Our route from Rhodes Airport to Lindos is packed with noteworthy holiday havens. Despite taking just one hour and 15 minutes, there is plenty to see as you sit back and look out the window. All you need do is enjoy that unbeatable feeling of a holiday’s first moments, when everything’s fresh and new (and you can’t believe how good the weather is!
1. Faliraki
Picture the polar opposite of a drizzly day in Blighty and you’ll be getting close to the brightness and warmth of Faliraki. Famous for its Blue Flag beaches, Faliraki calls on you to swap the daily commute for a day sunbathing on the beach. Nothing to do but read and swim, taking the occasional break to order cocktails from a trendy beach-bar at the edge of the sand. It’s a tough life!
What’s especially fantastic about Faliraki is that the quality of the beaches is matched by the quality of the food scene, the shopping and the nightlife. You’ve got all the sublime tranquillity of a majestic Aegean beach combined with picturesque tavernas serving up delicious food. What could speak more resoundingly of holidays than Greek salad, olives and calamari beside the sea, washed down with a glass of crisp retsina?
Recommended Visit Time: A full day in Faliraki should allow you to get a proper dose of relaxation and swimming. However, it’s also great if you can spend the evening in the region, enjoying a meal and a drink. If you’re anything like me, then the more time spent on a beach, the better!
2. Afandou
The great works of ancient Greek literature conjure a world of small, tight-knit communities living rural lives under the Aegean sun – think of Odysseus encountering his father among the olive trees when he finally returns from Troy. That world is still to be felt in the picture-postcard village of Afandou. Wandering the whitewashed streets, you can browse a plethora of craft shops and markets, selling exquisite, handwoven carpets crafted by the villagers themselves.
Despite its traditional air, Afandou is also brilliantly accessible for tourists, with a miniature train taking you straight from the village to a gorgeous beach. There’s also the un-Odyssean addition of a stellar golf course. In a stunning location facing the sea, the 18-hole course doesn’t require pre-booking, so you can drop by and have a swing whenever you feel like it.
3. Kolymbia
Due to its golf course and the fame of its arts and crafts, Afandou is relatively well-known to the holiday crowd. By contrast, Kolymbia remains slightly off the beaten track. Its main beach has got to be one of the best on the island. A kilometre of pebbles and sand sweeping like a Grecian amphitheatre, it’s bookended to the south by a dramatic limestone peninsula. Forget Greek tragedy. Nothing could be better than an afternoon spent contemplating the changing light and shade of the sea, and watching the shadows play over the moody crag.
When you’ve soaked up the sun and the atmosphere to your heart’s content, you can also try your hand at water sports. The shallow, pebbly waters of Afandou make it a prime spot for both scuba diving and jet skiing, whether you’re a tried-and-tested water baby or a complete novice.
If you’re craving dry land, there are a variety of bars in the town, and good shopping opportunities that stay open late into the night (make a beeline to Eucalyptus Road for the best souvenirs and crafts).
Recommended Visit Time: A day spent swimming, diving and jet-skiing at Kolymbia should be plenty for a memorable and fun holiday experience.
4. Charaki
Last but not least, a visit to Rhodes would not be complete without a trip to Feraklos Castle, a mammoth limestone fortress above the village of Charaki. As with many island communities – especially in that great crossing-place, the Mediterranean – Rhodes has been the site of an oscillating, cross-cultural history. This castle is proof of that vast story. First built by the Byzantines, the fort was seized by the Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (an ancient Order of Catholic Knights, famous for their sovereignty of Malta). It was then ruled by various Knights for the next two centuries, before being besieged and captured by the invading Ottomans in 1523.
A couple of kilometres away is a beautiful beach, Agia Agathi. Tranquil, calm waters and a good provision of sun-loungers and umbrellas make it the perfect beach for the R&R that might be necessary after the exertions of the castle. All those besieging Knights can get a bit tiring!
Recommended Visit Time: If possible, take a full day to experience the castle, linger over a delicious lunch and cool off with a swim.
From Rhodes Airport to Lindos
As should now be abundantly clear, the road from Rhodes Airport to Lindos is so much more than a journey that needs to be done. Rather, it’s a path through the history and landscape of the island. Not for nothing is Rhodes renowned as one of the best holiday destinations in the entire world (and not for nothing has it been the base for so many fascinating civilizations!). The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, may no longer be standing, but the island is still home to countless other wonders just waiting to be discovered.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct offers stress-free, comfortable and reliable transfers from Rhodes Airport to Lindos. Get chatting with your driver as you gaze at the world outside your window. You never know what stories you might hear about this ancient and storied island!
NB. This route guide has been compiled as an aid to visiting the region. Your airport transfer service from Rhodes Airport to Lindos does not include stops to these destinations.
