Rhodes Town dates back to 408 BC and is located on the northern end of the Dodecanese’s Rhodes Island. The town is an amazing blend of modern and ancient with two distinctive halves – the Old Town and the New Town. This is what makes it considered as one of the most incredible cities in the world. What follows next is  information about the Old and the New town as well as a list of the wonderful places to visit in Rhodes town.

If you are planning to travel to Rhodes island, use this guide as visiting Rhodes town is definitely one of the greatest things to do in Rhodes island.

Old or Medieval Town

The medieval and UNESCO-listed Old Town is snuggled at the heart of the modern city while still endure completely separate, all made possible by the double set of towering walls with minarets and domes at the top. Inside, you can let yourself get lost and wander in the maze of squares and small cobbled streets. Medieval buildings reminiscent of castles, houses, mosques, fountains, quiet squares, sending the visitor to another time.

The Greeks, followed by the Knights of St. John, then the Ottoman Turks, followed by the Italians and back to the Greece again held Rhodes through the many centuries. This resulted to a magnificent architecture that is a special combination of everything, ranging from Italian, to Ottoman, to Classical.

Approximately 2,500 residents live and 7,500 work in this well-preserved city. It is the focal point of interest of all visitors of the island and offers the best services in the sectors of trade, food and entertainment to enjoy your stay.

Places To Visit in Old Town Of Rhodes

Archaeological Museum or Hospital of the Knights

The Knights of St. John is a Catholic religious military order that dedicated themselves to put a stop on the spread of the Islamic religion and inclined to the poor and sick. The order was in charge for the construction of the imposing hospital from 1440 to 1489. With a gorgeous courtyard garden filled with scented herbs on the front, the edifice serves as the home of the archeological museum of the town. This is where you can see displays of the archeological site finds from all over the island, such as urns, marble statues, marvelous mosaics, and funerary stele.

There is also a naked girl’s white marble figure as she crouches and runs her fingers through her hair. This figure, popularly called the Aphrodite of Rhodes, dates back to first century BC.

Street of the Knights

The cobbled Street of the Knights runs from Hospital of the Knights to Palace of the Grand Masters, lined with Gothic arches and stone buildings and it has retained the appearance that it used to have during the 15th and 16th centuries. It is where the Inns’ of the knights were located. The order was categorized into 7 tongues namely Aragon, Auvergne, England, Italy, Germany, Provence, and France. Each of these has its very own “Inn” and this is where the members dined and convened. The quarters of the various nationalities of the Knights of St. John are located on the pebble paved Avenue of Knights.

At the beginning of the Avenue at Museum Square is where the Knights’ Hospital is located, which currently houses the Archeological Museum. Just across is the Church of the Panagia tou Kastrou (11th century AD), which in Byzantine times operated as the Metropolitan Church of Orthodox Christians and later, when the Knights captured Rhodes, it operated as a Catholic Church. At the end of the Avenue of Knights, at Kleovoulos Square, rises the magnificent Palace of the Grand Master. Walking on this street  is one of the must things to do in Rhodes town for sure.

Palace of the Grand Master

The Palace of the Grand Master perched on top of Street of the Knights is a gigantic stronghold with a triple circuit of walls defending it sitting in Old Town’s highest point. This was builted on the location of the older Byzantine fortress (7th century AD) and was constructed by Knights Hospitaller or Knights of St. John  the Catholic military order that was the ruler of island from years 1309 to 1522.

Situated on the square plan that centers on a massive inner courtyard, the building fell into bad shape after the knights departed. Also, in 1856 it was partly demolish by an explosion. However, the Italians built it again during the 1930s to serve as the holiday residence for King Emmanuel III then later on for Mussolini, the Fascist dictator. This majestive structure with crenellated ramparts and towers, antiques, antiquities, and pebble mosaic floors has more than 150 rooms, 20 of which are open for the tourists. The ground floor houses two large permanent exhibits. The first floor houses the collection from the Byzantine Museum. The Palace of the Grand Master is considered as one of the most important monuments of the Knight ‘s order. Certainly one of the must places to visit in Rhodes city.

Medieval Clock Tower ''Roloi''

The famous Roloi Clock Tower, originally built during the end of 7th century in the medieval old town is Rhodes’ most popular attraction. This Byzantine structure has gone through several reconstructions ever since it was first built. An explosion in 1856 damaged it and it was rebuilt afterwards with Baroque touches. However, the best thing that you can do is climbing to the tower’s top where you can take in Rhodes’ panoramic views below. The  best time to visit is late in the afternoon or early in the morning.

Old Town Fortification

Enormous walls enclose the city and around the walls are gates dating back to the Knights’ Period. A walk along these improsing walls gives one the opportunity to assess this inconceivable for that time fortification work of the Medieval city and to also enjoy the splendid panoramic view of the old and new city of Rhodes. The perfectly preserved Medieval Moat hosts the Melina Merkouri theatre where many cultural events are held in the summer.

You can start from the Palace of the Grand Master and stroll around one of the world’s best examples of medieval battlements. Originally constructed during the Byzantine era, the knights extended and armor plated them during 14th to 16th centuries because of their obsessive fear of being attacked by the enemies. With a length of 4 kilometers and thickness of 12 meters in parts, these include robust bastions, impressive towers, artillery firing posts, a dry moat, and a few magnificent gates.

Suleyman Mosque

In the 1522 was constructed, the same year   that the city was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, this mosque with its wonderful colors and elegant minaret served as a commemoration of the conquest of the island by Süleyman I. During that time, Süleyman the Magnificent, the Sultan, was one of the most influential leaders of the world, growing the empire further to North Africa and Europe in the era that was later on recognized as the Golden Age of the Ottomans. With the ruling of the Turks, many of the churches in Rhodes were turned into mosques.

Socratous and Aristotelous Streets

The cross streets at Suleyman Mosque lead to churches, such as the Church of Agios Fanourios (13th century church with murals). As well as squares such as Dorieos Square with the Retzep Mosque and Arionos Square with the Turkish Baths (built in the 16th century), which are of special interest. Along Sokratous street you can find many shops, traditional shops and some cafes and restaurants. Socratous street ends at the popular lppokratous square near the Marine Gate, the largest and most impressive gate of the Knight’s era, dominated by the Knight’s Building of Kastellania. Next the beautiful  Aristotelous Street leads to the Square of the Jewish Martyrs, the centre of the old Jewish Quarter, which is where the “Admiralty”, the Jewish Synagogue, the Panagia tou Bourgou and the Knight’s Guesthouse of Agia Ekaterini are located. In that straight you can see the two wonderful fountains.

New Town

You will found  New Town,  outside the walls, was where the local Greeks originally settled after they were banished by the Ottoman Turks from the medieval center during 1522. But, its current appearance came to existence during the 1930s when the Mussolini-led Italians constructed Art Deco administrative buildings that overlook the Mandraki Harbor that include the post office, town hall, aquarium, theater, and covered market.

In Mandraki Harbor there are sandy beaches with umbrellas and sunbeds for hire.

Places To Visit in New Town Of Rhodes

Mandraki Harbor

Dating from the founding of the city in 408 BC, a long seawall lined with three derelict windmills protects the old Mandraki Harbor and on the northern tip, you can find the 15th century Fort St. Nicholas. Two stone columns with bronze figures of a doe and a stag on the top flank the harbor’s entrance.

In the bygone times, it is said that the mythological Colossus of Rhodes, the enormous 3rd century statue of the personification of the sun  handsome and magnificent Greek god Helios, straddled the harbor’s entrance where the deer currently stands guard. These days, trip boats and yachts that offer day boat trips to the nearby islands of Halki and Symi and to the Turkish coast’s Marmaris use the Mandraki Harbor.

Elli Beach

Eli Beach is the main beach of the town that appeals large crowds during summer season. But, the best thing here is that the pure blue waters of the beach generally remain warm enough for a swim through the month of October. Gravels cover most of the beach so lying or mobile on it can be quite rocky. Don’t worry though, as there are umbrellas and loungers available for rent during the season. It is also very  important to know that the really blue water in the area tends to get deep really fast so this might be the best choice for young kids. There is also a set up diving platform for leaping off right offshore. The vicinity also has good snorkeling.

Acropolis of Rhodes (Monte Smith Hill or St Stephens Hill)

One of the must places to visit in Rhodes town is certainly the Acropolis of Rhodes. Conserved in the ruins of the ancient acropolis are a lot of important antiquities. The restored ancient Stadium of Diagoras and the small marble theater which today hosts musical and theatrical performances. On the hilltop rules the Acropolis of the ancient city of Rhodes and the ruins of the Temple of Apollo. There is no entrance fee as the site is open for everyone.

Rodini Park

Also one of the serenest places to visit in Rhodes town is Rodini park. The park is just 3 km from the city of Rhodes and you can easily find it as it is along the Rhodes-Lindos main road.

Rodini park is illustrious for its rich and divers flora and the rare plants. You will also meet some friendly ducks and lots of majestive peacocks around as well as the rare ghizani fish! The park has a refreshment stand and the entrance is free.

Aquarium

It is located at the northern tip of the island. It was built by the Italians in 1936, starting its activities in 1937. Since 1963 it has been operating as an an aquarium under the name Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes and functions as a research center in the Mediterranean.

The Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes has an open water circulation system, which delivers natural living conditions for a wide range of Meditteranean specimens such as  turtles, numerous fishes, octopuses, clams, reefs, sea flowers or other interesting sea organisms.