Líndos (Lindos) in Greece

Under the castle, the little village of Lindos attracts many tourists throughout the year. Small pebbled streets, many cafes and tavernas and nice beaches within a few kilometers is what you will come upon Lindos. The village is much favoured by French and British tourists, because of its history, it archaelogical interest and the culinary experiences it offers.

Bus service from Rhodes (city) Rhodes city (56 km or 35 miles away). A ticket costs 4.30euros one-way. Lindos can also be reached by boat from the Mandraki harbour in Rhodes. Good tour operators for Lindos include Kosmar, Direct Greece, Olympic Holidays and Libra-all of which have a wide range of apartments and villas for all different family groupings.

Lindos is a small town, so walking around on foot is a decent option. However, as Lindos is built on the side of a steep hill, the roads can be quite difficult, and climbing up to the acropolis is definitely an effort. There are two alternatives. A bus will bring you down from the main arrival bus stop outside the center of the city to a square closer to the sea-it's not far, but quite a change in elevation. If you wish to go on top of the acropolis, you can rent a ride on a donkey for about € 6.

Lindos was founded by the Dorians led by the king Tlepolemus of Rhodes, who arrived in about the 10th century BC. It was one of six Dorian cities in the area known as the Dorian Hexapolis. The eastern location of Rhodes made it a natural meeting place between the Greeks and the Phoenicians, and by the 8th century Lindos was a major trading centre. Its importance declined after the foundation of the city of Rhodes in the late 5th century.

In classical times the acropolis of Lindos was dominated by the massive temple of Athena Lindia, which attained its final form in around 300 BC. In Hellenistic and Roman times the temple precinct grew as more buildings were added. In early mediaeval times these buildings fell into disuse, and in the 14th century they were partly overlaid by a massive fortress built on the acropolis by the Knights of St John to defend the island against the Ottomans.