We summed up why we fly in spring in our article on shoulder seasons. Besides working we also enjoy some time off, which is how this article came about – covering the best things to do in Rhodes.
Places to see on Rhodes
Rhodes is a popular destination visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists a year. But go out of season and you can look forward to empty beaches, uncrowded bars and lower prices for both food and accommodation. That’s how we managed five nights in the 5* Grand Hotel Mitsis for around 6,000 CZK – but more on that later.
The town of Rhodes
The town of Rhodes itself is worth a visit, and worth basing yourself in. It has, effectively, everything you need. Definitely get lost in the lanes, sit down in random places or just shop. The town also has a very nice promenade on the eastern side near the harbour. In the morning, when I used to go running, I’d watch the local fishermen coming back with their catch.
Don’t miss the town hall building, the harbour and its immediate surroundings, the centre of the new town and the promenade running from west to east.
The Medieval City of Rhodes
I have to admit the old town really is magnificent. First we couldn’t find the way in (evidently those walls were doing their job), and then we spent hours wandering the streets of the old town. Don’t be fooled into thinking there’s nothing behind the walls. Quite the opposite. The walls hide a fully developed civilisation full of shops selling kitsch, but also handmade goods (I’m taking a mug home!), and terraced restaurants with views.
Don’t rush anywhere and genuinely enjoy the visit. For me the best time is late afternoon, when the town isn’t baking.
Lindos
If you have a car or a scooter, definitely head down the east coast to the town of Lindos. Here you’ll find an ancient acropolis above the bay with a town built beneath it. You can easily spend more time in the town itself. The iconic white houses with little cafés and various shops will draw you in.
St Paul’s Bay
Another spot to visit on Rhodes is the photogenic St Paul’s Bay, tucked away a few hundred metres from the acropolis. Right by the water there’s a bar where you can get innocently drunk if you’re not paying attention.
Panagia Tsambika
The east coast is full of treasures. Besides Lindos, on our drive we stopped at the hill of Panagia Tsambika, where there’s a little church right at the top and a seriously good view. I had a similar view on my one-day climb up Olympus.
Everyone who stepped inside left with a piece of bread in their hand. After a bit of investigating it clicked: for a small donation you could enter the church and were rewarded with a piece of bread that volunteers carry up here every day. There’s a bench by the church where you could sit for hours and just stare down at the bay below.
Malonas
A short way north of Panagia Tsambika, up a gentle hill, are the remains of the Malonas acropolis. I’m no archaeologist, nor an avid explorer of ruins like this. But the view from the top was lovely.
Sunrise and sunset
The sunrises and sunsets really are beautiful. When I went for my morning run along the local promenade I’d enjoy the sunrise and an interesting kind of haze. Then I’d jump into the cold sea and the day could begin.
And at sunset, with a cold beer in hand, you’ll say just one thing – life really is worth it. You don’t have to be in a bar; just buy something to take away at a local shop and enjoy the sunset.
A few extra tips
You’ll appreciate this one mainly in season. The Valley of the Butterflies – walking through forest along a stream is a real pleasure in that heat. The Farm of Rhodes is a kind of mini zoo, and if you’re travelling with kids it’s time well spent.
The last tip is the waterpark north of Faliraki – an absolutely massive deal for kids and adults alike, if you don’t want to spend your time in the sea. Out of season I’d check the opening hours.
Bars, cafés and restaurants to visit on Rhodes
If you’re wondering what to do on Rhodes, the island is mainly about having fun, which is why we put a decent amount of attention into picking interesting bars, whether for an iconic view or an interesting setting.
If you’re in the north of the island you absolutely can’t miss Ronda Rhodes, which we came back to repeatedly. Besides a proper negroni, I’d recommend the monkey funky. Another bar near the old town is the open-air Union bar, hidden between the houses with a DJ and a great atmosphere.
Travelling north to south and back, on the eastern side of the island don’t miss Quinn Bay and the bar hidden in it, Kounna Beach & Resto Bar.
You can enjoy traditional gyros in pita in the lanes of the old town of Rhodes, surrounded by those massive walls. We headed to a carefully pre-selected place, Pita Nikos. I’m glad we did. The first thing that won me over was the slogan on the owner’s T-shirt: “Remember, I’ll treat you the way I treat my own children”. The gyros in pita came to 4.50 EUR and was superb.
We only found coffee prepared the way we like it in one single café, Monk Coffee. I had filter coffee served over ice, my colleague went for a cold brew. Traditional Greek frappé was a must too.
Getting around the island
The safest option is to rent a car and go explore the island. Allow two days for a relaxed tour of the whole place. Roads on the island are limited to 80 km/h, so you won’t speed up the north-south or east-west runs anyway. A car is the ideal way to tick off your list of what to see on Rhodes. Out of season a car works out at roughly 25-40 EUR at most. We rented a hybrid Fiat Panda and it was more than enough. The price can rise in season.
Another option is renting a scooter and exploring the immediate area. I didn’t take that one because of the gusty wind – the guy at the rental place talked me out of it. A scooter costs around 15-20 EUR a day. Again, that can change in season.
I wouldn’t recommend travelling around the island by bus. We originally intended to, but the locals themselves talked us out of it straight away.
The last option is hiring a driver with a car for the whole day. I floated that idea offhand to the taxi driver who took us from the airport. His answer was that I don’t even have that kind of money.
Where to stay
When looking for a bed we wanted rooms right by the sea. Thanks to the shoulder season we found, on Booking, an offer we couldn’t refuse.
The 5* Grand Hotel Mitsis sits at the very north of the island. It offers services from A to Z, and for 5 nights all-inclusive we paid roughly 6,000 CZK per person. For freelancers, an offer you really don’t refuse. The hotel’s facilities are great both for working and for vegetating. We had exclusive beach access, 2 hotel pools, 8 restaurants and unlimited consumption of everything.
That’s what travelling out of season gets you. Hotels do it mainly so they don’t have to close through the quieter period, which would ultimately cost them more than offering a stay at genuinely low prices.
The same applies to other accommodation, though. From what we saw, you can find an apartment for as little as 15 $ a night.
The best beaches to see on Rhodes
We’re settled in, so let’s go and find the best beaches. Generally the best beach is the one where they look after you, or where you’re completely alone. There are several of both on Rhodes. Below we’ll show you beaches mainly on the eastern side of the island. Check foreign blogs too and they’ll recommend the same thing – the eastern side is sheltered and the wind doesn’t hit it as hard.
- Prasonisi – a great beach where two seas meet; the rougher Aegean side has fantastic waves
- Paralia Faliraki
- Paralia Anthony Quinn
- Red Sand Beach
- Pallas Beach
When to go to Rhodes
It depends a lot on what your calendar allows. If you’re not limited, avoid the high season. But also avoid early spring and winter. Here’s why. Early spring, the end of March for instance, is very windy and the weather calls for a jacket. Through April the wind gradually eases, the sun warms pleasantly and the days are made for the beach (our case). Writing this article now, I regret not putting on sun cream. It has to be said the wind isn’t pleasant – it’s cold after winter and keeps you on your guard.
Summer, the high season, is defined by high temperatures, azure skies, warm sea – and also high prices and overcrowding.
Autumn, especially as it goes on, is the most ideal option. Both the air and the sea are warmed through from the scorching summer and everything points to time well spent. As the tourists disappear the prices drop too and the island breathes easier.
How to pay on Rhodes
There’s an easy answer. I took a 20-euro note on the trip and I’m taking it back to Czechia with me. You can pay by card all over the island. We used cash in restaurants where the owner was likeable, or for tips.
On the road I use Revolut exclusively, which gives me the best rates, unlimited exchange and virtual cards on my phone. They have several plans, but the basic free one will do.
How to get from the airport
The journey towards everything there is to see on Rhodes starts with your first steps at the airport – and above all you need to get out of it. There are two options. The first is the bus, which runs every 40 minutes (check the official website for more). You can buy a ticket online or from the driver. The fare is 2.50 EUR.
The second option is a taxi. That’s what we used, because the bus left right under our noses. We wanted to haggle to save a bit, but taxis from the airport run into the centre of Rhodes at a flat rate of 27 EUR. It was all demonstrated to us by pointing at the posted signs. But the crucial bit is the journey to the airport. The price back to the airport is open to negotiation. From the centre of Rhodes you can get there for as little as 18 EUR.
