Rhodes (Island) Things to Do Tips by himalia11

Tsambika Beach

That's the view on the Tsambika Beach, a sandy beach with sunbeds. It's said to be one of the beautiful beaches of Rhodes and really looks nice from above! This photo was taken from the top of Mount Tsambika.

Directions: East coast, south of Kolymbia, about half way between Rhodos Town and Lindos.

Mount Tsambika

As we noticed it is really worth climbing up the mountain, you have a fantastic view on the coast and the other mountains! You can drive up to a taverna where you'll find a little parking. You then "only" have to climb up about 300 steps (which are numbered, by the way!). At least there are pines that give shadow, and the steps are shallow. It took us about half an hour to reach the top. You already can enjoy the view during your way up and you also might see goats. On the top, there's a little chapel, but the best is the view from there!

Directions: East coast, south of Kolymbia, about half way between Rhodos Town and Lindos. Coming from south, it's shortly after the street to Tsambika Beach, and there's a big sign to the taverna.

Archangelos

Archangelos is the largest village of the island - with 6000 inhabitants only.... You'll find there interesting narrow streets and houses that have some parts painted in red or green or whatever. Looks nice! We walked a bit through the streets until we finally found the church - it's a little bit like a labyrinth! The church is devoted to the archangel Michael and has a very nice bell tower (see the photo!). The tower is from the time of the Italian occupation, but the church itself is a bit older. Above the village, there are the remainders of a castle from the 15th century.

Directions: East coast, 30 km south of Rhodes Town

Kamiros - the Knossos of Rhodes

Kamiros is an archaeological site where you can see the ruins of the Hellenic city of Kamiros (2600 years old!), one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes. Only walls are left, so you have to bring along some imagination. At the entry, after having payed the admission of 4 Euros, you'll get a map with explanations in Greek and English. The site of ancient Kamiros can be divieded in three parts: at the lowest level was the market place, with squares and temple. Then comes the houses and then on the summit of the hill, the Acropolis.

Directions: West coast, 35 km south of Rhodes Town. Just follow the signs to "Ancient Kamiros"!

Kallithea - former thermal spa with snorkel beach

Kalithea is situated about 8 km far from Rhodes-Town on the street to Faliraki at the east coast. The village is known because of its former thermal spa. This spa is found south of Kalithea, in a nice little bay. It has been build 1929 by the Italians and has been abandoned later. It has started to decay, but there are renovations going on. It's a beautiful place with lots of pines and some plam trees, and the beach has as well sand as rocks. It's only a bit small! The place of the thermal spa with its beach is opened from 8:00 to 18:00 - to enter this place you have to pass a gate which is closed otherwise.
There's always a boat of a diving school in this bay and lots of people snorkel there. It's even possible to rent snorkels there if you don't have some and want to try it. There are some other beaches close to it, all with a snackbar and sunsheds/ sunbeds that can be rented (but they are expensive - we payed 7 Euro for two sunbeds). You can see one from the parking, and another one is behind the pine forest a bit more south.

The bus from Rhodos stops first in the village, then at two hotels and afterwards at the Thermes Kalitheas. If you come by car, you'll find a sign to it.

Directions: East coast, 8 km south of Rhodos Town.

Prassonissi - where Agean and Mediterranean meet

This is in the extreme south, the "meeting place" of Agean and Mediterranean Sea meet. It's an interesting place, you can really see the difference between both seas - the Agean is more "wild", with waves, and the Mediteranean almost quite. There are lots of surfers (also kite surfers) and it's really very windy there. And not so hot!

There's an island that is connected to the mainland by a large sandbank. When we were there, you had to wear bathing clothes to reach the island, but there shall be times where there's no water between the island and the mainland.
There's a huge sandy beach with two tavernas, and the water is rather warm, especially those on the sandbank! However swimming wasn't so easy, there was too much current, and of course you don't want to crash into a windsurfer!

Directions: In the extreme south, an asphalt road goes there.

City of Rhodes, Old Town

The Old Town of Rhodes definitely is a "must see". A huge medieval City Wall surrounds the whole old town. The wall and the gates are very impressing. Inside the old town, lots of small streets await you, with several shops, restaurants and bars, but you might also find some quite places if you stroll around. Interesting things to see in the old town are in particular the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights.

If you want to know more about the city of Rhodes, please take a look at my City of Rodos page.

City of Rhodes, Mandraki Harbour

When in Rhodes, you should of course also visit the city of Rhodes. Here at the Mandraki Harbour, probably had been the Colossus of Rhodes. Although you won't find him, it's a beautiful place - all the different ships and yachts, the clear water of the sea, the fortress Agios Nicolaos and of course the view on the old city wall with its gates and the Grand Masters Palace! At the harbour entrance, you now find two pillars with the heraldic animals of Rhodes - stag and hind. And from the harbour you can leave to Turkey (only 6 km away, depending on the weather you can see its mountains) or other Greek islands like Symi.

If you want to know more about the city of Rhodes, please take a look at my City of Rodos page.

Monolithos - the castle on the rock

The castle is about 2 km far from the village Monolithos at the west coast and was build 1476 by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem on the top of a 236 m high rock. It's a great view on it from the street that leads to it, so take a rest there! If you then drive down, you'll find a little parking with a snackbar. You have to climb up some steps, but not many, and you soon reach the castle (no admission). There's not much left, but you have a fantastic view on the sea and the landscape. There's also a little white chapel in the castle that can be visited, too.

Directions: West coast

Kritinia Castle

This castle (also called Kastellos) is situated close to the village Kamiros-Skala. It was build 1309 and renewed 1472. It's almost ruins nowadays, but still in good condition compared to other ones on Rhodes. Several walls are still left, as well as the tower and part of the old chapel. I found this castle very interesting and it offers a great view on the cost and some close islands!

There's no admission, but: if you're approaching the castle, you will be stopped by a woman who will give you a paper with something like "I'm cleaning here, so you should buy some of my fruits" (in several languages). We took some apricot, drove up to the castle, where is a little parking. And there again was a woman, and she wanted the same. Although we were fed up, we gave her 50 Cents - and got some melon pieces and a cucumber.

Directions: West coast.
If you come from north, you have to turn right shortly after Kamiros-Skala. There's a sign to the castle.