This magical Greek island offering the perfect mix of beautiful beaches, rich history, and vibrant local culture, is the ideal destination for an unforgettable vacation. If you’re planning a trip to this stunning island, you’ve come to the right place!
After our first flight since the pandemic, we decided to fly to Greece to celebrate my birthday (let’s not mention the age), and it turned out to be an epic trip!
I usually go for dustant exotic destinations, but when I found out that just an hour’s flight can bring me to paradise with turquoise beaches, amazing food, and lovely, friendly people – I was blown away. Rhodes wasn’t packed with tourists as I had feared, and the hotels were cheaper compared to other islands we checked out. It was a delight that didn’t feel crowded at all.
Here are all the details from our fabulous trip. If you decide to book the same hotel we stayed at, feel free to use my link (no extra cost to you!).
Where to Stay in Rhodes: Hotel Recommendations
Rhodes doesn’t have a single main hub, so you can stay in the Faliraki area or near the Old Town if you like going out in the evenings. Everything is pretty close unless you head far south.
Esperos Village & Spa – Adults Only Hotel
After debating whether to go for a huge resort (we didn’t want it to feel empty and boring) or a more boutique, intimate hotel, we opted for Esperos Village & Spa – and looking back, it was the best decision we made!
The hotel itself is stunning, especially for the price. We paid around 2,600 NIS for four nights in a room with a private pool. The hotel is built on a hillside, with rooms overlooking either the forest or the sea. We chose a double room called Exclusive Sea View Room with Private Pool, which was spacious, comfortable, and had a minimalist design. But the best part? The private pool! Sitting in the water, overlooking the open sea, was an experience we didn’t want to end.
Next to the pool on the terrace, we had sunbeds, a table, and chairs – perfect for breakfast or a morning coffee. The pool even had small jacuzzi jets, which we only discovered on the last day (a bit of a bummer, but still fun!).
The hotel is very walkable – you can stroll from the rooms to the main building, where you’ll find the reception, main infinity pool, spa, and dining hall. The infinity pool overlooks the sea, with soft, cushioned sunbeds nearby. There’s also a heated pool in the spa (we accidentally wandered in thinking it was just another pool), and it was a refreshing bonus.
In addition, near the main pool area, there’s a bar where you can order food and drinks. There’s also a quieter pool area close to rooms in the 500+ block, facing the forest and shared by several rooms – definitely recommend taking a dip there if you’re looking for a peaceful spot.
The hotel also has amenities like a tennis court, fully equipped gym, and spa, which we didn’t get around to using but looked very well-maintained. If you’re in the mood for even more pampering, the spa offers a range of treatments (unfortunately, we didn’t have time to try them).
Breakfast was top-notch – an omelet station, Western and Greek food options, and even a full English breakfast with beans and all the extras. For vegan guests, there’s a wide selection, including vegan pancakes (just let the chef know what time you plan to arrive), plenty of fruits and vegetables, soy milk, dried fruits, and more.
After debating whether to go for a huge resort (we didn’t want it to feel empty and boring) or a more boutique, intimate hotel, we opted for Esperos Village & Spa – and looking back, it was the best decision we made!
The hotel itself is stunning, especially for the price. We paid around 2,600 NIS for four nights in a room with a private pool. The hotel is built on a hillside, with rooms overlooking either the forest or the sea. We chose a double room called Exclusive Sea View Room with Private Pool, which was spacious, comfortable, and had a minimalist design. But the best part? The private pool! Sitting in the water, overlooking the open sea, was an experience we didn’t want to end.
Next to the pool on the terrace, we had sunbeds, a table, and chairs – perfect for breakfast or a morning coffee. The pool even had small jacuzzi jets, which we only discovered on the last day (a bit of a bummer, but still fun!).
The hotel is very walkable – you can stroll from the rooms to the main building, where you’ll find the reception, main infinity pool, spa, and dining hall. The infinity pool overlooks the sea, with soft, cushioned sunbeds nearby. There’s also a heated pool in the spa (we accidentally wandered in thinking it was just another pool), and it was a refreshing bonus.
In addition, near the main pool area, there’s a bar where you can order food and drinks. There’s also a quieter pool area close to rooms in the 500+ block, facing the forest and shared by several rooms – definitely recommend taking a dip there if you’re looking for a peaceful spot.
The hotel also has amenities like a tennis court, fully equipped gym, and spa, which we didn’t get around to using but looked very well-maintained. If you’re in the mood for even more pampering, the spa offers a range of treatments (unfortunately, we didn’t have time to try them).
Meals at the Hotel
Breakfast was top-notch – an omelet station, Western and Greek food options, and even a full English breakfast with beans and all the extras. For vegan guests, there’s a wide selection, including vegan pancakes (just let the chef know what time you plan to arrive), plenty of fruits and vegetables, soy milk, dried fruits, and more.
Dinner at the hotel costs around 30 euros per person unless it’s included in the package you booked. We preferred not to go for full board since we wanted to enjoy Rhodes’ local restaurants, but one night we were invited to review the hotel’s dinner, and the food was simply amazing! There was sushi, rich salads, decadent desserts, and loads of vegan options. If you’re vegan, just let the chef know in advance, and they’ll happily prepare something special for you.
To reserve this hotel click here. In case of no availability search for another here:
Attractions and Beaches in Rhodes
A vacation in Rhodes wouldn’t be complete without visiting the island’s incredible beaches! We had a rental car, so it was easy to get around and park.
Important Tips
- Bring closed sandals because the beaches in Greece are rocky.
- Bring a floatie to relax in the water.
- Pack goggles and a snorkel to save on rental costs while still enjoying everything underwater.
Lindos
The main attraction in Lindos, beyond its beautiful white streets, is the Acropolis of Lindos.
You’ll climb on foot through the picturesque streets to reach the entrance, where you’ll pay 12 euros for admission. At the fortress, you can explore ancient theater ruins, and the view of the Aegean Sea from above is breathtaking.
Lindos Main Beach
The colors at Lindos’ main beach are simply stunning. You can rent a paddleboard for 10 euros per half hour, snorkel, and just enjoy the view.
St. Paul’s Bay
The beautiful St. Paul’s Bay is close to Lindos and has two “beach” areas: a small one with a few sunbeds and a tiny restaurant, and a larger one with huge sunbeds.
The smaller beach allows topless sunbathing, so keep that in mind if you prefer to visit or avoid it.
To reach the beach, you’ll need to park at the top and walk down.
Kalithea Terme
Kalithea’s hot springs are a fantastic place to spend the day. After exploring the beautifully restored white buildings, you can dip into the waters.
The beach has both small sunbeds and larger, more private ones located further away. The cost for two sunbeds and an umbrella is 14 euros, which includes two bottles of water and two drinks. There’s also a restaurant with sea views, and you can rent snorkeling gear to explore the stunning underwater caves.
Quinn Bay
Another beautiful bay with deep turquoise waters where you can rent a kayak. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to visit, but our friends sent us some amazing pictures.
Monte Smith Sunset Viewpoint
A perfect spot to watch the sunset over Rhodes. We drove up there, and the view was worth every second. In the summer, the sunset is usually around 8-8:30 pm.
Rhodes Old Town
Rhodes Old Town is a great place to stroll, especially in the evening when the sun starts to set. There are plenty of shops and restaurants, and you can easily get lost in the narrow alleyways. Just note: you can’t drive inside the Old Town.
Restaurants in Rhodes
Rhodes is full of fantastic restaurants, and in almost every place, you’ll get a complimentary dessert – a tradition I could definitely get used to!
Here’s one restaurant I absolutely loved:
Tsambikos Restaurant
A family-run restaurant where the mom cooks, the son serves, and you enjoy! We ordered loads of vegan starters, and my friend had fish and calamari. For dessert, we were treated to shots of ouzo, baklava, and ice cream! And if that wasn’t enough, they even gave us a bowl of small candies to take home as a gift!
Recommended Bars in Rhodes
When we arrived, there was a ban on music in the bars, and everything closed by midnight. But on our last night, the restrictions were lifted, and we got to enjoy Rhodes’ bars to the fullest!
Recommended Bars:
- The Union Bar
- Baia
- Rhonda
- Sissitio
- Sissitio
- riSe Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
- La Esquina
Bars we didn’t love: Blue Lagoon – a touristy tavern with Hebrew music. It was better suited for older crowds, and overall, it was too touristy for our taste.
Renting a Car in Rhodes
Renting a car was hands down one of the best decisions we made! Rhodes is small, but having a car gives you complete freedom to explore.
We rented a car with manual transmission (it was fun to get back into driving stick!), and the price was affordable – 220 euros for five days, including full insurance. It ended up being cheaper than taking taxis to and from the airport.
A few things to know: In Greece, they mostly drive manual, so while you can rent an automatic, it’ll cost a bit more. I recommend trying out manual driving if you can – we hadn’t driven manual since our driving lessons, but it ended up being a blast!
Our car rental experience:
We searched for car rentals on platforms like Priceline, Skyscanner, or Rentalcars.com. We found a cheap deal but made sure it was with a reputable company like Sixt or Hertz.
You’ll need to add insurance, and we also paid 4 euros a day for an additional driver so we could both enjoy the car.
If you want to treat yourself, go for a convertible!
One more thing: if you’re more than two people and traveling with suitcases, a small car won’t fit everything. Consider getting something a little bigger.
Our rental cost was 220 euros for 5 days with full insurance, which means even if there’s a scratch, we don’t have to pay anything extra. Some insurances only cover major damages, so check what you’re getting.
In 5 days, we barely used half a tank of gas.
Recommended radio station: 88/99 FM (and we even caught a bit of Galgalatz, an Israeli station!).
Traveling to Rhodes During COVID-19
Before leaving the country:
You’ll need a vaccination/recovery certificate and a PLF form, which you can fill out [here](insert link).
Only one person needs to fill out the form for a group (family/friends), and the others can be added as dependents.
Returning to Israel:
Up to 72 hours before your return flight, you’ll need to take a PCR test in Greece and show the results at the airport. Up to 72 hours before your return flight, you’ll need to take a PCR test in Greece and show the results at the airport.
Up to 72 hours before your return flight, you’ll need to take a PCR test in Greece and show the results at the airport. Don’t forget to bring your passport for the test!
You’ll also need to fill out a health declaration form before boarding, which you can complete (We filled it out at the airport, and it was fine since the form is generated immediately).
Overall Costs of the Trip
This was one of my cheapest trips! In general, we found Rhodes to be more affordable compared to other islands like Corfu, which is why we chose it.
The cheap hotel and car rental turned out to be more cost-effective than taking a taxi to and from the airport. Adding full insurance and a second driver doubled the price, but it was still worth it for the convenience.
Shopping is usually my biggest expense, especially in Europe, but since prices weren’t lower than in Israel (Zara, Bershka, etc.), and real sales only start in July, we didn’t buy much.
Here’s the full breakdown of our trip costs:
- Hotel: $730 for two people
- Car rental: €220 ($260) + €30 for gas (we barely used half a tank in 5 days)
- Flights: $500 for two people
- Extras (food, Acropolis entrance, beach beds, going out): about $400 (we brought 300 euros in cash, which helped us budget).
Extras:
Food, Acropolis entrance, beach beds, going out: about $400. We brought 300 euros in cash, which helped us budget.
All in all, we spent around $1,000 per person for 5 days. Keep in mind that prices go up in July and August!
Our trip to Rhodes was an amazing experience, especially thanks to the fantastic hotel and the abundance of beaches and activities.
If you have any more questions about Rhodes, feel free to message me on Instagram or Facebook – I’d be happy to help!
