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Probably the most essential archaeological websites in Greece and one of many best-known locations to go to in Rhodes for households, you shouldn’t miss the Acropolis of Lindos with youngsters.
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Sitting on a clifftop above the village of Lindos, the Acropolis dates again hundreds of years, with the ruins of historic temples now tucked inside defensive partitions constructed by the Knights of St John in medieval occasions, all towering over the ocean 100m under.
With an opportunity to wander amid the ruins, in addition to exploring the village and heading to close by seashores, it’s simple to fill a day in Lindos with youngsters. However should you’re planning to go to the Acropolis, don’t set off with out studying my ideas first.
Is it value visiting the Lindos Acropolis with youngsters?
The quick reply is sure! The location actually is spectacular, each to discover and for its views again down, to not point out millennia of historical past.
In the event you’re visiting with little or no ones, it’s definitely not buggy-friendly, and there are some steep drops and uneven sections, so that you’ll need to maintain tight maintain of toddlers.
There are some quirky highlights to identify which can assist to carry it alive for older youngsters (and normally a sunbathing cat or two so as to add to the leisure), plus it’s enjoyable clambering round to get to totally different elements and interesting for individuals who love historical past.
The location isn’t enormous both, so should you keep away from the crowds – learn on for recommendations on how to try this – you gained’t be spending hours there, in case your youngsters have a brief consideration span for ruined temples.
What time is greatest to go to Lindos?
Arrive early! I can’t stress this sufficient, particularly in peak season or when cruise ships are visiting.
The gates open at 8am, and should you flip up then (or shortly afterwards, like us) & you’ll most likely share the location with only a handful of others. It additionally allows you to discover earlier than the worst of the warmth.
After we left at round 9.30am, the queue was enormous with lots of of individuals within the line stretching down the hillside.
In the event you’re visiting out of season, it’s value doublechecking the opening hours (and cruise ship arrivals). Lindos Acropolis is at all times well-liked however there’ll be far fewer folks on a quiet day in March in comparison with the summer time holidays.
Is it value prebooking tickets?
Positively. You’ll be able to prebook tickets on-line, which helps you to stroll straight in to the turnstiles to have your tickets scanned moderately than having to purchase them on the ticket workplace. There are two-hour time slots, with the earliest at 8am – verify right here for the full opening hours, that are restricted within the winter months.
There are indicators dotted round with QR codes to purchase tickets, so should you’ve visited with out prebooking and located a large queue, you may scan and skip that wait although.
Grownup tickets at present value 12 Euros, whereas youngsters aged 6-25 from nations not within the EU pay 6 Euros. Beneath fives are free, as are EU residents aged beneath 25.
To get skip-the-line tickets, you may ebook straight on the Hellenic Heritage website. Alternatively, you should buy from websites corresponding to tiqets (with a small low cost utilizing my hyperlink and the code MUMMYTRAVELS6) and have the tickets scanned in your telephone – no want to choose them up from the ticket workplace.
Get Your Information additionally sends the tickets direct to your e-mail, and permits you to add an audio information as effectively.
How do I get to Lindos Acropolis with youngsters?
Whereas there’s a bus route from Rhodes City to Lindos, most individuals visiting the Acropolis will come by automobile or as a part of a tour.
It’s simple to journey there independently, and means you’ve the flexibleness to beat the massive teams nevertheless it’s value understanding that you may’t drive to the acropolis – the one approach to get to the location on the high of the hill is on foot from Lindos village or by donkey.
There are two routes to take as much as the Acropolis. As you head into Lindos village, should you flip to the left, the route will take you up the winding path alongside the hillside in the direction of the location, whereas the opposite leads via the village climbing up a string of steps to method the acropolis from the other aspect.
My desire is to take the winding path up, as you get some nice views as much as the Acropolis in addition to again all the way down to the ocean, and it’s extra fascinating to climb with youngsters – it’s simple to think about folks hundreds of years in the past following the same route.
Then take the route via the village to go again down. It’s lined with little stalls and outlets, in addition to tavernas, so it’s simple to choose up a number of souvenirs alongside the best way (whereas you would possibly must rush previous on the best way up) – plus happening steps is simpler than going up!
Each routes take the same period of time. In the event you’re coming from St Paul’s, you’ll come from the other aspect of Lindos, however it can lead you to the identical routes.
The place can I park?
You’ll be able to’t park within the village itself, though there are a number of choices inside a brief stroll. There may be parking by the close by sandy seaside should you’re planning to go all the way down to the ocean afterwards, together with some free parking in addition to paid parking.
It’s a couple of minutes stroll again uphill in the direction of the village and the route as much as the Acropolis.
Alternatively, there are a handful of areas on the street main downhill to Lindos village – this non-public parking is paid (anticipate to pay round 5 euros in excessive season) nevertheless it cuts out a number of the stroll.
In any other case, nearly all of folks go away their vehicles within the larger automobile park on the high of the hill, generally known as Lindos Central Parking. With room for 300 vehicles, you’d be unfortunate to not discover a area.
Or on the opposite aspect of Lindos, St Paul’s Parking takes you a barely totally different route but additionally has plenty of area and prices round 6 euros for the day.
Do I would like a donkey?
Truthfully, no. Fortunately the donkeys do look effectively cared for, however until you’ve mobility points, anybody of common health can deal with the stroll and climb.
My 11-year-old had no points in any respect (she was quicker than I used to be), and there have been youthful youngsters who managed equally effectively.
In case you are planning to go to with little ones and the stroll is an excessive amount of for little legs, you’ll go the donkeys within the village to rearrange a experience – should you do arrive early, chances are you’ll discover you get there earlier than the donkeys do, so it’s value bearing that in thoughts.
What’s there to see on the Acropolis of Lindos?
Not like quite a lot of historic websites in Greece, the Acropolis of Lindos has been added to through the years, so you may uncover totally different components from throughout the centuries.
The location itself is believed thus far again to the ninth or tenth century BCE, with Lindos turning into strongest in across the sixth and seventh century BCE. Lindos is sufficiently old that it’s talked about by Homer as one of many Greek cities which took half within the Trojan Conflict.
Inside a number of centuries, the town close to Rhodes grew to become an important political centre, whereas Lindos develop into its key non secular website – the well-known ruins of the temple to Athena Lindia date from the 4th century BCE, constructed on the location of an earlier temple.
Later, the Knights of St John (or Knights Hospitaller) constructed their fort right here by 1317 on high of older Byzantine fortifications.
The location itself isn’t enormous however because it’s set over a number of ranges, it takes some time to stroll round, as you climb from the doorway, via the medieval fortifications and as much as the Temple of Athena Lindia, in addition to a number of the different sections of ruins in between. We spent round an hour inside.
There are paths or steps via most areas, however you can even wander away to get nearer to some sections of ruins – enjoyable for teenagers, though the bottom off the trail is usually a bit uneven for toddlers.
Right here’s what else to look out for at Lindos Acropolis with youngsters:
The ship aid
One of many first issues you may see after getting into the location is a big ship carved into the rock; a triemiolia or trireme, which was a sort of historic warship utilized in Rhodes.
The boat by Pythokritos, because it’s recognized, was sculpted within the rock within the early 2nd century BCE, and whereas not all of it’s seen, you may see see the curving prow and different particulars.
Initially this was the bottom of a statue to an admiral, Agesandrus, so you may think about how imposing it should have been when it was intact.
The Knights Hospitaller buildings
One of many ‘new’ additions to the location, the Knights of St John added their fort and fortified the location with enormous partitions stretching over 500 metres across the hillside.
From the ship aid, you climb the stone steps as much as the following degree of the acropolis, which takes you contained in the constructing – look out for the coats of arms as you go.
You’ll stroll via the executive constructing, added in across the 14th-Fifteenth centuries CE – it’s definitely one of the vital memorable places for workplaces, with some enormous column bases tucked into corners earlier than you emerge into the daylight once more.
The opposite predominant medieval constructing is the Byzantine church of St John, later become a mosque after the Ottoman invasion. Throughout our go to, you couldn’t go inside, however you may have a look at the ornamental exterior and spot the door connecting it to the executive constructing.
The temple of Athena Lindia
The ultimate climb up the 34 steps to the sanctuary and the stays of the Temple to Athena are what makes a go to to the Acropolis of Lindos so memorable.
The large columns soar as much as the cloudless sky, dwarfing everybody who walks up. It’s not exhausting to think about the awe these visiting the intact temple should have felt.
As soon as there would have been ornate statues inside, though these are lengthy gone. You’ll be able to see stone bowls designed for gathering choices although beneath the imposing columns.
Different highlights of Lindos Acropolis
There are every kind of little particulars to look out for – inscriptions carved into rocks, bits of statues, and the stays of different temples.
A few of the different architectural highlights embrace the Propylaea of the Sanctuary – a gateway resulting in a coated walkway – and the Hellenistic Stoa, which sits to the edges of the Propylaea staircase. Courting from the third century BCE, 26 columns nonetheless survive.
Realistically it’s the expertise of exploring that’s extra fascinating for teenagers, than understanding the precise architectural options although.
One different enjoyable element to maintain youngsters engaged is the story of the tyrant Kleoboulos, who dominated Lindos. So the parable says, he was punished for disrespecting Athena by being become a rock – which might nonetheless supposedly be discovered on the entrance to the Acropolis. As to which one it’s? No-one can say for certain, nevertheless it’s enjoyable to invest.
It’s value understanding that there’s conservation work happening on the website, partly to repair the unsympathetic restoration accomplished by the Italians within the Thirties – whereas it helped carry elements of the location to life as soon as extra, the supplies used are damaging a number of the remaining ruins. Elements of the location could subsequently be closed whereas this takes place.
Do additionally take a number of moments to soak within the views all the way down to St Paul’s Bay and Lindos Bay that are incredible – the totally different blue and turquoise shades of the ocean are merely stunning, and on a transparent day, you may see for miles.
Do I would like a information?
There are some indicators and boards giving info on what you may see, however they’re pretty restricted. In the event you’re in search of a short overview, that may be a good place to begin, however if you need extra, you’ll want some sort of information or guidebook.
In the event you ebook tickets from Get Your Information there’s an choice to get an audio information along with your ticket, whereas most guidebooks for Rhodes have some info on Lindos.
In the event you do need plenty of element, you’ll must ebook a information – both a gaggle guided tour or you may rent a non-public information. In any other case don’t anticipate to see plenty of guides ready on the website, so it’s greatest to make different preparations prematurely.
What ought to I carry if I’m visiting Lindos with youngsters?
Comfy strolling sneakers are important – you don’t essentially want trainers, however strolling sandals are a greater concept than flipflops given the stroll up and the uneven floor inside.
It’s effectively value bringing a hat too, as you gained’t discover a lot shade whilst you’re exploring, together with loads of water and any snacks your youngsters would possibly need.
There’s a cafe close to the doorway to the Acropolis, however (unsurprisingly) it’s pricy, though the contemporary juices are beautiful – there are additionally bathrooms subsequent to the cafe, as there are not any services inside the acropolis website.
What else is there to do in Lindos with youngsters?
Lindos itself is a picturesque little village, all whitewashed alleys, however very touristy – as you wander the slender streets, you’ll discover stalls and outlets with (beautiful!) souvenirs galore, in addition to loads of bars + tavernas.
It’s simple to whereas away a while searching or enjoyable with a drink after your climb to the Acropolis, in addition to strolling across the winding lanes to see what you stumble throughout. It’s pedestrian-only which makes it a calming place to wander with youngsters.
There are additionally a few seashores sitting under the village – each with delicate sand, Lindos Seashore is greater, busier and also you’ll discover loungers galore plus kayaks to hire, whereas Pallas Seashore is smaller and quieter, with shallow water that’s excellent should you’re visiting Rhodes with toddlers and youthful youngsters.
Close by St Paul’s Bay is pebbly and an extended stroll from any automobile parking, however could also be quieter should you’re seeking to paddle.
On the route spherical in the direction of St Paul’s Parking, you can even see the stays of the Theatre of Lindos, reduce into the rocks, which might as soon as have seated round 2,000 folks, and the close by Tetrastoon constructing, thought to have been used for rituals.
The place else can I uncover historical past on Rhodes?
For a comparatively small island (albeit the most important within the Dodecanese), Rhodes is a history-lover’s paradise – its strategic location means it was on the centre of commerce routes and fought over by quite a lot of cultures and civilisations.
That additionally implies that you’re spoiled for selection should you’re in search of different historic websites on Rhodes – in keeping with legend, the primary settler on the island was the son of Hercules, Tlipolemos, who helped discovered the three main cities; Lindos, Ialyssos and Kamiros.
On the other coast to Lindos, Historic Kamiros is the oldest metropolis on the island, the place you may see the stays of retailers, properties and baths, in addition to extra temples. The location is extra unfold out than Lindos however tends to get fewer guests – there’s additionally extra shade beneath the pine timber.
The third historic website of Ialyssos is close to Rhodes City, and you can even uncover the Temple of Apollo and Acropolis of Rhodes simply outdoors the island’s capital.
For more moderen historical past, Rhodes City itself has a splendidly preserved medieval centre, together with buildings from the time of the Knights of St John and a number of the outdated metropolis partitions.
Or round an hour from Lindos, Monolithos Fortress was additionally constructed by the Knights of St John, with its hilltop setting giving incredible views – initially designed to warn of assault from the ocean.
For extra recommendations on issues to do in Rhodes with youngsters, take a look at my high picks
Disclosure: This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Principal picture/Theatre of Lindos courtesy of Depositphotos, all different photographs copyright MummyTravels
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