The island of Rhodes lies in the south-east corner of the Aegean sea, close to the Turkish mainland.

In Greek mythology, the green and lush island of Rhodes, child of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, rose up out of the Aegean Sea as a peace offering to the Greek god of sun, Helios. Helios promptly flooded the island in sunshine and made it the sunniest of the Greek islands.

Throughout time, the island of the sun’s strategically important geographical position has made Rhodes particularly attractive to many different people – friends and foe – and many have left their mark on the island in the forms of art, language and architecture. Today’s visitors find Rhodes a sunny, cosmopolitan hub of life offering culture, history, nature and entertainment.

Of particular historical and cultural importance are the medieval city of Rhodes, built by the Knights of St John and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient acropolis of Lindos and the ancient city of Kamiros. For those more interested in nature and its grandeur, a visit to Prasonisi, at the very southern tip of the island, is a must, as is a visit to the Valley of the Butterlies and Seven Springs. On a religious note, orthodox churches and monasteries are copious in number and to be found in even the most remote of areas.

Beaches and bays are in abundance around the coastline of Rhodes: In the Faliraki area the main sandy beach is well organised with good facilities and numerous watersport and mini cruise stations. The nearby bays of Anthony Quinn, Ladiko and Tragunu are smaller, more graphic, less accessible bays hidden from view and favoured by locals. The recently renovated Kallithea Spa, an Italian monument built around the bay of Kallithea, is an area renowned for its excellent snorkelling and scuba diving attributes. Further south, along the east coast of the island, are the bays of Afandou, Colimbia, Tsambika, Stegna and Haraki. The bay of Lindos is known as the ‘jewel of Rhodes’ and is a mecca for all visitors to the island. South of Lindos, beyond Pefkos, the largest resort hotels can be found; this area is relatively undeveloped and isolated when compared to the north of the island, as is the rugged, windy west coast.

Beyond these natural and historical places of interest Rhodes is home to the biggest water park in Europe, an aquarium, numerous museums, cinemas and excellent designer shopping. Rhodes is also well positioned for day excursions to the other Dodecanese islands such as Symi, Kos, Tilos and to Marmaris, Turkey – check out Falirak Sea Lines for timetables.

In short, Rhodes is an unbeatable holiday destination – even the most demanding visitor will be impressed!