Rhodes

With golden sandy beaches (Over 30 blue flag beaches), castles, churches, a town with Unesco World Heritage status and glorious hot summers, Rhodes can’t help but be a popular destination for holidaymakers. There is a great choice of resorts to base yourself at too.

From cosmopolitan Rhodes Town with its beautiful harbour to busy resorts such as Faliraki – or maybe somewhere like Pefkos if you are after a more relaxing break. The restaurants in Pefkos are amazing - Philosophia Beach which is right on a secluded beach and serves great food.

One resort you really have to visit at least once is Lindos – it’s the old capital of Rhodes and absolutely gorgeous. Full roof top restaurants and cobbled streets that look up to the Acropolis with a medieval castle within it’s walls. If you want accommodation with a Pool you need to stay up the hill from the Centre as the buildings there are listed and can’t be changed. Plenty of Taxis run up and down the hill though – and you can even take a Donkey.

Faliraki is a fun and exciting resort with a lot on offer. There are a couple of miles of soft, bronze-coloured sand with brightly-coloured sun umbrellas and warm clear seas that provide safe swimming. Faliraki also boasts great nightlife, with dozens of bars playing music and serving up cocktails until the early hours. There are plenty of excellent water sports, restaurants and tavernas that serve a huge variety of dishes, plus there are numerous small, well-stocked supermarkets. If you want the bright lights by night and a little more peace during the day then opt for beautiful Ladiko Bay, with its pretty beach, just a few kilometres from Faliraki. Last minute holidays to Faliraki are full of fun and big on beach life.

Ixia is situated just two miles from Rhodes Town and has a long stretch of shingle beach which is a haven for water sports lovers. Lining the beach road are some of the best hotels and restaurants on the island and along the coastal road you will find many bars, discos and tavernas. With Rhodes Town only a five minute drive away, Ixia offers the best of both worlds as well as being ideally situated to explore this beautiful island. Ixia holidays are perfect for those who enjoy an active holiday as the long pebble beach provides a wide selection of watersports. Along the coastal road you will find many bars, discos and tavernas and a wide selection of restaurants. Ixia offers fantastic views of the coastline of Turkey and is perfectly positioned to reach the Capital of Rhodes Town and its numerous architectural wonders. Ixia holidays are great for enjoying the beauty of Rhodes without being too near to the super clubs and bustling city hubs.

Pefkos is a charming village with a magnificent sandy beach. Perfect for children, the sand gently shelves into the warm, clean waters and the beach has sun beds and a beach cantina. There are delightful tavernas and restaurants as well as great fish restaurants serving fish caught that day. Evenings can be spent enjoying a cocktail or beer in the variety of music bars. Pefkos is a peaceful haven, wonderful for families and couples who really want to relax and slow down.

Events and festivals

Visit one of the many folklore festivals held in Rhodes Town. Folklore dancers dressed in traditional dress as well as performances for kids run May to October here.

Popular things to do and see and unmissable experiences

Visit Lindos Acropolis (open Apr to Oct daily 8am–7.40pm) – It’s a tough climb up a steep hill (Try and go early in the morning before it gets too hot and the crowds arrive) but you can take a Donkey as another option. The 360 degree views from the top are spectacular taking in 40 miles of Coastline and the Acropolis is being restored and at the same site is St Johns Church. One of our favourite trips is a boat ride to the island of Symi, one of the most stunningly beautiful of all the Greek Islands. It’s a 2 hr trip over and you are rewarded with a jaw droppingly beautiful harbour town full of white and pastel coloured houses. There, you have free time to walk through the narrow streets, shop for local handicrafts and natural sponges, eat delicious seafood in a local taverna or soak up some sun in an open air café. Most tours also include a visit to Panormitis monastery – people visit this 12th Century search just to see the incredible Byzantine Frescoes. All in all a magical day out.

Climate

Mild in spring and autumn with hot summers

Other information

• Best time of year to travel: April to October
• Currency: Euro
• Flight time from UK: 4-5 Hours