Rhodes Holidays

Mount Attavyros, the highest point on Rhodes, gives visitors a more demanding way to experience the island’s interior. Hiking routes climb through rocky terrain towards broad views across the countryside and coast, making the mountain a rewarding contrast to the busier resort areas.

Cycling is a good way to see the quieter side of Rhodes, with routes passing villages, countryside and more remote stretches of the island. Visitors can choose from mixed terrain and different difficulty levels, including routes covered by the island’s official Routes n’ Rhodes network.

Prasonisi at the southern tip of Rhodes is one of the island’s best-known windsurfing areas. Visitors can make use of the reliable summer winds and open coastal setting, with conditions also attracting kitesurfers looking for a more energetic day on the water.

Scuba diving gives visitors the chance to experience Rhodes below the surface, with organised centres operating from Rhodes Town and other coastal areas. Trips reveal rocky seabeds and underwater scenery, adding a very different perspective to an island usually explored from the shore.

Kayaking works well for visitors who want to explore at a slower pace, whether along the coastline or on inland waters such as Lake Apolakkia. It offers a quieter way to take in the landscape while still adding some activity to the day.

Sailing lets visitors experience Rhodes from the water, combining open-sea views with stretches of coastline that feel very different from the main roads and resorts. Trips can be an easy way to spend several hours away from the island’s busier sightseeing areas.

Ancient Ialysos developed around the hill of Filerimos and was one of Rhodes’s three important ancient cities. Visitors can explore archaeological remains alongside later religious buildings, seeing how the area retained significance through ancient, Byzantine and medieval periods.

Kritinia Castle was built by the Knights of Saint John to strengthen Rhodes’s western defences. Visitors can explore surviving walls and towers while seeing how its elevated position helped protect the island and monitor movement along the coast.

Filerimos combines ancient remains with Byzantine and medieval religious history on the same hill. Visitors can walk through monastery buildings, chapels and archaeological traces, making it a useful place for understanding how different periods of Rhodes’s history developed in one location.

Rhodes Town still preserves traces of Ottoman rule through mosques, fountains, baths and residential architecture. Visitors can explore this later chapter of the island’s history within the Old Town, seeing how medieval spaces were adapted after the Ottoman conquest of 15

Rhodes once had a significant Sephardic Jewish community centred around the Old Town’s Jewish Quarter. Visitors can learn about this history through the Kahal Shalom Synagogue and nearby museum, which preserve stories of community life, migration and the Second World War.

Villages such as Embonas, Archangelos and Apollona offer a quieter look at everyday Rhodian life. Visitors can spend time around village squares, family-run tavernas and local shops, where food, music and community traditions still feel closely tied to the island.

Pottery has a long tradition on Rhodes, alongside embroidery, woodwork and handmade leather goods. Visitors can see local designs in workshops, museums and small shops, with many pieces reflecting techniques and decorative styles that have been passed down through generations.

Music and dancing remain part of community life across Rhodes, particularly in villages. Visitors may encounter traditional instruments, group dances and performances that have been passed between generations and still feature prominently at local gatherings.

Churches, monasteries, mosques and synagogues reflect the different communities that have shaped Rhodes over time. Visitors can see how religious traditions remain part of local identity, particularly around feast days, when processions, services and village gatherings become part of public life.

Food on Rhodes reflects influences from the Aegean, Mediterranean and periods of Ottoman and Italian rule. Visitors can experience this through local dishes, village produce, wine and family-run tavernas, where recipes often rely on grains, herbs, pulses, olive oil and regional ingredients.

Rhodes Town is one of the easiest places to spend an evening, with bars, restaurants and cafés spread through the Old Town and surrounding central streets. Visitors can move between quieter terraces and livelier areas without needing to plan the night too carefully.

Faliraki is one of the island’s liveliest resort areas after dark, with bars, clubs and late-night venues attracting a younger crowd. Visitors looking for a more energetic evening will find plenty concentrated within walking distance of the main resort streets.

Lindos has a more relaxed evening atmosphere, with rooftop bars, courtyard restaurants and small venues tucked between whitewashed streets. Visitors can enjoy dinner or drinks with views towards the acropolis and surrounding hills, making it a calmer alternative to the larger resorts.

Live music and organised Greek nights are common in tavernas and entertainment venues across Rhodes. Visitors can combine dinner with traditional music, dancing and local performances, particularly in village areas and popular resorts during the main holiday season.

Summer brings outdoor concerts, performances and cultural events to squares, historic spaces and resort areas around Rhodes. Visitors can catch everything from local music to seasonal shows, adding an easy evening option alongside restaurants and nightlife.

Mandraki is especially pleasant in the evening, when the harbourfront fills with walkers, diners and people stopping for drinks. Visitors can stroll beside the marina and historic harbour before continuing into nearby Rhodes Town for dinner or late-night entertainment.

The Medieval Rose Festival brings the island’s Knights-era history to life with performances, costumes, music and demonstrations around Rhodes Old Town. Visitors can experience the medieval setting in a more theatrical way, with activities designed around the city’s Crusader past.

Held in Rhodes Town, the Rhodes Street Food Festival brings together food stalls, live entertainment and a lively summer atmosphere. The 2026 edition ran from 3 to 12 July, marking the festival’s 10th anniversary.

The Honey and Souma Festival in Sianna celebrates two well-known local products: Rhodian honey and souma, a traditional grape spirit. When held, visitors can expect tastings, music, dancing and village-style festivities centred around local food and drink traditions.

Rhodes Municipality runs a broad summer programme of concerts, exhibitions, cinema and performances across the island. Visitors can find events in historic venues, theatres and public spaces, with the programme changing each year.

Village feast days remain an important part of local life across Rhodes, combining church services with food, music and dancing. Visitors travelling in summer may come across celebrations dedicated to local saints, particularly in smaller villages away from the main resorts.