Holidays to Kolymbia are full of lazy days relaxing on the Blue Flag beach, and quiet evenings under the stars. This Italian-designed agricultural village is one of the best-kept secrets on Rhodes, offering views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Quiet life

You'll find Kolymbia on the island's north-east coast, midway between ancient historic Lindos and the party town of Faliraki. It's generally a laidback kind of place, with a handful of beachfront cafés and some low-key bars and restaurants for the evening. It's popular with families and older people because of its peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, but if you're looking for more energy there's plenty of nightlife in Faliraki which is just a 15-minute drive away. Runners and walkers love Kolymbia's long, straight roads, which create an easy-to-navigate grid system across the town.

Beaches

Kolymbia Beach is approached by the Eucalyptus Road, two kilometres of eucalyptus-lined avenue flanked by the Tsambika Mountain. The Blue Flag beach has at least a kilometre of mostly sand in a curving bay. Bathing shoes are a good idea, as most of the pebbly areas are in the middle and near the shoreline. At the far end, there's a headland with a small cove that's good for snorkelling. Watersports are available for all ages, such as diving and snorkelling, or you could hop on a boat and travel around the peninsula.

Sightseeing

Kolymbia makes a great base for travelling around the coast by boat, or to visit the historic pilgrimage island of Symi with its many churches and monasteries. Kolymbia also lies between the capital city of Rhodes Town and Lindos, which are both famous for their historical monuments. It's a 30-minute drive to Rhodes Town, and well worth a daytrip to see the Palace and visit the archaeological museum. It's about the same distance to Lindos which has an ancient Acropolis to check out.