Destinations > Greece > Eastern Aegean

Eastern Aegean

The eastern Aegean Islands include the Dodecanese group as well as other islands including Samos, Lesvos and Chios. These islands are popular for travellers island-hopping en route to Turkey. There are some excellent beaches as well as unspoilt villages and historic sites.

Rhodes

The largest of the Dodecanese and the most visited of the group. It has a rich history and was one home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Colossus of Rhodes, a huge statue that once straddled the harbour and was destroyed by an earthquake in 237 BC.

Rhodes City is full of history and it has loads of historic sights, including remnants of the 14th century occupation by the Knights of St John, while the island's east coast has sandy beaches and hoards of package tourists from northern Europe.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre (GNTO)

Corner Makariou & Papagou, Rhodes

Tel 0241 0 23255

Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-3pm

Municipal Tourist Office

Plateia Rimini, Rhodes

Tel 0241 0 35945

Tourist Police

Corner Makariou & Papagou, Rhodes

Tel 0241 0 27423

Coming & Going

Rhodes is the transport hub of the eastern Aegean and there are frequent ferries and flights.

AIR

There are frequent flights between Rhodes and Athens, Iraklio, Santorini and Thessaloniki, plus lots of charter flights from northern Europe. The airport is served by buses, which operate between 6am and 11pm.

FERRY

Rhodes' ferry port is located at the north eastern end of the old town. There are regular ferries to most islands in the eastern Aegean as well as ferries to Pireaus and international ferries to Marmaris (Turkey), Limassol (Cyprus) and Haifa (Israel).

Local Transport

Rhodes is a large island and there are regular buses to most places on the island.

Buses terminate at two bus stations in Rhodes City. The East Side Bus Station has buses to Faliraki, Lindos, Genadi and Psinthos; the West Side Bus Station has buses to Kalitha Thermi, Koskinou and Salakos.

Accommodation

Rodos Youth Hostel

Ergiou 12, Rhodes Old Town 85100

Tel (22410) 30491

Sights

Archaeological Museum

This museum's collection of statues includes the Aphrodite of Rhodes and the Aphrodite of Thalassia.

Plateia Argykastrou, Rhodes

Tel 0241 0 27657

Admission €3

Open Tue-Sun 8.30am-7pm

Knights' Quarter

The 14th century saw Rhodes occupied by the Knights of St John and there are many sights dating from this period in the Knights' Quarter. Ippoton is the main street here, which is also known as Avenue of the Knights, and here you will find the various Inns where the Knights lived. The highlight here is the massive Palace of the Grand Master.

Place of the Grand Master

Destroyed in 1856 and rebuilt by the Italians, the Palace of the Grand Master is an impressive building with over 300 rooms, moats and watchtowers. The Palace now houses a museum with the usual collection of sculpture, mosaics and furniture.

Ippoton, Rhodes City

Tel 0241 0 23359

Admission €6, students €3

Open Mon 12.30pm-7pm, Tue-Sun 8am-7pm

Kos

Lying only 5km off the Turkish coast, Kos is the party island of the Dodecanese and it is also a stopping off points for many travellers en route to Turkey.

Kos Town at the northern end of the island has some good historic sights including a castle and an ancient agora dating from the 3rd century BC. The beaches on the western and south eastern coasts attract package tourists from northern Europe.

Coming & Going

AIR

The airport is located 25km from Kos Town in the centre of the island and it has several flights a day to Athens. Olympic Airways operates a bus to the airport that departs a couple of hours before each flight.

FERRY

There are daily ferries to both Rhodes and Pireaus and in summer there are ferries to Bodrum in Turkey.

Samos

This is the closest of the Greek Islands to Turkey – the two countries are separated by the 3km-wide Mykale Straits. Samos is a very touristy island with scores of charter flights bringing package tourists from northern Europe.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Near Plateia Pythagora, Samos Town

Tel 0273 0 28530

Open Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 8.30am-2pm

Tourist Police

Themistokleous Sofouli 129, Samos Town

Coming & Going

AIR

Samos's airport is located on the island's southeast coast, about 4km west of Pythagorio. There are several daily flights to Athens as well as flights to Santorini, Mykonos and Thessaloniki.

FERRY

Samos is a hub for ferries to both the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands. In summer there are a couple of daily ferries to Kusadasi in Turkey. The ferry terminal in Samos Town (Vathy) is located at the northern end of Themistokleous Sofouli.

Local Transport

Local buses depart from the bus station on Ioannou Lekati near the waterfront at the southern end of town.

Sights

Archaeological Museum

Samos's archaeological museum is quite impressive museum considering it is in a small town of only 6000 people.

Tel 0273 0 27469

Admission €3

Open Tue-Sun 8.30am-3pm