Rhodes Beaches Greece - Greek Holiday Destinations
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The coastline of Rhodes is highly developed but it's still possible to find some secluded unspoilt coves if you travel far enough from the capital and steer clear of frantic Faliraki. The island's best beaches are along the east coast which offers a wealth of white sandy beaches fringed by trees and interspersed with fertile valleys full of figs and olive groves. The west coast is more windswept and the beaches are more rocky but that hasn't stopped the encroachment of tourism, especially at the north western end of the island near Rhodes Town.
All the coastline around the town is highly developed and some beaches can only be accessed through the hotels which flank them. The beaches here are crowded in summer but are well served with tourist facilities including sun beds and shades, watersports and plentiful seafront bars and restaurants.
From Mandrakia harbour you can take an excursion boat to one of the east coast beaches or to neighbouring islands including Symi, 24 kilometres to the north. The town's three diving centres offer "taster" days for beginners and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification courses. Diving is only allowed at Kalithea 10 kilometres south east along the coast from the capital. Dinghies and yachts are available for hire from Rodos Yacht Club and Yacht Agency Rhodes.
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About three kilometres south of Kalithea resort you'll find the Thermes Kallitheas where the Italian dictator Mussolini commissioned a grandiose thermal spa in 1929. The springs have long since dried up but the now dilapidated spa with its domed pavilions and pink marble pillars set in lovely palm gardens is still worth a visit. There are several secluded coves nearby which are good for swimming and snorkelling.
A little further south is the big, brash resort of Faliraki which attracted international media attention in the summer of 2003 due to the drunken excesses of young British visitors. It's the busiest and most famous of all the island's beaches offering every kind of sport and leisure activity imaginable (and a few more besides!). There's everything here from bungy jumping to laser clay shooting. Eat cheap Chinese or good old British fish and chips. The waterfront is chock-a-block with bars, restaurants, discos and clubs but if you head to the southern end of the resort you'll find a more peaceful area, popular with nudists. The resort boasts one of Europe's biggest water parks which has kamikaze and raft rides, a wave pool, aqua gym, lazy river and imaginative play area for small children.
A 45 minute walk from Faliraki takes you to scenic Ladiko Beach, often called Anthony Quinn Bay after the actor who starred in Zorba the Greek and the Guns of Navarone (the latter film was partly filmed here). A little further south you'll come to the attractive beaches of Kolymbia and Tsambiko both of which tend to get crowded in summer.
The tiny idyllic cove where the apostle St Paul allegedly arrived in 43 AD to convert the islanders to Christianity is located to the south of the ancient acropolis at Lindos.
The beaches south of Lindos are far less developed and crowded - Glystra, Pefki and Gennadi are all fine beaches with low key tourist facilities though they're increasing in popularity among summer visitors keen to avoid the busier resort areas.
The 11-kilometre stretch between Gennadi to Plimmyri in the south east corner of the island is an almost uninterrupted beach of pebbles and sand dunes and you'll always be able to find a deserted spot.
Prassonissi, at the south western tip of the island, is a Mecca for windsurfers - the sand spit tethering it to the main part of the island has calm water on the east side while waves as high as two metres break on the west side.
The rough water and strong currents off the exposed south west coast of the island make swimming there a hazardous occupation.
Accommodation - Beaches - Car Hire - Day Trips - Night Life
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North Eastern Aegean Greek Islands 
