront. At the entrance of the port are the famous two columns with the two Deer’s at the place where supposed to be the Colossus of Rhodes. For a cleansing experience like no other, visit the Municipal Baths (Turkish baths) located in the old town.

The Acropolis of Lindos is the most beautiful of the three ancient cities on the island of Rhodes Lies on the north end of the island, overlooking the sea, around 30 miles from the port of Rhodes. The town of Lindos, with its typical white houses, ship-owners' mansions, Byzantine, churches, cobblestone narrow lanes, and mosaic courtyards lies at the foot of the rocky acropolis. The village retains a distinctly medieval feel. The ascent to the acropolis is still by the same steep road as in antiquity. At the top of the cliff which drops straight into the sea. The Lindos Castle is found and serves as an entrance point to the Acropolis and the temple of Athena with a marvelous view of the town and the bay. The fortification of Lindos by the Knights goes back to the 14th-15th c AD. On main Lindos beach or at the bay, you can relax in the azure sea or join the water sports.

Food and fun

Visit one of the many taverns and restaurants in Rhodes. Sample the Mezedes, a variety of small Greek dishes and appetizers that are often served with the anise-flavored local aperitif, ouzo. Dolmades, a popular selection, are vine leaves filled with lamb and rice, then fried in oil and served cold. Another traditional dish is Moussaka, made with potatoes, cheese, béchamel and eggplant. A bottle of Rhodian wine from one of the distinguished wineries on the island makes a perfect compliment. And, you can find the best olive oil, also known as liquid gold, as well as extraordinary honey, being sold out of private homes by local residents.  

Local Currency

The Euro (EUR), the currency of the European Union, is the official currency of Greece. Many stores and restaurants also accept major credit cards, which usually offer you a good exchange rate. When shopping, remember there is a Value-Added Tax added to most purchases.  

Costa offers group excursions. For those interested click on the link below and enter Eastern Mediterranean as destination, Greece as country and then Rhodes as port of call.

Excursions Finder