Home to paradisiacal Mediterranean beaches and ancient cities with origins lost to time––some of the oldest known to mankind––Greece has been one of the most popular destinations for Americans this year, and this is likely to be the case still going into the fall.
Be that as it may, if Athens’ surging crowds (and prices) sound all too unappealing, or you feel Santorini has lost some of its glitz and glamor due to the staggering levels of overtourism, you may want to consider heading East of the jam-packed Aegean Sea this September.
Part of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes is one of Greece’s rising stars, and an increasingly-popular alternative for U.S. travelers seeking both sun and culture at affordable rates this upcoming season:
Is Rhodes Anything Like Santorini Or Mykonos?
In short, no.
One of the Easternmost islands in Greece, as well as the fourth largest, Rhodes is an established sunny getaway boasting high temperatures well into October, and the kind of cultural value you won’t find so easily in party-hub Mykonos and the like.
For starters, you shouldn’t fly to Rhodes expecting to find the hilly villages and Instagrammable blue domes you may commonly associate with Greece: culturally and aesthetically, it has Byzantine, Ottoman and even Italian influences.
Narrow lanes give way to wider streets lined by Neoclassical and Art Deco buildings. White is by no means the go-to color locals paint their houses, and there are a fair few mosques and hammams around–hardly surprising, considering Rhodes lies only 25 miles off the Turkish Coast.
Rhodes is a different flavor of Greece altogether, and one we wouldn’t mind tasting ourselves come fall:
A Culturally-Charged Capital
Rhodes Town, the island’s capital, is a major reason why Rhodes is currently one of the trendiest islands in Greece––TUI reports it’s one of the top 3 best-selling destinations for vacation packages alongside nearby Kos and a cosmopolitan Crete.
It is a mid-size fortified port concentrating 86,000 of Rhodes’ entire population of 125,000, and a cultural giant of the first order, with a wide range of monuments that span mankind’s greatest civilizational peaks, from Ancient Greece to modern times.
The citadel of Rhodes was built by the legendary Knights Hospitallier, and its ensemble of historical ramparts, Grand Master’s Palace and arched cobbled streets make it one of the best-maintained medieval cores in all of Europe, not to mention a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A Beautiful Acropolis Overlooking Turquoise Bays
Rhodes was best known in Antiquity for its Colossus, a monumental statue of the Greek sun god that loomed over the port, and prior to its collapse during an earthquake before Christ was even born, had been proclaimed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The site where the Colossus allegedly once stood can still be visited in Mandraki Harbor, but if you’re looking for a material piece of History that’s still standing, of the kind that will blow your mind, Lindos is where you should be headed.
Perhaps the most beautiful acropolis in Greece, rivaling the one in Athens, it is dominated by the now-ruined Temple of Athena Lindia, where a cult to the goddess of wisdom was once centered, overlooking a turquoise Mediterranean bay and quaint coastal village.
Beautiful Ancient Towns
There are countless cultural landmarks to discover all around Rhodes, from north to south and east to west, but the small, traditional town of Archangelos is a good place to start. It is home to typical ouzo bars, olive oil shops, and a partially preserved 15th-century castle.
On the road south, Kritinia is a popular stopover for tourists, with its family-run mezze tavernas and scenic fortress, etched onto a craggy hill, and though often skipped, the off-the-beaten-path Siana, nestled in the Rhodian hinterland, should definitely be on your list:
You’ll be coming back home with a bottle or two of their exotic chima wine, and fond memories of the ornate Church of St. Pantaleon, richly-decorated with frescoes––overall, there are 28 villages in Rhodes to explore, each with their own particular charm.
Crystal-Clear Beaches And Unspoiled Nature
A spearhead-shaped island 49.5 miles long and roughly 24 miles across where it’s at its widest––with 137 miles of coastline to its name––Rhodes has no shortage of beautiful natural zones and swimming spots, either:
First-time visitors are often flocking to Anthony Quinn Bay for its crystal-clear waters, the waterfall-dotted Valley of the Butterflies, or even Kallithea Springs for their weekly spa treatment, but if you want to see something truly unique, Prasonisi is where you should be headed:
Located at the southern tip of Rhodes, it is a narrow sand bank marking the border between the Aegean and East Mediterranean Seas, and on low tide, you can walk to the islet just offshore, where you’re certain to find your own private cove.
Affordable Hotel Rates
Seeing how popular Rhodes has become, you’d expect prices to have soared in response, but that’s not necessarily the case: in Faliraki, perhaps the leading resort town on the island, a beachfront stay at the Hillside Studios & Apartments starts from only $51 per night.
Elsewhere in Lindos, fully-furnished studios within walking distance of the beach cost from $83 this fall, and even Rhodes Town is fairly affordable to stay in: Hotel Parthenon Rodos City offers an outdoor swimming pool, free parking and continental breakfast for $76 nightly.
There are of course far pricier listings if you’re keen on splurging on luxurious amenities––in that case, maybe the Helea Lifestyle Beach Resort will be more to your liking––but if you’re looking for a modest, comfortable-enough hotel ‘just to crash’, you can get it for as cheap as $317 for the week.
Don’t believe us? Check out prices for a 7-night stay at this Faliraki property.
Cheap Eats Galore
As for the dining out in Rhodes, there is a wide range of options from affordable street food to mid-range, yet casual eateries to upscale seafront restaurants, but as per Budget Your Trip estimates, you should plan on spending an average $51 per day on meals:
A simple gyro from a street vendor in Rhodes Old Town will cost you under $10, while sitting down for a proper meal in a touristy restaurant is likely to set you back between $25-40 depending on the size of the order, and prices tend to increase the closer you get to the port or the busy Sokratous Street.
Now, if you’re looking for a reasonably-priced traditional restaurant in the heart of Rhodes, Thassos Greek Cuisine is your best bet at eating moussaka and Mediterranean seafood platters without breaking the bank––you can thank us later.
Rhodes Stays Warm Well Into October
Finally, have you actually pulled up a map and checked where exactly Rhodes is located?
If you have been curious enough already, you’ll have seen it’s far East, closer to Türkiye than it is to mainland Europe.
Needless to say, thanks to its proximity to the Middle East, Rhodes enjoys warmer temperatures year-round.
In fact, Rhodes is not somewhere you want to go in summer specifically, as wildfires occasionally break out and temperatures can be unpleasantly hot.
Instead, fall is the ideal time to visit, with temperatures ranging from 70°F to 77°F as late as October and the water remains relatively warm to swim in––plus, the summer crowds are already gone, and oftentimes, you get to experience all of Rhodes’ ancientness and natural beauty undisturbed.
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