Looking for the top things to do in Rhodes? Read further and find out!
This idyllic island boasts stunning beaches, rich history, and a vibrant culture sure to capture your heart.
From ancient ruins which speak of a bygone era to modern-day entertainment spots, there’s something for everyone here. Take time for relaxation at one of its incredible beaches with crystal clear waters lapping onto the white sand. If you’re feeling active, why not explore some archaeological sites such as Kameiros or Ialyssos? Or, if you’re looking for more energetic experiences, participate in some water sports activities like snorkeling and kayaking.
Rhodes is also known for its unique cuisine made up of locally sourced ingredients that are bursting with flavor. Explore the local tavernas and restaurants to sample traditional dishes such as yemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers), moussaka (baked aubergine slices), or kritharaki (orzo pasta). Besides delicious food, you can also find an amazing array of wine bars offering local and international tipples.
At night, make sure not to miss out on experiencing vivid Greek nightlife – from lively bars to dancing clubs and much more! Whether dancing until dawn or sipping cocktails under starlit skies, you’re sure to find plenty of ways to enjoy yourself during your stay in Rhodes.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Rhodes Town: Day Trip to Lindos
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Experiences and top things to do in Rhodes, Greece
Go Back in Time
If you are a history enthusiast trying to figure out what to do in Rhodes, then you should go to The Old City of Rhodes, an ancient city surrounded by the Medieval wall.
You can use seven gates to enter this Rhodes tourist attraction: The gate of the Naval Station, Gate of Agios Ioannis, Gate of Agia Ekaterini, Gate of the Apostle Paul, Gate of Amboise, Gate of Agios Athanasios and the Gate of the Port.
Once you go through one of these gates, you will be brought to an entirely different world. Though The Old City of Rhodes is now packed with plenty of touristy things, like gift shops, cafes, and restaurants which all remind us of the scene of a
Turkish bazaar, you still can feel the atmosphere from the Medieval period.
This Rhodes point of interest happened to be one of the last fortresses of the Christian knights during the Crusades War. The city finally fell to the hand of the Ottoman Empire, and in 1523, the Christian knights and thousands of Christian inhabitants were given a chance to leave the city safely.
As one of the fascinating Rhodes tourist attractions, the Old City of Rhodes has plenty of charms that deserve to be the highlights of Rhodes tourism. This medieval town consists of three parts.
You will find the Acropolis of The Knights and the Palace of The Grand Masters, some of the majestic objects in Rhodes, in the northern part of the Old City. The southern part of The Old City of Rhodes is a residential area.
Hora, also known as the Turkish Quarter, is located in this town. The third part of the Old City is the Jewish quarter. There are not many tourism facilities in this last part of Old City.
Like the name, The Old City of Rhodes treasures many ancient buildings, one of the oldest sites you will see here is the ruins of The Aphrodite Temple, which dates back to the 3rd century.
The street of Knights is the most impressive place to go sightseeing in Rhodes. Take a walk in this beautifully preserved medieval street, and let your imagination take you back to the epic Crusades War.
This old town has plenty more Rhodes tourist attractions, such as the Sulaiman Mosque and Lodge of the Battalion of France. Exploring The Old City is one of the things you should put in your what to do in the Rhodes list.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Rhodes: Butterfly Valley and Chalki Island Day Trip
Read also: Top 14 Things to do in Santorini
Play with Butterflies
If you are planning your trip and looking for unique things to do in Rhodes, you should consider having a walk in the scenic Butterfly Valley. This nature reserve has a lot to offer. If you visit Rhodes during the wet season, such as in May, you may be lucky enough to see swarms of butterflies covering the area.
Butterfly Valley is not only a great place to go sightseeing in Rhodes, but this place also offers one of the best Rhodes tourist attractions with an educational purpose. Inside Butterfly Valley, you will find one of the most impressive museums in Rhodes, the Museum of Natural History. The highlight of this museum is the butterfly hatchery installed in one of its areas.
Butterfly Valley or the locals call it Petaloúdes, is situated in the northern region of Rhodes. It is 26 kilometers away from the center of the town.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Rhodes North: 4×4 Polaris Buggy Off-Road Adventure
Read also: Top 10 Things to do in Athens
Explore Rustic Rural Area
About 50 kilometers from the town of Rhodes lies a small but incredibly scenic village called Lindos. Lines of cubical Mediterranean white houses surrounded by two stunning beaches have made Lindos one of the most attractive Rhodes points of interest.
The highlight of this Rhodes village is the Acropolis that sits on the top of the hill — popularly known as the Acropolis of Lindos. The Acropolis houses many fascinating ancient ruins that will amaze you.
A boat relief carved on a rock is believed to have been made in 180 BC. You will also find the Byzantine Church of St. John on this site. The church was constructed in the 13th and 14th centuries.
At the top of the Acropolis of Lindos, you will find the Temple of Athena Lindia. This temple is probably the oldest site here since it was thought to be built in 300 BC.
Lindos is also blessed with fabulous beaches, making the village the perfect getaway during the summer. Some of the best hotels in Rhodes can be found in this area. If you are looking for exclusive hotels in Rhodes, you should stay at the adult-only AquaGrand Exclusive Deluxe Resort.
For those who travel to Rhodes with kids and are looking for family-friendly hotels in Rhodes, try Lambis Studios & Apartments. These hotels are within walking distance of Lindo’s amazing beaches.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Bus Trip to Lindos Village & Seven Springs
Read also: Islands in Europe: Top 10 Best Island Holidays in Europe to Visit
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Lay Down on Golden Sandy Beach
Not far from the city of Rhodes, just about half an hour’s drive to the south, you will find one of the mesmerizing gems of Rhodes tourism, Tsambika. Tsambika is blessed with the h astonishing golden sandy beach along the pristine turquoise water.
Tsambika beach is famous among sports water enthusiasts since this Rhodes tourist attraction is packed with sport water facilities. After all the excitement from doing the watersports, you can lie down and relax on the warm sandy beach, trying to get a beautiful summer tan.
In Tsambika, you will also find an impressive monastery, best known as the Monastery of Tsambika. This monastery is also one of the most popular Rhodes points of interest.
Climb all those 350 steps to reach the top, and you will be awarded this stunning view of Tsambika and Kolymbia. This place is, without a doubt, one of the best spots to go sightseeing in Rhodes.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Rhodes: Cruise to Quinn Bay, Afandou, & Kallithea with Lunch
Read also: Top 15 Best Beaches in Europe to Visit
Have A Day Trip Across The Sea
The next best thing on your what to do in Rhodes list is having a day trip to Symi. This island is just north of Rhodes. You can go there by ferry. Used to be famous for its wooden ship-making industry, now it has become a popular tourist destination. Many tourists who go to Rhodes also decide to participate in a one-day tour from Rhodes to Symi.
You will be greeted by a scenic harbor dotted with vibrantly colorful boats when you go to Symi. Once you arrive at Symi, you can explore the tiny island by scooter. There are several scooter rentals available in Symi.
Visit the island’s southern coast to visit the Panormitis Monastery, which dates back to the 15th century. If you prefer a lazy day under the sun, head to Pedi. This coastal village is a perfect spot to go sunbathing. For those who prefer a less crowded beach, go to the secluded Marathounda Bay.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Rhodes: Full-Day Boat Trip to Symi Island
Read also: Secret Destinations: Top 13 Natural Wonders of Europe You Must Visit
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Enter The Underwater World
One of the most thrilling things to do in Rhodes is scuba diving. Blessed with clear warm water, Rhodes is a heaven for divers. For many years, Rhodes tourism has attracted many diving enthusiasts from all over the world.
More and more diving centers are established on this island, giving tourists more choices to go diving. Not only providing diving equipment and take you to the best diving spots in Rhodes, but most diving centers in Rhodes also offer diving lessons for people of varied ages and diving skills.
Some of the best Rhodes diving centers are The Waterhoppers, located in the town, and Lepia Dive Center, which can be found in Pefki.
As for the diving spots, there are many that you can choose from. Some diving places are safe for beginners, while others require more advanced diving skills as these spots are deep.
The most popular Rhodes diving spots are the Giannoula shipwreck in Plimiri Beach, the Mediterranean Reef in St Paul’s Bay Lindos, and the Complex of Caves in Pentanissos islet.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Rhodes City: Boat Day Trip to Lindos
Read also: Summer in Europe: Top 14 Best Summer Destinations in Europe
Meet The Knights, The Fairies, and The Witches
If you visit Rhodes in May or June, chances are you will be lucky enough to experience one of the biggest festivals in Rhodes, the Medieval Rose Festival.
This annual Rhodes event was first held in 2005 with its mission to recreate and introduce life during the Medieval era through artistic performances, fun games, and engaging workshops.
Participants of this Rhodes festival have to dress up according to the Medieval fashion style. They can also wear costumes of famous story characters of that period. No wonder you will see many knights, fairies, witches, and even dragons during the Medieval Rose Festival.
The Medieval Rose Festival is held for one weekend in May or June. The event venue in Rhodes varies, but it is always held in a historical site, such as The Old City of Rhodes, Lindos, and other castles or fortresses.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Rhodes: Premium Catamaran Day Cruise with Lunch & Drinks
Read also: Best Road Trips in Europe: Top 15 European Road Trip Ideas
Have A Picnic by The Springs
One of the most scenic things to see in Rhodes is the Seven Springs. The Seven Springs, locally called Epta Piges, lies on the east coast of Rhodes, between Kolymbia and Archipolis, to be exact.
In this beautiful natural setting, you will find seven water springs that never run dry, even on the hottest days of the summer. Those springs build up some rivers, which all end up forming a manmade lake.
The Italians built the lake to water their farm. You can have a charming picnic here, or if you do not want to bring your own food, you can go to the taverna available here.
Some hiking trails are available here for those who enjoy outdoor activities, making Seven Springs one of the best Rhodes tourist attractions for hikers.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Rhodes: All Inclusive Day Cruise with BBQ & Unlimited Drinks
Read also: Top 8 Warmest Places in Europe in December
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Take A Stroll on An Ancient Park
Rodini Park, one of the most beautiful tourist attractions to go sightseeing in Rhodes, is probably the oldest landscaped garden in the world. You will see traces of ancient remarks in this park, such as the tomb of the Ptolemies and the remains of aqueducts built by the Romans.
Rodini Park is a perfect Rhodes point of interest for those who enjoy a casual stroll in nature. Walk along the banks of clear water streams. During your journey, you may bump into some beautiful peacocks that live here.
The idyllic Rodini Park is located only several kilometers away from Rhodes.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Rhodes: High-Speed Boat Cruise to Symi Island
Read also: Top 20 Cheap European Holiday Destinations and Countries to Visit
Feel The Adrenalin Rush
For those who claim to be adrenaline junkies, there are plenty of extreme things to do in Rhodes, especially for those who enjoy water sports. Dotted with fabulous beaches and friendly seas, Rhodes is worth visiting by extreme sports lovers.
If you are a fan of jet skis, you should go to Faliraki, Kolymbia, or Tsambika. Faliraki is also an excellent spot for water skiing. Surfers are suggested to bring their boards to Prasonisi.
Prasonisi provides two kinds of surfing spots, one with few waves, which is ideal for beginners, and the other offers challenging waves to conquer by skilled surfers. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are also available in Prasonisi, making this beach one of the best places to visit in Rhodes.
Where to stay in Rhodes? Find great deals and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Rhodes Town: Boat Trip to Symi Island and St George Bay
Read also: Best Cities in Europe to Visit: Top Weekend Getaways in Europe!
Where to stay in Rhodes
Booking.comTours to do in Rhodes
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