My friend had one of the best ideas when she asked me to join her on her business trip to the Greek island of Rhodes. She travels there twice each year and she was able to stick a weekend onto her week of business. A weekend was all I had in terms of holidays so it was a perfect match. She picked me up from the airport and we ceaselessly explored the whole island for three days. My itinerary is quite extensive even though I was only there for a few days so I hope you’re ready for it.

Day 1

The day I arrived we decided to tackle Lindos first. If you stay in Rhodes Town, like we did, don’t forget to stop at the gorgeous viewpoint before you reach the city, because it’s worth taking in the view.

It’s impressive to see the bright whiteness of the city and to see the ancient Akropolis perched on top.

Lindos has nice souvenir shops to browse through. So my tip would be to get lost in the narrow side alleys for a while. Firstly because these alleys offer shade, and secondly because the trek to Akropolis is a tough one.

The stones are incredibly slippery. Up is not a problem – the main issue is the heat. Down you have to be careful not to slip. I’ve seen people brave the hot stones with bare feet in order to avoid slipping.

The Akropolis costs 12 euro entrance. It’s not cheap and even though it’s fun to roam around. There’s not really that much to see.

The view from the top of Akropolis towards the town of Lindos is pretty stunning though.

That’s enough sightseeing for the day of arrival. In the evening we headed back to the capital to enjoy a delicious meal and a glass (or two) of ouzo.

Day 2

My favourite part of the island is the west coast – or north coast. It depends on how you like to view it. The landscape is more rugged, the views are more stunning and it’s not as busy as the other coast.

You’ll pass through forests & high hills, so be prepared to wind around plenty.

Kameiros
The first interesting sight on the road is Kameiros. One of the ancient cities of Rhodes. You can see the three layers of civilization here. At the bottom you’ll find the Doric architecture, above it the city dwellings & all the way at the top the Akropolis. Entrance is 6 euro and you get much more value for money than at the Akropolis of Lindos.

Sianna
If you have come from Rhodes Town as well, you’ll be wanting lunch after visiting Kameiros. I can recommend Sianna for that. Especially because it’s a town with the only Greek Orthodox church I’ve seen on the island (you all know how much I love Orthodox churches).

Monolithos
The third stop is Monolithos. As was the case with Lindos, don’t pass the view point without stopping. The look out point is probably the most impressive part of this sight.

Don’t get me wrong, climbing up to this former castle on top of the hill is worth the effort. The view is beautiful and you don’t have to pay a fee to roam around.

Prasonisi
The fourth stop (only in the summer) is the place where the Aegean & Mediterannean oceans meet. Prasonisi is an island by winter and connected to the main island in summer.

Then its time to drive back to Rhodes town You can stop at one of the beach bars along the coast or you could go for dinner in the centre of the island.

Day 3

Rhodes Old Town
The day you might be leaving Rhodes is a great day to explore the town.

This UNESCO sight is an amalgamation of styles. You can find medieval buildings here – even though the castle has been rebuilt in the 1940’s as summer house for Mussolini which means it has lost its charm. There are also Ottoman buildings here & enough shops to shop to your heart’s content.

I only visited the old town. If you like shopping you’ll find all the major shops in the new town.

Beaches
The last stop of the day is on the east coast of the island. Why not check out one of the bays before you leave for the airport?

How to get around?

When I research an island trip, there are usually two options for me in terms of transportations.

One is obviously by car. I always book my car with Sunny Cars. In the past I was duped with a dent in my car on Bonaire, which resulted in a huge bill. This will never happen with Sunny Cars, because when you rent the car there are no extra costs that can be incurred.

Click on the link to book a car with Sunny Cars

It’s really easy to get around Rhodes by car. The only “problem” is parking outside the old city gates if you decide to stay there like we did. In the end we always found a parking spot though, albeit with a few minutes of searching.

The other option is by tour. Get Your Guide offers day trips to some of the sights I have mentioned on this post and others (including ones you can’t do with a car).

• Full-Day Boat Trip to Lindos
• Filerimos Hill and Butterfly Valley Bus Trip
• Symi Island Full Day Trip by Boat (which is on my list for the next time I visit Rhodes)

Where to stay?

My friend and I stayed in the city centre of the old town of Rhodes. A beautiful location near a lot of good restaurants and bars. Everything was at walking distance. It’s called Sofia Pension and the owners are so incredibly friendly, it’s worth visiting the place just for them.

Conclusion

Rhodes is worth a visit. I think I would recommend you to stay only a few days like I did though. There are more islands to check out in the vicinity, which I would’ve happily done if I didn’t have to get back to work. A three day itinerary is enough to get a good feel for the island.