It is great to travel and have some insight from locals and that’s exactly what we do here. We asked Zaf, our general manager, to suggest one-day trips when in Rhodes. Feel free to ask us for clarifications when you arrive at our venue.
Rhodes Day Trip 1 (for history lovers):
You can start your day trip by visiting the magnificent castle of Grand Magister (Kastelo) in the old town of Rhodes. It can get really hot and busy during the day, so the earlier you get there, the better!
You can enter from the Gate d’ Amboise, which is the nearest to the castle. It is very impressive as a building both externally and internally.
Wandering around Rhodes’ Old Town can be quite an experience, especially the famous Socratous street with the numerous shops, cafes and restaurants.
And now it’s about time to go to a beach/monument, a true gem in Rhodes: the Kalithea Springs. I love this place! A spa in the past, a mainstream beach bar of today. You must be quite hungry by now, so after a dive in the splendid waters of this small gulf, don’t hesitate to try the food here. It’s an all day café-restaurant, so try their pizza or a burger.. Their cocktails are amazing, too!
Another attraction on the way would be Seven Springs – also worth visiting! Drip your feet at the springs and feel the chilled water that just came out of the rock. Do not be afraid to get through the tunnel. It’s a unique experience! Think that this tunnel was constructed by the Italians as a secret passage in case of need. On the other end of the tunnel you will find yourselves at a waterfall, one of the best spots for photo shooting ;-).
To return to Kremasti, follow the same road that passes through gorgeous forest and picturesque villages – you will love it in daylight, but I wouldn’t dare do it at night.
Rhodes Day Trip 2 - Meet the South
You just can’t have holidays in Rhodes and not go to Lindos. You will love its cycladic style i.e. white houses, blue windows, cobbled streets with shops, tourists and … donkeys !!
But, in Lindos it is REALLY hot during the day. My suggestion is to be at the village early in the morning and take a walk around the narrow streets and secret paths, or even go to the Acropolis and gaze at the amazing view of the Aegean.
Around noon, go to the famous beach of Saint Paul with the small port of fishermen and the small church. The beach bar there offers luxurious sunbeds and delicious plates!
For an afternoon dive I highly recommend Kiotari, a long beach with crystal clear waters, ideal to chill and relax, away from the crowds.The best beach bar there would be Faros (Lighthouse) giving you a feeling of return to nature, with a boho atmosphere and nice music.
For dinner you could have fish or seafood at Koza’s in Stegna, which is on your way back to the apartments. Would be best to ask us for a reservation there.
Rhodes Day Trip 3 - Explore is more
Start your day with a fully energizing breakfast – you’re gonna need it! Head to the south, following the road to the airport and drive on. First stop is the Butterfly Valley, one of the most famous attraction in Rhodes. Take amazing pictures on the wooden bridges of the valley or photoshoot the butterflies – at some periods thousands of them!
If you do not see them, it is because they are stuck on top of the tree trunks and rocks !! The tour is fantastic, but you also have to be quiet to avoid disturbing the peace of the butterflies. (Sometimes they were in danger of disappearing from the area because of the noise made by the visitors, throwing stones to scare them and throwing them away to take pictures etc.)
Move on in the main road. After a half- hour drive you will meet the castles of Monolithos and Kritinia, two castles that fly you back in time where pirates used to attack the island and those fortresses stood there through the centuries to protect it.
On the southern spot of the island, you will see Prasonisi, a surfers’ paradise. There you can choose the beach you prefer, on the one side is calm and shallow, on the other side is deep and wavy. All sandy and spectacular!
On your way back, take the route of the east side and make a stop at Mea Terra, one of the most luxurious beach bars on the island. The waters are wonderful and you will be amazed by the decoration and furniture. Warning: it is very pricey, but there are people that drive all this way just to indulge in this cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Option No2, in case you are really hungry! Again following the same road, but in the mainland, there is a great tavern with Greek food (Paragka) in a small village on the mountains, called Apollona. It has won prizes for its dishes and in one of the top 40 restaurants in Greece. My favorite indeed!
For the luxurious dinner of your vacation – I always have one when travelling with my husband – my top pick is The Wonder. You will need a reservation there as well for a table. Worth trying it! My favorite plate is the chicken thai and we also love their salads.
Rhodes Day Trip 4 - The town
Start this day by visiting the Rhodes Aquarium , built during the Italian occupancy in 1935 and was one of the first of the Mediterranean.
It is of museum value, worth-see!
Continue with a nice coffee at Finncafe, situated in the 100 palms square (there are actually that many!), just across the Aquarium.
You could also visit the Hotel of Roses (Albergo delle Rose), the casino of Rhodes, former huge point of interest of the wealthy in the beginning of last century..
Later on you can stroll around the town, admiring all those buildings constructed in the same period (The bank of Greece – former bank of Italia, the Post Office, the Theatre and many (many!) other wonders of architecture, unique in Greece! There are plenty of opportunities for shopping therapy: the market of Rhodes Town offers options for budget or expensive shopping, as well as greek products and souvenirs to take back home. The latter you can find at the old market, also an attraction, that used to operate as the main merchant market of the island.
Time to chill! End your visit at the beach of the town to relax! Ronda, is the place, one of the hippest spots in the island. Great for a nice cold coffee or cocktails on the beach by the best bartenders! I also love their branch options.
The Cosmopolitan Rhodes
This section is dedicated to a selection of the most hip places when in Rhodes..
Beach bars:
Ronda in Rhodes town and Santa Marina in Kalithea, are both top destinations for the celebrities and influencers who visit the island. In my opinion, their boho decor is exquisite, but the beach not so much. I prefer going there for cocktails in the evening.
Ammades in Kalithea is perfect for a glamorous day on the beach families: the floating platform on the sea is ideal for dives, plus the pool and the large baby pool- playground at the back will keep the children busy, while the parents relax on the huge wooden sunbeds.
Kunna on Anthony Quinn is also a popular destination, especially for its location (on the top of the rock, overlooking the bay), but also for its amazing menu.
Mea Terra on the south (Lahania beach) is pretty far to drive all this way just for this, so I would suggest checking Rhodes Day Trip No3 – explore is more!
For Fancy Dinner:
Mezzaluna in the heart of the old town in Rhodes offers wonderful greek dishes – including fresh fish, so this would be my recommendation for a dinner in town. With its ideal position, you will get the chance to see almost all of the old town by night.
Same goes for Sissitio right on the top of Socratous street, but mostly for drinks…
A romantic, more secluded choice, would be the terrace of Marco Polo, to try creative mediterranean cuisine. Ask us for directions, since it might be tricky to spot it.
If you prefer to avoid the crowds in the old town, an excellent suggestion is Rattan in Faliraki. Their dishes are one of a kind, but it is well known for its signature cocktails, too. Very popular to locals. The location is disappointing, though..
If you wish to go to a nightclub, you could check out Alter Ego or Macao, in the center of the old town.
Another suggestion for late drinks in the new town would be Baia, right next to Ronda, the biggest and busiest open air nightclub of the town. Also Union is quite popular to young locals.
As you might guess, I could write tips for your holidays forever! The only sure thing is that you won’t get bored, Rhodes has many attractions, beaches, taverns, villages, bars to explore! My team and I know the best locations and we will be more than happy to advise and help you with directions and reservations.
I look forward to welcoming you 🙂
Zafeira