If you’re planning a trip to Greece, chances are that you’re looking into spending most of your time in Mykonos or Santorini. As two of the most well advertised Greek islands (in the US, at least), it’s understandable that those two islands have piqued your interest. However, a little further to the east is an island that absolutely has to be on your bucket list: Rhodes. Nestled right next to Turkey, Rhodes has a little bit of everything. Although Greek, it has a lot of Turkish and Islamic influence and it feels unlike any of the other Greek islands. Not yet convinced Rhodes is worth visiting? Here are six reasons this island should be on your Greece itinerary.
It’s the largest of the Dodecanese islands
Although I enjoyed our time in Santorini, Rhodes was my favorite of the two islands simply because there’s more to do there. Rhodes is quite large, and even if you stay there for a week you still won’t be able to see everything there is to see! My mom and I only saw a fraction of the island, and we both agreed that we wished we had realized just how big it really is before we visited (I think we would have stayed there longer had we known just how much time is needed to get from one place to the next).
You can take the bus anywhere
If it’s within your budget and you feel comfortable driving on Rhodes, I highly recommend renting a car. However, if a car is out of the question, the public busses are wonderful! My mom and I made the trip from Rhodes Town to Lindos twice and the whole process went smoothly. Although the bus ride took almost 90 minutes (it’s a big island, remember?), it only cost 11 euros round trip and we had no trouble figuring out when we needed to hop off the bus. One word of warning: the busses often run a little late, but you should still aim to buy your ticket early so you get a seat!
It’s not just pretty beaches
I’ve never been someone who can lay out on the beach all day, every day of my vacation. Although there were a few historic sites I knew I wanted to see on Rhodes, I was a little worried that much of our time would be spent working on our tans. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about! While you can certainly spend most of your time in Rhodes at the beach (there are lots to choose from!), you can just as easily spend most of your time exploring various historic sites, visiting museums, snorkeling off the coast, window shopping in the local villages, and more. Just remember to plan your daily activities in the same area of the island, as it might take you a while to get around the island.
There’s a lot of history here
Rhodes is a history lover’s paradise. Although quite touristy, I loved the Acropolis at Lindos and walking through the Palace of the Grand Masters. Not to mention that Rhodes’ Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is still surrounded by the medieval wall that protected the city from invasions throughout the years (I recommend walking the moat to get a feel for how big the town is). When planning your days on Rhodes, I recommend spending half your day at a historic site of some sort, and the other half of your day adventuring or laying out at the beach. This way you’ll still have a relaxing vacation while still learning about the island’s fascinating history.
It’s more popular with Europeans
If you’re European, this might not be a major draw for you, but having grown up in the US and dealt with American tourists my entire life, it was a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by European tourists for once. It made our time on Rhodes more exciting somehow and made me feel like I was on a proper vacation. As my mom put it, Rhodes is the Florida of Europe—so join in the fun!
There are countless day trips you can take
Taking day trips from Rhodes isn’t really necessary since the island itself is so large. But if you happen to stay in Rhodes Town, a day trip to a nearby island might actually be easier to pull off than a day trip to, say, the other side of Rhodes. Symi is a postcard-worthy island about an hour away from Rhodes that I highly recommend visiting. There are also plenty of snorkeling trips you can take around the island and private boat tours you can book. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you should look into all the day trip opportunities because some are surprisingly inexpensive. My mom and I did an all day snorkeling / sailing tour and it only cost 60 euros per person, which is about a third of what I thought we’d have to pay for a day trip like that!
Now do you believe me when I say Rhodes is incredible? There really is something for everyone on this island, whether you’re traveling solo or with friends and family. Because Rhodes is so large, it’s important that you plan your trip well ahead of time and take travel times into account each day. But as long as you book tickets and such in advance, you’ll have a fabulous time!
Tell me: What kind of vacations do you prefer, beach vacations or more adventurous getaways?
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