Rhodes
Rhodes runs the full spectrum: gently shelving sand at Lindos and Tsambika for the bucket brigade, windsurfing at Prasonisi — where two seas meet — for teenagers, and a medieval Old Town whose walls, moats and drawbridges out-imagine any theme park.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Culture seekers
- In March15°C · 9 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~14h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGreek
- Local time14:102h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+30
Why go
The largest of the Dodecanese has room for several holidays at once. The east coast holds the long, calm, sandy bays that families book; the west is windier and better for kitesurfers; and the interior climbs into pine hills and old villages that most visitors never see. Sun is close to guaranteed from May to October, and the island is big enough that a hire car earns its keep.
Flights land near the capital and the drive south takes up to an hour and a half, so pick a coast and stay put. Rhodes Town, Lindos and Faliraki fill through July and August, while June and September are warm and much calmer. Turkey and the smaller Dodecanese islands are a short ferry away. Anyone after quiet, undeveloped Greece should look at Tilos or Halki instead.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Sunny, medieval, family-friendly
From our guides
The acropolis above Lindos rewards an early climb, donkeys optional and best declined. Book a beachfront base on the calmer east coast; with sunshine into late October, it's the strongest half-term bet in the Aegean.
Featured in Ten sunshine spots where toddlers and teenagers are equally happy
Things to do
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Valley of the Butterflies
Petaloudes is a shaded gorge of streams and wooden bridges where Jersey tiger moths gather in their thousands from June to September. Cool, easy walking and good for young children.
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Ancient Kamiros
A Doric town on the west coast, abandoned and excavated: streets, cisterns and house foundations laid out across a hillside above the sea, with very few visitors.
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Anthony Quinn Bay
A small, deep, rock-framed cove near Faliraki with clear water and good snorkelling. Arrive early, as sunbeds and boat trips fill it by mid-morning.
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Monolithos castle
A ruined Knights' fortress on a rock spike in the far south-west, reached by a short climb and rewarded with a long view down an almost empty coastline.
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Palace of the Grand Master
The Knights of St John's headquarters was rebuilt in the 1930s and now holds mosaics and medieval collections. The cobbled Street of the Knights runs downhill from its gate.
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Symi day trip
Boats from Mandraki harbour cross to a neighbouring island of neoclassical houses stacked around a horseshoe port, one of the most photographed harbours in the Dodecanese.
Getting there
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Fly to
Rhodes (RHO)
Nearest airport to Rhodes, about 30km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Rhodes Town
About half an hour by taxi or airport bus from Rhodes (RHO) at Paradisi into Rhodes Town, and roughly an hour and a quarter down the east coast to Lindos.
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On the ground
Getting around
Buses run down both coasts to Faliraki, Tsambika, Lindos and on to Prasonisi, and the medieval Old Town is car-free and made for walking.
Public transport: East coast buses are frequent through the summer; the west coast and the far south are served less often.
Flights
Los Angeles Rhodes, Greece
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Roughly 14h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 30°C in July. Driest June to September; wettest in December, with rain on about 14 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March15° · rain 9 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — May to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Large all inclusive beach hotels along the east coast, boutique conversions in the old town and Lindos, plus studios and apartments. Villas exist but are not the island's mainstay.
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Best base overall
Rhodes Town
The medieval walled city and the modern town beside it, with buses across the island, restaurants and two beaches. Inside the walls it is atmospheric but noisy and short on parking.
Find stays in Rhodes Town -
Best with children
Kolymbia
East coast, with gently shelving sand, family hotels and an easy hop to Tsambika beach. Quiet in the evenings, which suits early bedtimes and frustrates teenagers.
Find stays in Kolymbia -
Best for couples
Lindos
White cubic houses under the acropolis, with roof terraces and small boutique places. Cars stop outside the village, the lanes are steep, and summer days are extremely crowded.
Find stays in Lindos -
Best for nightlife
Faliraki
The island's party strip, with a long sandy beach by day and a loud late scene by night. Choose the quieter southern end if you want to sleep before dawn.
Find stays in Faliraki
Worth knowing before you book: October half term is popular and the best value hotels go early, while many close from November to April. All inclusive plans dominate, so check whether excursions and drinks are truly covered.
Search everything else in Rhodes Town by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Charter and scheduled flights serve the island from across Europe through summer. Ferries connect to Piraeus and to the neighbouring Dodecanese islands year-round.
- Driving
- Roads are decent and distances manageable, but the island is around 80 kilometres long. Book a car well in advance for August, when supply runs out.
- Timing
- July and August are hot and busy. May, June, September and October are more comfortable, and many resorts close between November and March.
- Pack this
- Water shoes for pebbly beaches, high-factor sun cream and a light layer for the meltemi wind, which can blow hard on the west coast.
- With kids
- The east coast bays shelve gently and have shallow, calm water. Old Town cobbles are hard work with a pushchair, so bring a carrier instead.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Rhodes?
For warm, mostly dry days, May to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in January to 30°C in July. Driest June to September; wettest in December, with rain on about 14 days.
How long should I spend in Rhodes?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Rhodes?
About half an hour by taxi or airport bus from Rhodes (RHO) at Paradisi into Rhodes Town, and roughly an hour and a quarter down the east coast to Lindos.
Do I need a car in Rhodes?
No. East coast buses are frequent through the summer; the west coast and the far south are served less often.
What currency and language are used in Rhodes?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Greek. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Rhodes best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and culture seekers. In a phrase: sunny, medieval, family-friendly.