Things to do in  Dodecanese

An important site in ancient Greece, the Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most important historical monuments on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands. Parts of the site were built more than 2,500 years ago, and this remarkably well-preserved ruin draws tourists from all over the world.

Hailed as one of Greece’s prettiest islands, Symi is characterized by pastel-colored town houses and a quaint harbor full of wooden fishing boats. Restaurants serving fresh seafood and Greek delicacies line the seafront, while the heavily forested inland offers an abundance of walking and cycling trails.

Anthony Quinn Bay, named after the actor who filmed The Guns of Navarone on Rhodes in 1961, is one of the most popular spots on the island for sun seekers. The picturesque pebble beach features shallow emerald green water—perfect for swimming—framed by dramatic coastal rocks that form underwater reefs teeming with fish.

Standing at 2,619 feet (798 meters, the pine-clad peak of Profitis Ilias is one of the highest on Rhodes and offers sweeping views over the island's Aegean coastline. Head to the top to admire the scenery and explore the hiking trails, drink from the Koskinsiti spring, and visit the Monastery of Fountoukli’s historic St. Nikolaos Chapel.

The beautifully preserved walled old town, the historic core of Rhodes, is the oldest continuously inhabited medieval city in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The medieval center is still encircled by its original fourteenth century fortification walls, which took more than 200 years to construct.

In use since ancient times, Mandraki Harbour was reportedly the site of the Colossus of Rhodes. Today, statues of Elafos and Elafina, symbols of the city, mark the entrance to the harbor, which is used by yachts and boats cruising to nearby islands, while a jetty is home to three historic windmills and the Fort of St. Nicholas.

Keeping watch over the northeastern tip of the island, the remains of the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes dominate the Dodecanese capital's skyline from atop Monte Smith hill. Highlights of the active archaeological complex include the exquisitely restored and partially reconstructed Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Pythian Apollo.

With almost 25 acres (10 hectares of water slides, swimming pools, and a lazy river, Waterpark Rhodes is the largest of its kind in Greece and an ideal spot for family-friendly fun. Shoot down the extreme water slides or gently bob in the wave pool—there’s something for everyone from thrill-seekers to tiny tots at his vast water park.

Though originally constructed in the 14th century by the Knights of St. John, the current Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes is a Mussolini-era reconstruction built after the original was destroyed by a 19th-century explosion. The lavish palace now serves as a museum displaying furniture, statues, and ancient mosaics.

Each summer, thousands of colorful butterflies congregate in the humid Petaloudes Valley, earning it the nickname Valley of the Butterflies. It’s one of the island’s most remarkable natural attractions, where you’ll find several species of the winged beauties, as well as the only natural Oriental Sweetgum forest in Europe.

Claiming the title of Rhodes’ longest stretch of sand is sun-soaked Afandou Beach, which stretches for 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the northeast coast. One of the island’s most popular beaches, the Blue Flag–awarded Afandou features a sand-and-pebble beach, calm shallow waters, and shaded alcoves lined with palm trees.

Hemmed in by a crescent of jagged rocks, Tsambika Beach is an idyllic stretch of golden sand and crystalline water that is considered one of Rhodes’ most beautiful beaches. A popular stop for boat cruises around the island, the beach is well-served by beach bars and eateries—but with no town nearby, the focus is firmly on the sun and sea.

A minuscule cove protected by cliffs, St. Paul’s Bay is reputedly the spot where the Apostle Paul first set foot on Rhodes in AD 51. One of three beaches in Lindos, the water here stays warm as late as October, and the bay is both shallow and protected from winds, which makes it ideal for swimming.

Paradise Beach is one of Mykonos’ most well-known stretches of sand, with two main beach clubs offering umbrella and sunbed rentals. By day, this popular beach is a water sports hot spot, with swimsuit-clad revelers enjoying banana boat rides, Jet Ski jaunts, Flyboard and parasailing adventures, and scuba diving excursions. Come late afternoon, its legendary party scene gets going as fun-seekers flock to the beach bars and clubs for music, dancing, drinking, and fun.

The volcanic island of Nisyros (Nisiros, a craggy and fertile speck in the Aegean Sea, lies north of Rhodes and is part of the Dodecanese Islands, along with Kos and Tilos. An unspoiled treasure that has avoided the onslaught of mass tourism, Nisyros offers hot springs, fishing towns, Byzantine chapels, and ancient ruins to explore.