Rhodes Mini Guide
Rhodes is part of the Dodecanese Greek Islands and is extremely popular with tourists during the summer months. It is a fantastic place to sit by the beach and soak up the sun or get involved in water sports such as snorkeling, jet skiing and sailing. Lying in the crystal clear waters of the eastern Aegean Sea, Rhodes is a island around which you will want to spend as much time in the water as possible.
Arriving by plane you will fly into Diagoras International Airport which welcomes a number of charter flights from all over Europe and is only 15 kilometres away from Rhodes city. This airport, though not large, can get very busy during the season and it also has domestic flights coming from locations in mainland Greece such as
Athens and
Thessaloniki. Diagoras Airport was recently expanded to cope with increased passenger traffic as peak times may see it dealing with 170 charter flights every day.
You will see car rental offices as you come out of arrivals from which you can pick up your Rhino rental cars. If you have not already chosen your vehicle you may wish to ask whether you can get a four by four as this is a good way of seeing the interior of Rhodes which has many dirt tracks. It is also possible to travel to Rhodes by ferry from the neighbouring Greek Islands as well as Turkey. Check with our Rhino car hire representatives if you want to hire a car in another location and take it by ferry to Rhodes.
Rhodes is made up of cities, villages and resorts. The capital of the island is Rhodes City where the local government convenes. Among the villages are Lindos, which is located near to an old acropolis, Theologos, and the fishing village of Haraki. Tourist resorts on the island of Rhodes include Pefkos and Faliraki.
Visitors to Rhodes city will find the remains of one of the world’s seven ancient wonders, the Colossus of Rhodes, which has now been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in order to preserve it. It is just one of the fine pieces of historical architecture to be found in the medieval old town area of Rhodes city.
The city now hosts several music events throughout the summer including a rock festival and classical concerts. Another popular tourist attraction out in the countryside is the valley of butterflies (moths) though ironically the number of tourists that visit the site is decreasing the amount of insects which are not breeding as freely as they used to.
Rhodes is such a fascinating island to visit and all roads lead to Rhodes Town so you are unlikely to get lost in a Rhodes hire car. Some use their car to explore the local history, whilst others visit the bars and clubs of Lindos and Faliraki.
For something a little different, take a trip on the hydrofoil to Turkey, only 11 miles away. There, expecting a regular influx of tourists from Rhodes, little markets have sprung up selling souvenirs and local products. It makes a nice change for those staying on Rhodes island.