There are many reasons that the island of Rhodes is one of the most popular Greek destinations. Known as the sunniest island, Rhodes is also the largest among the gorgeous Dodecanese Islands, which are located in the eastern Aegean Sea.
Rhodes is located 11 miles west of Turkey and is positioned between the Greek mainland and Cyprus. Although it is considered to be a big island, the land mass is small, meaning that you can take the time to explore both the old, medieval half of the island as well as the new, cosmopolitan half. Rhodes is 49 miles in length by 24 miles in width and has 136 gorgeous miles of coastline.
If you’re a history buff, Rhodes will be an absolute buffet for you. Here you can visit amazing historical sites such as the Acropolis of Lindos, which includes the Hellenistic Stadium that was built in the 3rd century BC. It was here that the ancient Rhodians held the Aioli Games, a major festival honoring the God Ilios.
When you visit the Acropolis, make sure to wear sensible footwear. It’s quite a hike to reach it and there are no safety rails. I’d suggest bringing along a water bottle as well.
If all this hard work doesn’t float your boat and you’d rather lounge by the sea, no problem! There are plenty of places for you to do that in Rhodes, too.
Along with its famously sunny skies, Rhodes also attracts many visitors because of its attractive Mediterranean climate consisting of dry summers with cool breezes and mild, humid winters. Of course, the wonderful weather makes Rhodes a fantastic destination for some serious beach lounging time.
One of the most interesting things about the coastline of Rhodes is that not all of the beaches are the same. Far from it in fact.
For example, Pefki Beach is one of the most commercialized beaches, and the main street is lined with many shops, bars, and taverns. It is particularly narrow compared to the island’s other beaches and contains both soft sand and pebbled shores. Pefki Beach is an extremely popular spot for sunbathing, and swimmers enjoy the rocky coves. Buses from the capital city of Rhodes run every half hour to Pefki Beach.
In contrast, beach goers who prefer a beach that has been left more to its natural state will enjoy Traganou Beach. Only a small part of the beach offers chair and umbrella rentals, while the remainder of the beach is left to its natural, uninterrupted and pristine state. Here you’ll find small, light-colored pebbles instead of sand and completely crystal-clear waters.
Prefer a beach with golden sand? You can find those on the island of Rhodes as well. One that is well-loved is called Agathi Beach. It is located close to the village of Lindos, where white buildings that look like sugar cubes dot the hillside. At Agathi Beach you’ll find soft sand and emerald green waters.
Whether you’re looking for shallow waters for your children to splash in, strong winds in which to windsurf, or a rented cabana so you don’t sunburn, you can find exactly what you need at one of the islands beaches; you have more than 25 to from which to choose!
Print This
Tweet This
Email Stuart
Twitter
Skype