Dress code in Rhodes Island is very casual, for men shorts and T-shirts is the norm, and for ladies, light summer dresses or similar to men. If you are coming in Spring or Autumn you should bring some warmer clothes just in case it gets a bit cold in the night. Even for those who want to dress formally, smart casual is the norm, which would be a pair of trousers and a shirt.

Booking a Taxi. There are strict regulations regarding the number of passengers per taxi. Up to 4 passengers are allowed per car so bear this in mind when making a booking for a taxi. Make sure your luggage fits into a regular-sized car trunk, otherwise you'll have to hire a second taxi for any excessive luggage. When requesting a taxi make sure you are at the pick-up point without delay since a taxi will be there within minutes.

Internet Cafes & Free Wi-Fi. There is an internet cafe right in the harbor, some in the Old Town, and several others in the New Town and the villages of Rhodes Island. There are also internet cafes open to the public at the most hotels in particular those that offer convention facilities, www.internetgate.gr (Internet Cafe chain in Rhodes hotels). In addition there is a number of subscription based networks offering hotspots mainly in and around the town center, at Starbucks cafes (2 locations in town center) and at the McDonalds. You have to buy a card in order to use them.

Banks and ATM machines. There are many Greek and International banks that are licensed to do business in Rhodes. All of them offer exchange services within the town of Rhodes as well as in other popular resort areas. Banks are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the period from April to October, some of them are open in the evenings as well (5 p.m., to 7.30 p.m.) and on Saturday mornings, but only for the exchange purposes. In order to exchange cash or traveler's checks, you need to have your passport with you. In addition, almost all hotels have exchange offices on their front desks. Visa, Master Card and other well known credit cards are also accepted by the majority of shops, and hotels. And you won't need your entire wallet only some cash, you may prefer to use ATM machines when you need cash. ATMs are everywhere. Cash sometimes gets you a better price than a charge card.

Shopping. Rhodes is an interesting place to shop. Rhodes has at least 2000 years of manufacturing unique and skillful handicraft gold jewellery. Many shops sell classic and modern gold and silver jewellery as well as antique reproduction jewellery, in 14k, 18k and 22k with diamonds and precious stones. Antique carpets and hand made silk on silk rugs, furniture, paintings and porcelain can also be found. Rhodes also famous for the leather and fur, bottles, leather coats, fur coats, and mink. Other kinds of goods such as souvenirs, sponges, clothes, shoes, books, and more can be found in the many shops of Rhodes Island . As well as the famous and unique local honey made from bees committed to Thimari, like oregano. And the traditional art workshops for the world famous hand made potteries - ceramics of Rhodes. Rhodes has a long history of pottery going back many centuries at least to the time of the ancient cities. The island has many ceramic factories selling hand painted pottery, typically vases, plates and ash trays. Vivid colors, especially blue, feature strongly as do certain motifs which are uniquely Rhodian, the pomegranate flower and the stylized deer.

Tax Free Shopping. Greece is one of the countries with "Tax Free Shopping". To shop and save money is easy when you travel abroad:

1. Ask the shop staff for a Refund Cheque when paying for your purchases.

2. Show your purchases, receipt and passport to Customs when leaving the country, or at the final point of departure when leaving the European Union, and have your Refund Cheque stamped.

3. Show the stamped Refund Cheque, passport and credit card at a nearby Refund Office and ask for an Immediate Refund on your credit card. Alternatively the Refund can be paid in cash.

Healthcare. Rhodes has plenty of doctors of all practices.

• The well-equipped state owned Prefectural Hospital is open 24 hours a day for emergency cases, and 3 Medical Centers scattered around the island. There are also some small independent clinics, medical services and more than 200 doctors in private practice. There are also plenty of pharmacies and chemists. Phone Center : (0030) 22410 80000 Emergency Number: 166 (applicable inside Greece)
• The Polyclinic EUROMEDICA in Rhodes started operation in November 2006, with new modern and fully equipped facilities which housed in a 12,500 sq.m. area, near Koskinou, the Municipality of Kallithea. The clinic meets all the modern European medical standards has the latest medical equipment, excellent hotel facilities and above all experienced and well trained scientists, doctors and nurses. Phone: (0030) 22410 45000, Fax: (0030) 22410 60002, (0030) 22410 45010
• Krito Medical Centre, located at 3 Ioannou Metaxa Street , has eleven resident specialist doctors, including Pathologists, General Practitioners, Gastroenterologist, Lung Specialist, Pediatrician, Gynecologist, Microbiologist and Dentists. The Centre is operational 7 days per week during the summer months. Tel: 22410-38008/30020
• Dialysis Center:A new dialysis center named HELIONEPHRO has opened on the island of Rhodes since July 2009. Capacity of 28 medical treatment stations, Qualified multilingual staff (French, Greek, English, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian) - All types of modern dialysis (classic hemodialysis, hemofiltration, on-line hemodiafiltration etc.) Located at the 5th. Km Rhodes-Kalithea - 85100 Rhodes - Greece Phone: (0030) 22410 03300 - Fax-number: (0030) 22410 03301

Catholic Churches. The Catholic church of Santa Maria, located at the corner of Kathopouli and Dragoumi Streets, holds Mass at 6 p.m. Mon.- Sat. and at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m on Sundays. The St. Francisco church located on Dimokratias Street, celebrates Mass at 7 p.m. Mon. - Fri. and at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Information Tel. 22410-22305. Trianda Chapel of St. Anne "Santa Anna" Sotiros 37, Trianda, Rhodes, Tel. +30 22410-22305, Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Alexandriou Diakiou St., Rhodes Town, Tel. +30 22410-22305. Chapel of the Holy Cross, Catholic Cemetery Rhodes Town , Tel. +30 22410-22305.

OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization). offices are the cheapest way to make local or international calls. Rhodes is equipped with a very advanced telecommunications system. The blue telephone boxes found all over the island can be used either for local or for long distance calls. They all use phone cards that can easily be found in every kiosk or shops with the "Phone cards Sold Here" sign. You can get them also right in the harbor, or in the Airport.

Signs denoting post offices are usually bright yellow, as are post-boxes. If you need to send a letter there are stamp vending machines and post-boxes outside all central post offices. There is also a post-box right in the harbor.

Cinemas. There are two cinemas in Rhodes, the Palace (22410 70670) and the Metropol Alpha Odeon (22410 28400), both in Rhodes town on Dimokratias Street near the football stadium. Both show the international films, some before they are released elsewhere in Europe , subtitled into Greek.

Casino. As all cosmopolitan places Rhodes has its own casino. The dress code is strict for men but for the women a dress is enough. The entertainment gem of the historic "Grande Albergo delle Rose" building is unquestionably its casino. The luxurious interior provides over 1,700 square meters of gaming, spread over two separate floors. The lower floor provides the fun and excitement of over 300 latest technology slot machines, while the upper floor offers the elegance and glamour of 34 gaming tables. Phone: (0030) 22410 97500, Fax: 0030 22410 97504

Holidays and Feasts. The following is a list of official holidays, during which all departments of public services are closed.

• January 1 - New Year's Day
• January 6 - Epiphany
• First day of Lent (movable) - in Greek is known as 'Clean Monday'
• March 7 - anniversary of the reunion of the Dodecanese Islands with the rest of Greece
• March 25 - anniversary of the revolution for freedom against the Turkish invaders
• Good Friday (movable)
• Easter Sunday, Easter Monday (movable)
• May 1 - May Day
• Of the Holy Spirit (movable)
• August 15 - Dormition of Virgin Mary
• October 28 - anniversary of Greece's refusal to submit to the Italians in 1940
• December 25 - Christmas Day

Rhodes Cultural Events and Festivities.

• Rhodes Flower Festival: Last week of May
• Rhodes Down Town Sound and Light:All summer every day. Performances at the Grand Master's Palace, in the Medieval town of Rhodes
• The Cultural Festival of Rodos:Summer. Open air medieval theatre in Rhodes medieval town
• Folk Dance Show:All year long. Open air in the medieval town during the summer, at "Rodini Park Theatre" the rest of the year
• Rodos Life and TraditionsSummer. 2 hour performance (traditional wedding customs, comedy sketches, live popular Greek music), held at the National Theatre
• Medieval Town's Carnival Day:1st March. A carnival fiesta taking place within the medieval city. Happenings, latin music, folklore, street theatre, popular Greek singers, carnival parade, medieval music and theatre. Thousand of attendants. A real fun for every age

Useful Phones.
Rhodes General Hospital
Phone Center: (0030) 2241080000, Emergency Number: 166 (applicable inside Greece)
Police
Emergency Number: 100 (applicable inside Greece)
Rhodes Department: (0030) 2241023849, 2241044140
Airport Department: (0030) 2241082882
Traffic Division: (0030) 2241044132
Security Division: (0030) 2241023294
Fire Department
Emergency Number: 199 (applicable inside Greece)
Forrest Fire Center: 191 (applicable inside Greece)
Phone Center: (0030) 2241023333, 2241023334
Rhodes Port Authority:
(0030) 2241022220, 2241028888

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