Getting to know the island of Rhodes: The island of Rhodes has become so accustomed to the role of a seaside resort that even the airport is located here on the beach. When landing under the wing of the aircraft, the cape of the island floats, where two seas – the Aegean and the Mediterranean – are connected. On the left side of the board, you will see a medieval city with the Palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, along city beaches, the ruins of ancient temples on the Acropolis … And after landing, you can take a closer look at all this. Our guide will help you with this.
Semiramis Hotel
The hotel is facing the Aegean Sea. Four stars, and formally everything is correct – five-star hotels should be located on the first line, and Semiramis already on the third. Due to the short stature of the Rhodes buildings, the sea can be seen from the upper floors of the hotel, but this is not considered. The balconies here are barely half a meter wide. But in all other respects, Semiramis is a full-fledged five-star hotel. The hotel complex consists of two buildings – old and new. Each room has smartphones with many useful features, such as sightseeing descriptions and car navigators. You can take the device with you and explore the whole island with it.
The cuisine of the hotel can compete on equal terms with any of the restaurants in Rhodes. The menu is varied, with no fast food, only traditional Greek dishes, and variations from the chef. So choose a room with meals you will not lose – the overpayment is quite justified and even desirable. However, those who like to go to bed early should take into account that live concerts of local pop artists take place on the summer terrace of the bar twice a week from 9 to 11 pm. The chance to enjoy music falls only to those who live in the new building of the hotel with windows on the opposite side from the sea. When booking, it is better to immediately discuss this moment.
Semiramis does not cooperate with the booking.com service, so there are only two ways to stay in it: buy a ready-made tour or book a room yourself on the hotel website. But if there were no places, do not despair and look for other offers on our website. that on the summer terrace of the bar twice a week from 9 to 11 pm there are live concerts of local pop artists. The chance to enjoy music falls only to those who live in the new building of the hotel with windows on the opposite side from the sea. When booking, it is better to immediately discuss this moment. Semiramis does not cooperate with the booking.com service, so there are only two ways to stay in it: buy a ready-made tour or book a room yourself on the hotel website.
But if there were no places, do not despair and look for other offers on our website. that on the summer terrace of the bar twice a week from 9 to 11 pm there are live concerts of local pop artists. The chance to enjoy music falls only to those who live in the new building of the hotel with windows on the opposite side from the sea. When booking, it is better to immediately discuss this moment. Semiramis does not cooperate with the booking.com service, so there are only two ways to stay in it: buy a ready-made tour or book a room yourself on the hotel website. But if there were no places, do not despair and look for other offers on our website. therefore, there are only two ways to settle in it: buy a ready-made tour or book a room yourself on the hotel website.
Psaropula beach
Geographically, all the beaches of Rhodes are divided into “Aegean” and “Mediterranean”. You can see the difference between them and choose the one that you like near the Aquarium building, where the two seas meet. On the left, there will be foam shafts, on the right – complete calm. Psaropula beach is located just on the Aegean side. It starts from the foot of the Monte Smith hill and stretches to the very cape.
The shore is pebbly, it is uncomfortable to move without shoes. The descent into the water is gentle, but about ten meters from the shore, the depth begins abruptly. Like any civilized beach, there are sun loungers, cabanas, and showers. Sun loungers are paid – 5 euros. In the middle of the beach, there are two concrete breakwaters from which you can dive at your own risk. Opposite, across the road, there are many cafes and restaurants. Greeks frown on tourists who move around the city in swimsuits,
Elli Beach
The Mediterranean coast in terms of beach holidays is much more civilized than the Aegean. It is worth crossing the cape of the island – and the sea immediately calms down, and the pebbles are replaced by sand. Elli Beach stretches from the Aquarium to the very port of Mandraki. There is a diving tower, parasailing equipment, and numerous cafes, led by Elli Restaurant, one of the oldest in Rhodes. In honor of him, the beach got its name.
There is almost never wind here. The descent into the sea is gentle, the water is clear. The most suitable place for swimming with small children. On the port side, the Baron bar completes the beach, where you can enjoy a cocktail and borrow nearby sun loungers for free. More information about city beaches can be found here.
Old city
The old city on Rhodes was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century, then captured by the Ottomans, who in turn were expelled by the Italians. Then there were the Germans, the British … And now he surrendered to the tourists without a fight. From the gates of St. Anthony, the famous street of the Knights (Hippoton) stretches upward. Here, during the time of the Hospitallers, the residences of the “Langs” – the territorial divisions of the Order – were located. The street leads from the Hospital building to the Palace of the Grand Masters. Both sights are now turned into museums. If there is no desire to move around in a crowd of tourists, it is enough to turn into any of the alleys. It was there that the atmosphere of the Middle Ages was fully preserved.
Often the streets are so narrow that you can reach the opposite walls with your hands. The pavements are lined with pebbles placed on edge. In some places, clotheslines are stretched across the roads. And almost every door has a moped parked because cars can’t get through here. The old city is surrounded by a double fortress wall. The inter-wall space is ennobled: lawns, palm trees, sandy paths. On the western side, near the wall, there is an amphitheater, where scenes from ancient life are often played according to the precepts of the ancient Greek tragedians. The schedule of performances can be found on information boards and lampposts. Read more about the Old City here.
Palace of the Grand Masters
The palace served as the home of the Grand Masters of the Order of the Hospitallers for more than two hundred years. These years were perhaps the calmest in the history of the knight brothers. Built according to the latest word of medieval science and technology, the fortress was considered impregnable. This opinion was refuted by the troops of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. True, he had to spend six months on the siege and put about 40,000 soldiers under the walls. As a result, the knights agreed to an honorable surrender and left the island on enemy ships. The local population accepted the new authorities without much enthusiasm, so the Turks had to keep a large garrison in the fortress. That still could not protect them from the explosion of powder magazines, as a result of which the Palace of the Grand Masters was completely destroyed.
The Italians, who took the island from the Turks in 1912, restored the Palace to its original form. Benito Mussolini planned to make Rhodes a national resort. But he never visited the island himself. After the war, Rhodes passed to England, which finally returned it to Greece. The Greek authorities put things in order on the island and turned the Palace and the building of the Knight’s Hospital into museums. The main exposition is located in the Hospital, it is dedicated to the ancient and medieval history of Rhodes. The exhibits exhibited under the arches of the Palace rather complement it. However, there is also something to see here. Antique artifacts, Roman mosaics from the island of Kos, and carefully recreated interiors of the knightly period are enough reasons to spend 6 euros on a ticket (children under 18 are free). The Greek authorities put things in order on the island and turned the Palace and the building of the Knight’s Hospital into museums. The main exposition is located in the Hospital, it is dedicated to the ancient and medieval history of Rhodes.
The exhibits exhibited under the arches of the Palace rather complement it. However, there is also something to see here. Antique artifacts, Roman mosaics from the island of Kos, and carefully recreated interiors of the knightly period are enough reasons to spend 6 euros on a ticket (children under 18 are free). The Greek authorities put things in order on the island and turned the Palace and the building of the Knight’s Hospital into museums. The main exposition is located in the Hospital, it is dedicated to the ancient and medieval history of Rhodes. The exhibits exhibited under the arches of the Palace rather complement it. However, there is also something to see here. Antique artifacts, Roman mosaics from the island of Kos, and carefully recreated interiors of the knightly period are enough reasons to spend 6 euros on a ticket (children under 18 are free).
Port of Mandraki
The port of Mandraki on Rhodes is the very place where, according to public opinion, the famous Colossus of Rhodes stood. Archaeologists are trying to challenge this view. But who will listen to archaeologists, if the tourist guides clearly indicate: the statue of the sun god Helios (a naked man holding a torch in his hand) stood at the entrance to the port of Mandraki. She stood here for a little more than half a century – until the earthquake of 227 BC, after which she took a horizontal position and stayed in it for about 800 years. The oracle forbade the Rhodians to restore the monument. Apparently, there was also a second part of the instruction, in which the Rhodians were forbidden to remove the debris. The Arab invaders solved the problem by selling the bronze elements of the Colossus to a visiting merchant.
The tip of the bay is crowned by Fort St. Nicholas with a lighthouse. The fort was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century. Along the pier, there are contemporaries of the fort – stone mills. In the Middle Ages, grain brought from Egypt was ground right in the port. The architectural dominant of the embankment is the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a copy of the Church of St. John – the main cathedral of the Order of the Knights of St. John, who once stood in the Old City. From the port, you can sail to the nearby islands, to Turkey, or simply go on a cruise along the coast. In addition, there are plenty of racks of tour agencies offering cultural activities for every taste and budget on the embankment.
From the port, you can sail to the nearby islands, to Turkey, or simply go on a cruise along the coast. In addition, there are plenty of racks of tour agencies offering cultural activities for every taste and budget on the embankment. From the port, you can sail to the nearby islands, to Turkey, or simply go on a cruise along the coast. In addition, there are plenty of racks of tour agencies offering cultural activities for every taste and budget on the embankment.
Acropolis
Not a single self-respecting ancient Greek city could do without the Acropolis. And Rhodes, of course, was no exception. The acropolis should be looked for on Mount Smith – the highest point of the tip of the island. The temple complex consists of the sanctuary of Apollo, from which three and a half columns remain, and the temples of Athena and Artemis, of which practically nothing remains. It is believed that the Knights Hospitallers, who needed building materials, had a hand in this.
A wide stone staircase leads from the temple of Apollo to the lower terrace of the Acropolis. But you won’t reach the complex itself along with it – part of the way you will have to move along the path, more like the bed of a dried up stream. At the end of the path, you will see a perfectly preserved ancient stadium and a small amphitheater (Odeon). By the way, Gaius Julius Caesar honed his oratorical skills on its stage. And the stadium is an exact copy of the stadium in Olympia. Acropolis works free of charge and around the clock. But at night, despite the backlight, the study of ancient ruins can be traumatic. Read more about visiting the Acropolis.
Aquarium
When looking at the building of the Rhodes Aquarium, it is difficult to suspect that this is the building of the Rhodes Aquarium. And all because the main premises are located underground. By metropolitan standards, this aquarium may seem modest. But children should like it because the exposition is designed with a bias towards cave mysticism. It all starts with a vast hall, partially divided into sections.
Around – mummies of sharks, rays, and other instructive exhibits. In the center, there is a large concrete bowl with water, where a lone flounder swims and asks for food. You can’t feed her. The second hall is stylized as a dimly lit stone tunnel. The very aquariums to which the institution owes its name are embedded in the walls. All the diversity of the local underwater fauna is represented here: fish, arthropods, polyps, and octopuses. Entrance for adults – 5.5 euros.
Cafe Mezes
In terms of assortment, cafes and restaurants in Rhodes differ little from each other. Therefore, other things being equal, things not directly related to gluttony come to the fore – for example, interior design or views from the establishment. Like, for example, from Mezes cafe. The establishment is located opposite the beach of Psaropoula, and from the veranda offers a stunning view of the Aegean Sea – with seagulls, yachts, and azure waves. The best effect is achieved in the evening. As a sunset accompaniment, order fresh seafood and locally produced homemade wine. By the way, the menu here is translated into Russian and the staff also speaks our native language quite well. Average check: 15 – 20 euros.
Koukos Restaurant
One of the most colorful restaurants in Rhodes. The name translates as “Cuckoo”. Most likely, this has something to do with the large cuckoo clock on the facade. The restaurant is adjacent to the hotel of the same name – so if you like the cuisine, you can stay here to live. The interiors are stylized as a Greek rural house. The waiters and inventory correspond to the design. There are several halls, a wide bar counter, and an open veranda on the second floor, where tables are surrounded by dense decorative vegetation.
The environment is very cozy. This place is known for its large selection of alcoholic beverages, primarily tsipouro, Greek grape vodka. The assortment of meat dishes, both traditional Greek and generally accepted, is also pleasing. Portions are very large – keep this in mind when ordering. After dark, the noble audience is introduced to the work of local singers and musicians. Finding a restaurant in the interweaving of Rhodes streets is quite difficult, but the result is worth it. Average check: 25 euros.
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