Rhodes looks like a medieval European knight, wearing the armor of the fortress walls, which have darkened slightly over time. He speaks multiple languages, offers pasta and pizza, invites you to visit Catholic cathedrals, and leaves you wondering whether he is Italian, French, or Spanish. However, beneath his powerful armor lies a true Greek, playing the bouzouki and sipping grape vodka.
Let’s get to know it better: take a walk through the fortresses, visit the ancient cities, relax on the warm beaches, and try everything that Rhodes is proud of.
Contents
- About the island
- Entry requirements
- How to get there
- When to go
- Where to stay
- What beaches are there
- What to see
- Where to eat
- What to bring
About the island
In the early 14th century, the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, in order to avoid political upheaval, ceded the island to the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St. John. The envoys of the Pope behaved nobly, promising to protect the land from invaders and enrich it with gold. They kept their word: over the course of two centuries, they established trade, built fortresses, and transformed Rhodes into a small version of Europe. The locals embraced Catholicism and adopted the dialects of their new neighbors.
The traces of this era are still visible today. The medieval citadel still guards the capital, and the names of cafes and hotels often include the word “knight,” while souvenir shops sell figurines with spears. The island hosts annual European music festivals, and the locals are more likely to speak the languages of tourists than Greek.
The medieval citadel still guards the capital. Photo: Kadagan/Shutterstock.com
Entry Requirements
A Schengen visa is required for travel to Rhodes. A full list of necessary documents and a sample application form are available on the website of the Greek Consulate. Applications can be submitted at the official visa centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novorossiysk, and appointments can be made online. The process is simpler than in other European diplomatic missions, with regular availability of appointments and a low rate of rejections. Usually, you can get a right to enter after a week, but only for the duration of your trip. The processing fee is approximately 110 euros (≈10,200 rubles).
Choose your hotel in advance
For a Greek visa, you need a voucher confirming your reservation at the hotel where you will be staying. By the way, when you book on Ostrovok, you can download the voucher in Russian and English, which is convenient for submitting your documents.
It’s risky to book a hotel just for the sake of it and stay at a different place, as the consulate may check the information and even cancel your visa. There are already many stories on social media about tourists who have found themselves in this situation. If you plan to stay with friends, be honest about this information.
How to get there
The first option is to fly from Moscow to Istanbul (≈30,000 rubles round-trip), then take a direct Aegean Airlines flight to Rhodes (≈20,000 rubles), although this flight is not available every day.
The second way to reach the island is by ferry from Turkish Marmaris. Ferries depart daily and the journey takes only an hour. Tickets can be purchased from any Turkish travel agency or a Russian tour operator for 100 euros round-trip (≈9400 rubles).
You can get to the island by ferry from Turkish Marmaris. Photo: Balate.Dorin/Shutterstock.com
When to go
It is better to plan a trip to Rhodes in the off-season — in spring or autumn. In summer, the temperature can easily reach +40 °C. In spring, the temperature is more comfortable at +22 °C, but the sea is still cool at around +18 °C. However, in autumn and even in December, it is very pleasant: the air temperature is around +25°C, and the water temperature is around +24°C.
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Where to Stay
The best place to stay is in the capital of Rhodes, which shares the same name. There are more budget hotels here, which are easily accessible from Diagoras International Airport and the port of Mandraki. In addition, the key attractions are concentrated in the main city of the island, and the rest can be reached by bus from the central station.
G92 City Hotel
The hotel is hidden among the bustling European streets. It is a 20-minute walk from the port of Mandraki, a 10-minute walk from the historic center and the beaches. The hotel is inconspicuous, metallic white on the outside, but the rooms are decorated in green and blue tones, which resemble mountain meadows. The price for a room per day is from 4300 rubles with breakfasts.
G92 City Hotel.
Medieval Rose Hotel
A typical Mediterranean house with shutters, stairs, balconies, and lemon trees. Located 630 meters from the port of Mandraki, in a quiet courtyard. A room with amenities costs from 4500 rubles per day, excluding meals.
Minos Pension
This small hotel with golden colors is located in the old town, 500 meters from the port of Mandraki. Greek music plays in the hotel’s rooftop cafe with panoramic views of Rhodes. A room per day costs from 6,000 rubles, with breakfasts from 9,000.
Minos Pension.
Muses
The hotel is located in an old building with vaults and arches, which looks like a castle. The rooms have beds with colorful canopies. The hotel is located 300 meters from the port. The daily rate starts at 4,300 rubles, and meals are not included.
Stay Hotel Rhodes
This modern hotel is located 200 meters from the main municipal beach, Elli. From the outside, it looks like it’s made of metal plates, but inside, there are walls with deer paintings and planters with southern plants. The rooms have panoramic windows and French balconies. The daily rate starts at 5,500 rubles, and includes breakfast for 8,500 rubles.
What beaches are there
For a comfortable vacation
The eastern beaches of Rhodes, in the bays of the resorts of Lindos, Faliraki, Kalithea, and Kolymbia, overlook the Mediterranean Sea. They have golden sand,a smooth descent, shallow bottom and emerald-green transparent water. A great option for those who are not confident swimmers, and for recreation with children.
For extreme sports
On the western coast facing the Aegean Sea, in the area of Ialysos, it is often windy, and the waves are high and aggressive. The shore and the bottom are covered with large pebbles, the entrance to the water – almost immediately into the depth. Here surfers like to train.
On the western coast, facing the Aegean Sea, it is often windy in the area of Ialyssos, and the waves can be high and aggressive. Photo: PaulSat/Shutterstock.com
For a philosophical mood
The southern and northern ends of the island are located at the intersection of two seas: Cape Prasonisi and the city of Rhodes. Here, the harsh waves of the Aegean Sea meet the gentle waters of the Mediterranean.
Mykonos is the Greek Ibiza
280 km from Rhodes, there is an island where the rich flock from all over the world to sunbathe near the pools in snow-white villas and swim in the Aegean Sea during yacht trips. If this sounds familiar, here is a guide to Mykonos.
What to see
Medieval Mills
In the port of Mandraki, there are round windmills with helmet-shaped roofs, built by knights in the 14th century. These windmills were used for quickly grinding grain that was brought by overseas merchants. It is likely that the windmills were placed at the entrance to the city to showcase the commercial power of Rhodes.
In the port of Mandraki, there are round windmills with helmet-shaped roofs, built by knights in the 14th century. Photo: frantic00/Shutterstock.com
Statues of Deer
On the pier of Mandraki, there are statues of a male and a female deer, supposedly on the site of the collapsed wonder of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes. These animals have become an unofficial symbol of the island. According to legend, in ancient times, Rhodes suffered from a snake infestation, and the Knights Hospitaller brought in deer, which trampled the vipers with their sharp hooves. Deer can still be found in the local forests.
The battle against snakes is a popular theme in Rhodes. In various legends, the role of the saviors is not limited to deer, but also includes other characters. In the Middle Ages, a giant snake was said to inhabit the Monte Smith mountain. Even the brave Hospitallers were afraid of him, but Dieudonné de Gozon defeated the monster and became the Grand Master of the Order.
The Old City of Rhodes
The historic center is enclosed by fortress walls with loopholes. The narrow streets, paved with cobblestones, are red-hot in the sun, and trade is bustling under the low arches. The Old City resembles a circular chain, and the central squares with mosaic fountains resemble medallions. National music can be heard from the taverns under the medieval walls.
The narrow cobblestone streets are red-hot in the sun, and trade is bustling under the low arches. Photo: Ale_Koziura/Shutterstock.com
The Ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite
Fragments of the foundation and columns of an ancient temple made of white sandstone can be found at the entrance to the Old City near Mandraki. The stones are adorned with intricate carvings. A prehistoric date palm tree stands above the ruins. Street musicians come here to cut the hot air with the strings of the bouzouki, a Greek mandolin.
Anthony Quinn Bay
A bowl surrounded by rocks filled with green water is located in the east of the island. Photo: Oleg_P/Shutterstock.com
Lindos
Where to eat
MELI
The restaurant in the historic center of Rhodes is decorated in a national style: white walls, blue shutters, and checkered tablecloths. They serve classic Greek dishes such as feta cheese with honey, village salad, fried octopus, and moussaka, a layered pie with potatoes and meat. The average check is about 30 euros (≈2800 rubles) per person.
The establishment in the historical center of Rhodes is decorated in the national style. Photo: MELI
Blue Lagoon
The tavern resembles a medieval ship with decks and masts right by the water. The menu is Mediterranean, with bolognese pasta, shrimp, and Greek dishes such as pita souvlaki, dolmades, and tzatziki. Every evening, the musicians play 60s buzuki hits, including songs by Giorgos Dalaras. The average check is around 25 euros (≈2300 rubles).
Taverna Panorama
A restaurant in the mountains, in the village of Apollo, for those who want to experience the real Rhodian cuisine. They serve homemade wine, lakano, a slow-cooked goat, and pitarudia, a pie with zucchini filling. The average bill is 30 euros (≈2800 rubles).
You can buy groceries at the Lidl supermarket. For example, a liter of extra-virgin olive oil for 5 euros (≈470 rubles), Greek wine for 3 euros (≈280 rubles), or feta for 2.5 euros (≈230 rubles).
Restaurant in the mountains, in the village of Apollona, for those who want to experience the real Rhodian cuisine. Photo: Sebastian Lionheart/tripadvisor.ru
What to bring
- Aluminum figures of knights on horses, with spears and shields. A small souvenir with a big history, reminiscent of medieval Rhodes.
- Felt and ceramic donkeys are a symbol of the island and a cute decoration.
- Mataki are glass amulets with a peephole that protect against evil forces.
- Extra-virgin olive oil is a true Mediterranean product, with a vibrant aroma and flavor that can easily bring a taste of Rhodes to your kitchen.
- Seasoned olives are infused with peppers, nuts, or garlic.
- Honey is thick and aromatic, often infused with local herbs and flowers.
- Wines from the Rhodes wineries.
We have collected a few more ideas for souvenirs from Greece in a separate article.
Act like a strategic knight: choose a hotel on the Island, plan your trip, and enjoy Rhodes from its fortress walls to its emerald-water bays.
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Cover photo: Kadagan/Shutterstock.com
