This time of year is quiet in Rhodes. Tourists are few and far between, locals are wrapped up in scarves and coats for the winter temperatures (it was 18°C for most of the week – nice and hot for us) and most of the businesses in the Old Town are closed and preparing for the tourist season.
We decided this time of year in Rhodes would be ideal for us, it’s cheap outwith the holiday period and not too hot for me (I thrive in the usual 5°C highs in Aberdeen).
Not unlike our trip to Prague, the Scottish weather followed us all the way to Rhodes. During our six-day-long holiday in Rhodes we had two thunderstorms.
Other than the storms, the weather was beautiful. The rain cleared up as suddenly as it started and the sun returned quickly.
The hotel we were staying in (Hotel Castellum) was all-inclusive so we didn’t eat out at all but I did give some of the Greek food options a try and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Ruling out places to eat, there’s plenty to see in Rhodes, even outwith tourist season…
Old town of Rhodes and the Castle
The first place we wanted to see was the old town, which is only a 10-minute walk from the hotel. On our first day, we walked through the castle and made our way down the Street of the Knights of Rhodes.
We had a wander down the picturesque pebbled streets, full of shops being painted and restocked for the upcoming tourist season. There were a few shops open throughout the week, including some bag and hat shops, jewellers, a leather bag and belt shop, a music shop and some souvenir shops.
In the main square, we had a drink outside a local pub, where Ryan asked for a “large beer”, which ended up being more than he bargained for. They brought out a massive two litre boot of a Greek beer, with a mountain of foam on top.
One of our first experiences was the Archaeological Museum, which is around the corner from the Street of the Knights of Rhodes. It has a wonderful selection of Greek statues and ancient pottery as well as a beautiful garden.
The castle itself, in the heart of the Old Town, was an interesting visit. It has halls filled with gorgeous interiors and intricate mosaics. My favourite mosaic was definitely one depicting the nine muses, which was in amazing condition.
At the edge of the old town, near the port, is the Temple of Aphrodite. The temple is surrounded by lush greenery and seems to be hot spot for the local cats (which Rhodes has an abundance of). Despite being a quick visit, it was one of my favourite sights to see.
Acropolis of Rhodes
The Acropolis of Rhodes was in the opposite direction of the Old Town to the hotel. It seemed to be treated similarly to a public park, with locals walking their dogs and having picnics there.
First, we saw the stadium, which is an impressive size and in great condition considering just how old it is. Up the stairs from that is the Temple of Artemis and even further is the remains of the Temple of Apollo.
The Acropolis itself was covered in scaffolding, which is understandable considering how old it is but it’s still a sight to behold. It looked especially stunning on the clear, sunny afternoon we visited on.
I was incredibly thankful for the lack of tourists on the day we saw these iconic sights. I loved our adventures in Prague, but sometimes it was difficult to navigate the busy streets and see the tourist attractions with a crowd of people around us.
The Beach and the Colossus of Rhodes
I’m certainly not a beach person to be completely honest. I’m not a big fan of the feeling of sand between my toes and I have a massive fear of water – especially the sea.
Despite this, we had a stroll along the beach together and Ryan even convinced me to paddle in the water briefly, which was embarrassingly cut short by my screaming as the waves started hitting my calves.
The beach is gorgeous and the sea in Rhodes is the prettiest blue colour I’ve ever seen – amazing to look at but I’d rather not step foot in it.
Especially compared to the gloomy Scottish beaches I’m used to, this was an amazing sight to take in.
We had a wander and found the spot where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood. There are stone pillars with statues on them marking where his feet would’ve been.
Seeing these gives you an idea of just how big he must’ve been, looking out to the horizon.
Our holiday in Rhodes was super chill and hassle-free, which was exactly what I needed.
I would definitely go back maybe when it’s a bit busier and more of the shops and experiences are open. I would also love to do some of the day trips that we missed out on due to the weather and time of year.
Even if we don’t go back to Rhodes, I’d love to explore the other Greek islands. Where do you think we should go next?
Photography: Ryan Duff
Thrifty Mango 
Have you ever been to Rhodes? Let me know your experience!
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