Rhodes
Sea, sand and sunshine characterise the image of the island of Rhodes. With more than 3‘000 hours of sunshine a year coupled with miles of sandy beaches and turquoise-coloured bays, unsurprisingly Rhodes figures among Europe’s most attractive beach holiday destinations.
Rhodes Town: Greece at its best and most diverse. Rhodes Town has two facets.
On the one hand, the Old Town with 5,000 inhabitants, a maze of narrow alleyways and enchanting squares. On the other hand, the New Town of Rhodes with more than 50,000 inhabitants that is best described as a shimmering cocktail of discotheques and cafés, restaurants and hotels, shops and the nicest Casino in Greece.
An Old Town that could not be more picturesque
Surrounded by a massive wall, Rhode’s Old Town presents a lively and enchanting disarray of archways, cobblestones, minarets and mosques. The crenellated ‘Palace of the Grand Master’ towers over everything, including Socratous Street which forms the bustling centre and is occasionally so jam-packed with people that there is practically no getting through.
The third-century temple of Aphrodite of which just a few foundation walls and column drums remain, the carefully restored Knights’ Street with its late gothic facades and the only street without tavernas and shops, the cupola-roofed municipal baths with a marble basin where it is perfect to relax, or the Suleyman Mosque at the far end of Socratous Street: there is much to be discovered and absorbed by all your senses in the Old Town of Rhodes.
As evening breaks, the hustle and bustle of Rhodes shifts to the New Town and its countless entertainment opportunities. However, this part of Rhodes is also worth visiting in daytime, to see landmarks like the aquarium, Rodini Park and the new market (Nea Agora) on the waterfront.
A perfect holiday calls for perfect beaches and a perfect climate
Rhodes has it all: thanks to the northwest wind Meltemi, temperatures on Rhodes are pleasant even at the peak of summer offering an additional bonus to the island’s 3,000 sunny hours a year. Unlike the fairly austere beauty of the Cyclades, hibiscus and bougainvillea blossom on Rhodes and the air is filled with the scent of citrus fruits and herbs, such as thyme and myrtle.
Every year, several hundred thousand visitors find their personal holiday bliss on Rhodes. Whether in half-abandoned mountain villages or lively tourist spots, whether in ancient ruins or on parasol-speckled beaches: Rhodes caters to every preference and embodies the beauty of Greece in every nook and cranny of the island.
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Flightplan
Distance & flight time
- Distance from Zurich: 2025 km
- Time shift: +1h
- Flight time from Zurich: 02:40h
Characteristic Rhodes
Why are Greek houses painted white and blue?
Nothing is more symbolic of Greece than the colour combination white and blue. Whitewashed, cubic houses with bright blue window frames and cupolas epitomise Greece’s romantic holiday charm.
The colours of the houses reflect the Greek national flag and symbolise the sea and the sky and the purity of the fight for independence. Thus, the choice of colour for their respective houses was also a pledge to Greece in times of Turkish foreign rule.