After visiting Rhodes twice, in October 2024 and October 2025, we came away with a long list of things that surprised us. Some were wonderful. Some were confusing. A few were genuinely disappointing. All of them shaped how the island felt as a place to explore.

If you’re planning a trip to Rhodes, particularly outside peak summer, these are the things that surprised us the most.

1. The litter problem is hard to ignore

This was the most surprising, and honestly, the most disappointing part of Rhodes for us. Litter wasn’t just visible in busy tourist spots, but scattered across roads, pavements, beaches, green spaces, and even off walking trails in the hills and mountains. In some places, it genuinely looked as though entire rubbish bags had been tipped into bushes or onto hillsides.

What made it harder was how widespread and established it felt. Much of it looked old and weathered rather than recent, which matched what we later explored more deeply in our article about why there is so much litter in Rhodes. Once you notice it, it’s difficult to unsee, especially in areas that should feel calm and natural.

2. Lindos completely stole our hearts

Lindos felt like a different version of Rhodes. From the moment we arrived, it felt calmer, more cared for, and more visually beautiful than much of the rest of the island. The whitewashed streets, layered pathways, and almost curated layout made it feel like a place designed to be wandered slowly rather than rushed through.

We loved simply wandering the streets of Lindos, popping into small shops, and choosing where to eat based on what felt right in the moment. There are so many eateries here, from relaxed daytime spots to rooftop terraces, and it’s easy to imagine returning just to eat well and soak up the atmosphere.

It felt like the kind of place you could wake up in, wander out for coffee, swim in clear water, eat well, and repeat, without ever needing a plan.

Swimming at St Paul’s Bay in Lindos looks stunning, and with boat trips leaving from nearby, including our time on the water around Navarone Bay which was on a boat trip that left from here, Lindos felt like the perfect base.

Honestly, we would return to Rhodes just to stay here. Lindos just gives me a really good vibe. There’s just something about the place.

3. Rhodes Old Town is incredible, but Lindos still won us over

Rhodes Old Town is one of the most unique places we’ve visited. Walking through medieval streets surrounded by towering stone walls feels surreal, especially when you realise it’s still a living, working town. Our time exploring Rhodes Old Town was fascinating, atmospheric, and well worth doing.

That said, Lindos still had the edge for us. Rhodes Old Town felt busy and intense at times, whereas somehow Lindos felt lighter, calmer, and easier to explore without feeling overwhelmed even though it was also very busy in the daytime.

4. Cats are everywhere, dogs almost nowhere

Street cats are everywhere in Rhodes! We saw so many. You see them sleeping in doorways, weaving between tables in restaurants, and finding shade wherever they can. Many are clearly strays, although some are fed by locals and shop owners – sometimes you’ll notice cat food left outside on the street.

What surprised us was how rarely we saw dogs at all. We almost never saw street dogs, or very many dogs at all, which felt unusual compared to other European destinations. Obviously, this could differ depending on what areas of the island you visit, but we didn’t notice many dogs at all.

5. The colour of the sea is genuinely breathtaking

The sea around Rhodes is stunning. Photos really don’t do it justice. In places like Navarone Bay, the water was an almost unreal turquoise blue, clear enough to see straight down even when swimming. It looked like a turquoise swimming pool and I was in genuine disbelief at the colour being natural and real, but it was!

Check out the featured image for this article – that’s Navarone Bay – isn’t the water colour just amazing?

Being out on the water made an even bigger difference. Our boat trip, including the Hippo submarine cruise from Lindos to Navarone Bay, showed just how clean and calm the sea can feel away from the shoreline.

6. Locals were consistently friendly

We didn’t meet a single rude person during both our family holidays and travel in Rhodes. Locals were warm, welcoming, and happy to chat, whether in shops, restaurants, or just passing by.

Simple greetings like yassas, yassou, and kalimera were always returned with a smile.

That friendliness made the island feel relaxed and welcoming, especially when travelling as a family.

7. Some of the beaches were more disappointing than expected

This was another surprise. Many beaches were littered with rubbish and plastic, even ones that felt remote or undeveloped. We drove out to quieter-looking areas expecting wild, unspoilt beaches, only to find dumped trash and weathered litter, signs of a larger island problem with litter than just a few disrespectful people. It seemed commonplace, which is a shame.

Some of the more tourist beaches were actually cleaner – maybe the hotels keep them clean? I don’t know. But it was surprising that the wilder beaches we visited without hotels lining them had such a litter issue.

Visiting Navarone Bay on foot felt disappointing in comparison to visiting the bay for a swim by boat. It had a lot of litter and plastic pollution.

That said, Tsambika Beach had a lively atmosphere, great surroundings, and friendly staff, which we talk about in our Tsambika Beach review, and we would return to this beach. We didn’t notice litter here.

Kolymbia Beach and White Rock Beach was also both litter-free on our visits with lots of things to do like pedalo and boat hire, and clear waters for swimming, though lined by hotels so I imagine they get very busy in the summer.

St Paul’s Bay & Mikros Gialos Beach were beautiful. But rather the cove and setting is amazing. There isn’t much beach! Small and intimate, but the water always looked amazing.

We mainly saw quite grainy and pebbley beaches on our trip, around 8 beaches in total, but I would like to explore more beaches to see if there are some softer sand beaches in Rhodes. I’d also love to visit the sand bar at the south of the island which looks absolutely stunning in photos! I’m sure there are some incredible beaches in Rhodes and we just need to find them!

8. October weather is ideal

October turned out to be one of the best times to visit Rhodes. The weather was warm without being overwhelming, the sea was still perfect for swimming, and even rainy days felt mild rather than cold.

The kids even loved sitting outside for one of the torrential rainstorms we had, hiding under towels and watching the rain pour down!

We wrote more about why this works so well in our guide to Rhodes weather in October, and it’s a big reason we’d happily return again outside peak summer.

9. Restaurants encourage you to slow down

Eating out in Rhodes felt refreshingly unhurried. Meals take time. Nobody rushes you. Tables aren’t turned over quickly. You’re expected to sit, talk, enjoy your food, and enjoy where you are.

That relaxed pace made evenings feel special, whether in Lindos, Kolymbia, or quieter villages.

10. Outside key areas, aesthetics don’t feel like a priority

Aside from places like Lindos, Rhodes Old Town, and individual hotels or tavernas, much of the island doesn’t feel visually cared for. Streets, pavements, and public spaces often felt neglected, which stood out given how naturally beautiful Rhodes is.

11. Wildlife appears when you least expect it

We saw far more wildlife than expected, including praying mantis, locusts, peacocks, and even a Muscovy duck. Around our accommodation at places like Zen Club Luxury Villas in Kolymbia, it felt surprisingly wild at times as peacocks and praying mantis’ would suddenly appear in our villa garden, hopping over a wall or appearing on the back of a chair while we were dining or swimming.

12. Unfinished buildings are everywhere

Half built or abandoned buildings are common across Rhodes. You see concrete structures with exposed floors and no windows in towns, villages, and rural areas.

They add to the feeling that development sometimes starts with ambition and then quietly stops.

We explored this further when researching unfinished and empty buildings across Rhodes, which added context.

13. English is spoken almost everywhere

Communication was incredibly easy. Almost everyone spoke English, often alongside Greek and another language such as German. With visitors from all over Europe, English seems to be the default in tourist facing areas.

It made everything from ordering food to organising trips very straightforward.

Still, we learned a few simple Greek phrases so we could always say hello and thank you in Greek, which is appreciated by the locals. Some simple phrases include:

• Hello – Yassas (formal or polite, safe for anyone)
• Hi – Yassoo (informal, friendly)
• Please – Parakaló
• Thank you – Efharistó
• Good morning – Kaliméra
• Good evening – Kalispéra

14. You can’t flush toilet paper

This catches many people out. In most places, toilet paper goes in a bin rather than the toilet. It’s not optional, and it’s worth knowing before you arrive. Most toilets will have a sign that tells you no toilet paper in the toilet, or an image to let you know. This means you put your used toilet tissue in the bin instead.

Once you’re used to it, it’s fine, but it’s definitely surprising at first, especially if you’ve not been anywhere that does this.

It’s quite common across Greek islands, and other European countries, such as in villages in Portugal and Spain, where we’ve experienced this before in remote accommodation, such as villas and airbnbs where they don’t have complex sewage systems built in. But I remember first coming across it and being surprised, and it felt a bit strange not to flush used toilet tissue! It takes a little getting used to if you haven’t done it before.

However, some larger hotels do allow you to flush toilet tissue in Rhodes, if they have the correct system set up. But you’ll notice that when eating at other restaurants away from the hotel, or using the toilet at the airport, or in other locations, you’ll need to use the bins.

15. Mosquito bites are no joke

The mosquitoes in Rhodes can be intense. The first year we didn’t get any bites, but they really got me the second year!

The bites were large, itchy, and long-lasting, even in October. Also, my bites really blistered up into large fluid-filled balls – something I’ve never had happen before.

Next time, I may pack insect repellent candles to light in the evening, and be sure to wear longer length clothing past dusk.

Final Thoughts

Rhodes is a place of contrasts. There are things that genuinely disappointed us, especially the litter and lack of care in some areas. But there are also clear reasons we’ve chosen to return, and why we would happily go back again.

The weather is fantastic, the food is good and unhurried, the water is clear, and places like Lindos and Rhodes Old Town are genuinely beautiful and rich in history. The clear blue sea is something we never got tired of, especially when swimming or heading out by boat.

We’ve visited Rhodes twice now, which probably says more than anything else. Its flaws weren’t enough to outweigh the things we loved. It’s not a polished destination, but it has warmth, character, and moments that stay with you long after you leave.

Talking about the downsides isn’t about criticism. It’s about sharing a real experience, and helping others visit with open eyes. And for us, Rhodes is still a place we’d happily return to again, back to places we saw and loved, and for new adventures to the places we didn’t have time to explore yet.

Before You Go: A Few More Things Worth Knowing About Rhodes

If you’re planning a trip to Rhodes, especially if it’s your first visit, there are a few extra places and experiences worth looking into. Some add context to what you’ll see, others help you decide how to plan your time, particularly if you’re travelling outside peak summer.

If you’re considering visiting in autumn, it’s worth reading about why Rhodes works so well in October and checking what to expect from the Rhodes weather in October. The quieter pace, warm sea, and comfortable temperatures made a big difference to how relaxed our trips felt.

For places to visit beyond beaches and towns, natural spots like the Seven Springs at Epta Piges offer something different, especially if you enjoy shaded walks and cooler air. Cultural and unusual stops, such as the St Nektarios Monastery and hollow tree near Archipolis or the Rhodes Toy Museum and retro arcade, can also add variety to your itinerary, particularly when travelling as a family.

If you’re thinking about day trips, it’s useful to weigh up whether places like Butterfly Valley are right for you at certain times of year. We shared our thoughts on whether Butterfly Valley is worth visiting out of season, as well as our experience on a combined Chalki Island and Butterfly Valley boat trip.

Where you stay can also shape how Rhodes feels. Staying in Kolymbia gave us easy access to beaches, walks, and quieter evenings, which we talk about more in our Rhodes family holiday travel diary and our review of the Atlantica Aegean Blue hotel.

And if you’re still in the early planning stages, browsing the full Rhodes travel archive or wider Greece section can help you build a picture of how different places compare and what kind of trip might suit you best.