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The area of Filerimos has a ton of different activities to do and is only half an hour from the Old Town of Rhodes.
It is one of those places in Rhodes that is easy to skip because, at first, it can feel a little confusing. Is it a monastery? An archaeological site? A viewpoint? Or just a forest full of peacocks?
The truth is, it’s all of those things at once. Your visit here really depends on what kind of day you want to have.
The biggest surprise I had — and you might too — is just how green it feels up here. Rhodes in the summer can feel dry, rocky and intensely hot, but Filerimos has giant trees, shaded walking paths and cool forested areas that make it feel completely different from the coast below. On windy or extremely hot days, it actually makes for a really good escape into nature.
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- 🎟️ Bus Transfer Tour: Filerimos Hill & Butterfly Valley Half Day Bus Tour $32
This article is part of my things to do in Rhodes series, where I explore and share activities and ideas. I moved to Rhodes a few months ago and have been exploring both the off-season and summer side of the island ever since. You can find more guides to Rhodes, here.
How to Get to Filerimos
As with most places in Rhodes, the easiest way to reach Filerimos is by rental car.
You’ll need around:
- 20 minutes from Rhodes Town
- 10 minutes from Rhodes Airport
It is a straightforward drive toward Ialyssos and then one left-hand turn up the hill, which becomes narrower and windier in parts.
There are also many buses and tour coaches driving up here during summer, so take it slowly.
And please don’t be the tourists stopping in the middle of the road to take photos of the view. The viewpoint at the top is much better anyway.
The other option is joining a guided tour. There are some reasonably priced options available, usually combined with the Butterfly Valley which is another 20 minutes of driving. Most tours allow around 1 hour at Filerimos, which is a bit tight, but doable.
🚗 Rhodes is a big island, which means you’ll need to rent a car. I prefer booking through platforms like Discover Cars, which takes some of the stress, questions, and uncertainty when it comes to insurance, paperwork, and coverage.
Are you looking for tips on rental cars? My recommendation is to always pick a high rated provider, with small deposit and deductible.
P.S Rhodes is too big for ATVs but this… this T-Roc Cabrio is one of THE most popular options you’ll see all around the island. I’ve heard from various rental companies it is one of the best sellers and always sells out first.
So… what actually is Filerimos?
The area sits on the site of ancient Ialyssos, which is one of the main historical highlights you can visit while on the hill.
Ialyssos was one of the three important ancient city-states of Rhodes, together with Lindos and ancient Kamiros. This was long before the Knights of Rhodes arrived in the 14th century and built the famous Palace of the Grand Master inside Rhodes Old Town.
The hill had both religious and strategic importance and, over time, was used by various civilizations including the Byzantines, the Knights of Saint John, and later the Italians during their occupation of Rhodes.
This also explains why the site feels slightly chaotic architecturally. You are essentially walking through an ancient archaeological site with medieval and Italian additions layered on top of it.
The Hill & The Giant Cross
One of the most famous parts of Filerimos is the long cypress-lined path leading toward the giant concrete cross at the edge of the hill.
Along the path, you’ll pass a series of religious stations representing the route to Golgotha before eventually reaching the viewpoint overlooking the west coast of Rhodes.
The cross itself was rebuilt relatively recently, during the 1990s, after the older Italian-era cross was destroyed during World War II. For years visitors could climb inside it using a narrow staircase, although this is no longer allowed today.
The view from up here is honestly one of the best reasons to visit Filerimos. You can see:
- Ialyssos and Ixia
- the northwest coastline
- Rhodes airport
- planes landing over the sea
- parts of Rhodes Town
- even the Turkish coastline on clear days
The cross and viewpoint area are also completely free to visit, so you can easily come back more than once. It is especially worth visiting around sunset, as the west coast of Rhodes is famous for its evening light.
The Archaeological Site & Monastery
The paid section of Filerimos includes the monastery area and archaeological remains.
The monastery itself was originally established during the Byzantine era and later rebuilt and restored multiple times, especially during the Italian occupation of Rhodes in the 20th century.
It is honestly one of the prettiest monasteries I visited in Rhodes and still contains medieval additions that are surprisingly well preserved. With the shaded courtyards, stone archways and marble fragments, there is also a definite Italian influence to the atmosphere.
One of the most important ancient remains here is the Temple of Athena Polias, although much of what survives today is fragmented and scattered around the site.
The atmosphere here feels more peaceful than dramatic. You’ll wander through shaded pathways, old ruins, hidden corners and peacocks casually walking between ancient stones.
How to Plan Your Visit
Booking your ticket to the archaeological site of Ialyssos is very straightforward. You can either pre-purchase online if the guided tour includes them or buy tickets directly at the entrance.
As of 2026, the ticket costs €10. It was only €6 in 2025, but archaeological site prices across Greece have steadily increased in recent years.
One app I strongly recommend downloading before your trip to Greece is the Hellenic Heritage app.
You can also buy tickets to some of the archaeological sites through the website, but more importantly, you get free audio guides included.
So don’t forget to bring headphones. I tested both the English and Greek versions and found them really good.
The Church of Agios Georgios
This small church is easy to miss, as it sits slightly hidden on the left side of the ticket booth within the forested hill.
The church dates back to the 15th century and is believed to have connections to important noble families and the Knights of Saint John. Inside, there are interesting frescoes and religious paintings that many visitors completely overlook.
The Fortress
Behind the monastery, there is a circular walking path that takes you toward the remains of the old fortress and through more forested parts of the hill.
It only adds around 10–15 minutes of walking but is worth doing to better understand the strategic importance of Filerimos throughout history.
The actual castle remains are not especially impressive, but the walk itself and the views are worth it.
Hellenic Heritage Self-Guided Tours
Of all the apps that you should download for your trip to Greece, I highly recommend downloading this one ahead of time.
It is available both as audio and transcript (so you can read the information to your kids) and is available in various languages as well.
The other thing I appreciate as a good addition is the map feature, which means you can see where each “audio volume” is supposed to be read.
I listened to most of the tour in English and Greek and found it good, just a tad dense or heavy.
For Filerimos and Ialysos specifically, I would say it definitely adds to the experience. There are very few physical signs around so you don’t know what you are seeing or why.
Plus, the app includes information for the area of Filerimos Hill in general, so you can use it even outside the archaeological site.
Other Things to Note
- There are peacocks everywhere. At one point I counted more than 25 near me, and they are friendly enough to come surprisingly close.
- You will hear them constantly as well — their cry is much louder than most people expect.
- Parking on site is plentiful and free, although it still gets busy during summer.
- I would estimate at least 1.5 hours if you want to properly walk to the cross viewpoint and explore the archaeological site.
- There is also a small refreshment area outside for coffee and drinks.
- This is a popular stop for guided tours, so you’ll notice many buses arriving throughout the day.
- I think the monastery area is the highlight of Filerimos, so take your time exploring all the smaller corners and pathways.
So… is Filerimos worth visiting?
I don’t think Filerimos is a must-see in the same way Lindos or Rhodes Old Town are.
But I do think it’s one of the most atmospheric archaeological areas on the island, combining nature, ancient ruins, medieval history, viewpoints and surprisingly peaceful walking paths.
It is especially good for families, photographers, or travelers wanting a break from beaches and crowded tourist areas for a few hours.
Ready to book your trip to Rhodes?
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⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI.
❤️ Best Tours in Rhodes
These are some of the tours I’ve done and love.
- (💥 DON’T MISS THIS) Tasting Rhodes: Cooking Class, Wine & Village Experience $112
- Rhodes: Sunset Guided Hike Profitis Ilias $59
- Rhodes: Sea Kayaking Tour – The Pirates Route $106
To visit Filerimos Hill you can also book a Half Day Bus Tour that takes you to the Butterfly Valley.
