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Sample Greek cooking in the village square
Pastida’s authentic Greek restaurants sit around the village square. It's a really charming spot, and the outdoor seating makes the best place for a bit of people-watching. These family-run tavernas offer simple dishes like lamb chops and the classic moussaka. For something different, try the aubergine stew or honey-coated feta. Or head to one of the cheerful souvlatzidiki – they’re fast-food stalls on the square that serve up chicken skewers.Kremasti beach is the place to go for watersports action. It’s only five minutes’ drive away and you’ll find the watersports centres in the huts dotted along the beach. Try your hand at surfing, waterskiing or maybe rent a jet-ski. The wind picks up in the afternoon, so it's the perfect time to try windsurfing and kiteboarding – there are courses available for beginners, and once you get the hang of it you’ll be sharing the water with the pros.
Read MoreEvery September, Pastida goes all-out for a one-week celebration of local culture. Each night is a little different, with colourful folk dancing, traditional music and local theatre performances all getting a look-in. It’s all held in the courtyard of the Cultural Centre of Pastida. Every show is free to attend, too.
Read MorePastida has a couple of charming cake shops, plus a supermarket for all the essentials. Rhodes is on hand 20 minutes away, with a wider variety of shops. You can start the day by browsing the artisan shops in the old town, where you can pick up embroidered linens, wood carvings and decorative rugs. Then, head to the north of town, where high-street names like BHS, Zara and M&S are dotted about the newer part.
Read MorePastida’s locals like its quiet nightlife, but if you’re looking for bars they’re only 20-minutes’ drive away in Rhodes. Chic piano bars and cheery cocktail lounges are in the old town – plus there a couple of lively nightclubs along the waterside to the north of town. For the biggest clubs on the island though, head to Faliraki, 15 minutes’ drive away. The techno and pop clubs along the Strip don’t get going until midnight.
Read MoreIt’s called a museum, but actually the real highlight here is the working bee hives. They’re behind windows, so you can see the bees buzzing around with no risk of getting stung. There are fun interactive exhibitions, too, with 19th-century beekeeping tools on show. It’s free to get in, but you might want to buy some of the freshly-made honey in the museum shop.
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