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Rhodes is the island that has everything and charges you less for it.
That's not how it's usually marketed — it doesn't have the Instagram glamour of Santorini or the nightlife cachet of Mykonos — but it may be the most complete Greek island there is. A medieval walled city that rivals Dubrovnik.
An ancient acropolis perched above a whitewashed village that could be the cover of a travel magazine. Sandy beaches that stretch for kilometers. Mountain villages where winemaking and olive pressing haven't changed in centuries. And a climate so reliably sunny that Rhodes was sacred to Helios, the sun god, long before tourism existed.
The Colossus of Rhodes — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — once stood at the harbor entrance, and though the statue is long gone, the ambition it represented still echoes in the island's scale.
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands, roughly 80 kilometers from tip to tip, with enough diversity of landscape and experience to fill a week without repeating yourself.
What surprises most first-time visitors is the Old Town. The medieval city of Rhodes, built by the Knights of St. John in the fourteenth century, is the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe.
Walking through the gates and into the labyrinth of cobblestone lanes, fortified walls, minarets, Byzantine churches, and Gothic arches feels less like visiting a Greek island and more like stepping into a different century. The town is alive — restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels operate within the walls — and that lived-in quality is what separates it from museum pieces.
For the full island experience, read our Rhodes travel guide.
Deciding between islands?
See our best Greek islands to visit guide.
Quick Answer: Where to Stay in Rhodes
- Best for first-time visitors: Rhodes Town — medieval Old Town, best restaurants, transport hub
- Best for couples: Lindos — romantic whitewashed village, acropolis views, intimate atmosphere
- Best for families: Faliraki or Kolymbia — sandy beaches, shallow water, resort infrastructure
- Best for nightlife: Rhodes Town New Town — the bar district outside the Old Town walls
- Best for beach lovers: East coast — Tsambika, Lindos, Faliraki, Anthony Quinn Bay
- Best for windsurfers and kitesurfers: Ixia and Prasonisi — consistent Aegean winds
- Best for quiet: South coast or west coast villages — Monolithos, Apolakkia, genuine rural Rhodes
- Best budget option: Rhodes Town — widest price range, from €40 hostels to luxury boutiques
Find hotels in Rhodes on Booking.com
How Rhodes Is Laid Out
Rhodes runs north–south, narrowing toward the southern tip. Rhodes Town sits at the northern point — the capital, main port, and transport hub. The east coast faces the Mediterranean, with calmer, warmer water, better beaches, and most of the tourist development: Faliraki, Afantou, Kolymbia, Stegna, and Lindos. The west coast faces the Aegean and Turkey, catching more wind — this side has fewer beaches but dramatic landscapes, and it's where the windsurfers go.
The interior is mountainous, forested with pine and cypress, and dotted with villages that feel untouched by the coast's tourism. Mount Attavyros, the highest point at 1,215 meters, anchors the center of the island. The mountain villages — Embonas (wine country), Siana (honey village), Apollona — are worth a full day's exploration.
The south coast narrows to Prasonisi, a peninsula connected to Rhodes by a sandbar that creates two beaches with different wind conditions — a legendary windsurfing spot. Between Lindos and Prasonisi, the coast is quieter and less developed, with small villages and hidden coves accessible by car.
Buses run from Rhodes Town to all major east-coast destinations. The west coast and south are less well-served by public transport. A rental car is strongly recommended for anything beyond the Rhodes Town–Faliraki–Lindos corridor.
Rhodes Town: Where Medieval Meets Mediterranean
Rhodes Town is two towns in one, and understanding this duality is the key to choosing where to stay.
The Old Town — inside the massive medieval walls — is one of the most extraordinary urban environments in the Mediterranean. The Street of the Knights, a perfectly preserved medieval avenue lined with the inns of the Crusader orders, leads to the Palace of the Grand Master, a massive fortress that looks like it was designed for a film set (it partly was — Mussolini had it rebuilt as a holiday residence). Around this formal spine, the old town spirals into a maze of narrow lanes, tiny squares, Ottoman fountains, Byzantine churches, synagogues, and hidden courtyards. Every turn reveals something unexpected.
The restaurants within the walls have improved dramatically. Marco Polo Mansion serves creative Mediterranean food in a garden courtyard that belongs in a magazine. Mama Sofia, on a tiny square with just a few outdoor tables, serves traditional Rhodian cooking — the kind of food that makes you eat slowly because you don't want it to end. Tamam, in a restored Ottoman building, does excellent mezze.
The New Town — outside the walls — is where modern Rhodes operates: the commercial center, the Mandraki harbor (where the Colossus supposedly stood), the casino, and the nightlife district concentrated around Orfanidou Street. The New Town's architecture is an interesting mix of Italian Rationalist buildings from the 1920s–30s (Rhodes was Italian from 1912 to 1947) and Greek modern construction. The beaches on the northern tip — Elli Beach on the east, Elli on the west — are decent city beaches with clear water and easy access.
The trade-off: Rhodes Town doesn't have the kind of beaches you'd choose a Greek island for. The town beaches are functional, but the real beach experience starts at Faliraki and south. Rhodes Town is for history, food, and atmosphere — the beach days happen elsewhere.
Best for: First-time visitors, history lovers, foodies, nightlife seekers, couples wanting a cultured base
Where to Stay in Rhodes Old Town
Kokkini Porta Rossa — A restored Ottoman mansion in the heart of the Old Town, converted into one of the most atmospheric boutique hotels on any Greek island. Six individually designed rooms arranged around a courtyard garden where breakfast is served under bougainvillea. The building dates from the sixteenth century — stone walls, arched doorways, wooden ceilings — but the renovations have added modern comfort without stripping the soul. The owners are genuinely passionate about the Old Town's history and will share stories that no guidebook includes.
Price range: €130–280/night
Good to know: Only six rooms — book well ahead for summer. No elevator, and the medieval staircase is narrow. The location, deep inside the Old Town walls, means you'll carry luggage from the nearest gate — the hotel can arrange assistance.
Check prices for Kokkini Porta Rossa on Booking.com
Spirit of the Knights — Another medieval mansion restoration, this one leaning more toward contemporary luxury within the old-stone framework. Suites are spacious with modern bathrooms, quality linens, and a design sensibility that respects the building's age without being trapped by it. A small plunge pool in the courtyard provides welcome relief from summer heat. Walking distance to the Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of the Knights, and the best restaurants.
Price range: €160–350/night
Good to know: One of the highest-rated hotels in all of Rhodes. The suites with courtyard access are the best rooms. Air conditioning is effective — essential when medieval stone walls trap August heat.
Check prices for Spirit of the Knights on Booking.com
Spot Hotel — If you want to be inside the Old Town without paying boutique-hotel prices, Spot delivers. A cheerful, well-run hotel with clean rooms, friendly staff, and a location that's central without being on the noisiest lanes. Rooms are compact but cleverly designed, and the communal areas are welcoming. Breakfast is solid. It's the kind of practical, honest hotel that makes budget travel feel smart rather than sacrificed.
Price range: €60–140/night
Good to know: Rooms are small — standard for converted old-town buildings. The rooftop terrace has views over the Old Town rooftops. One of the best value options inside the walls.
Check prices for Spot Hotel on Booking.com
Where to Stay in Rhodes New Town
Rodos Park Suites & Spa — A five-star hotel at the edge of the Old Town walls, where the medieval city meets the New Town and the park. The position is ideal — one foot in history, one in modernity. Suites are elegant and well-appointed, the spa is one of the best on the island, and the rooftop restaurant has views over the Old Town walls and across to Turkey. The pool area, set in the hotel's gardens, offers a calm retreat from the summer bustle.
Price range: €180–400/night
Good to know: The location means you can walk into the Old Town in two minutes and to the New Town beaches in ten. Best of both worlds. Some street-facing rooms catch traffic noise — ask for a garden or park view.
Check prices for Rodos Park on Booking.com
Lindos: The Postcard Village
Lindos is the most photographed village on Rhodes, and for good reason. A cascade of whitewashed cube houses spills down a hillside toward a scalloped bay of turquoise water, crowned by a Doric acropolis that has watched over the coast since the fourth century BC. The sight of the acropolis lit up at night, glowing above the village against the dark sea, is one of those moments that makes you understand why people keep coming back to Greece.
The village itself is a car-free labyrinth of narrow lanes, traditional captains' houses with elaborate pebble-mosaic courtyards (called hohlakia), rooftop restaurants with sea views, and a creative energy fed by the artists and artisans who've settled here over the decades. Lindos Beach, the main bay below the village, has turquoise water that rivals anything in the Cyclades. St. Paul's Bay, on the other side of the acropolis headland, is a tiny enclosed cove where, according to legend, the apostle Paul landed during a storm — the water is postcard-perfect.
The catch: Lindos is small, steep, and crowded. Day-trippers arrive by the busload from mid-morning, and the lanes become a slow shuffle until late afternoon. The donkey rides to the acropolis, while picturesque, are an animal-welfare concern. The accommodation is limited and books early. And everything — food, drinks, souvenirs — costs more than in Rhodes Town.
The secret to Lindos is timing. Stay overnight, and you get the village in the early morning and late evening — when the day-trippers are gone, the lanes are quiet, the light is golden, and the restaurants feel intimate rather than overwhelmed. That's when Lindos earns its reputation.
Best for: Couples, honeymooners, photographers, architecture lovers, anyone willing to trade convenience for beauty
Where to Stay in Lindos
Melenos Lindos — The most celebrated hotel in Lindos and one of the finest boutique properties on any Greek island. Twelve individually designed suites built into the hillside beneath the acropolis, each decorated with Ottoman-inspired interiors — hand-painted tiles, antique furniture, carved wooden ceilings — and terraces overlooking St. Paul's Bay. The rooftop restaurant is extraordinary: Rhodian-Mediterranean food served with a view that makes conversation unnecessary. This is a hotel with a soul, created by an owner whose obsession with Lindos's history and craftsmanship shows in every detail.
Price range: €350–800/night
Good to know: Only twelve suites, and they book months ahead. The hillside location means steps — lots of them. Not suitable for anyone with mobility issues. The reward for those steps is a view that will redefine your expectations. Dinner at the rooftop is a non-negotiable, guest or not.
Check prices for Melenos Lindos on Booking.com
Lindos Blu — A luxury adults-only hotel above Vlicha Bay, about a kilometer north of Lindos village. The design is contemporary and sleek — white architecture, infinity pools, clean lines — with rooms and suites that all face the sea. The pool terraces step down to a private beach area. The restaurant and bar are excellent. If Melenos is Lindos's romantic past, Lindos Blu is its polished present.
Price range: €250–600/night
Good to know: Adults only — no children. The location is above the bay, not in Lindos village itself — a short drive or a 15-minute walk. The views and the design compensate handsomely.
Check prices for Lindos Blu on Booking.com
Lindos View Hotel — A family-run hotel on the edge of Lindos village with clean, simple rooms, some with terraces facing the acropolis or the sea. The pool area is small but pleasant, the location is within walking distance of the village center and the beach, and the price is honest. The family who runs it offers the kind of warm, personal hospitality that makes you feel like a guest rather than a room number.
Price range: €80–180/night
Good to know: Book acropolis-view rooms specifically — the difference is significant. The walk from the hotel into the village center is short but steep in places. Breakfast is basic but adequate.
Check prices for Lindos View Hotel on Booking.com
Faliraki: The Family-Friendly Beach
Let's address the reputation first. Faliraki in the early 2000s was a byword for cheap package-holiday excess — the kind of place that made British tabloid headlines for all the wrong reasons. That era is over. Modern Faliraki has reinvented itself as a family-friendly resort area anchored by one of the best sandy beaches on Rhodes: a long, wide crescent of golden sand with shallow, warm water, organized sunbeds, and the kind of gentle slope into the sea that lets parents relax while children play in the shallows.
The beach is genuinely excellent — arguably the best on the island for swimming and sunbathing. The tourist infrastructure is well-developed: supermarkets, pharmacies, car-rental agencies, water sports operators, and the Faliraki Water Park (one of the best in Europe). Restaurants range from tourist-standard souvlaki joints to some surprisingly good tavernas if you look beyond the main strip.
South of the main Faliraki beach, Anthony Quinn Bay is a small, rocky cove with crystal-clear turquoise water — named after the actor who filmed scenes from The Guns of Navarone on Rhodes and fell in love with the island. It's beautiful, popular, and worth the short drive or walk.
Best for: Families with children, beach lovers, travelers wanting resort convenience, all-inclusive holidaymakers
Where to Stay in Faliraki
Esperides Beach Family Resort — A well-run four-star resort directly on Faliraki's main beach, with family rooms, kids' clubs, multiple pools (including kids' pools and slides), and the kind of all-inclusive program that makes family holidays genuinely relaxing. The rooms are modern and clean, the beach access is immediate, and the staff are experienced with families. It's not glamorous, but it works — and for families, "it works" is what matters.
Price range: €120–300/night (half-board or all-inclusive options)
Good to know: The beachfront location is the main selling point. All-inclusive packages represent good value for families. Book sea-view rooms for the best experience. See our best Greek islands for families for more options.
Check prices for Esperides Beach on Booking.com
Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa — A five-star all-inclusive resort at the southern end of Faliraki, with a more upscale design sensibility than most of the area's hotels. The grounds are manicured, the pools are extensive, the spa is well-equipped, and the dining options — multiple restaurants with themed menus — are several cuts above standard all-inclusive. For travelers who want all-inclusive convenience at a genuine five-star level, Alila delivers.
Price range: €200–500/night (all-inclusive)
Good to know: Large resort — it can feel impersonal during peak occupancy. The private beach area is well-maintained. A good option for couples or families wanting luxury without the boutique-hotel price tag. See our all-inclusive Greece guide.
Check prices for Mitsis Alila on Booking.com
Ixia & Ialyssos: The Wind Coast
The west coast immediately south of Rhodes Town — Ixia and its extension Ialyssos — catches the Aegean wind that pours through the strait between Rhodes and Turkey. This makes the area average for sunbathing (it can feel breezy on the pebble beaches) but exceptional for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The conditions are consistent from June through September, and the area has developed a strong water-sports infrastructure with rental shops, schools, and the kind of laid-back, athletic community that gathers wherever the wind blows reliably.
Ixia is also where several of Rhodes's largest luxury resorts have positioned themselves — taking advantage of the west-coast sunset views and the proximity to Rhodes Town (about a ten-minute drive). The beach here is pebbly rather than sandy, and the wave action is choppier than the east coast — factors to consider for families with young swimmers.
Best for: Windsurfers and kitesurfers, luxury resort seekers, travelers wanting proximity to Rhodes Town with a beach setting
Where to Stay in Ixia
Sheraton Rhodes Resort — A large five-star on Ixia beach with extensive grounds, a spa, multiple pools and dining options, and the kind of professional, polished resort experience that the Sheraton brand delivers consistently. The rooms are well-appointed, the beach area is organized, and the sunset views across to Turkey are spectacular. A solid choice for travelers who want luxury-resort convenience close to Rhodes Town.
Price range: €180–450/night
Good to know: The pebbly beach is less ideal for families wanting sand — consider Faliraki for that. The proximity to Rhodes Town (ten minutes by car or bus) means you can combine resort days with old-town evenings easily.
Check prices for Sheraton Rhodes on Booking.com
Kolymbia, Stegna & Tsambika: The Quiet East Coast
Between Faliraki and Lindos, the east coast unfolds in a series of smaller bays and villages that offer a quieter, more authentic alternative to the main resort areas. Kolymbia is a planned resort village with a eucalyptus-lined avenue leading to a decent beach, several mid-range hotels, and a handful of good restaurants. Stegna is a tiny fishing village with a pebble beach and tavernas that serve the morning catch. Tsambika Beach — the standout of this stretch — is a long, wide crescent of golden sand reached by a steep road down from the main highway, consistently rated as one of the best beaches on Rhodes.
These areas work well for travelers who want a beach holiday with a bit of character, access to Lindos and Rhodes Town by car, and prices that are lower than either. The infrastructure is thinner than Faliraki — fewer shops, fewer restaurants — which is part of the appeal.
Best for: Independent travelers with a car, couples wanting quiet beaches, families who prefer a village atmosphere to a resort
Where to Stay in Kolymbia
Kolymbia Bay Art Hotel — A stylish boutique hotel in Kolymbia that manages to be both design-conscious and welcoming. Rooms are modern, the pool area is beautiful, and the property has an art-gallery sensibility that sets it apart from the area's standard package hotels. The beach is a short walk. Breakfast is excellent. For travelers who want a design hotel at non-Lindos prices, this is a strong find.
Price range: €100–240/night
Good to know: The location between Faliraki and Lindos makes it a good base for exploring both directions. A car is useful but not essential — the hotel can arrange transfers.
Check prices for Kolymbia Bay Art Hotel on Booking.com
Pefkos: Lindos Without the Crowds
Pefkos (sometimes spelled Pefki) sits just south of Lindos and offers something increasingly rare: a genuine small-resort village with good sandy beaches, friendly tavernas, and a relaxed atmosphere that hasn't been overwhelmed by development. The beaches here — several small sandy coves separated by rocky headlands — have shallow, clear water that's ideal for families. The village has enough restaurants, minimarkets, and bars to be self-sufficient without feeling commercialized.
The proximity to Lindos is the strategic advantage. You're a five-minute drive or a twenty-minute walk from the acropolis and the village, but you're paying Pefkos prices rather than Lindos prices, and you have proper sandy beaches right at your doorstep (Lindos Beach gets very crowded). Many repeat visitors to Rhodes base in Pefkos and visit Lindos for dinner or the acropolis.
Best for: Families, budget-conscious couples, anyone wanting Lindos proximity without Lindos prices or crowds
Practical Tips for Rhodes
Getting there. Rhodes has a well-connected international airport with direct seasonal flights from across Europe and year-round flights from Athens (about 55 minutes). The airport is 14 km from Rhodes Town. Ferries from Athens's Piraeus port take about 13–15 hours (overnight, comfortable cabins available) or there are connections via the Cyclades. Direct ferries also connect Rhodes to Kos, Symi, and other Dodecanese islands.
Renting a car. Recommended. Rhodes is large enough that a car transforms the experience — giving you access to Tsambika Beach, the mountain villages, the west coast, and the south coast. East-coast driving is straightforward on well-maintained roads. West and interior roads are narrower and more winding. Parking in Rhodes Old Town is impossible inside the walls; use the lots outside the gates.
When to visit. Rhodes is one of the sunniest places in Europe — over 300 days of sunshine per year. June and September are ideal: hot, sunny, and less crowded than peak. July and August are very hot (35–40°C) and windy (the meltemi). May and October are warm, uncrowded, and excellent for sightseeing. Rhodes has a longer season than most Greek islands — some hotels and restaurants operate into November. Check our Greece weather guide for monthly detail.
Day trips. The island of Symi — one of the most colorful and photogenic harbors in all of Greece — is an essential day trip from Rhodes. Fast boats take about an hour. The harbor town, with its neoclassical mansions in pastel pinks, yellows, and blues rising up the hillside, is extraordinary. Panormitis Monastery on the south of Symi is also worth visiting. Book a Symi day trip on GetYourGuide.
How many days. Four to five days is ideal. One to two days for Rhodes Town (Old Town, New Town, museums), one day for Lindos and the east coast beaches, one day for a Symi day trip, and one day for the interior mountains or the south coast. Three days works if focused. A week allows you to properly slow down.
Budget reality. Rhodes is excellent value. A good hotel in Rhodes Old Town costs €80–180 (compared to €200–400 for equivalent quality in Santorini). A taverna dinner for two runs €30–50. The all-inclusive resorts in Faliraki and Ixia offer strong family value. See our cost guide.
Combining with other islands. Rhodes pairs naturally with the Dodecanese: Kos (ferry or short flight), Symi (day trip), Patmos (for history and spirituality), and Karpathos (for wild beaches). A Dodecanese island-hopping route is an excellent alternative to the Cyclades — less crowded, more varied, and significantly cheaper. Let our AI trip planner build a custom route, or see our 7-day and 10-day itineraries for starting points.
Deciding between islands? Read our guides to the [best Greek islands to visit](https://greektriplanner.me/blog/best-greek-islands-to-visit), the [best islands for first-time visitors](https://greektriplanner.me/blog/best-greek-islands-to-visit-for-the-first-time), or explore nearby [Kos](https://greektriplanner.me/blog/kos-travel-guide) and [Symi](https://greektriplanner.me/blog/symi-travel-guide). For a broader trip, see our [Italy and Greece trip guide](https://greektriplanner.me/blog/italy-and-greece-trip).