Compared to Santorini, I love Rhodes Island more

Very few Chinese travelers go to Rhodes Island; during my two and a half days there, I only met one fellow countryman. Perhaps it's because its fame is overshadowed by Mykonos and Santorini, or maybe it's due to its distant location, far in the southeastern corner of the Aegean Sea near Turkey.

But after touring around the Aegean Sea, Rhodes Island is my favorite. It is the favorite vacation spot for Northern Europeans, and you can even see Finnish and Swedish flags and text on the menus. There are plenty of beaches for tourists to relax on. On the long bus ride from Rhodes town to Lindos, you pass at least two well-known beaches. Unfortunately, due to the unreliability of Greek buses, I didn’t visit them, which is a big regret.

There are two more distant attractions: one is the Acropolis of Lindos, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, completed around 300 BC. From the Acropolis looking down, you can see a natural "heart" shape formed by mountains surrounding the sea, and swimming inside is extremely refreshing; the other is Symi Island, where the harbor has many places selling boat tickets. Due to time constraints, I didn’t make it there, but I will definitely go next time.

The main sights in the town are the harbor and the old town. The Knights’ Street and the alleys near the Palace of the Grand Master are full of atmosphere when walking around. But the most impressive is still the beach. North of the harbor is a huge beach, and on the west side of the island, where the long-distance bus to the airport stops, the sea is unbelievably blue—not the deep blue of the Mediterranean, but a light blue, pure light blue, just like the color of the Greek flag. It amazed me. Along the way, you can also find some nude beaches.

Tips:
Weather: It’s somewhat like Southeast Asian climate, very hot, unlike Santorini or Crete where it’s a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings;
Accommodation: We stayed at Diana Art Boutique Hotel, very clean, affordable, great value. The front desk staff was Serbian and was delighted to see we were Chinese, expressing repeatedly how much she liked Chinese people and wishing China to become strong. It was very touching;
Restaurant: Near the hotel, there is a place called Meat Street BBQ. The grilled meat is super delicious, 27 euros for a large portion, with various grilled meats and steaks. Don’t order the double portion;
Supermarket: Since it’s a vacation island, prices are not cheap, and supermarket prices vary. Places a bit farther out are cheaper. We went to a FOOD Market that sold local lemonade for 0.6 euros, very tasty;
Transportation: There are buses from the airport to the city center, but Greek buses are very unreliable, delays are common. Don’t rely on the driver to remind you to get off; they might forget. Also, Google Maps’ bus info is very unreliable, so it’s best to ask locals.

Summary:
Rhodes Island is perfect for vacationing, like a fairyland at the end of the world, undisturbed by crowds. There are flights from Athens and Crete (Crete is also a treasure). Taking a ferry is very far. I think you can stay here at least 5 days and visit several beaches. Greek food is also very delicious, especially grilled meat and grilled fish, and you can eat them every day.

Post by LoganMaguire87 | Oct 17, 2025