Picturesque towns, isolated beaches and adventurous hikes are all part of the experience on the Greek islands Rhodes, Symni and Kalymnos.
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00:00I'm kind of obsessed with the Greek islands, so I'm really excited to show you some highlights today, starting here in Rhodes.
00:10My favorite place on the island is the Old Town.
00:14Ta-da!
00:15It's also one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe.
00:19The fortifications and the Grand Master's Palace were built by the Knights of St. John, or the Knights Hospitaller, in the 14th century.
00:28Sokratos is the Old Town's main street, and it can get crowded.
00:32And one of my top tips for any popular tourist destination, like Rhodes, is to get off the busy streets and explore the little side streets.
00:40Just make sure you do it quietly, because people live here.
00:43Rhodes was under Ottoman rule for around 400 years, and the architecture left from this period gives the Old Town a very special character.
00:57The colorful Mosque of Suleiman dates from the 16th century.
01:01Rhodes really has it all, from layers of history to incredible beaches.
01:07Beach lovers have lots of choices in Rhodes, especially on the island's east coast.
01:12I'm here right now at Sambika Beach.
01:16Greek law requires that every beach must have an area without sunbeds, so you'll always find space if you don't want to rent anything.
01:24Next up, the island of Simi.
01:26I'm loving Simi already.
01:28You can get here with a 60 to 90-minute boat ride from Rhodes.
01:33Here we go!
01:35We're here in the port town of Yalos, which is famous for these very, very beautiful, colorful, neoclassical buildings.
01:43These were the result of a wealthy period of shipbuilding and sponge diving.
01:50Simi is small, around 60 square kilometers.
01:53To get around, you can take a local bus or rent a car, like I have today.
01:57We're crossing the island.
02:01So we made it to the opposite end of the island, to Panoramitis Monastery, and really, it's very beautiful.
02:09The ornate buildings here now were constructed in the 18th century.
02:13Nowadays, it's an important pilgrimage site for Orthodox Christians, right here on this beautiful bay.
02:20Most beaches in Simi are only accessible via boat, but not Marathoda Beach.
02:25If you love a calm island that's full of beauty, Simi is the place for you.
02:31I hope you got a taste of what this island has to offer, and soon we have our next stop.
02:39The island of Kalymnos.
02:41This rugged island probably isn't on your radar, but it should be.
02:45It's a great place if you enjoy being in nature, and it's one of the world's top climbing destinations.
02:52The island's climbing routes are known for being easily accessible, so we get up close to take a better look.
02:58It's the second most popular rock climbing destination in the world, after Yosemite National Park in the United States.
03:07It only became a climbing destination a couple decades ago.
03:11One of the main landmarks is the Grande Grota cave.
03:20I also want to check out the port town of Pothia.
03:25This is the island's main town, and it's also where the ferries arrive.
03:30It's not your typical tourist town. Kalymnos is home to many locals who certainly have stories to tell.
03:37And there's one last place I'd like to see today.
03:40Quick stop here in Vathi, this very cute little port town.
03:44And these rock formations have caused this area to be referred to as a fjord.
03:48It's honestly really stunning.
03:54But my favorite view is from up here. That's amazing.
03:59And this is where we end our Greek island hopping adventure.