As you know, Greece has everything, so why not spend an unforgettable piece of summer in this beautiful country with its tiny houses, olive groves and wonderful beaches? If you have only 5 days, and you want to see all the main attractions, swim in the gentle sea, buy interesting souvenirs, then feel free to go to the amazing Greek island of Rhodes with our guide.
How to get to Rhodes on your own
You can get to Rhodes by plane or by ferry. Regular flights to Greece from Russia leave daily, and from other Greek islands you can take a ferry to the “island of roses” (this is how “Rhodes” is translated from Greek). To visit Greece, you must apply for a Schengen visa.
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Where to stay
When thinking about where to stay on the island, give preference to the cozy village of Faliraki. In order to get to know the whole island in a short time, it is best to rent a car for a couple of days, and the rest of the days to explore the island yourself.
Day 1. Rest in Faliraki - trying Greek cuisine, relaxing in Water Park
Faliraki is the largest village in Rhodes, located close to the airport, and has become a center of fun and entertainment for tourists. Calm and quiet during the day, the resort with golden sandy beaches, sky-blue sea and cozy taverns turns into the center of nightlife in the evenings.
The morning can be spent on the cleanest beach, and when the sun starts to heat up, it is time to think about lunch, a cool drink and a shady shelter. There are taverns, cafes and restaurants in Faliraki at every turn, and in all of them you can taste Greek cuisine. Of the many Greek dishes that you should definitely try, perhaps the first in importance is moussaka. This is a juicy flaky casserole with meat and eggplants under an airy-creamy béchamel sauce. Despite the seeming airiness, moussaka is an incredibly satisfying dish, you can safely take it for two.
If you crave an exciting afternoon after lunch, head to Water Park for a variety of rides, pools and extreme speed slides that will take your breath away. Getting to the water park is not difficult: there is a bus from the center of Faliraki directly to the water park. In the summer months, you can splash in Water Park until 7 pm, in the rest - until 6.
Day 2. Attractions of the old city
Most of the island's attractions are located in the capital of the same name of Rhodes, conditionally divided into the Old Town and the New Town. Modern Rhodes is unlikely to surprise with anything - this is an ordinary part of the city, with a large number of hotels and shops, but the old town is loved by tourists due to its medieval atmosphere. You can get to the old part through numerous gates, for example "Port" or the gate of D'Amboise.
The most "knightly" attraction is the Palace of the Grand Masters, from where they ruled the island. The street of the Knights of John is right next to the palace, a medieval architectural monument, each knowledge of which is special.
In the old town, despite the atmosphere of ancient years, you can always find a cozy restaurant, but if you want to walk, you can buy gyros - the Greek analogue of Arabian shawarma, seasoned with spicy dzatziki sauce, and eat it on the go.
If the heat is exhausting, you can while away the time in the Rhodes Archaeological Museum, admiring the results of archaeological excavations and, of course, the most valuable exhibits - the marble sculptures of Aphrodite and Zeus. And when the evening chill descends on the city, take a walk to the Rhodes Acropolis: it will amaze you with its monumentality.
Day 3. Lindos - exploring the Acropolis, buying gifts, trying meze
On the third day, you can rent a car and go to get acquainted with the rest of the island, first of all - with the town of Lindos, located in the east. However, it will be difficult to drive a car in its center: the streets are narrow and winding, but you can ride a donkey along them.
Like Faliraki, Lindos is a wonderful tourist resort, which, however, has preserved more traditions and Greek flavor, the main source of which is the ancient Acropolis. In addition to the sights (the ruins of the temples of Athena of Lindos and St. John), the Acropolis also deserves attention due to the unforgettable view of the island.
After enjoying such beauty, you can pamper yourself with another Greek dish - meze. In fact, meze is an assortment for every taste: vegetables, cheese, meat, seafood and various sauces. It is immediately clear: this dish is for at least two!
After your meal, wander around the souvenir shops where you can buy cute leather and ceramics products, shoes, and jewelry. And after driving a little aside from Lindos, you will see the colorful Vliha Bay, a romantic place where you can relax before the return trip.
Day 4. Ostrich farm and Prasonisi island
In the center of the island there is a zoo - an ostrich farm, a joy for both children and adults, so it is worth starting the morning with communication with animals. Among the inhabitants of the zoo are various species of birds, camels, donkeys, deer, ostriches (for example, there are more than 120 species). Exotic lovers can try an ostrich cutlet sandwich for only 4 euros!
Children will be happy to ride camels, and shopping lovers will be able to buy "ostrich" souvenirs: eggs, feathers and handicrafts made from them. And those who like a sandwich with an ostrich cutlet can also try ostrich eggs in a cafe located on the territory of the zoo.
After lunch, it's time to head south and visit the "green island" - Prasonisi, washed by the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. During the summer months, the water level drops, and the island turns into a small sandy isthmus, on either side of which two different seas splash: the calm Mediterranean and the raging Aegean. Swimming and water sports are a pleasure there: the clean sandy bottom and crystal waters are ideal for swimming, and the strong wind attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers from all over the world.
Day 5. Shopping
You can end your vacation in Greece with shopping. In addition to ceramic souvenirs, it is worth bringing with you olive oil, Greek wine, olives and natural cosmetics. Many people go to Greece for a fur coat, and they are right: fur coats are really cheaper there than in Russia, and at the same time they are of very high quality! In Faliraki, the store with fur coats is located right behind the water park, where, having picked up a fur coat to your liking, you can, while sipping champagne, wait a couple of hours until it is adjusted “for you”.
Rhodes on the map
I also recommend reading the article Sights of Corfu.
