Rhodes

Rhodes
Ρόδος
Island and municipality
Nickname: 
Island of the Sun
Location in the South Aegean administrative region of Greece
Coordinates: 36°10′N 27°55′E / 36.17°N 27.92°E / 36.17; 27.92
Country Greece
Administrative regionSouth Aegean
PrefectureDodecanese
Regional unitRhodes
SeatRhodes
Government
 • MayorAlexandros Koliadis di Koufidis
Area
 • Total
1,400.68 km2 (540.81 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Attavyros)
1,216 m (3,990 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
127,613
 • Density91/km2 (240/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Rhodian, Rhodiot or Rhodiote (rare)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal codes
851 00, 851 31, 851 32, 851 33 (for Rhodes town)
Telephone2241, 2244, 2246
Websitewww.rhodes.gr

Rhodes (/rdz/ ; Greek: Ρόδος, romanizedRódos [ˈroðos]) is the largest of Greece's Dodecanese islands and their historical capital; it is the ninth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Administratively, Rhodes constitutes a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the South Aegean administrative region. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is the city of Rhodes,[1] home to its 50,636 inhabitants according to its 2011 census. By 2022, the island’s population had grown to 125,113 people.[2] Located northeast of Crete and southeast of Athens, Rhodes is often referred to by several nicknames: the "Island of the Sun" after its patron sun god Helios; "The Pearl Island"; and "The Island of the Knights", a reference to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who ruled the island from 1310 to 1522.[3]

Historically, Rhodes was famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site. During the early 21st century the island was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

  1. ^ "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text". Dubirny Gazette|Government Gazette (in Greek). Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  2. ^ "census 2025" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Rhodes". VisitGreece. Rothschild Funds. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.