If you’re mulling over things to do in Rhodes, we’ve got you covered. Rhodes is one of the biggest cities in Greece’s Dodecanese islands. It offers a wide range of resorts and a host of ancient remnants and ruins, which were occupied by St. John Knights. The city also features the castlelike Palace of the Grand Masters and the medieval Street of the Knights. This vast collection of both cultural and historical attractions guarantees a thrilling and engaging visit and numerous things to do in Rhodes. Some of the attractions that are worth visiting include Mandraki Port, the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, the valley of the butterflies, Colossus of Rhodes, Castle of the Old Town, Acropolis of Rhodes, Faliraki Water Park, and the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here are the top things to do in Rhodes, Greece.
1. Enjoy the attractive monuments in the Mandraki Port
Mandraki is a modern city that hosts a variety of attractive monuments, including the area where the famous Colossus of Rhodes was built, damaged in 226 BC by an earthquake. The harbor also has the three Windmills of Rhodes, which adds to the list of scenic attractions in the area. Most of the monuments in Mandraki were built during the Italian occupation of Rhodes, they include the National Theatre of Rhodes, the Bank of Greece, City Hall, and the Archbishops Palace.
If you are looking to shop in the area, you’ll find several international clothing brands, such as H&M and Zara. There’s also an aquarium for visitors who come with children, its located next to a casino, north of Mandraki.
Mandraki Port
Address: Plotarchou Plessa 2, Rodos 851 00, Greece
Website: Mandraki Port
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
2. Appreciate the Gothic architecture at the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (from USD 450.0)
If you have an appreciation for gothic architecture, this medieval castle will blow your mind. It used to be a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller and was deployed as a fortress, palace, and headquarters. The castle, which is located in the city of Rhodes, looks splendid as it used to when it was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14-century. Following an explosion that took place in the 19th century, this mind-blowing palace was devastated. As such, the interior was reconstructed in the Italian style.
The twin historical museums, which are located downstairs, are very interesting to anyone who visits the palace. One used to house the island’s medieval history, while the other one holds the history of ancient Rhodes. The other interesting section in the palace is the dreary chambers, which are located upstairs, where you’ll find looted artworks of different kinds. For those who enjoy pottery, there’s also an ancient section dating back to the 6th century BC. This section is packed with all kinds of glassware and domestic objects.
Rhodes Private Tour: Old Town, Palace of the Grand Masters
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
3. Catch the serene and stunning atmosphere in the Valley of the Butterflies (from USD 29.0)
Visitors who make it to the island find the Valley of the Butterflies to be one of the most attractive destinations. The valley is located approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) southeast of the village of Theologos. This phenomenal landmark also has a unique species of trees, known as “zitia”. The trees host a lot of butterflies, which often hang peacefully as they overlook the brook. The atmosphere in the valley is serene and stunning, especially for people who love nature.
Rhodes Filerimos and Valley of the Butterflies 4-Hour Tour
Duration: 4 hours
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4. Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes was a phenomenal 150-foot (45.7-meter) tall statue, boldly standing in the Mandraki Harbor entrance, portraying a stance of victory against Rhodes enemies. Just to give you a different perspective on this astounding structure, it somewhat resembles the Statue of Liberty. The statue was erected in a bid to honor Helios, who was the patron god of the people of Rhodes. Its outer shell was made using reforged and forged bronze and iron, which was derived from military weapons. The construction project was launched by the Greek sculptor Chares in 292 B.C.
Colossus of Rhodes
Address: Pl. Neoriou, Rodos 851 00, Greece
Website: Colossus of Rhodes
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
5. Take a walk around the outstanding phenomenon of the Castle of the Old Town
The fascinating thing about the City of Rhodes stems from the two cities that make up and add to the beauty and history of the two towns. The Old and New towns attract a lot of attention from tourists who come from all over the globe. The medieval city, which was constructed in a castle containing six gateways, adds to and enriches the history of the city – this is why it attracts many tourists and visitors. Surprisingly, the Old Town is still in good condition, which explains why it’s registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its expansive history.
Castle of the Old Town
Address: Platonos 20, Rodos 851 00, Greece
Website: Castle of the Old Town
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 6pm (closed Sun)
6. Appreciate the Hellenic architectural design of the Acropolis of Rhodes
The most impressive factor associated with this attraction is the Hellenic architectural design that was deployed in the construction process. Due to its unfortified nature, it stood out amongst other acropolis structures. This is partly due to its public buildings, sanctuaries, and huge temple premises. Indestructible walls support the buildings, which are built on terraces, thus laying a strong structural foundation. A harmonious blend exists between the neighboring environment and the Acropolis – creating a scenic view for every visitor.
Acropolis of Rhodes
Address: Diagoridon 68, Rodos 851 00, Greece
Website: Acropolis of Rhodes
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
7. Appreciate the marine life at the Aquarium of Rhodes
The Hydrobiological Station building, which was constructed in the period between 1934-36 houses the Aquarium of Rhodes, Dodecanese. The building, which is situated within the city, also houses the Institute of Biological Research. However, following the liberation of the Dodecanese Islands, its name was changed to the Greek Hydrobiological Institute. If you appreciate marine life, you’ll definitely enjoy visiting the aquarium, which preserves and presents species from the Mediterranean Sea. In the 15 small tanks and 13 big ones, you’ll find organisms and fish from the Mediterranean. These tanks are specially designed with sand, cement, corals, and shingles. There’s also a wide variety of sea species in the tanks, which include seals, crabs, sea turtles, mollusks, echinoderms, dolphins, and sharks.
Aquarium of Rhodes
Address: Rhodes 851 00, Greece
Website: Aquarium of Rhodes
Opening hours: 9am - 8:30pm
8. Enjoy the impressive view at Filerimos
Constructed with a gothic-style stone, the Monastery of Panagia Filerimos is unlike any other monastery in Greece. Essentially, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary after being constructed on a site of a previous Byzantine monastery. This elegant site stands on a hill about 10 km (6.2 miles) from Rhodes and above Ialysos. The construction is credited to the Knights of Saint John, back in the 15th century. This took place after the knights conquered the island. The monastery used to house Virgin Mary’s holy icon, which is thought to have been brought by the knights from Jerusalem to Rhodes.
Filerimos
Address: Ialisos 851 01, Greece
Website: Filerimos
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 8am - 7pm (closed Mon)
9. Engage in some daring rides at the Faliraki Water Park
This phenomenal water park caters to visitors with different levels of courage and across all ages. Being the largest water park in Europe, there’s no doubt as to whether you’ll enjoy visiting this site. The most daring rides are marked with a red triangle, while the moderate ones are marked with a yellow circle or an orange diamond. Visitors can engage in activities such as rafting, kamikaze rides, the Sting Ray slides, and the Head First Mat racers slide. The water park also has a swimming pool area, where visitors can relax as they have a good time. This swimming pool is located between the rides and slides, creating a fascinating and appealing atmosphere. Kids also have their own section, where they can explore a pool with a climbing dome, a pirate ship, tipping bucket, and children slides.
Faliraki Water Park
Address: Athanaton, Rodos 851 05, Greece
Website: Faliraki Water Park
Opening hours: 9:30am - 7pm (daily)
10. Have an appreciation for history? Check-out the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
This stunning museum is housed in the Grand Master’s palace, in the medieval building of the Hospital of the Knights. The museum, which is located in the Old Town of Rhodes, was launched by Grand Master de Lastic in 1440 and was completed by Grand Master d'Aubusson in 1948. However, in the early 20th century, the Italians renovated the whole Medieval Town of Rhodes, including the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes.
Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Address: Akti Sachtouri 8, Rodos 851 00, Greece
Website: Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)
So much history and beauty to see in Rhodes
Rhodes has a vast collection of resorts, museums, attractions, and monasteries that will blow your mind. If you appreciate history, this is the place to be. Visit the various attractions mentioned above and you’ll definitely have a lot to do as you also learn.
History
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