Things To Do in Kalithea

Kalithea doesn’t come with a full-on nightlife – it just a 1-club kind of place. Instead, evenings here are about relaxing with a drink in one of the friendly, laid-back bars. You’ve also got the waterside café at the spa – candles and chilled music make it a popular spot for sunset cocktails or after-dinner coffee.

A short hike up the hill and you’ll see for yourself how Panorama got its name – the restaurant comes with first-rate views of Kalithea, Rhodes Town and Turkey. Luckily, the food here also holds up to inspection, with Greek classics like oregano chicken and bekri meze – pork in red wine – on the menu. And owner Yianni is very obliging with the complimentary ouzo.

On the shopping front, nearby Rhodes Town takes over. It’s just too big to miss, with its designer boutiques, upmarket jewellery stores and stash of handicraft places tucked away within the walls of the Turkish quarter. Back in Kalithea, you’ve got just enough souvenir shops and supermarkets to keep you in Mandylaria wine and folk ceramics.

It may not be working anymore, but since its restoration makeover the spa has become a real looker. Inside, it’s all mosaics and marble pillars, while outside the gardens have bigged up the bougainvillea and jasmine. It’s a pretty spot, and the 3 euro entrance fee gets you the mini-beach and café-bar, too.

You’ve got the best snorkelling spot at the private mini-beach below the now-restored spa. You’ll need to pay 3 euros but that gets you access to the underwater caves here, where you can get mask-to-face with silver bream, octopuses and squid. And once you’re done, you can hire a sunbed and kick back with a drink from the café-bar.

Kalithea may only have 1 club – but it’s a biggie. Right on the beachfront, this open-air venue can pack in 4,500 party-goers who come here to dance to house, techno and mainstream. And the DJs are no small fry, either – David Morales, Miss Jules and Dubfire have all taken to the decks here.

The resort has a clutch of tavernas that serve up traditional Greek dishes. You might want to try the popular kleftiko – slow-cooked lamb with herbs – or the classic souvlaki, which is meat grilled on a skewer. Some places sometimes add a side order of bouzouki folk music, too.