Rhodes is world-famous as a premier Greek destination, renowned for its UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town, the ancient Colossus of Rhodes, and stunning beaches like Lindos. As the largest Dodecanese island, it blends rich history—featuring Byzantine, Ottoman, and Italian influences—with vibrant nightlife and diverse, sunny, and historic landscapes.
Rhodes, Greece is known for its medieval Old Town, ancient ruins, sun-drenched beaches and layers of history stretching back thousands of years. As the largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes is a destination that blends the romance of a fairy-tale fortress with the warmth of a Mediterranean escape.
“Brown bears, Greece's largest predator, have made a remarkable comeback. Their numbers have increased roughly fourfold since the 1990s, said Dimitrios Bakaloudis, a professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki who specialises in wildlife management and conservation.
Historically, Rhodes was famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site. During the early 21st century the island was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
Crete is one of the cheapest Greek islands to visit. As the largest island in the archipelago, it has a fantastic variety of budget-friendly accommodations, restaurants and activities on offer.
John. Beyond the city, the landscape shifts to sunbaked hills, pine forests, and long stretches of beach. Rhodes feels historic yet vibrant, with Turkish influences, traditional villages, and plenty of sunshine year-round. Corfu, by contrast, feels softer and greener.
The overwhelmingly ethnic Greek population of the Dodecanese (only Rhodes and Kos had Muslim Turkish communities) leaned heavily towards Greece following its declaration of independence in 1822.
Avoid using hand gestures like the "Moutza" (an open palm facing someone), as it's considered offensive. Address people with their titles and last names unless invited to use first names. Avoid discussing sensitive topics like politics and the economic crisis unless you're very familiar with your conversation partner.
"Opa!" (Ωπα) and "Yamas!" (Γειά μας!) are common Greek expressions: "Yamas" means "to our health!" and is used like "Cheers!" when toasting, while "Opa!" expresses joy, excitement, or surprise, similar to "Wow!" or "Oops!", often used during dancing or plate smashing.
Under the Allied peace treaty with Italy in 1947, the island was awarded to Greece. In the Classical age, Rhodes was famous as a centre of painting and sculpture and had a noted school of eclectic oratory at which the Romans Cato, Julius Caesar, and Lucretius were students. Rhodian sculptors were prolific.
While France consistently ranks as the most visited country by international tourist arrivals (over 100 million in recent years), Bali, Indonesia was named the #1 destination (city/region) for 2026 by TripAdvisor based on traveler reviews, highlighting different ways to measure tourism success. The United States leads in tourism revenue, showing it's a major player even if not #1 in visitor numbers.
Following the Italian occupation, the community faced increasing restrictions and hardships, Before World War II, there were about 6,000 Jews living in Rhodes. The community was almost entirely destroyed in the Holocaust, and today there are about 40 Jews living on the island.
