Our nearest and dearest celestial neighbour, the Moon has been orbiting our imaginations ever since we first had them, forever lending myth and mystery to millions of tales, songs, poems and plays in countless cultures. It has played a central role in many faiths. It produces nymphs, muses, gods and goddesses and, despite our increasing scientific knowledge, still puts the “super” into supernatural! We big it up for love and liken it to generously-sized pizzas. We think there’s a man (or is it a rabbit?) living there and a cow jumping over it! It’s used as a clock to set the date of Easter. We believe it holds sway over the tides and, because quite a large part of us is made up of water, that surely we must come under its influence too. Oh yes, and in the name of Apollo and Artemis, we’ve started sending people there to solve its riddles and make certain that it isn’t just all made out of cheese!

With such an enchanting allure, and in a year of 13 full moons as opposed to the regulation 12, it proved too irresistible for us here at Rodos Park not to seek a little astral guidance in revealing the summer of 2026 to you. So, along with the usual complement of excitement, refinement, heritage and hospitality come the six full moons between May and September. In their wisdom and affinity with the elemental forces of nature, the Native Americans gave a name to every one of them in recognition of their special character and the gifts they trusted them to bestow upon humanity.

This summer season in Rhodes opens with a special occurrence, the appearance of two full moons in the space of a month. April turned into May and the first of the pair, the Flower Moon, as its name suggests, heralded the full bloom of Spring, promising new beginnings and transformation. Right at the end of May, the Blue Moon arrives, traditionally a female deity endowed with intuition and inner wisdom, a champion of second chances and emotional clarity. The appearance of the two in such close proximity makes a powerful time to let go of old routines and step out into the light with fresh confidence. It also makes an auspicious moment to open the Galaxy Roof Lounge Bar, offering you its trusty repertoire of romance, spectacular night skies and magical views across the Medieval City of Rhodes with the palace as always at its centre. Already in the works is an irresistible array of cocktails to emulate the season’s joyous burst of aromas, tastes and colours. In fact, this year you are promised special nights, every one with their own cocktail selection, to honour the arrival of all the full moons until the end of September.

On 29th June, the Strawberry Moon graces the heavens. Again, the moniker gives it away. Now is the time of abundance, sweetening and the ripening of summer’s creations and energy. For Rodos Park it is a fitting welcome to the period in which to make reservations for an exquisite six-course candlelit dinner for two with THAT romantic view again, which we know you still have firmly planted in your head!

If you come and stay with us at the end of July, take your cue from the Buck Moon on the 29th, which projects a sense of mid-summer strength and vitality. The name comes from the male buck deer, whose antlers grow to their fullest size at this time. Here’s an ideal opportunity to indulge your spirit of discovery and adventure. You can literally reach for the skies as a guest of the Rhodes Observatory; hurtling through galaxies, encountering planets, stars, far-out phenomena like nebulae, quasars, supernovas, and other things with unpronounceable names. It’s enough to put your head in a spin and make you feel very very tiny. Yet, as we strive to get our bearings in this infinite cosmos, it makes us resilient, brave, and indomitable too; in fact, just like the young buck finding his way around the wild forest trying to make his mark with the new headgear.

Prepare yourself for a real treat at the end of August, with the 28th considered peak viewing time for the Sturgeon Moon, named after the prehistoric fish found by North American tribes to be in abundance as summer came to an end. A partial lunar eclipse will impart a surrealistic crimson glow to this particular full moon, which is said to stir deep emotions and energize the subconscious. Naturally, this adds an extra layer of mystique when you wander the Medieval City‘s labyrinth of streets straight out of the Middle Ages and literally on our doorstep. The August full moon appears to have got the Ministry of Culture under its spell this year too. You can soak up the ancient ambience with free moonlit entry to the Archaeological Museum and selected archaeological sites; theatrical, music and dance performances; stargazing and storytelling events all on the big night.

That good ol’ Sturgeon Moon does a bit of everything; from the beguiling to the boogie, late summer sagacity and prudence to prosperity and plentitude. In this period, you can enjoy a drop of the island’s finest vintages, along with traditional music, merry-making, and sublime home cooking, at the 65th Embonas Wine Festival. As well as this, there is the Rhodes Street Food Festival in Mandraki, let alone all the villages across the island who need no invitation to come up with a creative excuse for a feast or a knees-up or preferably both; check out the bonhomie of the Bean Festival in Kattavia or the spirited celebration of stuffed wine leaves at the Yapraki Festival in Salakos if you are in any doubt!

And finally to September, the 26th to be precise: The Harvest Moon; you know, the friendly light guiding home the crop gatherers, sharing jokes and tall stories, sun-soaked and satisfied after a day in the fields. It shines with gratitude, fulfilment and reward for patient endeavour. Don’t worry! We are not going to put you out to work with a sickle. It’s poolside for you, with moonlight reflections and lush green gardens with a scintilla of autumnal colour beginning to break through. We propose you honour the traditional harvest period with an exquisite dining experience. Both Mediterranean and International cuisine are on the menu and our Executive Chef on hand to keep his usual expert eye on proceedings. He hasn’t given much away up to now, so stay tuned for when all is revealed!

There we have it then. In a year when our constant celestial companion is a hot topic and only a month or so since astronauts splashed down off the coast of California with love letters from above, we conclude our Moon’s-eye view of Summer at Rodos Park.

Book now to bring a radiant glow to 2026 on Rhodes!