Sun, sea, sand and as the saying goes, the rest is history. That is Rhodes in a nutshell. An enduring summer sunshine favourite, the Greek island of Rhodes offers much more than your average one-dimensional Mediterranean beach playground, not least its captivating ancient history. This is the largest of the Dodecanese group of islands and just a short hop from Asia Minor. There is a rich ancient history dating back 3,000 years yet a holiday in Rhodes is certainly not restricted to a never ending tour bus schedule of ancient churches and ruined temples.
The infrastructure connects a wealth of sleepy coastal and mountain villages with vibrant Rhodes Town which offers a flavour of modern life in medieval surroundings and on to a number of busy beach resorts such as full-on pleasure seeking Faliraki and Ialysos. While the island boasts an endless coastline of golden sandy bays and beaches, there are plenty of active pursuits to get stuck into. During July and August there is a constant stream of surfers heading to the far south at Prasonisi – arguably the finest stretch of sand on Rhodes. Kalithea is the island’s scuba diving haven while the motto in hectic Faliraki is ‘anything goes’ – from bungee jumping, jet skiing, paragliding and the ubiquitous banana boat rides. Less taxing pursuits include cycling tours taking in a wealth of ancient monuments, horseback treks and a round or two of golf.
If you can stomach the peak season crowds, Faliraki is as good a beach base as any for family holidays in Rhodes – virtually everything is on the doorstep and for some serious shopping and a little more sophistication (not to mention fabulous history and art) Rhodes Town is just a short hop away. Faliraki’s main kid-pleasing attraction is undoubtedly its sprawling water park – a watery Disneyland of thrill rides, wave pools, lazy rivers and huge slides. Following hot on its heels for popularity is the funfair and go kart track at Luna Park. Neon-lit Faliraki is not for the faint hearted after dark but is safe and older teenagers will have a ball from dusk until dawn.
With its ancient Acropolis and picture postcard white stucco houses, picturesque Lindos is the very essence of Greek Island life. The view of town and the ocean from the fortified hilltop is alone worth fighting through the hordes of day trippers who descend here each July and August. At any other time, it is even more magical and kids will find it extremely captivating too.
A holiday in Rhodes should definitely make a beeline for the old town which will delight all ages with its vibrant atmosphere and fascinating landmarks – don’t miss the Street of the Knights and the Grand Masters Palace for the perfect photo opportunity. You’ll discover great shopping, a lavish casino and hip café bars and lounges that put Faliraki’s legendary nightlife to shame. For a little splash of culture, there are several places to watch or partake in traditional Greek folk dancing. Outside the city, some of the more unusual distractions include an ostrich farm or the serene ‘Butterfly Valley’ or you can even take a day trip across the strait to Marmaris in Turkey.
Directline Holidays offers a range of holidays to Rhodes. If you would like to read a bit more on Rhodes then click here.
