Rhodes Island

Rhodes is a large Greek island in the Dodecanese group in the eastern Aegean Sea, and one of Greece’s most visited islands. The city of Rhodes is famous for its well-preserved medieval Old Town and long tourism history.

The fortified Rhodes Old Town presents a dense complex of medieval streets, the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights, forming a principal cultural attraction. The Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains monuments from the medieval and later Ottoman periods.

Beyond the capital, popular sights include the whitewashed village and Lindos Acropolis, coastal beaches with clear Aegean waters, and inland villages offering local cuisine and traditional architecture. The island combines archaeological sites, medieval architecture and beach resorts within short distances.

Rhodes has been inhabited since antiquity and developed major urban centres in classical and Hellenistic times. The medieval fabric of Rhodes Old Town was shaped by the Knights Hospitaller from the 14th century onward, and the island later saw Venetian and Ottoman control before integration into modern Greece.

Rhodes lies in the eastern Aegean Sea off the southwestern coast of Turkey and is part of Greece’s South Aegean administrative region. The island’s main transport hubs are Rhodes Town (international ferry and airport) and small ports serving other Dodecanese islands.

• Best time to visit: The medieval Old Town is best visited early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday cruise-ship crowds; shoulder seasons April-June and September-October offer milder weather and fewer tourists.
• Planning tip: Combine cultural visits to the Old Town and Lindos with coastal beaches along the east and south coasts for a full island itinerary.

What to See#

• Rhodes Old Town: A fortified medieval town whose walled Old Town and street plan date mainly to the Knights Hospitaller and later Ottoman periods; designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Lindos Acropolis: A clifftop Classical and Hellenistic acropolis above a coastal settlement, with remains of an ancient theatre and Hellenistic structures.
• Valley of the Butterflies: A heavily forested valley on the western part of the island that attracts seasonal butterfly concentrations (especially Panaxia quadripunctaria).

The largest of the Dodecanese - a sun-drenched Greek island with a magnificent medieval walled city built by the Knights, alongside ancient ruins and superb beaches.

Why go / don’t miss: the UNESCO medieval Old Town of Rhodes (the Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of the Knights), the ancient Acropolis of Lindos and its whitewashed village, the beaches, the Valley of the Butterflies, and Kamiros.

Areas: the walled Rhodes Old Town and the modern town; and Lindos down the coast.

Getting around: buses, taxis and a car/scooter to circle the island.

When to go: May - Jun and Sep - Oct are ideal; summer is hot and busy.

Where to stay: the Old Town for history, or a beach resort.

Dining: Dodecanese fare - seafood, pitaroudia chickpea fritters, and souma spirit.

Local tips: the medieval Old Town is one of Europe’s finest, climb to the Lindos acropolis, and it’s sunny well into autumn.

Rhodes is served by Rhodes International (Diagoras) Airport (RHO); the airport is about 14 km from Rhodes Town and is connected to the town and other parts of the island by regular buses and taxis. Ferries also connect Rhodes with the Greek mainland and other Dodecanese islands (Rhodes port is in Rhodes Town), and rental cars are a common way to explore the island.

• Enter Rhodes Old Town early in the morning, before cruise ships and day‑tour groups arrive, to enjoy the Medieval streets with far fewer crowds.
• For Lindos, use the public KTEL buses from Rhodes Town and arrive early or late afternoon to avoid the large day‑trip coach groups; visiting outside the midday heat gives better light and quieter terraces.
• Venture inland to the mountain village of Embonas for local wine and traditional tavernas-this offers a markedly quieter, more local side of the island than the busy coastal resorts.