Salakos at the foot of Mount Profitis Ilias

Salakos lies at the foot of Mount Profitis Ilias. You can discover the village from two perspectives: its mountain setting and the traces of its village history. A hiking trail leads from above the village to Profitis Ilias Monastery; in the village, a folklore museum and the ruins of a medieval castle provide further inspiration for planning your trip.

Hiking trail and protected area

A marked hiking trail above Salakos starts near Nymfi Spring and leads to Profitis Ilias Monastery. Its named destination makes the trail a specific outing idea for travellers who enjoy combining a hike with a definite goal. Check the current condition of the trail before setting out.

The area along the Sálakos–Profitis Ilias hiking trail is a wildlife refuge and is protected under the Natura 2000 programme. This protected status is a distinct aspect of the route: as well as running between the area near the spring and the monastery, the protected area is part of the outing’s connection with nature. Travellers who enjoy combining nature and culture when planning a trip will find both in this specific combination of themes.

Springs around Salakos

In the past, there were many springs around Sálakos. Nymfi was considered the best-known spring in the area. These two details tell different things about the village: the many springs shape the area’s former character, while Nymfi stands out as a particularly well-known spring. The springs are a distinct facet of Salakos and need not be associated with a hike or a visit to the monastery.

This gives you a clear contrast when choosing outings: the hiking trail is a named route with a set destination, while the springs are part of the area’s history and character. Depending on whether you would rather focus on a route or on the character of the village, you can shape your stay in different ways.

Folklore museum and castle ruins

A folklore museum is located near the village square. It recreates a traditional house from Salakos and represents a traditional Rhodesian home. The exhibits include household items, agricultural tools, ceramics, woven textiles and embroidery, traditional costumes, musical instruments and folk art. The collection ranges from daily life and work to clothing, music and forms of craftsmanship. The museum thus offers several ways to explore local and Rhodian domestic culture, rather than focusing on just one subject.

Above Salakos are also the ruins of a medieval castle, which was destroyed in 1480. The museum and the castle ruins offer different historical perspectives: the museum focuses on a house and its objects, while the ruins recall a medieval castle and its destruction. Together, they give you several specific themes to consider when planning your trip, without reducing the village to a single attraction.

Choosing Salakos as a place to stay

The kind of holiday apartment you are looking for also depends on what you want your days to centre on. If you are mainly drawn to the hiking trail to the monastery, Salakos’s mountain setting comes to the fore. If you are more interested in village history, the museum and castle ruins may influence your choice of destination. You can also make a combination of nature and culture your focus.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Salakos, you can choose the village with these interests in mind: the route to Profitis Ilias, the area’s former abundance of springs, or the village’s cultural and historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Profilia, Lakhaniá, Rhodes, Rhodes, Koskinou, Petaloudes, South Rhodes, Faliraki.

Go to the main travel overview: Rhodes.