Rhodes is Greece‘s fourth largest island, and it‘s packed full of exciting things to do. Located near the coast of Turkey and boasting an unbelievable 3000 hours of yearly sunshine, you can enjoy this island year-round for your choice of an eternal spring, hot summers or mild winters. Where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean Sea, you will find wonderful beaches, beautiful backcountry and plenty of interesting history.
Beach hopping in Rhodes
One of the fun things to do while holidaying in Rhodes is definitely going to one of the 10 best beaches. If you have a car, why not take a road trip to explore some of the beaches on the island? Quite conveniently, some of the most beautiful beaches in Rhodes are located on the east coast, making this fun activity perfect for a road trip. Beach hopping is also ideal if you have kids, since all beaches have something else to offer. Starting in Faliraki beach in the north of Rhodes, you will feel right at home at this long stretch of white sand. This area is pulsing with life and offers everything you may wish for as a family such as sunbeds, umbrellas, lifeguards on duty and plenty of tavernas, restaurants and cafés with ocean view. You can rent equipment for water activities or even visit the nearby water park.
Next on the beach hopping agenda is Anthony Quinn Bay, located just south of Faliraki beach. The crystal-clear yet deep-blue sea in this bay invites you and your little ones in to splash around, and older children will enjoy discovering the underwater world by snorkelling. This beach is normally not too crowded, so spread out your beach towels and jump right in!
Last but not least, also stop at St. Paul’s Bay. Legend has it that St. Paul set foot here, and there is even a small chapel to honour this occasion. But one thing is for sure, this crescent-shaped bay with shallow waters and almost no waves is definitely one of a kind and a dream come true for sunseekers and snorkellers alike. St. Paul’s Bay is located right below Lindos town, making dinner in this beautiful village with cobblestone streets the perfect end for this road trip.
A day on the town – Rhodes’ style
Lindos is one of Greece’s oldest towns, and if you want to spend a perfect day in Rhodes to discover its diversity, you should definitely head to the Lindos area. With convenient parking located near the main road, you don’t have to navigate the many winding, cobblestone streets that make Lindos so special. The old town is best explored on foot anyway, and it’s compact enough to do so. You can find plenty of shops or small cafés to take a short rest before tackling the Acropolis as the highest part of the town. After reaching the top, the view will be quite literally breathtaking, so take a few moments to enjoy the view across the ocean, the white town and St. Paul’s Bay including the cathedral. If you want this day out to be the perfect package of fun on the town, culture, history and relaxation, why not end the day at one of the beaches?
A glass-bottom boat leaves near Pallas beach and observing fish in the sea should be fun for every age. While this popular town can get crowded and hot in the summer, it‘s the ideal location to follow the sun south for an autumn holiday. The low season also brings better hotel deals, a free table at the most popular restaurants and plenty of sandy beach space to choose from. If you prefer to stay in a hotel close to town with all amenities, Lindos and surroundings offer plenty of ocean views like the TUI BLUE Lindos Bay. Parts of the town are built into the cliffs overlooking the sea, so you may even watch the waves right from your hotel’s pool.
Butterfly Valley and ancient ruins on Rhodes
Butterfly Valley south of Rhodes town in the centre of the island is an experience that you and your kids will remember for years to come. You can walk around this forestry terrain deep down into the valley on marked trails or take the Butterfly Train if you’re not up for walking. The valley features a special tree that the butterflies are very fond of, so luckily for visitors, they return every year to breed. With the lush green surroundings and the river flowing through the valley, this is indeed a special day out. The butterflies cover the tree trunks and all the plants in the valley, and there are so many that you won’t notice them at first. There’s also a museum of National History on-site if you want to learn more about the area. After you finished visiting the butterflies, why not head to the nearby ancient ruins of Kamiros? This site was built in the shape of an amphitheatre overlooking the sea. You can see the remains of houses, the marketplace and some temples at this site. As you can also see the ocean, heading to one of the beaches would be the perfect end to this adventurous day and a welcome refreshment. That’s the beauty of the Greek islands, the beach is never far!
So, what does your perfect day in Rhodes look like? No matter if you prefer the beach, historic sites, strolling through towns or a mixture of all: Rhodes is the place to go with the whole family for a perfect holiday.