Rhodes is a beautiful island, but there is more than just the beach and nightlife! The center of the island is no less than 1000 meters above sea level and if you want to go from east to west, you have to cross the mountain. And after every bend the view only gets more beautiful. When you talk to real Rhodes lovers, they tell you that there is so much more to see on the island. “Rent a motorbike or a car and go exploring!” is the tip. There are beautiful routes in the central part of Rhodes, you will come across many forests here. These roads have more bends but are also good.

You start and end this tour of the middle part of Rhodes in the eastern seaside resort of Lindos. An important city in antiquity due to its favourable location and the natural harbours that surround Lindos. The biggest attraction of Lindos is the Acropolis.

You take the coastal road south and pass the natural harbours of St Pauls Bay and Navarone Bay and continue to Lardos with its castle. This is a very lively tourist village with many nice restaurants and terraces. The village is surrounded by olive groves and pine forests and is about two kilometres from the beach.
If you drive north inland, you will come to the Gadoura Dam and the associated large lake, which you will drive around for three quarters. It is a beautiful nature reserve. Construction of the Gadoura Dam on Rhodes began in 2002, with the intention of providing drinking water for the island. The project was completed in 2014 and the operation of the dam began shortly thereafter. Halfway along the detour you have a beautiful view of the dam.

The small traditional village of Laerma inland is built on a hill and almost hidden by the lush green forested area around it. The village was almost surrounded by a large forest fire in 2008 and was on the verge of being completely evacuated. The area is still marked by forest damage. Worth seeing is the Agios Georgios church which, as usual, has a central place here. Interesting are the tavernas that are located around this church and worth a visit for lunch or a drink.

After Laerma you will come to a route where many tabernacles (Greek Orthodox chapels) are along the road. Do not hesitate to visit them, because there are some gems among them (see link). Then, in the middle of nowhere, 'Achilles' appears with a well-stocked wooden hut full of local products. Definitely worth a stop to drink good coffee.
Anyone arriving early in the morning in Siána will wonder why there are so many tavernas and shops here, piled up with local products. After all, the village is a small place where hardly any tourists stay. The answer lies in its location. Siána is located on the 'busier' route across the west of the island. As a result, quite a few tourists pass through the village every day, who are quickly inclined to make a stop. In the heart of the village is the beautiful Ágios Pandelímonos church, surrounded by restaurants and shops. The tourists who do so will quickly be tempted to buy something here.

High up on a monolith are the remains of a Venetian castle near the village of Monolithos on the west side of the island. It is one of the more popular castles on Rhodes. It dates back to 1480 and is one of the few defensive forts that has never been conquered. You can reach this castle from the village of Monolithos via a winding road and once at the top you will be greeted by a spectacular view of the west. Climb to the castle on your own, nearby you will find a small chapel that is still in use. After your visit you can walk down in about 45 minutes, where you can take a nice cooling dip in the sea to end your day. Are you visiting the castle during the day and are you travelling by your own means of transport? Then it is nice to drive straight to Fourni Beach to sunbathe, swim and view the burial chambers. The beach is located in a small cove, surrounded by rugged rocks, and has fine pebble sand. It is one of the most peaceful beaches on Rhodes.

It is time to find a suitable lunch location. The next village on your route is perfect for this. The village of Embonas can rightly be called the wine village of Rhodes. With an altitude of 850 meters above sea level, this is also the highest village on the island. There are about 20 wineries with their tasting room in this village, so plenty of choice to taste and buy some authentic Rhodes wine. My tip is the Emery winery with tasting room at the end of the village.
Wine producer CAIR makes white, rosé and red wines. They also make sparkling wines. A kind of champagne, but from Rhodes. Taste during your holiday and also a nice souvenir for home.

You have now arrived in the rugged part of the island, where traditions are still alive. The lively, rural village of Apollona is situated on a hill among olive groves and is very popular with hikers. In the folklore museum of Apollona you can admire exhibitions of local embroidery, traditional clothing and ancient olive presses. Here too, a number of wineries are open for tours and tastings. Shops here sell olive oil, honey and soap. You can fortify yourself in friendly cafés and taverns for the whole family, with green courtyards.

Then the race goes down and you descend to the east coast. The remains of the castle of Feraklos stand on a rocky hill near Charaki. Feraklos was the first base of the Knights of St. John on Rhodes and could never be conquered by the Turks. Today only parts of the outer walls and the badly dilapidated staircase remain. Nevertheless, a climb with a spectacular view on all sides is worth it.
At the beginning of the stairs there are two cave entrances, which are connected by a tunnel tour and can be crossed without danger, but you should take a flashlight with you.

You have now almost reached your final destination and end the tour with a visit to Lindos on a terrace. Fortunately, there are many parking lots around Lindos; depending on the crowds, not all lots are available and you have to search for a spot. I have indicated many parking lots on the map.
The biggest attraction of Lindos is the Acropolis. On a large triangular rock that is 116 meters high is the castle of Lindos. This can be reached on foot if you are able-bodied. Please do NOT let one of the donkeys take you up or down. Along the way to the castle are women with handicrafts (especially tablecloths). In Lindos there are many traditional captains houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. These houses have been restored and are one of the many attractions of Lindos. On the outside of these houses is the date of construction, and often these houses are rented out as apartments. Some of these houses are now shops, restaurants and cafeterias.