There is a very beautiful ancient settlement in Greece, which is very popular among tourists. This is the city of Lindos in Rhodes. It is located on the south-eastern side of the island, on Cape Crane. Lindos covers an area of almost 16.5 km2 and has a population of just over 800 people. The village is 40 km away from the island’s capital, Rhodes.
The resort has all the necessary infrastructure, and although there are no large shopping centers, everything you need can be found in shops or at the market. There is no noisy nightlife in the city, although there are small nightclubs with discos, restaurants and bars with live music.
This city of Greece is preferred by travelers who want to combine a pleasant beach holiday with sightseeing.
Attractions
Lindos itself is a landmark of Rhodes and all of Greece. It is not for nothing that it is recognized by UNESCO as a historical monument of global significance, and local authorities have restricted the construction of modern buildings to preserve its originality.
Getting to know this ancient city of Greece is best to start by walking through the narrow winding streets, many of which are deaf. You can get a free map of the city at the tourist center, and although not all streets are signed on it, the probability of getting lost with it decreases. All the houses in Lindos are small, no higher than 2 floors, and traditionally painted white. On the first floors of many of them there are shops and cozy cafes. Each courtyard here has its own unique door design – many tourists even take photos of them in memory of the city of Lindos.
While walking around the city, tourists ‘ attention is drawn to the old buildings of the XVI-XVIII centuries, built in the style of Captain’s house. These captain’s houses impress with their high solid walls and arched entrances (pylons) with heavy wooden doors decorated with coats of arms. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely visit at least one captain’s house, because their interior decoration can be compared to a local history museum: the floors of the courtyards are lined with pebble mosaics, the ceilings and patios are covered with paintings. For example, you can go to Captains House Cafe Bar (address 243 Acropoleos Street) – this is a great opportunity to combine a tour with a visit to a cafe. Admission is free, but drinks are more expensive than other places in the city.
For most travelers, the Acropolis of Lindos is the most fascinating archaeological site of the settlement. The beautiful character of the modern village complements the natural environment: The Acropolis of Lindos rises on a cliff at an altitude of 116 m, like a sovereign platform with sea views, framed by massive fortress walls. While the Acropolis of Lindos contains the most significant ancient structures, fascinating ruins can be seen throughout the city and not far from it. Remains of the goddess Athena Lindia, temples of the 4th century BC. The Stoa and the Byzantine Church of St. John are located at the top of the Acropolis of Lindos. During the reign of the Knights of St. John, the castle was surrounded by stronger ramparts, and Lindos flourished as a naval power until the nineteenth century.
The Acropolis
Lindos is home to one of the most interesting sights in Greece – the Acropolis, the second largest after the Acropolis in Athens. It is located on the top of a steep cliff, and to climb to it, you need to go through narrow streets with shopping malls and poor Greek homes, and then follow a narrow path that wraps around the rock like a snake. If someone finds this climb too long and exhausting, it can be done by riding a donkey. It costs € 9 to rent one donkey, but these animals go in pairs, so the minimum cost for carrying one or two passengers is €18.
- The Acropolis is open to the public from March to December until 20:00.
- Admission to this Rhodes attraction costs € 16 for adults, € 8 for teenagers, and there is no charge for children under 14 years of age. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices – they are installed at the medieval fortifications surrounding the Acropolis.
- You don’t have to pay to take photos of the views of Lindos, Rolos, and the Acropolis itself.
Tourists who have passed through the medieval fortifications can see the most interesting and remarkable sight of the Acropolis: a ship carved directly into the rock. To the right of it is a staircase (VI century BC), climbing which you can see the Grand Master’s Palace. Nearby are the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to the Emperor Diocletian.
A little further away is a staircase (3rd century BC) leading to the Dorian Portico. The portico, which has the shape of the letter “P”, was used for the exhibition of works of art.
Next to the portico stands the Church of St. John, which was built in the XIII century.
Further – all that remains of the Acropolis gate, known as the Propylaea of the Acropolis of Lindos (IV century BC). In width, they reach 21 m, 34 steps lead up to them.
Behind the Propylaea is the main attraction of the Acropolis of Lindos-the Temple of Athena (IV century BC).
I must say that from the top of the cliff offers a stunning view of Rhodes, the sea. The heart-shaped St. Paul’s Bay is very clearly visible. From here, another attraction of Lindos, Rados and Greece – the Church of the Virgin Mary-looks great. Even if you’re not a history buff, it’s worth going up to the Acropolis for the views.
Church of the Virgin Mary
The old white church is located in the heart of the old part of Lindos. It is valid, you can enter it, and completely free of charge and on any day. At the entrance, tourists are given skirts and shawls.
The Church of Our Lady of Lindos is considered one of the most beautiful shrines in Rhodes and Greece. The painting on the walls inside the temple, made by the famous artist G. Simi, looks very nice, and the image of the Last Judgment looks even a little fabulous. The carved wooden iconostasis is both luxurious and surprisingly touching.
Next to the church stands a five-tiered stone bell tower, and behind it is a well-kept courtyard, the surface of which is lined with white and black pebbles.
Church of Our Lady of Tsambiki
There are 2 Tsambika monasteries in Rhodes: the lower one (Kato Tsambika) and the upper one (Moni Tsambika). Both of them are well known in Greece and abroad. The monasteries are located a few kilometers from each other and not too far from the city of Lindos.
On the territory of the lower monastery there is a white-stone church of the Mother of God Tsambiki with a bell tower. This temple houses a relic known outside the island of Rhodes and Greece – this is the miraculous Icon of the Virgin of Tsambiki (celebration on September 8). This icon is asked for health, children, and family happiness. Here, on the territory of the monastery, there is an Orthodox museum, there is a shop with souvenirs, candles, icons, holy water.
Kato Tsambika Monastery is located in the heart of Rhodes, approximately 6 km from the city of Archangelos. From the city of Rhodes, you can reach it by bus-there are flights daily from 9: 00 to 21: 15 with a frequency of 1-1. 5 hours, departure from the bus station to Averof 2. Get off at the Tsambika Church bus stop or go to Archangelos. From Archangelos to the monastery (GPS coordinates: 36°14 ‘08.3″ N; 28°09 ‘03.4″ E), you can walk or take a taxi for approximately 6-8 €.
- Our Lady of Tsambiki Church is open to the public daily from 8: 00 to 20: 00.
- Admission is free, but you can only go inside in clothes suitable for visiting the shrine.
A second monastery of a smaller scale is located 2 km away, on a hill. To reach it, you need to overcome a steep staircase with 300 steps. In this church there is a copy of the famous icon of the Mother of God, and the original is raised here only 2 times a year: on the birthday of the Virgin and on September 8.
Beaches
The city of Lindos is known in Greece not only for its ancient sights, but also for its beaches. But it should be noted that there are fewer beaches here than in any other resorts in Rhodes. If you want to go for a swim, the best place to go is St. Paul’s Bay, which is located behind the Acropolis. The Apostle Paul once walked here on the land of Rhodes. From there, you can take a fresh look at the castle and temple.
Lindos Beach
To get to the main beach in the city, you need to move from the central square down the street.
The entrance to the water here is gentle, thanks to the shallow water, the water is warm. There are no high waves: the bay is protected from the winds. The water is clear and clear, but garbage is collected at the bottom – most likely, the sea brings it into the bay, but does not take it out of it. The beach is sandy, the sand is quite fine and soft.
There are toilets, showers, umbrellas. For 20€, you can rent an umbrella and 2 sun beds for a day. Near Lindos Beach there are many restaurants, cafes, taverns.
St. Paul’s Bay
A few kilometers from the city of Lindos, there is a small bay of St. Paul with two beaches.
The first, large one, is located on the same side as the Chapel of St. Paul. It is quite well equipped, so there are always a lot of people here. On the shore there is a good tavern, there are bars with refreshing drinks and snacks. For 60 € you can rent a large umbrella and 2 sun loungers on the first line, on the second-30 € per set. The beach here is sandy and clean.
In the northern part of the bay, the beach is more modest, although clean and sparsely populated.
There is one drawback common to the entire bay: although there are not so many yachts for this place, you can see an oil film on the water surface.
Vliha Bay
In Vliha Bay (location: Lindos, Rhodes), the coastline is quite long and there are several well-maintained beaches. On one side of the bay, the shore is covered with small pebbles, then, as you move along the shore, the pebbles become smaller, and on the other side of the bay it is completely replaced by soft and gentle sand. Along the entire coastline, the water is clean, the entrance to the sea is short.
The beaches are well equipped: toilets, showers, water attractions, 2 sun beds and an umbrella for a standard 20 €. There are bars, 2 restaurants with good cuisine and affordable prices.
Pefkos Beach
Pefkos Beach (location: Pefkos) is very small. Its length is not more than 1 km, and the width is such that only in some places you can install 2 umbrellas. It can not be called very clean, you can see various garbage in the sand.
You can rent a set of umbrellas with two sun beds for 20 € per day. From time to time, local residents appear, offering a portion of fruit salad for 4-5€. Delicious and relatively inexpensive food is served in restaurants on the beach.
Plakia Beach
Plakia Beach (location: Main Road, Pefkos) is located at a distance from large settlements. This probably explains why there are fewer people here than in other holiday areas in Greece. You can find a place on the first line here almost at any time, and for 20 € per day you can rent an umbrella and 2 sun beds.
The surface is mostly small pebbles, and in some places there are stone slabs in the water, but they are clearly visible and therefore easy to swim around. The entrance to the water is gentle.
Gennadi Beach
Gennadi Beach is located near the village of the same name, 18 km from Lindos. The village of Gennadi is quite small, there is only 1 small supermarket, 1 bakery, 2 vegetable shops, several good taverns. It is convenient that there is a convenient access to the beach itself – an asphalt road.
The surface is small pebbles, but it is convenient to enter and exit the water. The depth begins already in 2-3 meters from the shore. The water is clean and warm. There are paid umbrellas and sun beds, there is no entertainment, but there are several small bars.
Holidays in Lindos – the price
How much will it cost to stay in the resort of Lindos on the island of Rhodes, and how much do the prices there correspond to prices in other regions of Greece?
Large hotels in this resort are scattered outside the city and relatively isolated from each other. There are many guest houses in the city itself, where, as in all of Greece, guests are received by the owners themselves.
Average prices for accommodation in hotels in Lindos – 100 € per night for a double room, the minimum-within 48 € in high season.
For example, you can rent a room at Vlycha Beach Apartments, located at a distance of 2 km from Lindos, near Vlycha Beach, for a minimum amount.
Located 200 metres from the Acropolis, Al 583 di Lindos offers rooms starting from € 100 per night. Apartments in the Lindian Pearl complex in Lindos will cost from 110 € per day, while housing is located almost in the city center and close to 2 beaches.
Apartments at Lindos Comfy Suites are more expensive – starting from € 125 per night for a double room. The guest house is located in Lindos, just 300 m from the central beach and close to the Acropolis.
Food
As in all Greek cities, there are many taverns, cafes and restaurants. But most of them are prepared specifically for tourists, which is why the food is monotonous and far from Greek culture. In almost all establishments, the service staff speaks English, and the menus are also written in English.
In Lindos, for 30-35€, you can have a good meal together, and even with a bottle of wine. For example, such reasonable prices are offered at the Village Cafe (address: Main Street, Lindos). Dinner in a mid-level restaurant will cost a little more: approximately 40-45 € for two people. You can also have a snack in fast food establishments for 8-12 € per person.
A large selection of products is offered by supermarkets. So, in the center of Lindos, 100 m from each other, there are 3 shops-there is the same range of products, prices are also almost identical. Conveniently, you can buy fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables in supermarkets. Alcohol is also available, but the prices are high.
Transport communication features
Lindos has one special feature: it is free of vehicles with exhaust gases (buses, cars). Since this city is small, it is quite possible to move around it on foot, or, as an exotic experience, on donkeys.
You can get to Lindos from the airport by bus – departure takes place at the airport, 300 m from the arrival terminal. In Rhodes, you need to make a transfer, buses to Lindos go at intervals of 1 hour. The bus goes only to the top of the hill, and then you can get on a special shuttle or walk.
There is a more convenient way to get to Lindos directly from the airport. On the kiwitaxi website, you can book a personal taxi in advance (about € 70) or buy a special shuttle ticket in advance (€23 per person). As for taxis, they are allowed to reach the harbor, which is located next to the Old Town. Most hotels are located in this area, so you will have to go close.
