Ialysos

Ialysos is a city in Rhodes. It includes Ixia, a seaside resort village.

Understand
Ialysos is the second-largest town on the island of Rhodes. It has a population of approximately 12,000, and is located 8 km west of the town of Rhodes, the island's capital, on the island's northwestern coast. Blue waters, a seemingly endless organized beach, the pleasant cool summer climate and mild winters, big hotel complexes and smaller friendly ones, shops of all kinds, and many night-clubs all contribute to make lalysos bay one of the most popular resorts on the island. Thanks to the ideal conditions of the region, important international windsurfing competitions often take place here.

The beaches have a mixture of sand and pebbles. It is a favourite spot for windsurfers with two water sports centres renting boards and jet-skis.

Understand
Ixia has a long narrow beach which is situated near the main road with many small shops, commercial centres, restaurants, cafes and hotels lining the beach strip. The area is popular with tourists.

Get in
The Rhodes International Airport or Diagoras International Airport. "Diagoras" (Greek: Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Ρόδου, "Διαγόρας") is 14 km to the south west of Ixia. Paradisi and Theologos (Tholos) lies a few kilometres further down the coast and past the airport.

See

 * Ialysos is one of the most important archaeological sites on the island. Located on the hill of Filerimos, this site would probably be the most important reason for visiting this area. The remains of the temple of Zeus and Athena Poliada and the remnants of the Byzantine fortifications can be seen.
 * 14th-century Church of the Knights (the Virgin Mary of Filerimos was worshiped by both the Orthodox and the Catholic faith). The road to Golgothas is path of cypress trees with quite impressive shrines lining both sides.
 * Sunsets: relax and view the often spectacular sunsets at Ixia.

Do
Water sports, shopping and visiting the restaurants seem to be popular activities with visitors to this part of the island.


 * The beach can get rather windy with large waves.


 * Windsurfing Ixia is suitable for wind surfing and sailing.

Go next

 * Paradisi — a few km past the airport and down the road to south.
 * Theologos (Tholos) — a few km further past the airport and down the road to south.
 * Faliraki — this is Rhodes' action resort. Go there to party. The hotels north from Faliraki are much quieter. Nice beaches, not as windy as on the west coast and served by good public transport. Hotels near the water park are family friendly and not so popular with the 'clubbers'.
 * Rhodes Old Town — the biggest city on the island and seat of the local government, also the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe.