Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
an ancient acropolis, should not be missed. It marks the midpoint of the island's long
eastern shoreline, adorned with numerous sandy
beaches
that have attracted considerable
resort development. At the southern cape,
Prassoníssi
is one of the best windsurfing spots
in Europe. If you want to escape the summer crowds, take a road trip into the island's
craggy and partly forested interior: worthwhile targets include the castles near
Monólithos
and
Kritinía
, and frescoed churches at
Thárri
,
Asklipió
and
Áyios Yeóryios Várdhas
.
Brief history
Blessed with an equable climate and strategic position, Rhodes, despite its lack of good
harbours, was important from the very earliest times. The finest natural port served the
ancient town of
Lindos
which, together with the other Dorian city-states
Kameiros
and
Ialyssos
, united in 408 BC to found a new capital,
Rodos
(Rhodes), at the windswept
northern tip of the island. The cities allied themselves with Alexander, the Persians,
Athenians or Spartans as conditions suited them, generally escaping retribution for
backing the wrong side by a combination of seafaring audacity, sycophancy and
burgeoning wealth as a trade centre. Following the failed siege of Macedonian general
Demetrios Polyorketes in 305 BC, Rhodes prospered even further, displacing Athens as
the major venue for rhetoric and the arts in the east Mediterranean.
Decline set in when the island became involved in the Roman civil wars and was sacked
by Cassius; by late imperial times, it was a backwater. The Byzantines ceded Rhodes to
the Genoese, who in turn surrendered it to the Knights of St John. After the second great
siege
of Rhodes, in 1522-23, when Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent ousted
the stubborn knights, the island once again lapsed into relative obscurity, though heavily
colonized and garrisoned, until its seizure by the Italians in 1912.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
8
RHODES
point in Kolóna Harbour (
T
22410 70590,
W
12ne.gr);
Tsangaris (
T
22410 36170) for GA boats; Skevos, 111
Amerikis St (
T
22410 22461,
W
bluestarferries.gr), for
Blue Star; Zorpidhis (
T
22410 20625) for LANE; Stefanakis,
Alex Diakou St, for Sea Star and
Panayia Spiliani
(
T
22410
78052,
W
tils.gr).
Destinations
The following islands have regular
connections: Anafi (1 weekly; 17hr); Astypálea (1 weekly;
9hr 10min); Crete (2 weekly; 12hr 30min); Hálki (4 weekly;
1hr 25min-2hr); Kálymnos (2-4 daily; 2hr 40min-8hr
15min); Kárpathos (4 weekly; 5hr); Kássos (4 weekly; 6hr
30min); Kastellórizo (3 weekly; 2hr 20min-3hr 40min);
Kos (1-5 daily; 2hr 10min-6hr 15min); Léros (1-2 daily;
4hr-5hr 15min); Lipsí (6 weekly; 5hr 10min-8hr 20min);
Milos (2 weekly; 23hr); Níssyros (4 weekly; 3hr 10min-4hr
45min); Pátmos (1-3 daily; 4hr 45min-9hr 45min); Pireás
(1-4 daily; 12hr 30min-17hr); Santoríni (7 weekly;
7-20hr); Sitía (2 weekly; 9hr 20min); Sými (3-4 daily;
50min-1hr 40min); Sýros (2 weekly; 9hr); Tílos (7 weekly;
1hr 20min-2hr 15min). The tiny port at Kámiros Skála,
45km southwest of Rhodes Town, is used only by regular
boats to Hálki (daily except Sun; 1hr 15min).
BY PLANE
Rhodes' airport lies on the island's west coast, 14km
southwest of Rhodes Town alongside Paradhísi village. Buses
to and from town stop between the two terminals (turn left
out of arrivals; frequent services 6.30am-midnight; €2.30).
A taxi ride into town should cost around €22.
Destinations
Olympic fly to and from the following
islands: Astypálea (2-3 weekly); Athens (4-5 daily);
Iráklion, Crete (2 daily); Kos (2-3 weekly); Léros (2-3
weekly); Thessaloníki (2 weekly); Kárpathos (1-2 daily);
Kássos (1-2 daily); Sitía (1-2 daily). Aegean fly to Athens
(4-7 daily) and Thessaloníki (1-2 daily).
BY FERRY
Ferries to Rhodes use two separate harbours in Rhodes
Town. Large boats and catamarans dock at Kolóna,
immediately outside the Old Town, while smaller vessels
and excursion craft use the yacht harbour of Mandhráki
facing the New Town.
Ticket o
ces
ANES 88 Australis St (
T
22410 37769,
W
anes.gr) for catamarans and hydrofoil to Sými;
Dodhekanisos Seaways have a kiosk at their departure
INFORMATION
Tourist of
ces
The municipal tourist office is at Platía
Rimínis, just north of the Old Town (June-Sept Mon-Sat
7.30am-9.30pm, Sun 9am-3pm; Oct-May daily
7.30am-3pm). A short walk from here up Papágou, on the
corner of Makaríou, the Greek National Tourist Office (Mon-
Fri 8.30am-2.45pm) dispenses bus and ferry schedules.
Hospital/clinic
The modern state hospital, just northwest of
town, is understaffed and has a deservedly poor reputation;
