| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
250km (135 nautical miles) E of Piraeus Selecting a divine patron was serious business for an ancient city. Most Greek cities played it safe and chose a mainstream god or goddess, a ranking Olympian: someone like Athena or Apollo or Artemis, or Zeus himself. It's revealing that the people of Rhodes chose Helios, the sun, as their signature god. Indeed, millennia later the cult of the sun is alive and well on Rhodes, and no wonder: The island receives on average more than 300 days of sunshine a year. What's more, Rhodes is a destination for sun-worshipers from colder, darker, wetter lands around the globe. But Rhodes gives visitors more than a mere tan. A location at the intersection of the East and West propelled the island into the thick of both commerce and conflicts. The scars left by its rich and turbulent history have become its treasures. Hellenistic Greeks, Romans, Crusader Knights, Turks, Italians -- all invaders who brought some destruction -- also left behind fascinating artifacts. Through it all, Rhodes has remained beautiful. Its beaches are among the cleanest in the Aegean, and its interior is still home to unspoiled mountain villages, rich fertile plains -- and beautiful butterflies. Several days in Rhodes will allow you to appreciate its marvels, relax in the sun, and perhaps add a day trip to the idyllic island of Simi or to the coast of Turkey. If Rhodes is your last port of call, it will make a grand finale; if it is your point of depar
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| How To Get There (Source: Frommers) | Top | In addition to its year-round service between Rhodes and Athens and Thessaloniki, Olympic Airways offers summer service between Rhodes and the following Greek locales: Iraklion (Crete), Karpathos, and Santorini. The local Olympic office is at 9 Ierou Lohou (tel. 22410/24-571 or 22410/24-555). Flights fill quickly, so reserve in advance. Aegean Airlines (within Greece tel. 801/112-0000; www.aegeanair.com), in addition to flights to Rhodes, offers at least high-season flights between Rhodes and Thessaloniki and Iraklion, Crete. Tickets for any flight in or out of Rhodes can be purchased directly from Triton Holidays, near Mandraki Harbor, 9 Plastira, Rhodes city (tel. 22410/21-690; fax 22410/31-625; www.tritondmc.gr). Triton will either send your tickets to you or have them waiting for you at the airport. The Rhodes Paradissi Airport (tel. 22410/83-214 ) is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city and is served from 6am to 10:30pm by bus. The bus to the city center (Plateia Rimini) is 5€ ($6.50). A taxi costs about 20€ ($26). By the way, some taxi drivers resist taking passengers to hotels in the Old City (because of the slow going in the old streets); note their number and threaten to report them, and they will usually relent. By Boat Rhodes is a major port with sea links not only to Athens, Crete, and the islands of the Aegean, but also to Cyprus, Turkey, and Israel. Service and schedules are always changing; check with the tourist office or a tra
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| Getting Around (Source: Frommers) | Top | Public buses provide good service throughout the island; the tourist office publishes a schedule of routes and times. Buses to points east (except for the eastern coastal road as far as Falilraki) leave from the East Side Bus Station on Plateia Rimini, whereas buses to points west, including the airport, leave from the nearby West Side Bus Station on Averof. Buses for the eastern coastal road as far as Falilraki also leave from the West Side Bus Station. Island fares range from 1€ ($1.30) within the city to 15€ ($20) for the most remote destinations. The city bus system also offers six different tours; details are available from the tourist office. By Bicycle, Moped & Motorcycle Even where there are strips set aside for bicyclists, it can be risky cycling on Greek highways. You must have a proper license to rent anything motorized. We can recommend several outfits that rent motorbikes and bicycles: Bicycle Center, 39 Griva (tel. 22410/28-315 ); Mike's Motor Club, 23 Kazouli (tel. 22410/37-420 ); Moto Pilot, 12 Kritis (tel. 22410/32-285 ). Starting prices per day are roughly 10€ ($13) for a mountain bike; from 15€ ($20) for a moped; and 30€ to 40€ ($39-$52) for a motorcycle. By Taxi In Rhodes city, the largest of many taxi stands is in front of the old town, on the harborfront in Plateia Rimini (tel. 22410/27-666 ). There, posted for all to see, are the set fares for one-way trips throughout the island. (A sample fare to Lindos is 40€/$52.
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