A stiff switchback climb along the road from Pondamos Beach leads up through Halki’s fertile central valley to Horio. This picturesque ruin was originally the island’s main village, hidden away to escape the eyes of roving pirates. A freshly cobbled footpath heads up to the battlements of the Knights of St John Castle that once protected it. Pass through its forbidding gateway to see a restored chapel and amazing long-range views.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
20.58 MILES
Cradled in a natural hillside amphitheatre 1km up from the sea, the remarkably complete ruins of ancient Kamiros stand 34km southwest of Rhodes Town…
27.97 MILES
The so-called Valley of the Butterflies, 7km up from the west coast, and 32km southwest of Rhodes Town, is a major day-trip destination for package…
Moni Taxiarhou Mihail Panormiti
26.71 MILES
Near Symi’s southern tip, beyond the scented pine forests of the high interior, spectacular Panormitis Bay is home to this large monastery. Monasteries…
25.62 MILES
Accessible via a windswept road that snakes for 10km south from Kattavia, Prasonisi Beach extends to form a tenuously narrow sandy isthmus that connects…
10.74 MILES
Monolithos’ 15th-century castle crowns an isolated pinnacle 2km west of the village towards Fourni Beach. Beside a cafe at a curve in the road, a short…
29.89 MILES
Tucked just below Lindos village, pocket-sized, taverna-fringed Pallas Beach is reached by a footpath that drops down near the start of the mule trail up…
29.73 MILES
The larger of Lindos' two superb beaches stretches north along the innermost shoreline of the bay, north of the village. Known logically enough as Main…
21.55 MILES
The beautiful Monastery of Agios Panteleimona, located up a steep, winding road (not for weak of heart), is one of the most important sites in Tilos, and…
Nearby Dodecanese attractions
1.42 MILES
Pretty little Pondamos Beach is lapped by the turquoise waters of a crescent bay 15 minutes' walk up and over the hill west of Emborios. The only way to…
2. Traditional House of Chalki
1.8 MILES
Perched on the hillside, not far up from the harbour (signed to the right off the road to Pondamos Beach), the Traditional House of Chalki – an…
2.11 MILES
The closest beach to the village, accessed by walking over the headland 500m south of the harbour. Fine pebbles and clear waters with sunbeds on a…
2.29 MILES
A gorgeous little slip of a beach with the island's best beach taverna. Sunbeds are free if you consume cuisine and drinks. The waters here seem even…
10.74 MILES
Monolithos’ 15th-century castle crowns an isolated pinnacle 2km west of the village towards Fourni Beach. Beside a cafe at a curve in the road, a short…
12.06 MILES
A precipitous paved road winds down for 5km beyond Monolithos Castle to reach Fourni Beach. A long curve of coarse, gravel-like sand, it’s often too rough…
17.89 MILES
When pirates prowled the Dodecanese, this medieval settlement was Tilos’ main population centre. Its last inhabitants only left after WWII and it now…
20.5 MILES
This small museum's key collection is the fossil remains of some of the island's ancient population of dwarf elephants. At the time of research, the…