Lindos

Lindos is a whitewashed village on the east coast of Rhodes, about 55 km southeast of Rhodes Town in Greece, set below an ancient acropolis that rises from a rocky headland. The journey takes about 1 hour by car and 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by KTEL/RODA bus from the Averof bus station in Rhodes Town, with several departures a day. A taxi costs about EUR 85 to EUR 100 one way, and a rental car from about EUR 30 to EUR 60 per day in season gives flexibility for stops along the coast. Cars cannot enter the village itself, so drivers park in the lots at the edge and walk down. The main sight is the Acropolis of Lindos, reached by a steep stepped path of about 15 to 25 minutes from the village, or by donkey ride for a fee. At the top, visitors find the Doric temple of Athena Lindia from the 4th century BC, a Hellenistic stoa, and the walls of the medieval castle built by the Knights of St John, with views over the Aegean and the bay below. A paid ticket is required at the entrance. The recommended itinerary is to climb the acropolis early, when the heat is lower and the groups are fewer, then walk down through the narrow lanes lined with captain's houses, small shops, ceramics and cafes. The pebble-and-sand beach of Main Beach is below the village, and St Paul's Bay, a nearly enclosed cove said to be where the apostle landed, is a short walk or boat ride away and suits a swim in calm water. Lunch is best taken at a rooftop taverna in the village, where grilled fish, meze and local wine are served. The afternoon is for the beach and a coffee before the return bus. April to June and September to October are the best months, as midsummer brings heat and heavy tour traffic. The last bus times should be checked before the afternoon.