Valley of the Butterflies

The famous Butterfly Valley is one of the most visited and evocative places on the island of Rhodes.

It is a wooded area of about 60 hectares, located in the western part of the island of Rhodes, near the town of Petaloudes (which means butterfly, in Greek), about 27 kilometers from Rhodes city (the capital) and 5 km kilometers southeast of the village of Theologos.

This beautiful Butterfly Valley is part of the Natura 2000 protected area. 

Once you arrive in the Valley of the Butterflies you can walk for about a kilometer in a landscape that seems enchanted, among streams, small waterfalls and trees covered with pretty butterflies, mostly red and orange: it will seem to be inside a fairy tale!

The Valley of the Butterflies of the island of Rhodes is crossed by the Pelecanos River, which according to legend owes its name to a servant of Prince Alexander Ipsilantou. The prince took his daughter, sick in this valley, to cure himself thanks to the favorable climate, together with his servant Pelecanos. The girl loved the servant, but her father forbade her to marry him. Pelecanos, desperate, killed himself, thus giving his name to this river.

Here in Rhodes, the Valley of the Butterflies boasts one of the rarest and most important habitats in the world, because in the summer months the Panaxia Quadripunctuaria butterflies (dotted Harlequin) arrive here by the millions to breed. It is a migratory species, which can be admired in this valley only from June to August. In fact, only a few specimens remain outside this period. Butterflies are attracted to this magical place by the particular climatic conditions and the resin of a tree of the maple family, the "Liquidambar orientalis" which has a characteristic vanilla scent.

But be careful! This particular habitat is very delicate and needs all possible respect, so avoid loud noises as much as possible so as not to disturb the rest of these lovely butterflies.

To reach the Valley of the Butterflies from the city of Rhodes take the western coastal road towards Kremasti and then Paradeisi. Continue along the main road towards Theologos, but before reaching it turn right towards Damatria / Petaloudes / Psinthos and continue until you find signs for the 2 entrances to the Valley. From Lindos, instead, take the main road (on the east coast) towards Rhodes to Ammoudes, turn left towards Damatria / Petaloudes / Psinthos. And continuing you will find the indications for the 2 entries to the Valley.

It is possible to park on both sides, but we advise you to park in the first parking lot you will meet. From there start the climb through the fragrant trees, at the end of which you will find a bar and some kiosks, where you can take refreshment and maybe buy some souvenirs. After the brief stop you can choose whether to go back or continue with another climb. For those traveling with children, or for those who want to work less, we recommend using the train that acts as a shuttle between the two entrances.

We advise you to visit the Valley of the Butterflies in the morning to avoid the confusion of the central hours and fully enjoy this enchanting landscape. You can also visit the small adjacent museum, where you will find some stuffed specimens of the animals that populate the area.

After the visit you can stop in the family-run restaurant located near the museum, which serves excellent traditional Greek dishes. Or you can decide to stop in one of the restaurants you will meet along the way back, like the Artemida Taverna or in the Vorino which offer Mediterranean and Greek cuisine.

The Valley of the Butterflies is open in the summer from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm and the entrance ticket costs € 5.

Include this experience to the things you absolutely cannot miss when you arrive on the island of Rhodes. The contact with nature and these wonderful creatures will arouse surprise and certainly a wonderful Wow!