The island of Rhodes is situated in the South Aegean Sea. It is the largest island in the Dodecanese and the fourth in Greece after Crete, Evia and Lesvos (Lesbos).

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It has a long history, a rich natural environment, beautiful beaches and modern tourist facilities, elements that have for decades made it a one of the most popular tourist destinations both nationally and worldwide.

The island of Rhodes is oblong and has the shape of a spear edge. Located about 460 kilometers southeast of Athens, 380 km west of Cyprus and 18 km southwest of Turkey. Its length is 77 km, width 37 km and total area of 1,401 square kilometers (1,408,749 acres). It has 253 kilometers of coastline. The island can be described as mountainous with the highest mountains the Attavyros (1210 meters), the Artamytis (825 meters) and the Prophet Ilias (800 meters).

The population according to the latest census amounts to 125.113 inhabitants.

The island can be reached both by air or sea.

Rhodes has an International Airport, “Diagoras”, located in Paradisi, 15 km from Rhodes town.

The inhabitants of Rhodes speak except from the Greek language mostly English, and many of them know other languages like German,French , Italian, Spanish, Russian and others.

The official currency is the euro.

Standard Time: UTC / GMT +2 hours
Summer Time: UTC / GMT +3 hours

Accommodation

The city and island of Rhodes offer to the visitor accommodation services affordable for anyone. In modern hotels, the visitor enjoys top-level services. As exceptional as the accommodation are the conference facilities of our city and island, which often host international political, financial and academic meetings. more infomation

Sigts

Museums

Areas of Natural Beauty

Rodini Park
The Rodini Park is a paradise located on Rhodes Lindos Avenue, 3 kilometers from Rhodes Town.
It is one of the oldest parks in the world and known for its lush and diverse vegetation.
The bridges, wonderful trails and ponds filled with water lilies, make up the idyllic landscape filled with rare plants and small zoo.

The Source in Fasouli Psinthos

Coming from Kalithea Village, at the junction, follow the road to Psinthos Village and Psinthos Source Fasouli. Here you can enjoy a natural environment centered around a stream rich in hydrophilic vegetation and tall trees (platanus orientalis), myrtle (myrtus communis).
A small dam 90 meters long halts the water flow forming a small lake which is home to the unique and protected Gizani Fish. The stone paths built along the river attract many visitors to the area.

The Valley of the Butterflies

It is located 25 kilometers from the city of Rhodes near the area of Kalamonas. It is in this rare habitat that the butterfly Panaxia Quadripunctaria makes its appearance from mid-June to mid-September.
Following the specially designed trails and wooden bridges, view the incredible beauty of the ponds filled with water lilies, waterfalls, vegetation, crystal waters and enjoy this unique natural phenomenon.

The stone stairs you will encounter lead to the Monastery of Virgin Kalopetra, built by Dimitri Ypsilanti in 1782. The Natural History Museum of Rhodes at the entrance to the valley, exhibits display cases representing the conditions of the natural environment. The exhibits include rare and common species from the area, library, plus a modern conceptual and botanical laboratory.

Prophet Elias
Prophet Elias at an altitude of 700 meters took its name from the Monastery of Prophet Elias, when the Italians occupied the Dodecanese on May 5th 1912 and began rebuilding the island.
In the 1930’s they built in Eleoussa (Campo Ciaro) and at the summit two beautiful hotels called Elafos (deer) in 1929 and then Elafina (female deer) in 1932, also know as “Cervo e Cerna”. They were built in Italian architectural Western Tyrolean chalet style. These hotels were renovated in 1950. The site of Prophet Elias is woodland inhabited by thousands of deer.

The Seven Springs

They are located 19 kilometers southeast of Rhodes Town and very near to the Village of Archangelos. It is a fantastic location, with lots of pine trees that reveal the greatness of nature.
The seven springs lead to a lake where you can see geese, ducks and peacocks. The temperature in the region is low. The water is channelled and used to irrigate the plains and field of Kolymbia.
It’s worthwhile to visit the tunnel built by the Italians that leads to an artificial lake all filled with cold water.

Dam of Apollakia

The dam of Apollakia is an artificial lake in beautiful wetland that is unique to the island.
The lake has environmental value due to its many rare wild flowers and fauna.
A Water Sports Center has its installations and equipment in the dam and attracts the many Greek and foreign visitors.
It has been included in the Natura 2000 network as a protected area.

Prassonisi

Prassonisi is located at the southernmost part of the island, 90 kilometers from the city of Rhodes.
This small peninsula is a paradise for windsurfers in the summer months as its right side is distinguished for its large waves (surfing equipment available for rent).
During the winter it is known for peace and isolation.
A 500 meter strip of beach joins The Prassonisi (Green Island) to Rhodes.

listed locations

Castles

Archangelos Castle
archaggeloskastro1Located in Kerami at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level, 27 Km south of Rhodes Town and a short distance from the coast.
It is built on a rock 217 meters high, east of the Village of Archangelos and has an elliptic shape.
As mentioned in the decree Knights it was built in the 15th century to effectively protect the villagers from any danger.
The earliest findings date back to 1100 BC. Today it is a restored monument.

Castle Monolithos

It is located on the top of a huge solitary rock near the coast. Built in the 14th century by the Knights in order to have control of the sea and protect the inhabitants from pirate raids. Inside the castle you can find rescued cisterns and the ruins of the Church of Saint Panteleimon. The view from the castle is breathtaking.

The Medieval Castle of Kritinia

It is Located 2 kilometers northwest of the Village Kritinia and 55 kilometers from the city of Rhodes. It is a blend of Byzantine and Medieval style that is known as Kastelli. Inside are the remains of the Catholic Church of Saint Paul and newer buildings, as the castle was used during the Italian occupation as a sea base.

The Knights Castle of Asklipio

This is located on a hill 250 meters high in the Village Asklepio. Built in 15th century in 2 phases: the first fortified the square tower and the second tower in the northwest corner was repaired.
The castle was built to protect the settlement of the village, since its location allowed the supervision of a large section of coastline and inland roads. The perimeter wall is 1.30-1.50 meters thick. Inside the fortress there are two cisterns and ruins.

The Feraklos Castle

feraklouCastle built near the village of Malona on a hill 85 metres high overlooking the sea between the bays of Ayia Agathe and Charaki. It is also known as Faraklo or Charaki. Its remains date from the Byzantine and Hospitaller periods. One gate and two 15th c. round towers still survive to the south and southeast. The arms of the Order of St. John and of Grand Master G. B. degli Orsini are incorporated in the masonry facing the sea.

feraklou1The conquest of Feraklos by the Knights Hospitaller on 20 September 1306 was the first success of the Order in its endeavor to conquer the island. Before 1408 the castle was deserted. It was repaired under grand masters Orsini (1467-1476) and Pierre d’ Aubusson (1476-1503), for the protection of the fertile territory around and the nearby anchorages.

Gastronomy

Most traditional recipes of Rhodes have their roots in Dorian Rhodes, the days when the cereal had a special place in the diet of the Rhodians. The Athenian in his “deipnosofistai” says the Rhodians at the beginning of the dinner brought bread among them the “Escharity” (a cake with olive oil, something like today’s “pancake with honey”), and another bread was called “atavyritis”

In ancient Rhodes, fish soup was particularly favored. The fact that marine products had a very little place in the traditional diet indicates that the recipes were formed during the late medieval and modern times when the shipping in Rhodes declined due to historical circumstances, and turned the island’s inhabitants towards agriculture and animal farming.

One encounters in some of the eating habits of the Rhodians in many Mediterranean regions such as Asia Minor and southern Italy, reflecting the ancient family ties and contacts Rhodes had with them. The cuisine was not only used for the satisfaction of biological needs but to strengthen socio-cultural relations with different people and groups.

Some food has initiatory or religious character, such as recipes for meat, fish and sweets that surround engagements,weddings, baptism and religious holidays such as Easter, Christmas and the Assumption (15th of August).

Given that Rhodes has always been a crossroad of culture so the taste and the nutrition information derives from Asia, Europe and Africa. The basis of Rhodian cuisine was always wheat and olives, while most food items came from island’s farming and fishing.

Today Rhodian culinary delights are based on the delicacies of the sea, salads created by new products such as avocado, arugula and tarragon grown on the island and cooked meats with new modern recipes.

Monuments of Religion

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