Rhodes, Greece by day and night via Azamara Quest

Roaming around Rhodes via Azamara

Located in the Aegean Sea, Rhodes is a popular tourist destination located 12 miles off the coast of Turkey. Besides going to the beach and nearby archaeological sites, most cruise visitors will be happy spending the day meandering around one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe.

Rhodes waterfront — Azamara Quest in Rhodes

Getting around

Azamara Quest called on Rhodes, Greece, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the day I took a self-guided walking tour of the medieval city and at night I was able to go back into town for Nights and Cool Places of Old Town Rhodes.

One of the best things about sailing on Azamara Club Cruises is that they stay in port longer, which allows guests to explore by day and night. Now, if you think about it, most cruise ships leave port in the early evening – not Azamara.

Old Town Rhodes offers cruise passengers plenty of attractions: a palace, museums, souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, a hamam, and medieval walls that can be scaled to enjoy great views of the surrounding area. My goal was to make it to the imposing fortress that dominates the highest point of the city: The Palace of the Grand Masters, built in the 14th century by the Knights of St. John.

One of many floor mosaics found in the Palace of the Greand Masters — One of many floor mosaics found in the Palace of the Grand Masters

Inside the gallery at the Palace of the Grand Masters

During the day I took a self-guided walking tour of the medieval city: I stopped by an uncrowded restaurant and had ample time to meander the labyrinth of streets before heading back to the ship for an afternoon at the Thalassotherapy pool.

Historic Rhodes

Shopping in Rhodes (off season) — Fountain at Hippocrates Square in Medieval Rhodes

Shopping in Rhodes, Greece — Restaurants, bars, and shopping are plentiful in Rhodes, Greece

Nights and Cool Places Series: Old Town Rhodes

Rhodes, Greece — Our local guide explaining the historical significance of the sights found on the Street of Knights.

At about 7 pm, a small group of 12 people left Azamara Quest and headed into the city for a guided walking tour – this was a great alternative to touring during the day (although you could do that as well). Walking through the streets of Old Town Rhodes at night was a great experience; definitely a cruise highlight. Besides our knowledgeable guide Dēmḗtrios, it was an absolute pleasure to explore by night without the hassle of dealing with crowds (Azamara Quest was calling just at the end of the busy tourist season).

About 15 minutes into the tour, I got really excited because I realized that although I could easily figure out the town, I lacked key details about the architecture and history of the capital of the Dodecanese islands. Without a guide, it was easy for me to miss destination immersion details that I needed to understand the significance of the area. Although I was very happy with my self-guided walking tour of Rhodes, it was not until I was on the Nights and Cool Places tour of Old Town Rhodes that I realized that I was missing critical context.

Our local guide was amazing and his breadth of knowledge of the history of Rhodes was impressive. After a narrated walking tour, I was left much more informed.

Journey back through time in historic Rhodes

We walked the streets of Europe’s oldest inhabited medieval town learning about the people, shops, boutiques, galleries, workshops and cafes that have been in the area since the 14th century. We walked up the Street of Knights, learning how the missionaries defended themselves from Ottoman attacks in 1480 before finally falling siege in 1522. We continued along the streets before heading to Romeo Restaurant for some Greek hospitality.

Last stop: a Greek restaurant with live music

Last word

When I combined my early information gathering expedition with the guided tour, I finally had a clear picture of how enchanting Rhodes is. Bottom line: I was happy that I explored on my own and then followed that with a tour that enabled me to see the city at in a different perspective.

Nights in Cool Places series: night touring via #Azamara is so fun! https://t.co/fPvAdQKkjf

Follow along on social media

I will be using social media to create a digital travel journal of my trip, make sure to follow me on Twitter (@CrusieBuzz) or check out Facebook (CruiseBuzz). If you are into Intagram, I am also posting there too.

Azamara Quest in Rhodes, Greece. https://t.co/YqV1KG34oP — Carrie Finley.Bajak (@CruiseBuzz) November 6, 2014

Cruise Buzz