When you think of the Greek Islands, it’s likely that Santorini comes to mind. Then maybe even Mykonos or Crete. Before our Norwegian Cruise, Santorini was at the top of my Greece bucket list. The picturesque blue domes and white washed houses set against the sparkling sea – looked like paradise to me! But after visiting several islands in one trip, Rhodes stood out as the hidden gem of the Greek Islands.

Santorini is Crowded.

What you don’t know until you get there is that the crowds visiting this crescent shaped island (which is technically named Thira), are so heavy that you can barely even get through the narrow streets to get a peek of the famous blue domes. Yes, we contributed to the crowds since we arrived by cruise ship, but according to our guide, that wasn’t even peak season and it’s pretty consistently crowded with tourists even after the ships have sailed.

There’s not enough to do in Mykonos.

In some ways, Mykonos was the same way but on a much smaller scale because it’s a less populated island. You can easily walk the town center a few times in an hour, but it’s worth it to wind through the neighborhoods and see the famous Mykonos windmills.

These two islands are perfect for a resort stay. But if you’re like me – someone who wants more from a vacation than laying on a beach – these islands are one and done visits.

Why Rhodes is the Hidden Gem of the Greek Islands.

Rhodes on the other hand, is a fascinating mixture of medieval, Greek and Roman influences. We started our day with a tour of the Acropolis at Lindos, which is the temple for the goddess Athena and offers one of the most spectacular views you will see on the island!

To see the temple, you’ll walk through the tiny town at the foot of the hill, ascend the 250 steps up to the top and are rewarded with fantastic ruins and panoramic views of the surrounding areas on the island. Stop for food or souvenirs in Lindos on your way back down. The entrance fee costs 25 euros.

After our tour, we spent several hours exploring the old town of Rhodes and enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Niki’s Place. I LOVED my chicken souvlaki, dolmas and the tzatziki was heavenly. Greek food is just so well seasoned and fresh tasting and we enjoyed all our meals there!

One of the coolest things about Rhodes is the city wall, which was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 16th Century. The Knights of the Templar eventually took over the city, but it also has a long history of occupation by the Italians, Germans, Muslims and was eventually returned to Greece after WWII. There are many cultural influences on the island because of it’s history, which makes it so unique from the other Greek Islands. This is definitely a place I would go back to and spend more time exploring!

If you want to see more from all the Greek Islands we visited on our Norwegian Cruise, be sure to check out my vlog that highlights our days in Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini.e