Lardos Holidays

Lardos sits inland in the south-eastern part of Rhodes. Village life centres on the square, which has a charming, old-fashioned feel, thanks to its cypress trees, church and Italian fountain. Here, you can catch up with the locals in the bars and tavernas. Nearby, there’s a working monastery and the remains of a Byzantine castle, and you don’t have to travel far to find picturesque olive groves and winding rural paths.

One of the best sand-and-shingle beaches on the island is just two kilometres from the village. Here, the waters are shallow and safe, while on the sand you’ve got loungers, umbrellas and plenty of elbow room, even in high season. One of the hotels even has stylish beach-bed gazebos you can lounge on. Visit in the early morning and you’ll see fishermen returning with their catch.

You’re less than an hour from the island's capital, where the old town dates back 2,000 years. Here you’ll find the narrow Street of the Knights, the old lodgings of the knights that occupied the town in the 14th and 15th centuries. At the top of the street is the Medieval Castle of the Grand Masters, a vast structure famous for the two huge towers that flank its entrance. When the sun sets, head to the main square of the old town, where restaurants and bars are open ’til late.