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Municipal unit in Greece
Photo: Self, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Rhodes (Greek: Ρόδος, Ródos) is the largest settlement and capital city of the island of the same name. It is famous as the former site of the Colossus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and as the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe.
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can be split into outside, courtyard, outside wall, first floor and second floor. Open in season till 20:00, entry is €6. A combined ticket at €10 includes the Archeological museum, The Decorative Arts Collection and Our Lady of the Castle church with orthodox art and a few frescoes. The outside wall surrounding the old town is a separate ticket at an additional €3. The ticket line may take 30 minutes so get all your tickets at once. The city wall is only open from 12:00 to 15:00.The first floor (photos prohibited) contains some artifacts of Ancient Rhodes but is closed. In its absence, the entrance fee is entirely not worth it. The Archaeological Museum offers more selection and allows photos. Second floor has a variety of later "artifacts" such as mosaics from Kos and other odd bits and bobs, but it has almost no descriptions (probably to force people to wait for a tour guide). The Palace of the Grand Masters was demolished by a gunpowder explosion in 1856 and reconstructed by the Italians as a summer residence for Mussolini in 1940. This knowledge (that this isn't actually an authentic swords and knights castle and is instead basically a souped up country mansion) somewhat lessens the excitement. Take your photos outside, and come back to look inside when the ground floor exhibitions on Rhodes are open.
It has two floors, and most of the exhibits are on the second, past the big stairs. There are also gardens with statues and mosaic. Hard to find at the end of the garden is a several floor Ottoman home under reconstruction that is partially open. The museum operates a tour of the city walls Tuesdays and Saturdays at 08:00 leaving from the Palace of the Grand Masters. Visitors are simply allowed up on the walls to walk along the top of them at their own pace. This walk offers views of the town not otherwise available and is the best way to get an idea of the size of the town and the variety of its architecture.It is not guided.
Museum of Decorative Art
Very small museum with only one room.
Four subterranean "structures" cut into the rock, featuring entrance steps, passages, a large opening in the central roof, along with water cisterns, foliage and interior niches for statuettes. These "caves" were used for worship and recreational purposes.
Part of the northeast side of this porous peripteral temple has been restored.
Small marble theatre which held approximately 800 spectators. It was used for musical performances and rhetoric lessons of prominent Rhodians.
The impressive façade was visible from even the harbor. Today just one foundation wall remains.
The Artemis cult's place of worship is situated on the northeast side of the hill, amidst the ruins of other structures of similar function.
210-metre north-south stadium, restored by the Italians.
Institute of Marine Biology
Historical park featuring Roman water supply system of the ancient city of Rhodes. It runs along a creek gorge and has a lot of birds, including peacocks.
One of the best tavernas, serving innovations on traditional Greek dishes. The stuffed, roasted eggplant is notable.
A more traditional taverna with good mezedes.
pronounced MEE-kehs
A hole-in-the-wall place with outdoor seating in a cosy backstreet, tucked away from the tourist masses. Serves fish, salad, and wine, and not much else. Mikes is a very simple place to eat, but it is very pleasant, and the seafood, whilst being simple, is fresh, well prepared and tasty. The dorado is particularly tasty, and at €10 is good value.
The Sea Star
A decent sea food taverna with outdoor seating on the square. Fish is caught locally, then cooked on a grill built into the wall which means the smell of grilled sea food wafts over the local square! (Great publicity!) Because it's at the end of Sofokleos, you won't find quite as many people that come all the way down here, but it is worth giving the rest a miss and holding out for. The homemade tzatziki is very good, as is the grilled octopus.
A rare, wonderfully atmospheric survival of Ottoman old Rhodes in the middle of the tourist hordes. Run by a charming couple, it serves excellent coffee and a small range of other drinks. Not much food except for a few snacks.
Set in the quiet courtyard of an imposing 14th century town mansion, the Avalon cafe serves great drinks in a corner of Rhodes Old Town that most people don't even know exists. The courtyard is an oasis away from the bustle of Socratous St; make sure you head there when the cruise crowds get too much! Drinks are homemade, and the coffees are great, if a little expensive.
Coffee shop snack bar with a nice atmosphere in a fake Greek kind of way, but it's not too fake. A good, shaded place to grab a cold drink and rest from the sun and the busyness and tourist rat race that is Socratous St (so much so that you'll even find Greeks in there.)
Not good if your epilepsy is prone to photosensitivity.
Surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants, this hotel is a 3-minute walk from the beach, with easy access to old Rhodes city and the roads to ancient Lindos and Kalithea.
Adults-only hostel in Rhodes Old Town with dormitory and private rooms, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning.
Simple, well run hotel with good prices and location
Rhodes holiday villas vacation rentals
portfolio of vacation villas holiday rentals on Rhodes Island Greece
Beachfront location. Modern and chic with minimalist design. Public areas and spacious rooms overlook the beach. 5-star, high standard hotel.
Boutique hotel dedicated to fashion. Medieval and traditional oriental design influences and beds with silk bedspreads.
18 awards since its opening, accommodation with first class services. Right on the beach of Kallithea, 9 km away from Rhodes Town and 15 km away from the airport.
Original arts and creations by local artists, also the only place in the Old Town to sell historically accurate coat of arms of the Knights, medieval style heraldry and illuminated manuscripts.
By bus
Two bus stations are just outside the Old Town wall, near the waterfront, making buses a convenient way of getting to the city.
By ferry
There are regular ferries to Rhodes from Athens, Fethiye and Marmaris. There are 4 daily ferries from the Marmaris and Fethiye with Yeşil Marmaris,FerryTurk and e-Ferry.gr.
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Rhodes · International · RHO
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