Travel icon: Rhodes, Greece

RHODES, GREECE Sunseekers who visit the island of Rhodes are guaranteed a warm welcome, as well as a fascinating history lesson on Greek myths, crusading Knights and more

Historic sites, admirable architecture and balmy temperatures mean that visitors to Rhodes are in for a warm and welcoming treat

Get orientated

Rhodes – sun, sea and sand. It might just be the most popular island in Greece, with sunseeking crowds descending on the largest Dodecanese island every summer. But beyond the Aegean-side beach paradises, you’ll find a Unescostamped medieval citadel and a long, romantic history that dates back more than two millennia.

Ancient legends connect the island to the old sun god Helios, who allegedly raised it from the sea, bathing it in his brilliance; but it’s Hercules who is credited as the founder of its first settlement. Greek myths aside, Rhodes is home to one of Europe’s finest walled cities, one that still bears the traces of its previous invasions: the ruins of its famous crusading occupiers, the Knights of St John, and Ottoman-style mosques, too.

And, blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, any time is a good time to visit. If you want to avoid the busier summer months, you can go from in spring or autumn, and explore the cobbled medieval streets, charming villages and Crusader castles in peace.

Getting there & around

British Airways flies direct from London Gatwick/heathrow to Rhodes (around four hours; from £97 return). Regular buses link the airport to the town (around 40 minutes; €2.20/£1.90).

The visit

The harbourside is the perfect point to begin your trip into the past – the medieval times, to be exact. From here, you can walk along the Street of the Knights, where you‘ll find seven 16th-century inns built to represent the nationalities of the Knights of St John.

Before long, you’ll reach the Palace of the Grand Masters (€6/£5.10), a grand theatre of power for the Knights and now a stage for ancient artefacts with two permanent exhibitions detailing the early history of the island. Walk along fine Roman and Byzantine mosaic floors, admire Hellenistic statues and intricate frescoes, then line up to wander along the Old Town’s 4km-long city walls (€2/£1.70). Before you take this on, make sure to arm yourself with water – the sun’s glare can prove strong to bear, but you’ll find the panoramic vistas overlooking the city’s defences and harbour are more than worth it.

End your trip on another high with an hour-long road trip from the Old Town to the whitewashed village of Lindos, where you can explore Byzantine and Arabic houses, before treading a short, steep path (125m) to reach the heavens – that is to say the well-preserved Acropolis. See what’s left of the sacred Temple of Athena Lindia, once visited by Alexander the Great, then admire your reward: an endless view over the glittering Aegean.