Lindos Acropolis at Sunrise

Facing east across the open sea, the cliff of the Lindos Acropolis of Lindos is an ideal place to see the light change in the morning. The acropolis rises about 116 metres above the water, and its walls, columns and the white village below catch the first warm light as the sun climbs over the Aegean Sea. Visitors who time their visit for early in the day see the ruins softly lit, with long shadows on the stone and far fewer people than later in the morning. Gates normally open after sunrise, so the very first light is best taken from the village or from the beach below, but the first hours after opening still give a gentle atmosphere.

The path begins in the village and climbs in steps past houses and a rock-cut ship relief to the entrance. Donkeys wait at the foot of the path for those who prefer a ride for part of the way, though it is steep and not suited to anyone with limited mobility. At the top, the medieval walls built by the Knights of Saint John enclose a plateau of ancient remains: a long Hellenistic stoa, the stairway to the Propylaea and the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, with a small Byzantine church of Saint John set among them.

The view is the reward for the climb. On a clear morning, the water below is a deep blue, the harbour called Saint Paul's Bay looks like a perfect circle, and the white houses of Lindos cascade down the hill. The long coast of Rhodes curves north, and the distant mountains of the Turkish coast and other Dodecanese islands can be visible in good conditions. Because the site faces the morning sun, photographs taken early are the most dramatic.

A morning visit also avoids the heat that builds on the exposed rock from late morning onward. Even so, a hat, water and shoes with grip are essential, since the steps are worn smooth. Visitors who arrive early usually have time for a coffee in the village afterward, before tour groups arrive.

It is worth allowing about an hour on the summit to read the signs, walk the terraces and study the view. The acropolis is a short distance from the beach of Lindos, so a swim after the climb is a natural end to the morning. Admission is paid at the gate, and opening times change with the season, so it is best to check the current schedule locally.