Lindos & Seven Springs Bus Tour with Hotel Pickup Rhodes

Seven Springs, the green valley of Rhodes

Seven Springs, or Epta Piges, lies in a wooded valley inland from Kolymbia, about 30 kilometres south of Rhodes Town. Several springs rise here among pine and plane trees, and in the 1930s Italian engineers dammed them into a small lake and dug a narrow tunnel to carry the water down to irrigate the Kolymbia plain. The valley stays shady and noticeably cooler than the coast even in July and August, and peacocks wander between the trees and the streams.

The highlight is the 186-metre tunnel itself: you walk single file through cold, ankle-deep water in near darkness until it opens onto the lake, a fun adventure that takes about ten minutes. Water shoes help, and there is a dry path over the hill if you prefer to skip it. Your stop lasts one hour, enough for the tunnel, the lake and a coffee in the shade.

Lindos village and its captains' houses

Lindos is the most beautiful village on Rhodes, about 50 kilometres south of the capital: a cascade of white cube houses on a hillside beneath its acropolis, with car-free lanes paved in black and white pebbles. In ancient times it was one of the three great cities of the island, and later it grew rich from seafaring; the seventeenth-century captains' houses, with carved stone doorways and courtyards laid with pebble mosaics, still show that wealth.

In the centre, the Church of the Panagia from the fifteenth century is covered inside with colourful frescoes; cover your shoulders when you visit. Is Lindos worth visiting? Its lanes, shops, views and beaches make it the best day trip on Rhodes, and your three hours of free time let you shape the visit yourself. Lunch is not included, and the village has many tavernas and cafés with terraces.

The Acropolis of Lindos

The Acropolis of Lindos crowns a sheer rock 116 metres above the sea. At the top stand the remains of the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia from the fourth century BC, a long Hellenistic colonnade and a monumental staircase, all enclosed by the walls of a medieval castle built by the Knights of Saint John. At the foot of the stairs, a warship carved into the rock in the second century BC is one of the finest reliefs on the island.

The walk up from the village takes 15 to 20 minutes on a steep path with steps; donkeys carry visitors part of the way for a separate fee. Acropolis of Lindos tickets are not included and are bought at the entrance. The site opens in the morning, and in the heat of summer the best time to visit is as soon as you arrive or late in your free time; there is no shade at the top, so take water and a hat.

Lindos main beach and St Paul's Bay

Below the village, the main beach of Lindos curves around a calm, sheltered bay with soft sand, clear shallow water and sunbeds, an easy walk down from the central square. It is ideal for families, and swimming here with the acropolis above you is one of the classic Rhodes experiences. Bring your swimwear and a towel, as the tour leaves time to combine the beach with the village.

On the other side of the acropolis, St Paul's Bay is a small, almost circular cove enclosed by rocks, with a little white chapel on its shore; tradition says the apostle Paul landed here on his way to Rome. The water is very calm and turquoise, and the views up to the acropolis are superb. It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the village, so plan your time carefully if you want to visit both.

The east coast of Rhodes

The drive south follows the east coast of Rhodes, the sunniest and calmest side of the island, passing the resort towns of Faliraki and Kolymbia, long sandy beaches and olive groves below bare limestone hills. The first leg to Seven Springs takes about 35 minutes, and the coach then continues towards Lindos, with the sea in view for much of the route.

On the way back the coach makes a panoramic photo stop with sweeping views over the sea and the coast, before the drive of about an hour back to your hotel area. This Lindos day trip from Rhodes saves you from driving and parking, which is difficult in Lindos in high season. The best time to visit Lindos is from May to June or in September and October, when the heat is gentler.