Rhodes Holidays
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The medieval Old Town inside Rhodes Town is the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe, ringed by some 4 km of fortifications the Knights of St John raised between 1309 and 1522. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, yet people still live, trade, and run tavernas inside the gates — it reads as a working town, not a roped-off ruin.
The sheltered east coast shelves slowly into calm water at Kallithea, Kolymbia, and Tsambika, which suits nervous swimmers and small children. The exposed south at Prasonisi does the opposite, pulling windsurfers and kitesurfers to the shallow sandbar where two seas meet. The pebbled coves further north around Ialysos stay cooler and clearer underfoot, which some swimmers prefer on the hottest afternoons.
The mountain village of Embonas, on the flank of Mount Attavyros (1,215 m, the island's highest peak), has been pressing Athiri and Mandilaria grapes for generations. Several family cellars open for tastings, and the village grills are known across the island for their spit-roast lamb.
At roughly 78 km from north to south, the island keeps most corners inside a 90-minute drive. A coastal bus links the eastern resorts back to Rhodes Town, so you are not tied to a hire car for the busier stretch of shoreline.
The clifftop Acropolis of Lindos rises 116 m above the curved inlet of St Paul's Bay, looking down over a village of whitewashed captains' houses some 47 km south of the capital. The ancient Temple of Athena Lindia has crowned that rock since around 300 BC.
Rhodes records some of the highest sunshine totals in Greece, with around 300 clear days a year. The practical upshot is a long, dependable season that stays warm enough to swim from late May right through to October.
The island splits into clearly different stretches, and the one you choose sets the tone of the entire week.
Rhodes Town: The capital folds a UNESCO Old Town, the working marina at Mandraki, and sandy beaches on two sides into one walkable base — package holidays to Rhodes Town put the Grand Master's Palace, the Street of the Knights, and the harbour's bronze deer within minutes of each other. It suits anyone who wants culture and a city rhythm rather than a pure beach resort, and the airport is only a short transfer away.
Lindos: Around 47 km south of the capital, this car-free village of white cube houses climbs steeply toward a clifftop acropolis above the sheltered curve of St Paul's Bay. It rewards couples and photographers, though the lanes are steep and far better suited to those happy on their feet than to anyone pushing a buggy.
Faliraki: The island's busiest resort sits about 14 km from the capital, with a long sandy bay, full watersports hire, and the liveliest evenings on Rhodes — it stays one of the better-value bases among cheap holidays to Rhodes without skimping on beach quality. Families tend to settle at the quieter northern end, with the bars concentrated to the south.
Kallithea & Kolymbia: This calmer east-coast pair sits near the restored Art Deco thermal springs, with sheltered coves and gently shelving sand that work well for younger children. Both are within easy reach of the capital for a day inside the Old Town.
Pefkos & Stegna: Just beyond Lindos, these low-key resorts trade nightlife for smaller sandy beaches and a slower evening pace, drawing returning couples and families who have done the busier resorts and want somewhere more peaceful.
Rhodes carries more history and outdoor variety than most islands its size, and the highlights spread right across the map.
The Old Town on foot: Inside the walls, the Palace of the Grand Master, the cobbled Street of the Knights, and the Archaeological Museum sit within a few minutes' walk of one another, so a half-day covers the essentials. Go early or late to slip past the cruise crowds that fill the main lanes by mid-morning.
Lindos Acropolis: A steep walk up through the village — or a donkey ride for anyone who'd rather not — reaches the ancient acropolis, the Temple of Athena Lindia, and a clear view down over the near-circular sweep of St Paul's Bay. Bring water and a hat, as there is almost no shade on the rock.
Valley of the Butterflies: Between June and September, thousands of Jersey tiger moths cluster along this shaded river gorge at Petaloudes, around 25 km from the capital. Wooden walkways and small waterfalls make it an easy, cool walk on a hot afternoon. Outside those months the moths disperse and the valley falls quiet, though the shaded path and running water still make a pleasant stop.
Kallithea Springs: The 1920s Italian-built thermal spa has been restored into a swimming and snorkelling spot, with domed pavilions, mosaic floors, and clear coves. It's a short hop from Faliraki and the capital alike, and works well as a half-day.
Day trip to Symi: Catamarans from Mandraki Harbour reach the neighbouring island of Symi in about an hour, where a horseshoe of pastel neoclassical houses rings one of the prettiest harbours in the Dodecanese. Most trips pause at Panormitis monastery along the way, and the swimming stops on the return leg are often the part guests remember most.
Late May, June, and September are the months most regulars point to for holidays to Rhodes — sea warm enough to swim at 25°C to 29°C, and crowds well down on the July peak. High summer is reliably hot and lively, and the obvious window if you're tied to the school break.
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