Getting Around
Rhodes City is the biggest town and capital city of the island of the same name. It is divided into two: the new city of Rhodes and the medieval city of Rhodes. The perfect blend of history and development attracts tourists to this place.
The yacht harbor of Mandraki gives the most scenic view of the new city of Rhodes. This is why many believe that the most excellent approach to Rhodes is from the sea. Two bronze deers, the modern emblem of the town, welcomes tourists and residents alike. The lighthouse tower of St. Nicholas and old windmills stands within the perimeter. Adding to its grandiose atmosphere are colossal buildings like the Archbishops Palace, the Annunciation Church, the Central Post Office, and the New Market. The Institute of Marine Biology stands at the northernmost end of the island.
Although infrastructures are ever present in the city, vegetation is still apparent. It was said that green is the most vibrant color in Rhodes. The streets are swarming with trees trimmed with meticulousness. All in all, it provides a charming quality to the town.
The medieval city of Rhodes or Old Town of Rhodes is considered the oldest medieval town in Europe. It has been distinguished as a UNESCO World Heritage City. It does not mean that all there is in the town are ruins or desolate edifice. The buildings are well maintained, well enough that people still settle and go to work in the same buildings where the Knights of St. John stayed six hundred years ago.
There are more or less 200 nameless streets and roads all over the town. With Byzantine and Gothic churches, long-established buildings, conventional fountains, oriental motifs, shops and cafeterias spotted throughout the area, it makes the streets more impossible to tell apart. It makes sightseeing even more adventurous and educational.
Aside from the capital city, Rhodes has other towns that have their own share of tourists. Lindos, which is 47 kilometers from the city of Rhodes, is the main attraction of the island’s east coast. The town is built on the side of the steep hill of Acropolis. Houses in the area have the same basic design— conservative interiors, onerous ironwork on balconies, and brown windows. Several of the 15th-century houses are acknowledged as traditional buildings to be maintained. The church of the Virgin Mary and the chapel of Agios Pavlos of Lindos are worth sightseeing.
Other towns in the island’s east coast are Koskinou, Faliraki, Afandou, and Kattavia. Koskinou is 7 kilometers from Rhodes City and is known for its village houses whose doors are decorated in cheerful colors like yellow, blue, and red. Faliraki is known as the Action Resort where leisure is at every turn. The largest water park in Europe is located in here—the Faliraki Water Park. Afandou is 5 kilometers away Faliraki and has a population of approximately 7,500 people. It is known for its carpets. Eighty-three kilometers away from Rhodes City, Kattavia attracts mostly surfers given that it is the nearest town to Prassonissi peninsula.
Rhodes’ west coast boasts crowded resorts as well as charming villages. Ixia, which is just 4 kilometers away from Rhodes City, provides a selection of hotels extending as far as the eye can see. It is also famous for the church of the Dormition of Theotokos and the Acropolis of Ialissos. Other west coast towns are Kritinia, where a medieval castle looks out over the sea of Chalki, Siana which offers an excellent view of the coast of Rhodes and nearby islands, and Monolithos, home of Fourni beach popular for its pebbles, waves and serene atmosphere.