Kallithea Springs on the Island of Rhodes.

© allou/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kalithea Thermi

Rhodes


Italian architect Pietro Lombardi constructed this opulent art deco spa, on the site of ancient thermal springs, in 1929. Its dazzling white-domed pavilions, pebble-mosaic courtyards and sweeping sea-view colonnades have appeared in movies such as Zorba the Greek and The Guns of Navarone. In peak season its small sandy bathing beach and cafe get impossibly crowded.

Just 8km south of Rhodes Town, it can be accessed by driving directly along the coast.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Rhodes attractions

1. Ladiko Beach

4.31 MILES

One of Rhodes’ loveliest (and busiest) beaches, Ladiko Beach consists of two back-to-back coves, indenting either side of a small peninsula 3km south of…

2. St John's Gate

4.31 MILES

The gate of St John is said to have become dyed red with blood during the siege of 1522.

3. Moat Walkway Entrance

4.38 MILES

If St Athanasios Gate is your exit rather than entry point for a walk in the moat, you need to keep your eyes peeled to spot this access route, which…

4. St Athanasios' Gate

4.39 MILES

Watched over by a sturdy round tower, this is said to be the gate through which the conquering Ottoman sultan entered the city in 1522.

5. Jewish Museum of Rhodes

4.44 MILES

The Jewish presence on Rhodes dates back to the 2nd century BC, while a 13th-century influx of Jewish refugees from Spain resulted in the creation of a…

6. Akandia Gate

4.44 MILES

At the southeast corner of the Old Town, this is one of the few city gates you can drive through, with parking to the right inside.

7. Kahal Shalom Synagogue

4.45 MILES

Built in 1577, and featuring a fine black-and-white pebble-mosaic floor, Kahal Shalom Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Greece. A commemorative plaque…

8. Jewish Quarter

4.5 MILES

The Jewish Quarter, an enclave of narrow lanes in the Old Town’s southeast corner, centres on Plateia Evreon Martyron (Square of the Jewish Martyrs). Now…