During the high season, Rhodes claims one of the most active nighttime scenes in Greece outside of Athens. Granted, some of that energy is grounded in the resort complexes north of the city, but there is enough to go around.
Your own common sense is as good a guide as any in this ever-changing scene. In a city as compact as Rhodes, it's best to follow the lights and noise, and get a little lost. When you decide to call it quits, shout down a taxi (if you're outside the Old Town) to bring you back -- just remember where you're staying.
As a rule of thumb, the younger set will find the New Town livelier than the Old Town. Cafe scenes are located on the harbor, behind Academy Square, or on Galias near New Market. The bar scene tends to line up along Diakonou. In the Old Town, most of the clubs and bars are found along Miltiadhou. There must be at least 100 nightclubs on Rhodes, so you're sure to find one to your liking.
Gambling is a popular nighttime activity in Greece. Rhodes for many years housed one of Greece's six legal casinos, a government-operated roulette and blackjack house adjoining the Grand Hotel. Now in private hands and known as the Casino Rodos, it is located in the Grande Albergo delle Rose in the New Town; admission coasts 15€/$20 and the patrons must be at least 23 years old.
The sound-and-light (Son et Lumière) presentation at Papagou, south of Plateia Rimini (tel. 22410/21-922), dramatizes the life of a youth admitted into the monastery in 1522, the year before Rhodes fell to invading Turks. In contrast to Athens's Acropolis show, the dialogue here is more illuminating, though the lighting is unimaginative. Nevertheless, sitting in the lush gardens below the palace on a warm evening can be pleasant, and I recommend the experience to those smitten by the medieval Old Town. Check the posted schedule for English-language performances. Admission is 6€ ($7.80) for adults, 2€ ($2.60) for youths, and free for children under 11.
I also recommend the Traditional Folk Dance Theater, presented by the Nelly Dimoglou Dance Company, Adronikou, off Plateia Arionos, Old Town (tel. 22410/20-157). This internationally acclaimed company is always lively, colorful, and utterly entertaining. Twenty spirited men and women perform dances from many areas of Greece in often embroidered flouncy costumes. The five-man band plays an inspired repertoire. Performances take place May through early October: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:15pm. Admission is 12€ ($16) for adults.
