Rhodes: The capital

The capital of Rhodes is totally unique on the island. On one hand, it offers the background of a modern city including hotels, shopping centres, sports activities, culture and historical sites, on the other hand, you will also find there many beautiful and peaceful secluded places where you can be alone and get to know the genuine spirit of this historic city, as well as the life of the locals.

Rhodes beaches

Rhodes is located on the northernmost promontory of the island. Except for the port, there are beaches stretching almost all along the city. In the north-west, there starts a long beach already near the Ixia resort, continuing up to the northernmost tip. The pebbly beach is about 50-70 m wide, but to get there, you need to cross the main road. So, you walk out from the hotel or the city centre, cross the road, and have a wide stretch with some vegetation here and there in front of you with complete beach equipment, including tavernas, deckchairs and rental services.

In the very tip of Rhodes, you will find a small green park with the building of an aquarium built by the Italians in 1936 (for a virtual visit, see here). The aquarium building is surrounded by a 100 to 200 m wide beach that continues on the other side of the tip to the south-east - which is maybe the best part to spend a holiday. 

The beach is called Eli, it is about 800 m long and between 50 and 80 m wide all along its length. The traffic there is not so busy and it all looks more like a huge pedestrian area. You will find there five-storey hotels with a stretch of trees and lawns and the pavement passing to the beach smoothly. If you like places that are lively, Rhodes will be the destination for you. The ground floors of the hotels are reserved for little shops and tavernas, and there are maybe thousands of them, each being different. The beach has all the equipment you can imagine, and all the place is really bustling. You will also find there many rental services of different sports equipment.

Rhodes historical sites

The city obviously includes a huge number of historical sites and places of interest - besides the already mentioned aquarium, you can visit the old port of Mandraki, the Evangelismos Church opposite the port, windmills, or the national theatre of the Rhodes island with the capacity for 1070 spectators, famous for its perfect acoustics in the whole Aegean Sea.

Yet the true landmark for which hundreds of thousands of people visit the city every year, is the old town - the unique location full of historical sites dating from the Byzantine and the Ottoman eras as well as the Middle Ages, being part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The old town is so vast that a special section has been dedicated to it - see Rhodes Old Town.

Rhodes surroundings

As for the city surroundings, things get a bit difficult. Rhodes is perfect for an active stay with all its nightlife, bathing and unlimited entertainment. In the city centre, there is even a Bar Street full of bars, discos and nightclubs. Also in the old part of the city there is plenty of venues with their distinctive, almost oriental atmosphere. Yet to get to know other beauties of the island, Rhodes is not that perfect. The city is located in the tip of the island, and to get there, you need to pass through the quite boring part (the upper third) of the island. Also you will probably have trouble finding a place where to park your rented car near your hotel.

If you want to set off from Rhodes to other places located in the bottom two thirds of the island, you should always count on approximately an hour before you get to the city suburbs and back. In other words, if you want to explore the island, try other resorts like Lindos, Pefki or Kolymbia, and go to Rhodes for a one-day trip only.

Who is Rhodes suitable for?

If you want to enjoy the city bustle and nightlife, only wanting to see the old town, then just go. Yet given the character of the resort, it is not really recommendable for families with small children.

Where else to go on Rhodes?

Some of the most visited resorts on Rhodes are: Faliraki, Gennadi, Haraki, Ialyssos, Ixia, Kalathos, Kalithea, Kiotari, Kolymbia, Koskinou, Kremasti, Lardos, Lindos, Pefki, Rhodos, Stegna and Theologos.