Travel Eye on Rhodes Town (Rhodes)

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Overview:

Measuring 1 ml from N to S and ¾ ml from E to W, Rhodes Town is the main town and largest resort on the island. It comprises 2 parts: New Town, which is the commercial centre, and the walled Old Town, which is picturesque and steeped in history.

Both are compact and easily explored on foot. New Town is cosmopolitan and spacious, with many tree-lined squares; its busy fruit and vegetable market overlooks bustling Mandraki Harbour, which is full of fashionable yachts and day-trip boats. Despite the growth in tourism, Old Town has retained much of its original character, and wandering its streets is like stepping back in time.

Much of its architecture dates from the time of the Knights of St John (14th to 16th centuries) and the period of Turkish rule (16th to 20th centuries). Rhodes Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Something to suit all tastes and budgets, but primarily appealing to history-lovers and those seeking sun, sea and sand.

Some lively night-time entertainment, but dedicated partygoers will be better off staying in Faliraki, 7 mls away. Wide range, from A-class hotels to very basic pensions in Old Town. Many hotels are well-established and are now showing their age. Rhodes Town is the main terminus for buses to all the villages and resorts. Taxis easily obtained anywhere in the city. Car hire shops can be found on every street.

Locality:

Rhodes town is situated on the North East tip of the island (5 miles North East of Ixia, 11 miles North East of the airport, 14 miles South of the Turkish coast). Rhodes Town occupies a relatively narrow point of land, with coasts facing East and West backed by undulating, barren countryside.

Entertainment/Attractions/Things to do:

There are 2 main beaches, with plenty of snack bars, showers and toilets: the one on the West coast is coarse shingle, the other, on the tip of the headland, is sand and shingle. Sunbeds and sun umbrellas available for hire. Daytimes can be spent lazing on the beaches. Water sports include windsurfing, pedalloes, jet-skis and kite-skiing.

Exploring Old Town, including the Street of the Knights, Palace of the Grand Masters, various interesting churches and mosques and the archaeological museum; Mandraki Harbour, with its old windmills, fortress and lighthouse; sound and light show at the municipal gardens; climbing Monte Smith Hill to see the ancient acropolis, stadium and Temple of Apollo while taking in the views; Rodini Park and Tomb of Ptolemy, aquarium.

The nightlife offers a wide selection of bars in New Town, numbering more per square yard than the centre of London, discos and numerous nightclubs ranging from the cheap and tacky to moreupmarket bouzouki (offering traditional musical entertainment), there is a casino and the famous tour of Rhodes Town by night.

Many restaurants offering international, Greek, Italian and Chinese are present but also a lot of fast-food options. Small sandwich bars on every corner.

Full day excursions include the charming town of Lindos, with its ancient acropolis, island tours, boat trips to islands of Symi or Nissyros and to Marmaris in Turkey, scuba-diving excursion; water park at Faliraki (courtesy bus transfer from Mandraki Harbour).