Things to see and do Iles grecques

Small white sand beach on the west coast. Family friendly and friendly. You can also stay there, or simply lunch in one of the two good taverns. To get there, take the bus in Hora, direction Pano Meria. Get off at Angali (solitary bus stop on the hill). Next, 15 minutes walk on an asphalt road (on foot or on a âne).

The ancient Acropolis of Rhodes - not fortified - dominates the entire city. There were massive temples and all the places of power and public life of the city. The whole site dates from the late Hellenistic period (between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC). The excavations began under the Italian occupation in 1912 but are still not completed. In particular, you will see an impressive reconstruction of the 210-metre-long stadium, a theatre that could accommodate 800 spectators and temples dedicated to Zeus and Athena.

Hora Sfakion is a small quiet village where activities are limited. However, it is interesting to do some hiking in the vicinity, on the heights, in order to visit many small villages even more picturesque like Anopoli, Livaniana, Aradena, Agia Ioanni, or Imbros. 

The Assumption of Mary (Dormition according to the Oriental tradition) is the orthodox and Catholic religious belief that the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the end of his earthly life, entered directly into the glory of God, soul and body. In the narrow church, we don't see much of it if it's icons and paintings as in many other churches.

This church was founded in the year 1000 by the Byzantine emperor Alexius I. And exceptionally, its external aspect is totally intact despite the earthquakes and other invasions (Turkish, Frankish) that the island has suffered. Only a fire in 1915 weakened it. But it remains a majestic church when one enters it. It is in itself classic of Greek Orthodox churches, but it is distinguished by its absolutely privileged location, overlooking the bay of Santorini.

Beautiful frescoes of popular art.

The island of Hydra is one of the jewels of Greece's Saronic Islands. It's home to one of the most beautiful harbors in the Mediterranean, with its amphitheatrical village and magnificent 18th-century shipowners' mansions. The island offers an idyllic setting with its secret coves and monastery-capped mountains. There are no cars on the island, making it a peaceful, unspoilt place. Visitors can enjoy beautiful walks facing the bewitchingly blue Aegean Sea. Hydra is the perfect destination to extend a stay in Athens or to complete a trip to the neighboring Peloponnese.

The beaches around Kefalos are the most beautiful of the island: quieter, less crowded and clearer than in the north of Kos, they offer miles of sand and a serenity that is rarely found elsewhere. The ones closest to the village are also the most developed, with tavernas and deckchairs, but the further away you go, the more you will feel like you are alone in the world.

In the bay of Kefalos itself, you will have to leave the village beach and go eastwards to find the pretty beach of Aghios Stefanos and the ruins of its Byzantine church (5th-6th centuries) overlooking the islet of Kastri. Further on, the small bay of Camel Beach can quickly fill up. Beyond, a wide sandy bay links the beaches of Paradise Beach, Lagada, Psilos Gremos and Magic Beach. They are also busy, with sunbeds and tavernas, but remain relatively unspoilt. Finally, Exotic Beach, at the eastern end of the bay, is less visited.

The beaches on the west coast of the peninsula are much less accessible and therefore much less crowded. Agios Theologou, where there is a beach tavern, has a particularly clear sea but the waves can be impressive depending on the wind. As you head south along the coast, you will discover a succession of small, isolated and quiet coves. There are no facilities so bring water and a picnic. The sandy beach of Paradiso and its small hut are a true paradise, preserved and solitary, at the end of the chaotic road.