How To Visit Tsambika Monastery: A Magical Gem In Rhodes
One place you cannot miss on your visit to Rhodes is Tsambika Monastery. In this post we’ll share how to find this beautiful spot, where to park & what to expect when you get there!
Whilst searching for things to do on our trip to Rhodes in October, we came across Tsambika Monastery, which sits right on top of the cliff overlooking Tsambika Beach. We love visiting old chapels & monasteries so we decided it was a must-see place for us!
Although it requires a bit of a climb to the top, we prevailed in the heat & let me tell you – it was so worth it! The views from up at the monastery are to die for, & it’s such a magical, serene place to experience.
We definitely think Tsambika Monastery is worth a visit on your trip to Rhodes, so here we’ll share with you some quick details on how to get there, where’s best to park & what you can expect!
History Of Tsambika Monastery
As we mentioned, Tsambika Monastery is located on top of a hill overlooking the beautiful Tsambika Beach on the island of Rhodes, Greece. The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
There are two legends associated with the construction of the monastery – the first one being that fishermen found an icon of the Virgin Mary on Tsambika Beach, & built the monastery on top of the hill to protect it. Another story is that a man whos wife was struggling to conceive, saw a light on top of the hill & he found the glowing icon of the Virgin Mary there. He prayed to her for a child & his wife fell pregnant – thus he built the monastery in return & named their child Tsambika!
When the monastery was built is not exactly known but it was reconstructed in 1770 by monks.
Whether you’re interested in history or simply want to admire the architecture and scenery, Tsambika Monastery is definitely worth checking out during your time in Rhodes.
Where Is Tsambika Monastery Located?
You’ll find Tsambika Monastery (Kyra Psili) perched high on top a hill overlooking Tsambika Beach & on the opposite side, the nearby town of Kolymbia.
Here’s the exact Google Maps location. The address for the monastery is Archangelos 851 02, Greece. The road/path to it is just off the main EO Rodou Lindou road.
Here you can see it on the map, right in between Tsambika Beach & Kolymbia! 🔽
Note: there is also another chapel of the same name, very close by HERE. This is where the ‘miraculous image’ of the Virgin Mary is now held (which used to be on the hill). We recommend visiting it as well if you have time!
How To Get To Tsambika Monastery
We drove to Tsambika Monastery using our rental car, which we think is the best way to get there.
Whilst the road to the monastery is easy to locate off the main road, it is over 1.2km long to get to the main parking areas – which is just much easier & quicker to navigate with a car rather than walking.
FROM RHODES TOWN: The journey from Rhodes to Tsambika Monastery will take around 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic. It’s quite straightforward, just follow the EO95 road towards Lindos for 24km then take a left when you see the yellow sign for ‘Holy Monastery Santa Maria Tsampika’!
FROM LINDOS TOWN: Simply get onto the EO Rodou Lindou/EO95 & stay on this road for around 20km or so. Then on your right you’ll see a blue sign for ‘Panagia Tsampika’ which will lead you up to the car parks!
Where To Park At Tsambika Monastery, Rhodes
There are two main car parks for Tsambika Monastery, a lower & an upper car park.
The first one you will reach is the lower car park, where you’ll find the small, but beautiful chapel of Parekklḗsi, which we do think is worth a look at if you have the chance.
HOWEVER, we do not recommend parking here, as you will have to walk up a VERY steep hill to actually reach the beginning of the 300 steps to Tsambika Monastery. Take it from us – because we made this mistake & we deeply regretted it😂!
So unless you are an avid walker or you don’t mind the extra trek – we suggest parking in the upper car park if possible! As we mentioned it’s quite a steep hill so do be aware of that but manys a rental car makes it up there.
The upper car park is better in that it’s right at the steps to the monastery which makes for an easier, more manageable walk up there, especially if it’s hot.
Tsambika Monastery: Opening Times, Facilities & Entry Fees
Tsambika Monastery appears to be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We suggest going early in the morning or late in the afternoon to beat both the crowds & the heat. We’ve read that it’s a really great place for a sunrise or sunset!
And luckily, it’s free to enter the monastery & you don’t need a ticket.
There is a taverna at the upper car park, however the Google reviews are a bit grim for it – so we advise bringing your own snacks & water with you if you are planning on having something to eat!
We believe there are toilet facilities as well however just make sure to have some spare change on you as we’ve read that you have to pay to access them.
The Walk Up To Tsambika Monastery
The ‘walk’ or ‘hike’ up to Tsambika Monastery officially starts from the upper car park, beside the small taverna & other facilities. It can take about 15 – 20 mins (maybe even longer) to reach the top – simply depending on how fast you go!
There are 300 STEPS from the car park up to the chapel. The steps themselves are quite well constructed & they’re fairly wide for the most part, so people can pass you if they need to. There are plenty of trees providing shade but some areas are more open to the sun than others.
From memory there are a few spots where you can stop & take a rest, as well as some benches.
Depending on your fitness level, the walk up will either be manageable or challenging. Even though I would class myself as having good fitness levels – I struggled with the heat as it was close to midday – so that made it harder for me – but thankfully I made it up in one piece! Andrew however was completely fine as he manages in the heat fairly well 😂!
We suggest just taking the steps at your own pace – there’s no need to rush! Make sure you have a bottle of water with you & you are wearing comfortable shoes! 💧👞
What To See At Tsambika Monastery
Once you get to the top you’ll be greeted with not only the gorgeous chapel of Tsambika but the beautiful views across Rhodes that surround it.
You can explore inside the monastery, which is typically Greek Orthodox in it’s décor. There are some seating areas if you want to just relax for a moment & take in the peaceful atmosphere up here – even with lots of people visiting it’s strangely quiet.
If you walk round to the left, you’ll come to a spot where you can enjoy views out towards Kolymbia & onwards to Afandou. This is a really good spot to get a picture!
Walking round to the right hand side of the monastery, you’ll find another viewpoint – overlooking Tsambika Beach & in the distance the small village of Stegna! Both of these places we suggest visiting on your trip to Rhodes as well!
Is Tsambika Monastery in Rhodes worth visiting?!
We absolutely think Tsambika Monastery is worth visiting on your next trip to Rhodes!
Despite the 300 steps up there, when you get to the top & experience how serene it is & the wonderful views over Rhodes, you’ll be SO glad you did it!
Let us know if you plan to visit or if you have been to Tsambika Monastery before! 😄
More posts about Rhodes you might like:
- St. Paul’s Bay, Lindos: How To Visit & What To Do
- How To Spend A Week In Rhodes (12 Best Things To Do)
- How To Visit Seven Springs, Rhodes
- How To Spend One Day In Stegna, Rhodes
- How To Spend One Day In Lindos, Rhodes
- Tsambika Beach: Is It One Of The Best Beaches In Rhodes?
Save this post for your next trip to Rhodes! 📌
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