Things to Do in Dodecanese

Running down from the hilltop citadel to the commercial port and crowned by the dramatic Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes, the historic Avenue of the Knights (or Ippoton) takes the prize for Rhodes’ most famous street. The noble heart of the Old Town of Rhodes, this was the street where the knights lived and held meetings, and it remains one of Europe’s best-preserved examples of a medieval street. 

Strolling the cobblestone thoroughfare effectively evokes the atmosphere of medieval Rhodes, with its narrow walkway cocooned by a wall of honey-colored stone buildings and monumental archways. Lining the 600-meter-long avenue are the Inns of the Tongues, the dining and meeting houses of the Knights, each divided by language, or ‘tongue’, according to their origins and signed with stone-carved codes of arms.

An important site in ancient Greece, the Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most important historical monuments on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands. Parts of the site were built more than 2,500 years ago, and this remarkably well-preserved ruin draws tourists from all over the world. 

The island of Rhodes has been inhabited for many thousands of years, and it played an important role in ancient Greek civilization. Among the historical sites on the island are the Acropolis of Lindos, 28 miles (45 kilometers) south of modern-day Rhodes city. Sitting on a hill above the town, the Acropolis showcases architectural elements from different historical eras. 

The ruined buildings that make up the site include the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, the gateway and monumental staircase of the former Sanctuary, and a covered colonnade (known as a stoa) that once measured 285 feet (87 meters) and contained 42 columns. Many visitors choose to take part in a guided tour to learn more about the historical context of the ruins. 

The Acropolis is on a hilltop outside the town of Lindos. Access is only possible from the town on foot (or via donkey ride), and the climb to the top is steep and strenuous. 

The Acropolis of Lindos is open year-round. From April 1-Oct. 31, opening hours are 8am-8pm, and from Nov. 1-March 31, opening hours are 8am-3pm. The midday sun can be scorching in Greece, so plan to visit early in the morning or later in the day if possible.

If a trip to the Acropolis leaves you with a taste for more history, head to the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes city. Built for the Knights of Rhodes in the 14th century, the fortified castle was a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval Catholic military order. In the 20th century, it was used by Mussolini as a summer residence before being turned into a museum. 

Who would have thought that a small, rocky bay hidden on the coast of Rhodes island would be the subject of a court case, but that’s exactly what happened in the 1990s, when the local government decided to revoke the rights of the bay’s namesake. Named in honor of actor Anthony Quinn, who fell in love with the secluded beach whilst filming the 1961 hit The Guns of Navarone in Rhodes, the bay was gifted to him in thanks for putting the island on the map. Later however, as Quinn progressed with plans to transform the space into an arts and film center, the ‘gift’ was taken away, causing friction between the actor and his beloved second home. 

Today, the bay still keeps its name and makes a popular spot for beachgoers, who can be found sprawled on deckchairs along the small, pebbled beach. With an expanse of shallow emerald green water framed by dramatic coastal rocks, this is one of the island’s most undeniably picturesque beaches, perfect for swimming, sunbathing or simply watching the sunset. The bay’s clear waters and rugged coastline also make it a great destination for snorkeling, with colorful reefs running along the rocks and waters teeming with fish. 

Waterpark Rhodes is the largest waterpark in Greece, covering more than 100,000 square meters. It offers a great selection of water slides for all ages, as well as traditional fair attractions, restaurants and snack bars. The park features five extreme slides: the Kamikaze, the Free Fall, the Turbo, the Space Bowl and the Twister. It also has several slides open to all ages, including the Boomerang, Rafting Slide, two Black Hole slides and the Crazy Cone Slide. Beyond the water slides, visitors can relax in the wave pool or enjoy funfair attractions like bumper cars and a giant wheel that stands 35 meters tall.

Mandraki Harbour has been in use since ancient times and was formerly the military port of Rhodes; it was protected from attack by gigantic chains across its narrow mouth and later by the impregnable bulk of the Fort of St Nicholas, built in 1467 and still watching over the marina. Over the centuries the harbor was also a successful and rich trading port but these days its role in Rhodes life is entirely peaceful; a fetching clutch of billionaires’ super-yachts bob in the marina alongside traditional fishing boats and a multitude of tour boats, which depart every day in summer to visit islands off the coast of Rhodes – including Symi and Nisyros – as well as ferrying visitors to local beaches and on diving trips.

The harbor mouth, reputedly bridged by the Colossus of Rhodes in classical times, is now guarded by bronze statues of Elafos and Elafina – the deer that symbolize the island – atop slender stone columns; little remains of Mandraki’s commercial past except three corn mills lined up along the breakwater, where merchant ships once offloaded grain. Nowadays the quays are packed with late-night bars and cafés and floating restaurants have taken the place of cargo ships; a new addition to the Mandraki landscape is the Nea Agora (New Market), built in ornate style by the Italians in the 1930s.

The island of Rhodes is teeming with colorful butterflies and each year thousands of the winged insects flutter along the coastline to the humid climate of Petaloudes Valley, earning it the evocative nickname of ‘Valley of the Butterflies’. The dramatic migration is undertaken at the start of the dry season (typically early May), during which time the valley becomes a kaleidoscope of fluttering wings, transforming its landscape of trees, waterfalls and foliage into a sea of butterflies. 

The Valley of the Butterflies is renowned as one of the island’s most breathtaking natural sights, notable for its vast variety of butterfly species, including a unusual subspecies of the Jersey Tiger Moth, unique to the island. Another unique feature of the valley are the native Oriental Sweetgum trees and Petaloudes boasts the only natural forest of the species in Europe. It’s the scent of these trees, along with the warm, sheltered climate, that is thought to draw the butterflies to the spot and they come in swarms during the last part of their life cycle. At this point, the adult creatures are ready to reproduce and can often be seen ‘sleeping’ to conserve their energy before leaving to lay their eggs elsewhere. 

This is a fragile time in the butterfly’s life so take care not to disturb them as you wander along the waterways, then head to the valley’s small museum, where a butterfly hatchery provides a fascinating insight into the romantic creatures. 

A minuscule cove wrapped in protective cliffs, St Paul’s Bay is reputedly the spot where the Apostle Paul first set foot on Rhodes to preach to the locals in AD 51. It is one of three beaches local to the whitewashed sugar-cube houses of Lindos; this most charming of Rhodes’ east coast resorts is overlooked by an ancient acropolis and has an atmospheric tangle of steep medieval streets. The bay’s minuscule strip of sand and azure waters are almost completely enclosed by craggy cliffs and backed by bougainvillea; a tiny, whitewashed chapel sits at one corner of the cove and this romantic little place is one of the town’s favorite wedding venues. The crystal-blue Mediterranean Sea is warm enough to swim in until October and the bay is both shallow and protected from winds, making it perfect for children to splash around in. Sun-loungers and parasols are available for hire and there are showers and a tiny beach bar but space on this lovely beach is at a premium.

Arguably one of the prettiest Greek islands, Symi is only five km (three miles) east of the Turkish mainland and lies north of Rhodes in the eastern Aegean Sea. Its main settlement of Chorio is tucked around the fishing harbor of Yialos (or Gialos), and backs steeply up the surrounding hills in a jumble of pastel-hued Neo-Classical townhouses and churches topped with ornate spires.

Fishing has been the most important industry on Symi for centuries and by night the cobbled streets of Yialos are given over to seafood restaurants serving up the day’s catch. The harbor is still full of traditional wooden fishing boats, bobbing among the taxi-boats that ferry visitors out to the safe swimming at sheltered Agios Nikolaos beach or the translucent waters of Nanou and Agia Marina, both perfect for snorkeling.

Inland Symi is heavily forested, a walking and cycling paradise with several way-marked trails through pine and cypress trees, many giving spectacular views over the island’s inaccessible coves and others leading past hidden chapels and monasteries.

The most famous of Symi’s monasteries is the Archangel Michael at Panormitis, which stands on the waterfront in a bay on the island’s southwest coast. The present Venetian-style complex dates from the 15th century and is centered round an elaborate bell tower. As well as a library of rare Byzantine manuscripts, the monastery has two museums displaying gleaming Orthodox icons as well as traditional fishing and farming implements. Thanks to its sheltered bay, Panormitis is also one of the most popular moorings for charter boats as they sail the Dodecanese Islands; Pedi Bay on the northwest coast is also a magnet for yachties.

Keeping watch over the northeastern tip of the island, the remains of the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes dominate the skyline of Rhodes city from atop the hill of Ayios Stefanos. Although lacking the typical fortification walls of other ancient acropolis, the Hellenic city of Rhodes is notable for its architectural flair, seamlessly blending the buildings and sanctuaries into the natural landscape. As one of the most accessible and evocative of all Rhodes’ ancient sites, touring the acropolis makes a popular excursion for those staying in the modern city. 

Today, parts of the site are still being excavated, but the viewable ruins paint a striking portrait of the former city. The undisputed star of the acropolis is the grand Temple of Apollo, exquisitely restored and partially reconstructed as part of the Monte Smith Park, which crowns the hill. Other notable ruins include the remnants of an 800-capacity Roman Odeion theater; the Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus, featuring gigantic column drums and Doric style porticos; and traces of the 3rd century BC Hellenistic stadium, which once hosted the legendary Alioi Festival Games.

Standing at 2,619 feet (798 meters), the pine-clad peak of Profitis Ilias is the second-highest mountain on Rhodes and offers wonderful views over the island's Aegean coastline. During their occupation of Greece in the late 1920s, the Italians built two resort hotels on the mountain for their top brass to enjoy weekends of hunting and partying. These were designed in an incongruous Swiss alpine-chalet style with sloping roofs and decorative wooden balconies and were abandoned after World War II; the Elafos Hotel reopened in 2006 after significant renovation and the Elafina is currently under restoration, while a traditional kafeneio (coffee and ouzo house) serves the walkers and bikers who traipse the forest tracks of Profitis Ilias.

Elsewhere amid the pine forests of Profitis Ilias are the ruins of the Villa de Vecchi, built for Mussolini as a luxury retirement home. Obviously these plans went awry and it has stood empty for years; recent rumor whispers that it may be turned into a tourist attraction in the same way that Hitler’s mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden near Salzburg, which brings in thousands of visitors per year. Around eight km (five miles) from Profitis Ilias is the village of Campochiaro, also built by the Italians, who shipped farming families over from the alpine north of Italy to work the land. Other pretty villages flanking Profitis Ilias include rustic Platania and Eleousa.

Stretching for around 3 miles (5 kilometers), dark-sand Kamari Beach is sandwiched between the blue Aegean waters and the mountain peak of Mesa Vouno. With a bar- and restaurant-lined promenade behind it and lots of facilities nearby, it’s one of the best places to park yourself for a day of relaxation.

Kamari Beach makes an ideal day-out destination for travelers looking to relax, swim, and catch some rays. For those who want a more active beach experience, water-sports operators and dive centers can be found just steps from the sand. 

Kamari Beach is a common stop-off on island tours, which may also visit other Santorini beaches, such as striking Red Beach on the south coast. Helicopter flights over the island often hover over the eastern coast where Kamari Beach is situated, as well as the caldera and the lava island of Nea Kameni.

Find Kamari Beach on the east coast of Santorini, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southeast of Fira. A taxi from Fira will take around 20 minutes. KTEL buses run from Fira regularly. 

Kamari Beach is busiest during the peak summer tourist season, from June through September. If you want to beat the crowds and see the beach at its tranquil best, wake early and come to watch the sun rise. Sunset, though busier, is equally spectacular.

For swimming and sunbathing, try Perissa Beach, about 9 miles (15 kilometers) south of Fira. This black-sand beach is well developed and boasts ample facilities. A walking path leads from the village of Perissa up to Ancient Thera. With its high cliffs and narrow stretch of dusty red sands, Red Beach on the southern coast is among Santorini’s most dramatic beaches. Though falling rocks pose danger to those on the sands, it’s worth coming here if only to admire the beach from afar.

The volcanic island of Nisyros lies north of Rhodes, a craggy, mountainous and fertile speck in the Aegean Sea. It forms part of the Dodecanese Islands along with Kos and Tilos, and is an unspoiled treasure that has so far dodged the onslaught of mass tourism.

The volcano that forms the greater part of Nisyros last erupted in 1888 but it is one of the most active in the region. Of the island’s six craters, Polivotis is the biggest, measuring 260 m (853 ft) across and reaching a depth of 30 meters (98.5 feet); it steams gently as gases bubble up from underground. Thanks to all this volcanic activity, thermal springs disgorge their sulfurous waters into the sea at several points around Nisyros; visitors flock to the spa at Loutra on the north coast to take advantage of their healing properties, while other hot springs are found at Thermiani and Avlaki.

Nisyros’s main town of Mandraki is tucked into hills on the northwest tip of the island, a charming waterfront sprawl of squat, white-washed houses and taverna-lined piazzas. Inland Byzantine chapels such as the Church of the Panaghia Faneromeni are scattered across the landscape, accessible by way-marked cycling and hiking trails, but the most startling of the island’s cultural remains is the Paliaokastro, high on a hilltop overlooking Mandraki. Dating from the fourth century BC, this was once a mighty acropolis and fort but now little survives except for fragments of the walls constructed out of volcanic basalt, although two towers have been recently remodeled out of rock surrounding the site.

Though originally constructed in the 14th century by the Knights of St. John, the current Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a Mussolini-era reconstruction built after the original was destroyed by a 19th-century explosion. The lavish palace now serves as a museum displaying furniture, statues, and ancient mosaics.

 

Visitors can explore parts of the palace interior, including the courtyard and interior rooms. Among the highlights of the collections held within are Greek and Roman floor mosaics taken from the Dodecanese island of Kos. The palace can often be seen during walking and Segway tours of Rhodes, with some longer sightseeing excursions including entrance to the palace and exploration of Rhodes Old Town, the Acropolis of Lindos, and the Acropolis of Rhodes.

 

 

The palace is situated within the medieval center of the city at the top of the Street of the Knights (Ippoton). The best way to get there is on foot. The palace is just a short walk from Mandraki Harbour and the KTEL East Side bus terminal.

 

The palace is busiest during the tourist season, which runs from April through November, particularly when cruise ships are in port. Even then, the palace is rarely crowded, and it’s likely you’ll get some respite here from the busy streets of the surrounding Rhodes Old Town.

In addition to the palace, the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes—which displays ancient treasures dug up from sites all around the island—is also situated in Rhodes Old Town. Also of note is the Street of the Knights, the 14th-century home of Rhodes former rulers: the Knights Hospitaller. Then there’s the Turkish Quarter, where you’ll find the 16th-century Suleiman Mosque, built to celebrate the Ottoman win over the Knights of Rhodes.

One of the three Doric cities mentioned by Homer that once reigned over the ancient island of Rhodes, the ancient city of Kamiros stretches along the northwest coast of the island, in the shadows of Mt Akramytis. Kamiros was once one of the most prominent cities in the Dodecanese islands, thriving off local figs, wine and oil production, and the first Rhodian city to cut its own coins. The city joined forces with neighboring Lindos and lalysos to form the modern day city-state of Rhodes in 5th century BC, but was eventually deserted and abandoned. 

The Hellenistic ruins of Kamiros were first discovered in 1929, unearthing traces of the 3rd Century BC city, which had mysteriously buried over time. Today, archeological finds from Kamiros can be found on display in the Louvre, the British Museum and the archaeological Museum of Rhodes, but the remains of the agora, temple and reservoir still stand on the ancient site.  

Wandering through the ruins, it’s possible to envision the grandeur of the former city. Built on three levels, the city was crowned by the hilltop Acropolis, offering spectacular views along the coastline, and leads down to the Hellenistic temple, Doric Fountain-house, Agora and Peribolos of the Altars. 

Hemmed in by a crescent of jagged rocks, golden sands, and crystalline waters, Tsambika Beach is one of Rhodes’ most beautiful beaches. A popular stop for boat cruises around the island, the beach is well-served by beach bars and food huts, but with no town nearby, the focus is firmly on the sun, sea, and sand.

Tsambika takes its name from the Monastery of the Virgin of Tsambika, perched on a 3,280-foot-tall (1,000 m) rock at the north end of the beach. The steep climb to the top, via 297 stone steps, affords spectacular views over Tsambika Bay. The south end of the beach is a designated nudist section.

Visit Tsambika Beach on a day cruise exploring Rhodes' east coast beach spots and scenery. To really leave your worries behind, consider choosing a tour that includes buffet lunch and round trip transportation, or a stop at Kalithea Spa.

The historic core of Rhodes is its walled Old Town, and the medieval city of Rhodes is so beautifully preserved that it is now a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. Renowned as the oldest continuously inhabited medieval city in Europe, it not only offers an atmospheric introduction to medieval Greece, but its labyrinth streets and towering palace make it the perfect place to start a walking tour of Rhodes.

The medieval center is still encircled by its original 14th century fortification walls, which took over 200 years to construct and are dotted with gateways and watch towers. Enter through the northern Eleftherias (Liberty) Gate and you’ll find yourself in Simis Square, characterized by its striking medieval architecture and home to the Hellenistic ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite. Nearby, the lively cafes and souvenirs stores of Ippokratous Square and Sokratous street are the main tourist hubs, providing a central point from which to explore the Old Town’s many attractions. 

The undisputed star of the Old Town is the dramatic hilltop Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes, an unmistakable 14th-century castle, built by the Knights of St John. Leading down from the palace, the stone-paved Avenue of the Knights (Ippoton) is the city’s most famous medieval street, where the Knights once lived, and the nearby Archaeological Museum of Rhodes provides further insight into the island’s long and varied history. Also in the Old Town, the Folk Art museum and the Byzantine Museum are worth a visit, and the old Jewish quarter is home to the Kahal Shalom Synagogue and Museum. Additional sights include the Turkish Library and the Mosque of Suleiman, remnants of the 1522 Turkish invasion of Rhodes.