Friendly locals, sunny streets and a great location: lovely Lardos is the perfect destination for a hassle-free family holiday. Located in the southeast of the Greek island of Rhodes, it’s a traditional village within easy reach of Lindos.
For visitors who are looking for ease as well as the exotic, it’s a destination that offers the best of both worlds. A modern holiday destination, Lardos has all essentials, from a pharmacy and a hairdresser to a car and bike hire. When you have little ones, it’s best to be prepared.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll soon find yourself falling into the rhythm of local life, which is laidback and welcoming. As with most traditional Greek towns, life centres around the village square: a pretty meeting spot lined with trees and featuring a fountain with refreshing clear water (great for washing sticky fingers after a midday ice cream).
It’s a popular place to stay among young families, with friendly residents who welcome you like one of their own and a safe, relaxed atmosphere. You can easily spend half a day ambling around town, enjoying a Greek coffee in one of the kafeneios (cafés) or playing in the square.
Thanks to its location, the town’s a great base for exploring. You’ll find a number of organised excursions available, including shopping trips to Lindos and Rhodes Town, the Monasteries and sailing trips to the island of Simi. There is even a go-kart track and a mini-golf course, so whether you’ve got a little adventurer, history buff or a sports fanatic, no one’s going to get bored while visiting this Greek hotspot.
Fun for Mum and Dad
While this is the ideal family destination, there’s no reason why Mum and Dad can’t enjoy the fabulous nightlife that Lardos has to offer. Once the sun sets, the sleepy town comes to life. To experience everything that this holiday destination has to offer, it’s recommended that you visit with an au-pair or book accommodation with childcare services.
At night, the streets transform into vibrant hubs of live music and fantastic food. Small tavernas offer beautiful traditional dishes like moussaka, stifado and kleftiko, while seafood lovers are in for a treat with freshly-caught fish served daily. It’s hard to recommend just one restaurant as there are so many great options to choose from. Just wander down the streets and you’re sure to find something you like.
If you feel like a boogie after your delicious meal, you’ll find a number of venues showcasing local bands playing excellent Greek music. There’s always a spontaneous dance happening somewhere here, so get up and get downs like the locals do!
Top Tip: September is one of the best months to visit this lively town, as this is when they hold their annual wine festival. Once the babysitter’s been booked you can take advantage of the free-flowing wine and fun music, and get involved in the grape-crushing on the square.
Where to Stay
Costa Lindia Beach – A popular choice for families. This five-star all-inclusive resort is almost a village in itself. You can easily spend a day or two enjoying all that it has to offer. The kids can splash around in one of the six different pools, make new friends in the playground and mini-club or play a board game in the games room.
Guest rooms all have a private bathroom and hot tub, air-conditioning, TV and free WiFi. When it comes to food, even the fussiest eater is catered to – they have a full buffet with a variety of different cuisine.
Kamari Beach Hotel – Just a one-minute walk from the beach, this hotel is the perfect base to get the most out of the town’s seaside location. The all-inclusive Kamari offers a pool with a children’s section as well as an air hockey table and beach volley court. While Mum and Dad are relaxing by the pool, there’s no chance of the kids getting bored.
Every room comes complete with TV, WiFi and a view of either the sea or garden. The buffet ensures that everyone is catered to, but if there is something else you need, you’ll be able to find it at the mini-market conveniently located just opposite the hotel.
Olive Garden Hotel – Just a short stroll from Lardos Beach, the Olive Garden is a beautiful hotel with green gardens, a large pool, a hot tub and a sauna. For sporty families, there’s a tennis court on site.
All rooms overlook the pool and gardens and provide guests with a fridge, TV and bathroom. The buffet breakfast offers something for all taste buds, while coffee and snacks are available to enjoy at the poolside bar. If you and the rest of your brood fancy a night in, there’s a lovely restaurant on site that serves Mediterranean dishes.
How to Get There
Flights to Rhodes Airport are about four hours long, and there are a number of affordable airlines that fly there frequently throughout the week. The easiest way to make the 58-kilometre journey from the airport to Lardos is by booking an airport transfer with Shuttle Direct. That way, you can switch into holiday mode as soon as you’ve stepped off the plane.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is one of the leading providers of airport transfers throughout Europe and North Africa. For years, we have been making sure that our customers’ journeys to and from the airport are hassle-free. Our experienced drivers know their respective region like the back of their hands, meaning that all you have to do is sit back, relax and let us handle the directions.
