Things To Do in Kolymbia

On the food front, the all-inclusive hotels have everything covered but if you fancy a change the restaurants on Eucalyptus Road do a good line in calamari and seafood. Or you can wander into the back streets to find traditional tavernas serving up mixed grills and souvlaki, a type of kebab.

Eucalyptus Road, Kolymbia’s main artery, was named after the sweet-scented trees that line its edges. These days, it’s better known as the main shopping strip, with a handful of souvenir stores selling beach wear, silver jewellery and handmade crafts. The stores stay open long after the sun goes down, so you can go for a wander after dinner.

This cocktail bar in the pedestrianised zone is one of the more lively places in Kolymbia. Full of low-slung tables and alabaster Greek statuettes, it mixes the old and the new. Here, you’ll find live music acts and the occasional tribute band on stage, but there are also pool tables and big screens showing sports matches.

Kolymbia’s beach offers plenty of space to stretch out. This Blue Flag winner is a sand-and-pebble affair, with hotel sunloungers towards the edges of the beach, and public sunloungers in the centre. The crystal-clear water is shallow, so it’s perfect paddling territory for armband-clad children, and the cafés on the sand mean it’s easy to grab a light snack or a cold drink.

For almost 3,000 years the Greeks have been drinking and dancing, and at this festival in the coast-hugging village of Kalithea, a 30-minute drive away, the tradition shows no sign of slowing down. Bright costumes and a parade are all part of the proceedings for Timiou Stavrou, or the Feast of the Cross.

Kolymbia takes a less-is-more approach to its nightlife. Come sunset, you’ll find a selection of bars in the village. Some are set in lush grounds of olive trees where you’re unlikely to be disturbed. At others, you can choose from a long list of cocktails, and enjoy some live music in more upmarket surroundings.

If you’re wondering why the locals here look so sturdy, you can put it down to their hearty diets. From any of Kolymbia’s small array of tavernas, you can sample trusty dishes like chicken souvlaki or the doner-style gyros kebabs. And since you’re by the sea, you should try the grilled fish – ask for fangri, which is Greek for sea bream.

Kolympia beach does well for watersports. Jet-skiing is a favourite here – you get a first-rate view of Tsambika Mountain as you speed across the bay. With shallow water and great visibility, the sea is also a top spot for scuba diving. The Waterhoppers centre does dives on Tuesdays and Fridays, and they’ll get you under the water after just 1 lesson.

This family-run restaurant serves up big portions of Greek classics like moussaka and chicken souvlaki, which is grilled on a skewer. The kleftiko – baked lamb with feta cheese and herbs – is a popular choice here, too. They’re pretty generous when it comes to the dessert as well – it’s free ice-cream all round. And if you can’t quite manage your meal, they’ll happily do you a doggie bag.

Back in the Sixties, Lindos was a bit of a hotspot for musicians – Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour still has a pad here. Today, the place gets an annual hit of rock with a line-up of tribute bands performing classics from Queen, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. You’ve got 3 big shows to watch, plus VIP gigs all round town. You might want to book tickets in advance.

Eucalyptus Road’s 2-kilometre stretch should see you right for shopping. Here you’ve got local craft places, a couple of jewellery stores and mini-markets for stocking up on picnic nibbles. The shopkeepers speak very good English, and they probably won’t mind a bit of good-natured haggling.

Rhodes Town is only half-an-hour away. It’s fun to get lost in the tangle of Medieval streets in the old town. On your way round, a must-see duo is Mussolini’s old pad, the Palace of the Grand Masters, and the cobbled Street of the Knights. You’ll probably want to get some shopping in, too – you’ve got crafty places here and big-name brands in the new town.

On the main street, the culinary fireworks are at Manolis. The Greek owner is married to an English woman, so there’s no language barrier, and if you don’t fancy local specialities like gyros or chicken souvlakia, there’s the option of burger and chips. A round of ouzo shots – on the house – is the standard way to round off a meal here.

Kolymbia can’t claim to do clubs, but you’ll get a good evening’s worth of bingo, karaoke and live music at the hotels here. Even if you’re not staying there, most places don’t mind you popping in to join in the fun. You’ve also got a couple of café bars on Eucalyptus Road, but if you want a real party night, head for Faliraki, about 15 minutes’ taxi ride away.

Just outside Kolymbia, on the road to Archipolis, is Epta Piges, or Seven Springs. It’s a lush green gorge of pine and plane trees, where 7 natural springs all join together. Peacocks strut their stuff here, and if you follow the 164-metre tunnel you come to a dam with an aquamarine lake.