Attractions - Greece

Attractions - Athens

Dodecanese, Greece

For a wide variety of Greek experiences, there’s no better activity than island-hopping around the Dodecanese. Beaches, medieval towns, volcanic craters, nightlife…take your pick – you won’t be disappointed.

Rhodes is by far the largest of the islands and attracts its fair share of tourism – mainly from Britain, Germany and Scandinavia. It is also the most likely arrival point for any visitor to the Dodecanese. The miles of uninterrupted sandy beaches and 300 days of sunshine a year are what attract most visitors to Rhodes, but the island has more than these simple pleasures on offer. The island capital – also called Rhodes – is Europe’s largest inhabited medieval town and a World Heritage-listed site. Make the most of its labrynthine charms by staying within the walls of the old town and away from the tourist-filled central squares. Don’t miss the haunting Gothic Knights’ Quarter. Outside Rhodes city, you will find the best beaches – Kolymbia, Agathi and Stegna – down the east coast. If you want to get out of the tourist loop, head inland and upwards, where the going is tough but the mountain views are quite spectacular.

Where you go from Rhodes will depend on how much energy you have managed to conserve during your stay there. If you’re still in the mood to party, head to Kos, but don’t forget to check out that island’s litany of Greek and Roman ruins. If, on the other hand, something more relaxing takes your fancy, you’ll have plenty of inviting options on nearby islands. Try tiny Kassos, with its population of just over 1,000 and only a handful of ferries arriving each week. The island’s serene atmosphere is perfect if you want to savour a little bit of traditional Greek life. Relax on the idyllic beaches of Helathros and Avlaki or visit the grandiose ruins of Kassos’ former capital, Poli.

Other quiet islands in this area include Arki, Lipsi and Tilos – a real gem, whose continued neglect by tourists remains a mystery. Your most likely point of arrival on Tilos is Livadia, the port. Walk 3km from here to Mikro Hororio, an eerie village that was fully inhabited until the 1950s. It was around then that the islanders started moving to Livadia, and the population of Mikro Hororio dwindled away until there was just one old woman left. She stayed alone until her death in 1974. Nearby Nisyros is one of Greece’s most beautiful and distinctive islands – characterised by the dormant volcano at its centre. Take a walk around the lush lowlands or climb to the crater-top villages of Emboreios and Nikea. The list of attractions in the Dodecanese could go on forever, and the islands will keep you enthralled for as long as you can afford to stay there.

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