With some of the loveliest beaches in the Med and a spectacular medieval town of crumbling buildings and narrow cobbled streets, it's no surprise that Rhodes is one of Greece's top destinations.

The jewel of the Dodecanese, Rhodes is only 12 miles from Turkey, hence its heady mix of east and west. Sixty miles long and 25 miles wide, you’ll find glorious white sandy beaches, mountain villages, forests, waterfalls and palm trees. Here’s our guide to the best bits on Rhodes.

The stunningly preserved medieval fortress and Unesco heritage site that is Rhodes Old Town is one of the most interesting and classically beautiful walled towns in the world.

Byzantine churches and minarets jostle with the tacky souvenir shops of Sokratous (the ‘Golden Mile’), the medieval walls loom large and cars are banned from cobbled streets. It is easy to dive off the main thoroughfare and get lost in the narrow, winding back streets.

Wander through one of the 11 surviving gates and check out the captivating sandstone architecture and behold the ancient Avenue of the Knights. If you’re there in the summer, you may be lucky enough to catch a medieval fair or a free classical concert in the old city walls.

You can avoid the worst of the tourist hordes - and the heat - by starting your exploration early in the morning.

Lindos, the island’s prettiest village, is perched on the hillside between impossibly beautiful bays overlooked by an awe-inspiring ancient acropolis.

Wandering the old town is a proper trip back in time. The narrow, winding, streets are made up of tiny whitewashed sea captain's houses, dating back to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries

Lindos village has everything you could possibly want in a Greek summer holiday. A lovely safe sandy beach, a magnificent hilltop castle, a smattering of bars and boutiques, and no shortage of delicious, tavernas. We spent a week here and could easily have stayed longer.

Magic Life is a big, all-inclusive chain, but it's a little-known fact that you can rock up and enjoy everything it has to offer as a day guest. The resort in Plimmiri had only just opened its doors, so everything was brand-spanking shiny, new.

With a splash-park, three swimming pools, a playground, a farm, restaurants, bars, and cafes galore there's something for everyone. For the bargain price of a tenner a head we ate, drank and had merry old times in the waterpark!

Hot, hot, hot - at only 12 miles from Turkey Rhodes is the furthest south we ventured on our island hopping. The skies were blue, the sun shone and the temperatures hit the mid-30’s every day.

Don’t be put off by the Faliraki factor: despite the almost frenzied tourism there are still lots of good reasons to visit Rhodes. It has some of the loveliest beaches we’ve found in Greece, a captivating medieval city, and a wild coastline backed by pine forests and rocky hills.

To enjoy Rhodes at it’s best visit in May or September - you’ll still be blessed with sunshine but won’t have to jostle quite so many crowds.

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