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A short Rhodes guide (I)

Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodecanese and the fourth largest in Greece. Covers an area of 1.398 square meters and a population of 112.447 of which 60.000 residents live in the city of Rodos and the rest in villages throughout the island. The island has 44 villages, the biggest is Archangelos. At almost 260 nautical miles away from the port of Piraeus has daily ferryboat connections with the mainland Greece. There are numerous flights every day connecting Rhodes with Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion in Crete and with some of the smaller neighboring islands. During the holiday season (usually April to October) there are plenty direct connections with the major European cities and a large number of charter flights.

Cool & Unusual hotels in Rhodes

Rhodes is famous for its vibrant hospitality sector featuring all-inclusive resorts, luxury spas, and beachside accommodations. Vacationers can spend their time exploring the alpine beaches, medieval quarters, wine-making…

Relaxed Charms of Symi

Our neighbours across the balcony said, "You must see Symi; It's beautiful." Caroline and sailing don't mix, so I booked a solo ticket to see this enchanting island, just a couple of miles from the Turkish coast, a 2-hour sail north from Rhodes Town.

A wander around Symi

Although Symi Town or Yialos is a small, compact place, it boasts a number of interesting buildings, statues and sights, many of which contain or are set amongst…

Seafood in Greece

Anchovies (gavros in Greek), sardines (sardela) and chub mackerel (kolios) are the fish most likely to be found in Greek waters. “There are plenty of European anchovies, although…

The Knights of Rhodes

In 1309 a Genoese adventurer, to whom the Byzantine emperor had given Rhodes as a feudal property, or fief, sold the island to the Knights of the Order…

The Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes is one of the famous Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built between the years 292 and 280 BC, to commemorate the…

Ouzo: more than a drink

Ice tinkling in a glass of ouzo is the quintessence of summer in Greece, to be enjoyed while sitting at a table by the sea after a swim,…

The Acropolis of Rhodes

Positioned on the western edge of the city, on the top of the hill of Ayios Stefanos, the Acropolis of Rhodes and its imposing Temple of Apollo, dominates…

Filmed in Rhodes

Rhodes has always attracted the interest of the cinema industry. The majority of Greek films produced during the '60s feature the beautiful physical scenery of the island. There is also a large number of foreign film productions, including some of the Hollywood finest that where shot in Rhodes. In the recent years a growing number of advertising productions choose Rhodes for its stunning physical scenery. So while in Rhodes, it is not uncommon to find yourself in front of a filming set.

August 15: Religious holiday is the perfect excuse for Greece to throw a grand party

Religious festivals and saints’ days in Greece are always a big deal. They bring families together – the younger members of which are often named after their elder relatives – reinforce the bonds of local communities, resuscitate age-old traditions and buttress the people’s faith. They can also serve as excellent occasions for matchmaking and even for settling old scores – many a local festival degenerates into a brawl that is later settled amicably over food and even more wine. Every saint is revered, but none as gloriously as the Virgin Mary, or Panaghia (All-Saintly), is on August 15, the biggest religious event in Greece after Easter and Christmas, a national holiday that is observed by the civil service and private sector.

Lindos: Getting around

Lindos swarms with tourists in the summer months, all thronging to see this most picturesque of Rhodian villages. Lindos is set into a hillside and is flanked by several wonderful beaches, three harbours, the sublimely lovely St Paul’s Bay to its south, and the awe-inspiring Acropolis and Knights’ castle atop of the 350-foot-high crag that looks over the village and is visible for miles around. The alleyways teem with shops offering porcelain, woven rugs, leather, jewellery, pottery, lace, and paintings, their sun blinds forming a canopy over the alleys that keeps the searing summer sun out, but has the effect of creating the largest sauna in the world.