Ródos (Rodos) in Greece

About one million people visit Rhodes every year, which is said to be Helio’s island-the Son of the Sun. In average it has sun 300 days per year. Rhodes offers a little bit of everything – city, country side, beaches and peaceful nature. The east side has the best beaches with less wind. Kallithea is the closest beach to Rhodos (city). In the very south of Rhodes you find the beach Prassonisi which is well visited by surfers from all over the world. On the west coast you find the surroundings a bit rockier. You will not see as much tourism but many villages that are well worth a visit.

Rodos (city) is filled of ancient remains and if you manage to escape the tourist streets you might think you have traveled back in time. In the old city you can find the Palace of the Grand magister, a cathedral and a wild mix from different time eras. Rodos (city) is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Well outside the city you will see mountains and beaches with crystal clear water and amazing beaches.

By Air

The island is served by Diagoras International Airport with the IATA code RHO. The airport is situated on the west coast about 14km from Rhodes Town. There are regular flights to and from Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete; charter airlines connect Rhodes with many major cities all over Europe. In 2006 a new wing was built at Diagoras Airport, that opened in 2007 to service only the charter flights, which during high season can reach 150-180 per day! Notice that the airport parking is small.

By boat

Daily boats connect Athens (via the port of Pireas) to Rodos. It takes approximately 15 hours to rech the port of Rodos.

Rhodes is accessable via ferry  and from Symi, Tilos, and Bodrum, as well as Datca and Marmaris in Turkey.

Cruise ships dock at the Commercial Port, east of Rhodes (city)'s Old Town.

By bus

Public buses operate throughout the islands.

The main bus terminal in Rhodes city is the Neá Agorá (New Market). Schedules and prices can be found at the ticket booths.

Tickets can also be bought in the bus from a cashier or directly from the driver. Keep your ticket until the end of your voyage. The price of a bus ticket will depend on the destination. For example, a trip from Rhodes city to Faliraki will cost 1.80 Euros.

Bus stops on the road are marked by a sign, but do not hesitate to signal a bus driver that you wish to board. Bus stops do not have the timetables displayed.

One useful line is the 21, which serves the large hotels on Rhodes' east coast with Faliraki as the final destination, departs from Rhodes (city)|Rhodes city almost every half-hour.

By taxi

Taxis on Rhodes are dark blue with white roofs. There is a list of expected maximum taxi charges you can obtain from the tourist information office. For example, a trip from Rhodes city to Faliraki should not cost more than 13 Euros; the trip from the Airport to Rhodes city a maximum of 16 euros. The minimum fare for each trip is 4.00 Euros, the taximeter starts at 0.85 Euros. Never let the driver turn off the meter.

You can radio a taxi via telephone number 22410 69800. This adds a standard surcharge of 1.50 Euros. Waiting fare is 7.90 Euros per hour. Between midnight and 5:00am you will have to pay twice the normal rates. You can book ahead to avoid delays at high traffic times such as weekends.

Within Rhodes city limits, fixed rates are applied. If you get a taxi from one of the taxi stations or stop one in the street, the fare is 5.00 Euros. At the main taxi station, close to the New Market (Mandraki), there are hosts that try to cut down waiting time by making sure that the taxis doesn't leave half empty-especially if you are going a bit further. If you share a taxi within the Rhodes city limits the fare is 4.00 Euros.

By car

It is not worth the hassle to bring your own car to the island, although it is in theory possible. You can rent a car at the airport or via any hotel and at many local dealers. Asphalt highways will allow you to reach the entire island, although roads in the interior-especially the south-may turn out to be little more than dirt paths.

By motorcycle

Motorbikes and mopeds are popular alternatives to cars. Especially mopeds are frequently used by local youths and can go to many places that cars cannot go-for example the twisted narrow streets of Rhodes city. An additional advantage is that they are cheap to rent-10 to 15 Euros a day is the usual price.

If you start a day-trip with a moped, make you sure you do so on a full tank, as gas stations are sometimes hard to find. An extra stop at a gas station can save a lot of nerves. When renting a moped, check if the profile of the tyres is ok and if the brakes work properly. If it is the last vehicle in store, be suspicious-it could be the one that needs a repair badly. Though helmets are not required on the streets, (although you might well be stopped and fines 50 euros if you are not wearing a helmet on the main roads) it might be a good idea to ask your rent-a-bike for one, especially if you intend to drive on streets with more traffic.

NOTE: British travel insurance companies require helmets be worn at ALL times by their insured otherwise they will not pay out in the event of injury.

June, July and August are the most popular holiday months of Rhodes. However, visiting Rhodes in the late spring and in the early fall is also recommended. Just remember that the amount of restaurants, shops and other tourist activities might be slightly limited compared to the summer months.

Rhodes is a generally safe destination. There are a few things to look out for.

In the early 2000's the resort town of Faliráki became infamous for the lewd behavior of young, drunk, mainly British partiers attracted to the cheap alcohol and large numbers of small nightclubs. A string of crimes committed by these young tourists against locals, as well as against other tourists, gained national attention in the summer of 2003; they ranged from vandalism to serious acts of violence. Following this the local Police increased their presence to successfully crack down on such behavior. For families with young children the best times to visit would be daytime even up to 22:00 local time when the clubbers tend to come out en masse. The last years, this atmosphere has begun to decay, with less people coming to get drunk.

Taxi drivers will sometimes turn off their meters and charge an arbitrary amount at the destination. Make sure they don't do this.

The summer sun tends to get very strong. You should not take the risk of dehydration, sunburns or even heat strokes lightly. Wear appropriate clothes, maybe with a hat and sunglasses; use sunscreen; bring enough water on excursions and know when to stop exhausting yourself and seek the shade of a tree.

Like in the rest of Greece, it is not permissable to take photographs of military or strategic installations.

Hospital

22410 80000

Pre 20th

Rodos has been inhabitated since ~4.000 BC. In 408 BC, the city of Rhodes was invented and the period after that was a “golden” age. The maritime commerce contributed in the prosperity of the city until the Roman Times. This is the time when “Colossus of Rhodes” is built, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The huge statue stood only for 56 years; it was destroyed by an earthquake.

In 164 BC, Rhodes subordinates to the Romans and later to the Byzantines. For some years, Arabs were also in control of the island.

The most important period for the island begins in 1309, when Rhodes was sold to the Order of Knights of St John of Jerusalem. During the stay of the Knights in Rhodes, the fortifications The fortifications were extended and reinforced. A hospital,  a palace and several churches were among the many public buildings erected during this period. These buildings are notable examples of Gothic and Renaissance architecture and they contribute in today’s atmosphere of the Old Medieval City.

In 1522 the Ottomans Turks conquered the city and new buildings were erected, including mosques, public baths and houses. The Greeks were obliged to leave the castle and live outside of it. The decline of the Ottoman empire had its effects in Rhodes too.

Modern History

In 1912 Italy occupies Rodos and tries to remove any ottoman element. They built roads made many works of improvement.

Rodos was liberated in 1948 and  became a part of Greece.

 In 1988, the old city of Rhodes was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage City.