Rhodes
Rhodes is one of the largest and most beautiful
Greek islands, with notable highlights including
a choice of sandy (albeit crowded) beaches and well-preserved
Crusader Knight settlements. Rhodos Town itself is
a remarkable medieval showcase of Crusader and
Ottoman architecture, and makes an excellent base
for any visit.
The Old Town is a window into the Middle Ages,
a time when Christian knights swept down from Europe
to challenge the Muslim hordes in the Holy Land. Many
stopped en route on Rhodes, which became a well-defended
trading and military centre renowned throughout the
Mediterranean.
The Old Town today is little-changed from those times,
with high stone walls encircling a warren of pebble
streets, the mighty Palace of the Grand Masters,
and streets of busy boutiques and restaurants. Other
highlights include the old Knights of St. John's Hospital
- which has been converted into an interesting Archaeological
Museum - and the nearby Avenue of the Knights
(pictured below).
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Just a few miles south of Rhodos Town is the increasingly
infamous package resort of Faliraki, overrun
during summer by young Brits intent on sun-drenched
debauchery. In fact, many of Rhodes' smaller towns
now play host to package tourists that descend at
the height of summer via the busy airport, so choose
your holiday time carefully. It's not all bad news
though - visit in spring or autumn and you're likely
to enjoy this island all the more and avoid the
worst excesses of the package tours.
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Lindhos is another popular destination on
Rhodes, and like the capital features an imposing
Knight's castle. While the pretty whitewashed streets
have certainly sold their souls to tourist tat, the
castle provides great views of the Aegean and surrounding
countryside.
The interior of Rhodes is hilly and (in parts) wooded.
Small villages have grasped the unholy tourist dollar
to varying extents, but there are many quiet corners,
local tavernas, and old ruins to stumble across.
A car or moped is a must if you want to get off the
beaten track.
Getting There
British
Airways and Olympic
are the key carriers to Rhodes via Athens,
although there are also Cheap
Airline deals. Flight time is approximately
4 hours from London.
More Information
Check out Go
Greece, the Rhodes
site, or (for ferry information) the useful Ferries
portal.
Also visit our Greek
Island guide.
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