Where to stay

To spend your days sunbathing and swimming, the best place to stay is the whitewashed town of Lindos on the eastern coast of Rhodes. The three golden sand beaches here have good facilities, all within walking distance of the town center. Two larger beaches have pebbles and are easily reached by car. If traveling as a family, consider a room in Faliraki with three beaches close to the town, including one that is especially good for kids. It's also very close to Anthony Quinn Beach, one of the most attractive on the island. For watersports, book a hotel in Prasonisi Cape on the southern coast for its world-famous windsurfing and kite-surfing beach.

Of all the Greek islands, Rhodes is the one to visit for learning about the history of Ancient Greece. As well as the UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town, the island has an ancient acropolis at Lindos and the remains of an ancient city at Kamiros. Book a room in a boutique hotel in Rhodes Town if you plan to wander the cobbled streets and maze of alleys of the Old Town, filled with thousands of years of history. Lindos is where to stay to explore the fourth-century B.C. ruins of the acropolis sitting on a promontory overlooking the sea. Those interested in spending time at the ruined city of Kamiros should consider accommodations in the small towns of Kalavarda or Fanes.

With mountain peaks to conquer and tiny rural villages and secret beaches to explore, the Greek Islands are fantastic places to hike, especially in the cooler seasons of spring and fall. Hiking trails crisscross the island of Rhodes. Hotels in Soroni or Theologos are well placed to trek to the Valley of the Butterflies, a waterfall-filled nature reserve where butterflies swarm in late May. Alternatively, stay in Embonas to climb to the top of Mount Attavyros, the highest peak on the island. Book a small rural hotel in the village of Monolithos, from where you can hike up to a spectacular medieval castle perched on top of a tall rock formation.