🌅 What to do in the Dodecanese on extra days
Personalized ideas for every type of traveler
The Dodecanese, a Greek archipelago in the Aegean Sea, offers plenty to see and do.
🏛️ For history and culture lovers
The Dodecanese is a layered land of civilizations. Each island holds temples, castles, and old towns that tell millennia of history.
- Rhodes – Medieval City: UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll among walls, Grand Master's palaces, Ottoman mosques, and medieval alleys.
- Lindos (Rhodes): Acropolis overlooking the sea, white houses, and spectacular views.
- Kos – Asclepeion: Ancient sanctuary of Hippocrates, immersed in nature.
- Kastellorizo: Small picturesque island with Italian and Ottoman architecture.
- Museums: The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes and that of Kos are small but rich.
🌊 For those who love the sea and water activities
The waters of the Dodecanese are among the clearest and turquoise in Greece. Each island offers different sea corners: golden sand, white pebbles, or volcanic rocks.
- Snorkeling and diving: Kalithea (Rhodes), Plaka (Kos), bays of Tilos and Halki.
- Must-see beaches: Tsambika and Anthony Quinn Bay (Rhodes), Agios Stefanos (Kos), Alimia (uninhabited island near Halki)
🚶♂️ For nature and hiking enthusiasts
Beyond the sea, the Dodecanese offers wild nature, thyme-scented mountains, and panoramic trails leading to remote monasteries or villages suspended in time. Perfect for those seeking rejuvenating walks, authentic silences, and breathtaking views over an endless Aegean.
- Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes – Rhodes): Open in summer, full of Callimorpha quadripunctaria butterflies.
- Mount Dikeos (Kos): Breathtaking views over the Dodecanese and Turkey.
- Kalymnos: Top destination for climbing, with trails also for trekking.
🧘♀️ For those seeking relaxation and authenticity
There are islands in the Dodecanese where time seems to stand still. Villages with cats sleeping on doorsteps, fishermen mending nets, grandmothers cooking for village festivals.
- Tilos and Nisyros: Quiet, less touristy islands, ideal for slowing down.
- Therma Loutra (Kos): Free thermal springs by the sea.
- Traditional villages: Embonas (Rhodes) for wine and traditional cuisine, Nikia (Nisyros), a small village on a crater.
🍽️ For food experience lovers
The cuisine of the Dodecanese is rich in Mediterranean flavors with oriental and insular influences. Each island has its specialties, and local taverns are the best way to discover them. From fresh cheeses to honey desserts, freshly caught fish, and local wines.
- Local cuisine: Try the melekouni (typical sweet of Rhodes), pitaroudia (chickpea fritters), wines of Rhodes and Kalymnos.
- Seaside taverns: in Symi or Chalki for fresh fish.
- Food and wine tours: Wineries in Rhodes and Kos.
