Rhodes & Lindos & Butterfly Valley - Private Half-day Excursion

We will start our excursion with a drive around the walls of the Old Town of Rhodes where you can take photos from outside the most important Gates. The biggest inhabited medieval town in Europe. It was built in 1300s from the knights of the order of St. John. The Medieval Town of Rhodes is inscribed in the World Heritage Sites List of UNESCO. A) Due to a new traffic regulation, no vehicles are allowed inside the Old Town—only pedestrians. We can end the tour at one of the Old Town gates, allowing you to explore on your own and walk back to the ship. The walk from the Medieval City to the Cruise Port is an easy 5-minute stroll. This way, you save time and money, as you won’t have to pay for the driver’s waiting time. B) No worries—our knowledgeable drivers can guide you on how to walk through the Old Town back to the ship. Just ask your driver!

Mandraki port is situated in the new part of the town where you will see some very impressive monumental buildings built by the Italians. Here at the harbour entrance is believed that once stood the great statue of the Colossus of Rhodes – one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. We will stop for pictures of the area and you will be able also to enter and see the Church of the Annunciation which is the most famous church in Rhodes Town. Located north of Mandraki, the old port of the town, this church was constructed in the 1920s, during the Italian occupation of the island. The Church of the Annunciation celebrated on March 25th with a large religious festival.

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes was a gigantic statue of the god Helios. Erected by the sculptor Chares of Lindos, it was under construction from 292 BC till 280 BC and was considered as the tallest building of its time, standing at 30 feet. Built in memory of the defeat of the Roman Army, which was trying to take control of Rhodes, this giant statue represented a man holding a bow on one hand and a torch of light on the other. The statue of Colossus was put in the port, with its two feet standing on the edges of the entrance. The ships would pass under him. But in an area prone to earthquakes, the inevitable soon happened. In 226 BC, only 56 years after its construction, an earthquake hit Rhodes and the statue fell down. Snapping at the knees, the statue fell onto the land and broke in giant pieces. A sad end for what must have been a majestic work of art.

Now we will continue through the city and see more of the great Italian architecture. We will stop for pictures also at the Northern tip of the island where the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas meet each other. Then we will drive to Monthe Smith Hill where you can enjoy exceptional panoramic views of the city and the seashore, and also visit the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the impressive open-air ancient Stadium and the Amphitheatre.

For the Summer period between the end of June and mid-September, we can substitute the stop at Filerimos Hill with the beautiful Valley of Butterflies. The valley is a natural reserve, unique of its kind. The coolness of this place, the flowing waters and the shade of the trees make it ideal to rest, especially during the hot summer days. Small, wooden bridges cross the river and an uphill path leads to the Monastery of Panagia Kalopetra.

Upon request, during your tour, you can also have a stop at a pottery factory. You will be able to see how beautiful ceramics are made. Rhodes has a long history of pottery going back many centuries at least to the time of the ancient cities. Replicas of designs produced in those times are still been manufactured today together with new modern designs in a younger generation.

Little before we reach the beautiful village of Lindos we will stop at a place for a panoramic view of the village together with its Acropolis on the top. Before the village we will also visit the picturesque St. Paul’s Bay. It is claimed that St Paul landed here in the year 51 AD to preach Christianity to the Rhodians. There is a small church built there after his name. We will make a stop for pictures to capture this stunning view.

You will have at least one hour stay to explore the village and to visit its famous Acropolis. The Acropolis in Lindos is the second most popular Acropolis in Greece after the Parthenon in Athens.

On the way back, the last 14 km / 8 miles of our route follow the coastal road of Faliraki and Kallithea. Faliraki is open only during the summer season and is designed solely to offer visitors an unforgettable vacation. Its beaches are mostly sandy, with crystal-clear waters as smooth as glass.

We head back to Rhodes Town, passing through Kallithea, a stunning natural landscape where the movie Escape to Athena, starring Telly Savalas and Roger Moore, was filmed. Additionally, some scenes from The Guns of Navarone were shot here as well. Upon returning to Rhodes Old Town, you can enjoy independent exploration or head back to the ship (or your hotel). The Medieval City is just a 5 minute flat walk from the cruise port.