Holidays to Lalyssos combine the peaceful charm of a traditional Greek island town with the busy waterfront and the many historical attractions of nearby Rhodes Town, like the old castle and the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights.

Old and new

Also called Trianda, Lalyssos is a fairly small coastal town in the far north-west of Rhodes. Its waterfront is lined with new resort hotels and apartment complexes, with some low key cafés. About a five-minute walk away you'll find more traditional Greek bars and tavernas alongside newer shops and pizzerias. Take the bus or drive just a few minutes up to the ancient Acropolis, where you'll have a great view over the coastline with wild peacocks for company. You'll find some ancient ruins, and a nice path through the Stations of the Cross to the Monastery of Filerimos where there's a large hillside cross that's free to visit.

Beaches

Lalyssos has a long shingle beach that’s favoured by windsurfers, who come here in the afternoons for the Meltemi winds that blow in from the sea. Since it faces west this makes a great spot to view the sunset, and you can easily see across to Turkey from here. You'll need to wear beach shoes for the pebbles and only swim in the designated areas. There are several other beaches within easy reach, including Kremasti to the south and Faliraki on the east coast.

Sightseeing

The UNESCO-listed site of Rhodes Town is only a 15-minute drive away, and you can easily spend a whole day checking out what's on offer. There are plenty of familiar brands here, like Marks and Spencer, restaurants and bars, plus the busy harbour. The big attraction is the medieval walled city, built by crusader Knights, with its narrow cobbled streets and massive fortifications.