Cruise Holidays To Rhodes

Overview

The principal island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes is the site of the former Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The capital, Rhodes town, is surrounded by massive fortifications and inside the walls, dominated by the historic Avenue of the Knights and imposing Palace of the Grand Masters, both the legacy of the Crusader Knights of St John, who made this one of their bases from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

Ships dock close to the centre - just walk around the walls and enter through one of the huge gates. Inside, there's a maze of cobbled streets to explore, opening out onto lively squares packed with shops and tavernas. It's undeniably touristy but the architecture is magnificent and there are some great places to eat.

Further afield, tours operate to the ancient city of Lindos, now a cluster of dazzlingly white houses and narrow vine-shaded lanes, topped by a soaring fortress built by the Knights of St. John that encloses an ancient acropolis. St Paul landed at a small bay close to here in AD43, to preach Christianity.