Rhodes
by Balam
While not considered one of the prettiest of the Greek Islands, Rhodes (Ródos) located just 7 miles off the coast of Turkey, offers beautiful beaches, a great climate and interesting archaeological sites. It also offers a chance to explore one of the historic homes of the Knights of St. John, who along with the Knights Templar, played a key role in the Crusades. Rhodes is a good place to use as a base if you are interested in touring the remaining Dodecanese chain of Islands (Kos, Patmos and Kalymnos and 11 other islands).
Legend has it that the Colossus of Rhodes (an enormous statue honoring a god) spanned the ancient harbor of the town of Rhodes (Ródos - the island and its main town have the same name). There is great debate as to whether the statue was set in the harbor or on nearby cliffs, although its existence is not debated (the statue was described by Pliny the Elder (1st Century CE) who witnessed its ruins). It was created by Charles of Lindos (Rhodes) in the 3rd century BC and destroyed by a major earthquake 50 to 60 years later. The ruins of the statue were eventually sold off and there is now no evidence of the Colossus or its location.
One door of the Grand Masters' Palace
by Aggeliki
The Grand Masters Palace, the most important Palace in the Old town, was the headquarters of the leader of the Order of the Knights of Saint John, and at the same time a strong fortes. It was built in the 14th century on the ruins of a Byzantine fort. It consists of two storey with a large internal courtyard. It was destroyed in the period of Turkish rule and rebuilt in the 1930's in the magnificent style we see now.
Today the Palace is a museum, and its many rooms contain important archaeological finds from ancient and
medieval years.
Churches
by Balam
Churches = ekklisies. The big churches are inside the towns but the numerous small ones are practically everywhere. Usually white-painted, you will find them on a beach, on the mountain peaks, in deep gorges or inside caves. People of Rhodes are deeply religious people and they build churches to express their gratitude to God or to fulfil a "tama", a promise given to God in exchange for a request.
Activitivies (out of the water) for older children
by ramot418
Go-carts ("Karting"):
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When I was there, there were 3 karting sites on the island: Damatria on the northwest part of the island (the cheapest, but...you get what you pay for - I just looked at it and turned away), Faliraki the expensive tourist area of the northeast (with prices to match, but a reasonably good course), and Lardos, just west of Lindos - the central-eastern part of the island (reasonable rates, good course and not at all crowded). The latter is where I spent my money, and I would have had to take out a second mortgage on my home if I would have let them ride around all the wanted. :) They really enjoyed it.
Bowling:
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A new bowling alley opened up at the time (spring, 2002) near the airport. Really first-class equipment with the usual other games around too.
Sofokleous
by steventilly about Various Bars
This area around Sofokleous square, by the mosque of Ibraim, is a great place. Just a few steps away from Hippocrates square it is just soooo quiet compared to that place. It's like tourists don't know of it, and most of the clients seem to be local, or at least Greek. The bars are set in bare stone vaulted buildings, though some are decorated with lovely mosaics, and have rich wooden fittings. Some have benches with cushions strewn about on them outside in the square. And the street is covered with a canopy of vines. Simply wonderful.
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Kamiros
The Inn Of The English Knights
BEAUTY OF A CASTLE
Aquarium
