Heading to the Greek Isle of Rhodes with the kids? Beyond the gorgeous sandy beaches and deep aquamarine seas, together you’ll discover tales of knights on horseback and a bronze statue of mythical proportions sure to dazzle the littles (and their grown-ups).
Unearth History and Myths
Between 1309 and 1522, knights from the religious and military Order of Saint John occupied Rhodes, converting the island’s capital into a fortified city and powerful force in the Eastern Mediterranean toward the end of the Middle Ages. Today, the medieval city of Rhodes is a UNESCO World Heritage site that serves as a fascinating historical playground for young and old.
It’s easy to imagine noblemen in shining armor atop their trusty steeds clip-clopping through the city’s labyrinth of cobblestone streets.
Make your way from the Sheraton Rhodes Resort to the atmospheric Gothic period city — which remains surrounded by a 2.48-mile wall — is the Street of the Knights. The cobbled road begins in the Rhodes’ Old Town, at the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, which is well worth a visit. Housed in a former knights’ hospital, excavation finds on display at the museum include a larger-than-life Hellenistic period sculpture of Aphrodite and a marble seated lion.
Also on the Street of the Knights is the early 14th-century Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, which is built around a central courtyard and incorporates the Byzantine Museum. Kids will be impressed by its turrets, capes and cloaks worn by knights, and intricate Roman mosaic floors.
At the entrance to Rhodes’ port, see where one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the imposing Colossus of Rhodes — a bronze statue depicting the sun god Helios — is believed to have stood for a mere 50 years. Thought to be almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty, the imposing structure is believed by some to have collapsed in an earthquake in 226 BC.
Just 34 miles from Rhodes town lies the whitewashed traditional coastal village of Lindos, one of the most attractive locations on the Dodecanese island. The village’s highlight is its ancient Acropolis, built in the 9th century BC and dedicated to the goddess Athena. Its elevated position atop a 380-foot-tall rocky cliff means shutterbugs can capture panoramic views of sheltered Lindos Bay and the Aegean Sea.
A Beach Made for Exploring
Boasting emerald waters and lush vegetation, Anthony Quinn Bay, named after the actor, is considered one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Made famous in the 1961 film “The Guns of Navarone,” starring Quinn, it is the go-to beach for snorkeling and admiring abundant marine life among the rocks.
A controversy over the late thespian’s bid to purchase the isolated location still swirls today.
Indulge in Downtime
If a day of relaxation is what the family needs, head to the child-friendly Kallithea Springs, 5.6 miles from Rhodes town. Designed by architect Pietro Lombardi and opened in 1929 during the Italian occupation of the island, Kallithea will make you feel like you’ve landed in Insta-heaven.
Dust off your Latin by attempting to decipher phrases adorning the pale-blue central domed building. All you need to do is stretch out among the palm trees on a sun lounger beneath a thatched umbrella. Cool off in blue-green, mineral-rich waters known to local inhabitants since antiquity. A café on site serves cocktails and also sates voracious appetites.
Track Down a Rare Moth
If you’re visiting in July or August, don’t miss the Valley of the Butterflies, located in Ano Kalamona. Meander along walkways and across wooden bridges through a serene forest of pines, plane trees and bulrushes, watered by flowing creeks.
If you’re lucky and extremely quiet, you might spot the orange-and-black-colored Panaxia quadripunctaria, actually the rare Jersey tiger moth, clinging to trees and taking a migratory break. Rhodetrip offers families a private tour of the valley paired with wine-tasting (bonus) at a nearby vineyard.
A Ton of Family Fun
In the bustling resort town of Faliraki, you’ll find Rhodes’ lively Waterpark, which features twister, black hole and kamikaze slides guaranteed to keep youngsters happy for hours on end. A complimentary shuttle bus runs between Rhodes town and the park, open May through October, all day.
Rhodes Rib Experience offers an enthralling, five-hour speedboat tour of the east coast, departing from and returning to Mandraki Harbor, with multiple swim stops that include long, languid Tsambika Bay and the Traganou Caves. Alternatively, charter their spiffy, 41-foot Technohull rib, complete with skipper, which can take you on a day trip to the nearby island of Symi.
If the kids are hankering for a movie, wow them with a 3D screening at the Throne of Helios, situated in a building that hosted the island’s first cinema, where they’ll be taken on an entertaining ride through Rhodes’ history and mythology.
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