Top Places to Visit in Rhodes
1. Colossus of Rhodes site, Mandraki Harbour
Right next to the marina in Rhodes Town, you'll find the spot believed to be where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood, a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios, and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built around 280 BC to celebrate a military victory and collapsed in an earthquake less than 60 years later. Today two columns with a bronze deer and doe (Rhodes' symbols) mark the site. Free to visit, and an absolute 10/10. The history here is worth every step.
2. Ladiko & Anthony Quinn Bay Viewpoint
Two of the most beautiful bays on the island, and you need to see them from above. Head to Viewpoint Anthony Quinn Bay near Kallithea (coordinates: 36.3235, 28.2066), about 4 km south of Faliraki. Free entry.
Be careful driving there. The road up is narrow, technically two-way, but it felt pretty intense to navigate. There are also thorny bushes right along the edge, so be careful not to scratch your car.
3. Temple of Athena Lindia
A must-visit, no debate. It's the second most important ancient temple in Greece after the Acropolis in Athens, so it's absolutely worth the trip. Getting up there means climbing a lot of steep steps, so come prepared. Entry is €20, and the view from the top is stunning.
Right below the temple is the town of Lindos, postcard-Greece material, and I'll cover it in a separate post.
Plan your parking in advance. Cars aren't allowed into Lindos itself. There are paid parking lots nearby, but expect a 5 to 15 minute walk from there to the town.
4. Prasonisi Beach
The point where the Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet, dramatic, windswept, and one of the most atmospheric spots on the island. In summer, a sandy strip connects to the small island of Prasonisi, and you can walk across it. Free entry.
Don't drive onto the beach, it harms the local sea turtles. Leave your car in the parking area.
Practical tips
· Rent a car. Without one, you'll barely scratch the surface of what Rhodes has to offer. The narrower your car, the easier it'll be on some of these roads. I drove a Toyota Yaris and it worked fine, though in hindsight a Fiat might've been even easier to handle.
· Best time to go: I visited in April, and it was ideal. Few tourists, not too hot, not too cold, and everything was green and blooming. Downside: swimming is chilly if that's a priority for you.
· Check local holidays before you go. Our trip landed on one of the days of Orthodox Easter, and the opening hours of many places were different than usual. Google Maps didn't warn us about this. A lot of gas stations were closed too. Before our flight back, I had to drive around to 6 different stations before I finally found one open.
· Off-season prices: Hotels ranged from €40 to 60/night, and we got room upgrades almost everywhere we stayed.
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