4 days in Rhodes with @baileyturvey

Think crystal-clear waters, idyllic sunsets, winding cobbled streets, and you’ll get an idea of what a trip to Rhodes entails. This stunning Greek Island has been on my bucket list for years and I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend exploring it this summer on an incredible trip with First Choice! If visiting a Greek Island has always been up there for you, then I couldn’t recommend Rhodes enough – it’s a picture-postcard-worthy destination. To help you plan your trip, I’ve delved into how we spent the perfect four days on Rhodes… 

Day 1 – travel day and arriving in Greece 

Your first day will, of course, start with getting yourself to the island. Rhodes is around a four-hour flight from the UK. We took an evening flight, which meant we managed to get a full meal and a cheeky drink at the airport before taking off. A few Netflix episodes later, we were flying through passport control and out within 20 minutes – Rhodes International Airport is super small.  

Rhodes has loads of different places to stay across the island, but we picked Ixia because of its amazing selection of hotels and how close you are to Rhodes Old Town. Rhodes doesn’t have Uber or Bolt so your main option from the airport is a local taxi. This is run as a union, with set prices for all drivers, so you won’t be ripped off. A trip from the airport to Ixia or Rhodes Old Town should set you back €25 and takes around 20 minutes. As we arrived at the hotel pretty late in the evening, we had a little explore but decided to get to bed as soon as possible to get rested for a full day tomorrow.   

Day 2 – bay-to-bay catamaran cruise  

What better way to start your first day in Greece than heading on a boat trip to explore its famous blue waters? We decided to set sail on a catamaran cruise around Rhodes’ beautiful bays, booked through First Choice Experiences. We were picked up from outside our hotel – always a bonus – greeted on the boat with a free drink and set sail fairly quickly, around 9am. This is probably no surprise to you, but Rhodes is hot! Especially during the peak summer months, so getting that cool sea breeze was ideal. The day then consisted of hopping in and out of the water at different bays – my personal favourite was St Pauls Bay. The waters are so clear, and it has incredible views overlooking the rugged Greek Coastline. Food was also included on the trip and as far as boat food goes, this was pretty good. We had stuffed peppers with roasted potatoes, along with a fresh Greek salad and bread on the side. The boat also stopped at snorkelling spots for those keen to see the underwater marine life.  

The whole trip lasted around six hours before heading back to the mainland, where we picked up an ice-cold beer for the route back. A long day on the boat called for a relaxing evening, so we just cracked open a classic Fanta Lemon and pack of Lays on the balcony before heading into Rhodes Old Town to watch the football – the season doesn’t stop on holiday – and grab some food before having an early-ish night! 

Day 3 – soaking up the sun and exploring Rhodes Old Town 

We were staying at the stunning Atrium Platinum Spa and Resort in Ixia, which was an incredible place with so much to explore, so we decided to spend the morning and early afternoon here. The hotel has four pools, tennis courts and a beach area we just hopped between. We also had a buffet breakfast included with our stay, so we also made full use of the fresh juices, pastries and coffee! The perks of being an Insider mean we also got to snoop around a few different hotels, too, so shhh… Dean Concept Boutique Estate was actually our fave of the lot. It’s right in Rhodes Old Town, which we explored today, and the design and terrace space is like something out of a Moroccan spa. Definitely check that one out if you’re thinking about a trip here.  

After a relaxing start to the day, we headed into Rhodes Old Town in the late afternoon to start exploring. The Old Town is beautiful and 4-5pm is a great time to explore. The cruise ship tourists tend to have left by then, so it is far less busy, the weather is a lot cooler, and you can also snap those golden hour photos. We grabbed a drink at a rooftop bar, overlooking the main square. There were loads to pick from, so it’s nice to just have a browse of all the menus first to see what takes your fancy. We then headed to our dinner reservation at Nomad Gastronomy, which I was so excited for – we had heard so many great things. It’s definitely a slightly fancier option for food, tucked away in a hidden courtyard in the centre of the Old Town with subtle live music playing – the atmosphere was incredibly calming. We started with a bread and dips basket and a bottle of house white, followed by the beetroot and walnut ravioli, which was absolutely out of this world. If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant without the ridiculous prices in Rhodes, I would 100% recommend Nomad Gastronomy. 

Day 4 – Lindos day trip 

This was our final full day in Rhodes, so we had to head to the famous spot of Lindos. It’s a picturesque village that’s nicknamed the ‘mini Santorini’, thanks to its similar white buildings – it’s a must-visit for anyone heading to the island. We booked return transfers with the Lindos Express rather than a guided tour so we could explore in our own time. Our first stop in Lindos was the Acropolis! We headed there as soon as we arrived to try and escape the crowds, and most importantly, the heat as much as possible. I’m not a history buff but even I can say the Acropolis was very impressive.  

After our visit, we wandered through the streets, picked up a fresh lemon juice, and had lunch at a rooftop restaurant. We picked T-Veg, which is a vegetarian restaurant that serves versions of traditional Greek food. I also managed to try my first Gyros of the trip here and it did not disappoint. It was nearing 40°C in Lindos at that point, so we popped down to the beach to cool off in the sea. A quick tip – I’d recommend going to Pallas Beach instead of Lindos Beach. It’s far less busy and I think the bay was actually a lot more picturesque. At around 4pm, we headed back to Ixia, which took about an hour, had another dip in the hotel pool and got ready for a waterfront dinner. We picked Thai tonight, just a five-minute walk from our hotel, and it had a lovely view overlooking the sea. We had an early flight the next day, so it was off to bed after that to wrap up our ultimate quick trip to Rhodes! 

If @baileyturvey’s trip sounds like a bit of you, have a look at our Greece holidays and you can find all his picks on our Insiders Hub. 

Keep an eye out for the ‘Insider pick’ tag when you’re browsing our best deals and in your holiday search results, too. 

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Author: @baileyturvey
Last updated:28/08/2024