A short Rhodes guide (I)
Rhodes (also Rodos or Rhodos – Ρόδος in Greek – more about the name) is the largest island of the Dodecanese and the fourth largest in Greece. Let’s start this short Rhodes guide by providing some geographical data.
The island 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. Rhodes has 44 villages, the biggest is Archangelos.
At almost 260 nautical miles away from the port of Piraeus, the island of Rhodes 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.
The island’s top attraction is with no doubt, the Medieval Town of Rhodes, once the home of the Knights Of Rhodes also known as the Knights of St. John Order of Hospitallers. Along the eastern coastline, adorned with beautiful sandy beaches, lie a number of famous holiday resorts like Faliraki and Lindos.
The terrain is mainly mountainous, the highest mountain is Ataviros at almost the center of the island. Olive trees, vines and other fruit producing trees are cultivated all over the island. Rhodes is graced with an exceptional mediterranean climate, mild winters and sunny cool summers thanks to its sea breeze and the west winds (meltemi). The island has sunshine during most of the year. As it is said: “There is hardly a day without sun”. The sunlight makes the island’s wine exquisite and gives the ibiscus (flower-symbol of Rhodes) their special, vivid red color.
Rhodes is an extremely popular destination that appeals to people of all ages. Families, couples and groups of singles all enjoy the island for relaxation, the range of activities available and the nightlife. The combination of sun, beautiful nature, clean sea waters, exceptional archaeological and historical monuments, modern tourist infrastructures and relaxed life style are some the reasons that made Rhodes one of the most renown vacation spots in the world attracting thousands of holidaymakers year after year.
Rhodes has brilliant beaches, some of the best in the Mediterranean (Tsambika beach), covered in golden sands leading down to the waters edge. Many of them are organized with plenty of sunbeds and parasols available to hire and offer a number of water sports (banana boat rides, jet-skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, paragliding). The island is one of the top locations in the world for kite and wind surfing. However if you are just looking for a place to relax then you will find a number of quiet beaches, most of them in the southern part, that you can enjoy.