Island guides · The Islands
Rhodes: the island of the Knights
The back story
About Rhodes: the island of the Knights
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese, with a living medieval city, sunshine almost all year and some of the best beaches in the eastern Aegean.
The ancient city
Ancient Rhodes was a great maritime power and built the Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which fell in an earthquake.
The Knights
From 1309 to 1522 the Knights of St John ruled Rhodes, building the walls, palace and inns of the Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ottoman, then Italian rule followed before Rhodes joined Greece in 1948.
In Rhodes, you sleep inside the walls of the Knights.
The island
Beyond the Old Town lie Lindos and its acropolis, Anthony Quinn Bay, the Valley of the Butterflies and the windsurf beaches of Prasonisi.
Our advice: stay in or near the Old Town for history, or in Lindos for beauty; explore early in the morning; and take a day trip to Symi.
Why it's on our list
- Read before you go
- Who the island suits
- Our honest advice
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Rhodes: the island of the Knights before you go.