Rhodes island
Rhodes (Rodos or Ρόδος in Greek), the beautiful island of roses, has a unique physical scenery that does not cease to impress its visitors. The climate is also unique, with more sunny days than any other place in the world, that’s why in ancient times it was called the island of the God of Sun. With practically zero crime rate and friendly / hospitable people, you’ll be surprised how easy life in Rhodes can be.
Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese Island group of Greece, both in land area and in population. The geographical location of the island is about 11 miles west of the Turkish shores, between the mainland of Greece and the island of Cyprus. The inner landscaping of Rhodes is mountainous and covered with forests of pine and cypress. Rhodes is also home to the beautiful Rhodian Deer, the Dama Dama species where it roams freely in the southern part of the island. Some of them come close to people too.
A landscape with amazing natural beauty, a rich history and endless attractions make Rhodes one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. The Rhodians are known for their interesting culture and the tourism oriented businesses which can lead to unforgettable experiences and a dynamic nightlife that will satisfy even the most demanding visitors. As the biggest of Dodecanese islands, there are truly many things to do to spend your vacation time. There are so many landmarks and activities that you need literally a whole month to explore.
The crystal clear waters of the island and the organized beaches are just some of the reasons to visit it, again and again! There are over 40 organized beaches that offer seats with umbrellas, water-sports, facilities and some of them have nearby beach bars. Apart from swimming and sunbathing, you can rent water-bikes (with pedal), jet-skis, water -skis or being taken a ride with an inflatable banana for ultimate fun. There are also countless secluded beaches, ideal for relaxing and meditating by listening the sounds of the waves.
If someone wants to explore the underwater beauty of Rhodes island, there are many diving centers that can teach or help you, providing advice and the necessary equipment for scuba-diving. Also fishing and snorkeling is a nice activity to do, as many beaches have calm waters and are free to be explored. For the more athletic types, you can do surfing related sports such as paddle boarding and sea kayaking which do not require waves, and other derivative sports such as kite surfing and windsurfing which rely primarily on wind for power (best place for surfing is at the southern part of the island at the area of Prasonisi).
Apart from sea activities, the mountainous land covers a big area of the island as a result hiking to be a fun thing to do for those who would like to keep fit during holidays, those who want to test their skills and stamina or those who just come for the amazing sights that climbing can offer. There are many excursions with fantastic destinations, ideal for all types of physical conditions so you can wander in the woods within the seducing smells of herbs and aromatic plants!
Hotels also offer many activities programs, those depend on which hotel and what area the hotel is located. Some activities that can’t be missed is bungee jumping, golf / mini-golf, bowling, horse riding, motocross, mountain cycling, yachting, water-sliding and many more exciting things that our agency can help you accomplish.
When you are going to travel to Rhodes, make sure you don’t miss the following “must” destinations:
- Rhodes Old Town – an inhabited medieval town with many fantastic attractions such as the Palace of the Grand Master, the Archaeological Museum, the Kahal Kadosh Shalom Synagogue, The Municipal Art Gallery, The Modern Art Museum, many restaurants, bars, nightclubs and tourists shops. Its a paradise for people who want to buy souvenirs and take photos.
- Kallithea Springs – a unique architecture complex which offers a beach and a modern lounge bar. There are many organised events at the summertime in the area.
- Seven Springs – a romantic destination surrounded by woodland and green with rustic bridges and rivers, providing a natural habitat to some rare fish species.
- Filerimos Hill – an archaeological site with a monastery which has a 16 meter concrete cross.
- Valley of Butterflies – a rare biotope with rich vegetation in which millions of multicolored butterflies live.
- Kamiros – one of the three ancient cities of the island with many important excavation artifacts.
- Lindos Village – a medieval village with long history, clear beach and amazing nightlife.
- Monolithos Castle – a fortress at the south Rhodes which offers breathtaking view of the forest and the Aegean Sea.
- Prasonisi – the southernmost tip of the island which becomes an island on winter and 2 different seas at summer, ideal for surfing and watersports.
Rhodes
Rhodes, an island full of natural beauty and famous for its archaeological sites, religious monuments and museums. That is the reason UNESCO proclaimed its Medieval City a monument of global cultural heritage. Despite the 7.000 years of glorious history the magnificent monuments are still standing with great antiquity. Blending in with the natural splendor of the island, combining the past and present day, the archaeological sites and museums offer a unique experience for all, especially for those who are fascinated by culture.
Rhodes is perhaps well known for the famous Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Colossus of Rhodes was a large statue of Helios – the Greek God of Sun – and was emerged on the island between 292 and 280 BC. Before it was destroyed, the statue stood over 100 feet high, which made it the tallest statue in ancient times. The deer statues, also located in the Mandraki harbor where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood, are a beautiful sight by themselves.
Historical sites on the island of Rhodes
• Rhodes Old Town (walled medieval city) : The Old City of Rhodes, with a population of 6,000 inhabitants is surrounded by medieval walls with seven gates and it offers an inexhaustible wealth of sights to admire. Inside the walls there are several monuments and museums, such as the Palace of the Grand Master, the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes which has very old excavated objects, The Byzantine Museum in the Church of the Panagia which hosts religious icons and frescoes from the Byzantine era, The Shalom Synagogue which presents relevant photographs, books, manuscripts and clothing of the once flourishing Jewish community in Rhodes, The Municipal Art Gallery and The Modern Art Museum which has some of the most representative works of the Greek modern art.
• Acropolis of Rhodes : The Acropolis of Rhodes is dating from the Hellenistic period (3rd-2nd century BC) and its located 3 kilometers far from the center of Rhodes city. The partially reconstruction of the site consists of the “Temple of Apollo” and below there is a stadium and a small theater. It is in a large park, Monte Smith, named for William Sidney Smith (1764-1840). The original excavation was conducted by the Italian School of Archaeology at Athens from 1912-1945. Monte Smith has an outstanding panoramic view of the city of Rhodes and the Turkish coasts, the sunsets are breathtaking.
• Acropolis of Lindos : Above Lindos village rises the acropolis of Lindos, a natural citadel which was fortified successively by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights of St John and the Ottomans. The acropolis offers spectacular views of the surrounding harbours and coastline. On the acropolis of Lindos, the most important monuments come from antiquity, such as The Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, The Propylaea of the Sanctuary, The Hellenistic stoa, The Hellenistic staircase and the relief of a Rhodian trireme (warship) cut into the rock at the foot of the steps leading to the acropolis.
• Acropolis of Ialyssos : In the area of Trianda and around the hill of Filerimos, there are remains of a Minoan settlement and Mycenaean cemeteries. In the archaeological site some of the remaining buildings are The Temple of Athena Polias, an early Christian baptistery, a church from the Knights period, Byzantine fortifications and ruins, medieval monastery restored during the Italian occupation,a cell chapel of Saint Georgios Chostos and many other fine excavated areas.
• Ancient Kamiros : Ancient Kamiros was one of the most powerful cities in Rhodes in ancient times. It was rediscovered in 1929 and has been called the Greek Pompeii because nobody knows why and how the city was deserted and buried. The Monastery of the Virgin Mary sits on the ruins of Temple of Athena, which sits on top of an even older temple. Most of the ruins are from the Hellenistic Era and include the city market and a Doric temple with arches. Many of the findings have been taken to the Louvre, the British Museum and in the archaeological museum of Rhodes.
• Castle of Kritinia : Above the village of Kritinia, there is castle Kastellos which was built in 1472 by Giorgio Orsini to protect the inhabitants of the village from the attacks of the Ottoman fleets. It is a Venetian castle built on a steep rock and it is dominating the whole area.
• Castle of Monolithos : Built over an older castle, the Venetian Castle of Monolithos stands more than 230 meters high on an incredibly difficult terrain which made its construction exceptionally challenging. Grand Master D’Aubusson requested the construction of the fort on the rocky hill as its position offered a clear view of the Mediterranean helped to look out for enemy raids. Some of the fort’s external parts are still well-preserved at the present, but we cannot say the same thing for the interior which is collapsing as the times goes by.
DnD Travel offer a wide variety of excursions to satisfy every needs you have.
Nature and culture lovers may visit the island’s unique natural attractions and numerous archaeological sites either by coach or we can rent for you whichever vehicle you wish.
The vehicle types that you can rent through our traffic operation manager are: coaches, minivans, SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, roadsters, limouzines, trucks, ATVs, scooters, sportbikes, enduros, supermotards, cruisers, choppers, boats and yachts.
Those interested to explore the local life may visit small traditional villages on the island tour. Alternatively, you may visit the nearby islands of Symi and Halki or even take the opportunity to visit Marmaris in Turkey.
Our excursions are available in a number of languages, these include: Greek, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Serbian, Czech, Hebrew, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Swiss and Turkish.
A number of excursions are offered as full-day, half-day or even evening trips.
All transport is carried out with modern air-conditioned coaches and professional guides will escort you.
Our excursions department (traffic managers) is at your disposal to offer you detailed descriptions of all available excursions and tours.
GET AROUND THE ISLAND
By bus
Public buses operate throughout the islands.
The main bus terminal in Rhodes city is the Nea Agora (New Market). Schedules and prices can be found at the ticket booths.
Tickets can also be bought in the bus from a cashier or directly from the driver. Keep your ticket until the end of your voyage. The price of a bus ticket will depend on the destination.
Bus stops on the road are marked by a sign, but do not hesitate to signal a bus driver that you wish to board. Bus stops do not have the timetables displayed.
One useful line is the 21, which serves the large hotels on Rhodes’ east coast with Faliraki as the final destination, departs from Rhodes city almost every half-hour.
By taxi
Taxis on Rhodes are dark blue with white roofs. There is a list of expected maximum taxi charges you can obtain from the tourist information office. For example, a trip from Rhodes city to Faliraki should not cost more than 20 Euros; the trip from the Airport to Rhodes city a maximum of 25 Euros. The minimum fare for each trip is 3.69 Euros, the taximeter starts at 1.29 Euros. Never let the driver turn off the meter.
You can call a taxi via telephone number 22410 69800. This adds a standard surcharge of 2.14 Euros. Waiting fare is 11.81 Euros per hour. Between midnight and 5 AM you will have to pay twice the normal rates. You can book ahead to avoid delays at high traffic times such as weekends.
Within Rhodes city limits, fixed rates are applied. If you get a taxi from one of the taxi stations or stop one in the street, the fare is 5.00 Euros. At the main taxi station, close to the New Market (Mandraki), there are hosts that try to cut down waiting time by making sure that the taxis doesn’t leave half empty – especially if you are going a bit further. If you share a taxi within the Rhodes city limits the fare is 4.00 Euros.
By car
It is not worth the hassle to bring your own car to the island. DnD Travel can organize any vehicle you prefer before arriving at our island. Additionally you can rent a car at the airport or via any hotel and at many local dealers. Asphalt highways will allow you to reach the entire island, although roads in the interior – especially the south – may turn out to be little more than dirt paths.
By motorcycle
Motorbikes and scooters are popular alternatives to cars. Especially mopeds / scooters are frequently used by local youths and can go to many places that cars cannot go – for example the twisted narrow streets of Rhodes city. An additional advantage is that they are cheap to rent, ~ 20 to 30 Euros a day is the usual price.
If you start a day-trip with a scooter, be sure you start with a full tank, as gas stations are sometimes hard to find. An extra stop at a gas station can save a lot of nerves. When renting a motorcycle, check if the profile of the tires is in good condition and if the brakes work properly. If it is the last vehicle in the store, be suspicious – it could be the one that needs repairs badly. Though helmets are not required on the streets, (although you might be stopped and the fines are 150 – 300 euros if you are not wearing a helmet on the main roads) it might be a good idea to ask your rent-a-bike for one, especially if you intend to drive on streets with more traffic.
By sea
Our office has a department especially for sea excursions. You can rent a boat that is parked on Mandraki harbor or we can bring it to you wherever you are settled in Dodecanese area. You can also check our yacht booking website at http://dndyachting.com.