For the Sydney suburb, see Sydney/Sydney Olympic Park Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος, Ródos) is one of the largest and most fertile of the Greek Islands, and is one of the most visited because of its combination of beaches, archaeological sites, and extensive medieval town. The climate is particularly good, with the weather typically sunny and mild.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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 or more 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.
All public bus lines radiate from Rhodes town and reach almost every relevant place throughout the island. Buses along the north-west coast (including airport) are operated by BODA, white-orange buses on the east coast are operated by KTEL. The main bus terminal in Rhodes city is the Neá Agorá (New Market). Buses run by both companies stop there (each company has its stop on the same street), but ticket booths, as well as timetables and prices, are distinct. Rhodes town lines are run by Roda, but have a separate stop, along Mandraki sea promenade, across the street from the new market.
No trip to Rhodes is complete without at least briefly seeing the walled fortress of medieval Rhodes. A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval walled towns in Europe, the crusading knights were based here for a while before the city was captured by the Ottomans. Impressive on the outside, the Palace of the Grand Masters is not worth the entry fee, so head to the Archaeological Museum and then explore the back streets on foot. If you're into castles, Rhodes has a lot to offer with its medieval history. Lindos, Kastellos and Monolithos all have castles.
Sunbathing Horse Riding Swimming Snorkeling Diving Hiking Surfing and kitesurfing on the west coast and especially on the south end of the island Many hotels will offer activity programs Most tour operators will offer excursions Climb Mt Attavyros. A challenging 2-3 hr climb to the island's highest point (1215 m). 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.
See the Eat section under each town or region of Rhodes for specific listings.
The tap water is drinkable and restaurants will serve glasses of ice water upon request. Local drinks include Mythos (beer), souma and Ouzo. Local wine is cheap and excellent. Bars and restaurant listings can be found in the articles covering the different towns and regions of Rhodes
Rhodes is generally, quite safe, however vigilance is required in Faliraki, infamous for the lewd behavior of young, drunk, mainly British partiers attracted to the cheap alcohol and large numbers of small nightclubs. A string of crimes committed by these young tourists against locals, as well as against other tourists, gained national attention in the summer of 2003; they ranged from vandalism to serious acts of violence. Following this the local Police increased their presence to successfully crack down on such behavior - zero tolerance of bad behaviour is now in place. Expect a night in the cells and some heavy handed handling from the commando trained officers.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Rhodes typically sees ~34°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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