The tiny town of Lindos hugs the hill; mansions built by the Knights of St John bask beyond stone walls (catch a glimpse though open doors), while the bluest of seas shimmers down in the bay (St Paul came ashore 2,000 years ago). A magical place – timeless, untouched. No cars, just donkeys that ferry tourists up to the Acropolis. Follow them up to the mellow stone walls of Melenos, where they stop to drink from a water trough at the front door.
Twelve years in the making and built over 4 terraces with the sea below and the Acropolis above, you arrive to find staggering beauty at every turn. The outside space is magical - the air is perfumed with jasmine and lavender as you explore a jumble of terraces, stairs and courtyards. An open-air bar is lit by paper lanterns at night; the restaurant is shaded by Moorish tents to keep the sun at bay. Enormous bedrooms defy superlatives, with wooden platform beds that hold the comfiest mattresses in Greece. All rooms open straight onto terraces; some have padded stone benches, one has a huge sofa, another has views that tumble down to the beach.
Highs
- Lindos itself, an ancient, largely unspoilt village, with a warren of twisty cobbled alleyways (bring a ball of string)
- We love the tranquil setting on the edge of the village, away from the hustle and bustle, with dreamy sea views
- The sympathetic architecture is like an extension of the village, with cobbled patios and walkways fringed by potted flowers
- Gracious, welcoming and highly professional staff
- There's also a 2-bedroom villa and a 4-bedroom villa for those wanting added space and privacy
Lows
- Breakfast is the only meal served, but there are plenty of eateries in the village, a short walk away
- No pool, although the beach is a 5-minute walk away
- Lindos can get extremely busy in high season, but many visitors are day trippers from Rhodes Town who leave before sunset
- The hotel occasionally hosts weddings on the roof, which can cause noise until midnight (no later, we are assured)
- Such a special hotel comes at a fittingly special price tag
Best time to go
The island is one of the loveliest in the Mediterranean and if you avoid high season (mid-July to the end of August) when Lindos heaves and the weather can be exceptionally hot, you’ll have it mostly to yourself. May is probably the best month to come; you can swim in the sea from then until early October.
Our top tips
If you want to escape the crowds, take a day trip to the satellite island of Halki (1 hour by boat from Kamiros Skala) where you'll find beautifully clear waters, a lovely village and an end-of-the-world atmosphere. You might even combine it with a visit to ancient Kamiros, our favourite archaeological site on Rhodes.
Location
Melenos Art Boutique Hotel is set in the idyllic car-free village of Lindos, 50km south of Rhodes town on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes.
By Air
Rhodes (Diagoras) (45km) is well connected with Athens, Crete and other Greek airports, as well as with major European capitals and cities (mostly charter flights).
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer or you can jump in a taxi. The air-conditioned bus from Rhodes town takes about an hour.
By Car
If you want to hire a car, you can park at the entrance of the village (10 minutes' walk from the hotel). Staff will bring up your luggage.
By Boat
Rhodes Town (50km) has ferry connections from Piraeus (Athens), most other Dodecanese islands, and (in summer) Marmaris and Fethiye in Turkey.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Rhodes, Diagoras 45.0 km RHO
Other:
- Beach 0.2 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km