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Rhodes Information
Rhodes is the principal city of the Greek island of Rhodes, in the southeastern Aegean Sea, and the capital of the Dodecanese prefecture. Rhodes has been famous since antiquity as the site of Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The citadel of Rhodes, built by the Hospitalliers, is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe which in 1988 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The City of Rhodes is a popular international tourist destination as it is situated at the crossroads of two major sea routes of the Mediterranean between the Aegean Sea and the coast of the Middle East, as well as Cyprus and Egypt. Rhodes is one of the largest and most fertile of the Greek Islands, and because of its combination of beaches, archaeological sites, and an extensive medieval town, is one of the most visited. The climate is particularly good, with the weather typically sunny and mild. While the northern coast is renowned for its lively tourist resorts the south offers tranquil beaches and a slower, more simple pace of life.
Getting There
The island is served by Diagoras International Airport situated on the west coast about 14 kilometers from the town of Rhodes. There are regular flights to and from Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete; charter airlines connect Rhodes with many major cities all over Europe. In 2006 a new wing was built at Diagoras Airport, that opened in 2007 to service only the charter flights, which during high season can reach 150-180 per day. Rhodes is accessable via ferry from Symi, Tilos, and Bodrum, as well as Datca and Marmaris in Turkey at a very reasonable price.
Getting Around
Public buses operate throughout the islands. The main bus terminal in the city of Rhodes is the Neá Agorá (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, it departs from the city of Rhodes almost every half-hour. 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. You can bring a car or motorcycle on the ferry from Turkey, but it is advisable to rent these in Rhodes as there are plentiful car and motorbike rentals available.
What To See
Rhodes is a major tourist attraction for the seekers of sunny beaches. While many of its beaches are gravel, not sand; the island can boast 300-plus sun days in a year. Consequently, you will stumble into tourists and hotels and beaches full of deck chairs for rent, into shops and restaurants that cater to these tourists. It can be overwhelming at times. If this bothers you, Rhodes is probably not for you. Still, there are some areas where mass tourism has not yet penetrated too much. And there are advantages too, accommodation on Rhodes itself can be had for relatively low prices, and most of the locals speak at least English and German and often other languages. See Filerimos Hill where there are medieval remains, a monastery and chapel and good views over the north of the island.
Things To Do
Surfing and windsurfing on the west coast and especially on the south end of the island are good. You can climb Mt Attavyros, which is a challenging 2-3 hour climb to the island's highest point of 1215 meters. On leaving Embonas on the road towards Siana, drive up one of the agricultural roads on the left and find a place to park. On foot, you continue up through the wine growing area in the obvious direction. There is no explicit marked path but red paint on rocks towards the top marks the best route. It is a steep climb with many large loose rocks. The descent can be especially tricky. It is also possible to drive up the mountain: the approach road comes from the south. There is a good variety of beaches on Rhodes. The east side of the island has almost continuous sandy beaches with calm waters. Beaches on the west are mostly more stony. The wind mostly comes in from the west and also the sea tends to be somewhat rougher to the west so that side of the island is better suited to surfing or kite boarding.
Food And Drink
The tap water is always drinkable and restaurants will serve glasses of ice water upon request. Local drinks include Mythos Beer and Ouzo. The food on Rhodes is much the same as other foods in the eastern Aegean or Mediterranean. The Greeks and the Turkish always claim that the foods are of their own national heritage, but in each country you'll find that they are often the same foods, but just with different names. On Rhodes you will find that excellent restaurants are plentiful. The cuisines of both countries are quite healthy and mouth-watering using very fresh vegetables and delicious grilled chicken, beef, and lamb. Simply put - the foods are very healthy and extremely delicious.
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