How To Spend A Week In Rhodes (12 Best Things To Do)
Rhodes is the largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands & not one to be missed! It has tonnes of beautiful scenery, golden sandy beaches & is steeped in history.
We’ve bene twice in the past few years & we’ve really enjoyed it. There’s plenty to see & do in Rhodes especially if you have a rental car to explore the island.
In this post, we’ll share some of the best places we’ve been to & things we’ve seen in Rhodes so that you can hopefully get some inspiration for your trip there!
How To Spend A Week In Rhodes
1. Explore Lindos Village
You cannot visit Rhodes without making a trip to the popular village of Lindos.
It’s a typically Greek village, with whitewashed buildings, beautiful architecture & narrow cobblestone streets.
Some of the best things to do there are to visit the Acropolis, go for a swim at St. Paul’s Bay or just enjoy wandering through the charming little streets.
For more information about Lindos & what to do there, take a read of our blog post all about how to spend a day in Lindos!
Ps. It’s located near the south of the island – so to get there we suggest either booking a coach-trip from the North or driving there if you have rented a car!
2. Watch the sun coming up at Navarone Bay
If you are looking for a good spot to watch the sunrise, we recommend heading to Navarone Bay (Bucht.) The great thing is if you’re staying in Lindos it’s only about 3km (8 mins away) – so you don’t have to get up TOO early!
We parked at the Lindos Memories Hotel, then just walked down the side of it to the bay. When we went in October there was only one or two people with us watching the sun come up.
At that time of the day you can walk along the hotel section of the beach (you’ll see sunbeds & cabanas etc) to get some even better pictures with the palm trees & even the pier belonging to the Blue Fin Restaurant.
3. Walk up to the Chapel of Prophet Elias
The Chapel of Prophet Elias is located at the top of a hill overlooking Pefkos Town.
It’s a bit of a climb up the steps but not difficult. We do suggest going earlier in the morning however just in case it gets too hot. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to walk up but be sure to bring some water with you!
Once at the top you can have a look in the chapel & there are also some fabulous views from here over Pefkos & beyond.
We also found the large cross up here that lights up blue & which you can see from Pefkos at night!
TIP: You can park right at the entrance to the chapel here!
3. Make a visit to Gennadi
Gennadi is another typically Greek village located in Southern Rhodes & a lovely place to visit if you need to put in an afternoon. It’s a very quiet place, but well worth a wander round.
Once we parked up in the town we just took a walk around the streets, which have some lovely houses with colourful doors & overhanding flowers. There are some lovely cafes & restaurants dotted about, unfortunately we didn’t get to try any of them but we’d definitely stop for a coffee next time!
Niko & Maria’s Souvlaki Place looks to be quite popular, as does Taverna Temptation. Once you’ve finished exploring the town, you could also take a stroll along Gennadi’s shingle beach!
4. Cool off at Seven Springs
Seven Springs is a hidden gem located in the heart of Rhodes & if you’re an outdoor enthusiast like us, it’s a must-visit place!
When you’re here be sure to check out the lake, waterfall & if you fancy a bit of a different experience – walk through the seven springs tunnel – it’s a cool experience!
It’s also actually a great spot to get away from the heat of the Greek sun as it’s pretty shaded by the surrounding trees – plus if there’s enough water in the lake you can get in for a swim!
For more information about Seven Springs read our blog post all about visiting here!
5. Spend the day in Pefkos
About a 10 minute’s drive from Lindos, you’ll find the small town of Pefkos! It’s a delightful little beach resort, with plenty of cafes, bars & restaurants to enjoy.
If you go in the morning or during the day, we suggest having breakfast at Pane di Capo, or you could grab a cocktail & a light lunch at the Palm Cocktail Bar across the road!
Then take a stroll on down to Pefki Beach or Kavos Beach. We absolutely recommend going for a dip as the waters are crystal clear & SO WARM! You can also hire a sunbed for the day.
If you fancy a small hike, then climb the steps to the Chapel of Prophet Elias where you’ll also get some pretty nice views over Pefkos. If you don’t fancy walking too much, you can also drive to this viewpoint too!
If you visit in the evening, definitely make sure to catch a sunset down at the beach & for dinner we we recommend heading to 1912 Restaurant! (which is rated 5* on Tripadvisor & has 4.9 stars on Google Reviews)
6. Climb To The Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary Tsambika
Right on top of the cliff overlooking Tsambika beach, you’ll find the beautiful monastery of the Virgin Mary. The views from here are absolutely stunning & it’s such a serene place.
Once you get on the road to the monastery, be sure to drive all the way up to the higher car park (if you rental car allows you to get up steep hills lol!) We parked in the lower car park where the smaller church is & we found the climb to the monastery pretty tough in the heat as we had to climb an extra hill! 🤣
Once you’re parked in the higher car park, make your way up the 300 steps to the Holy Monastery. It can get very hot depending on the time of day, so bring plenty of water with you. From what I can remember there are some areas & benches to stop on your way up. We suggest going pretty early in the morning to avoid the crowds & the heat if possible.
Once you’re at the top you can go inside the chapel which is obviously stunning – but what we really enjoyed were the views surrounding it. You can see over Tsambika Beach one side, then the other side looks over Kolymbia & Afandou. It was a a tough climb altogether but really worth it!
If you’d like to know more about Tsambika Monastery – you can read our post about it here!
7. Unwind in Stegna Village
We’d never even heard of Stegna until we found it one day on Google Maps when we were looking for somewhere to visit. And honestly we were stunned by how pretty this coastal town is!
It’s a 30 minute drive from Lindos & you’ll go through the town of Archangelos to get there. Be sure to stop off at Stegna Viewpoint before you start your descent down the hill to Stegna.
Once there, you can chill out at Stegna Beach, check out the ever so tiny harbour or just take a wander down the main street. There are also a few nice viewpoints as well near the cliffs. Although there’s not a huge amount of things to do, we still think it’s a place worth going to!
We actually stopped off for an iced coffee in Jack’s Beach Bar (because it was still 30 degrees in October & we desperately needed to cool off!) & it was a really nice spot! We would definitely get lunch there if we go again!
(If you are thinking of visiting Stegna here’s a blog post we wrote on what you can do there!)
8. Chill out at Tsambika Beach
One of the most popular beaches on the island is Tsambika Beach! We spent a few hours here one day & it was a beautiful spot. You can hire a sunbed from around 20-25 euro. The sea here is usually crystal clear & warm, and the sand is just so golden & soft under your feet!
You’ll find pretty much everything here – including watersports, a shop, beach bars & there are toilet facilities too.
We recommend eating at Ramal Beach Bar & Restaurant. We had breakfast & lunch there and would you believe they were the best meals we had the whole week!
Also don’t forget to check out the Greek Flag painted on a large rock at the end of the beach!
9. Explore Kolymbia – Chapel, Harbour & Hike
Around a 30 minute drive from Lindos, you’ll find the village of Kolymbia.
We suggest heading to Kolymbia Harbour, where you’ll find the small chapel of Agios Nikolaos.
It’s a charming little blue & white chapel (typically Greek!), perched right next to the harbour on a raised rock. You can check out it’s beautiful interior (it’s free to enter) & take some snaps of the beautiful views outside.
If you’re feeling active & fancy a small hike with some incredible views over Kolymbia, we recommend walking up toward Flag Hill. You will start the walk from here (there are some parking spaces right beside this road.) It’ll take about 20-30 minutes to walk up & it’s really worth it for the vistas! If you have time, walk to the other side of the hill for views towards Afantou & Faliraki.
10. Go on a day trip to Rhodes Town
One place you can’t miss when you visit the island of Rhodes is of course, Rhodes Town itself.
Although the drive from Lindos is about an hour both ways, it’s well worth the trip!
Once you’re there, you’ll find countless things to see & do. Some things we recommend checking out are the Palace of the Grand Master, Hippocrates Square, Street Of The Knights &The Archaelogical Museum (to name but only a few sights.)
You can also spend a few hours exploring the quaint, cobbled streets of Rhodes Old Town, with plenty of stunning architecture to take in, along with bustling restaurants, shops & bars.
Another thing you can look out for whilst you’re exploring are the many medieval gates that allow entry into the old town (such as Liberty Gate or Sea Gate) & the impressive surrounding city walls that have stood the test of time.
If you’re heading to Rhodes for the day, we suggest going early to beat the crowds. Or go later in the afternoon & stay for dinner!
TIP: There are many car parks in Rhodes & lots of on-street parking. How easy it is to get a space will just depend on the time of day & possibly the season. We usually find on-street parking at this location, then we walk through the Akandia Gate & Dionisou Park to get into the main town.
11. Find the Agia Agathi Cave Chapel
If you’re anything like us & enjoy finding unusual or unique places of interest, then we recommend going in search for the Agia Agathi Cave Chapel.
You’ll find the chapel (& surrounding caves), situated at the north end of the golden sandy beach of Agia Agathi. You can park right on the beach, then just walk up the short distance to the chapel.
It’s a humble little place, characterized by a blue metal door with a gold cross. Inside you’ll find it decorated with holy ornaments, pictures & on occasion there are candles lit.
Outside the chapel stands a well-weathered blue metal bell, & don’t be surprised if you meet a few goats roaming about closeby. You’ll likely not spend too long here, but do check out the empty cave dwellings beside the chapel (although be careful if you go inside any of them).
Agia Agatha beach is also really popular & such a gorgeous spot, so you could always get a sunbed for the afternoon or spend some time cooling off in the water before you get back in the car!
Should You Hire A Car In Rhodes?
If you are staying in the centre of a resort in Rhodes & you don’t really want to venture any further afield, you many not need a car. There’s lots to do in Rhodes Town for example & in Lindos Village if you’re staying there.
However, if you are like us & want to go on a few day trips to different areas or visit certain places – then we would suggest getting a car. It just gives you the freedom to explore the island a bit more!
We normally just go on rental car comparison sites such as Discover Cars. They’ll compare all the rental car companies in Rhodes so that you can find the best deal for your trip.
*Always check out the reviews before you book anything & make sure you read the rental car companies policies & rules!
Other posts about Rhodes you might find useful:
- How To Spend One Day in Lindos
- A Guide To Visiting Seven Springs, Rhodes
- Best Things To Do In Stegna, Rhodes
- St. Paul’s Bay, Lindos: How To Visit & What To Do (2024)
- How To Visit Tsambika Monastery: A Magical Gem In Rhodes
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