Rhodes · Dodecanese
Rhodes
Medieval old town, stunning beaches and 300 days of sunshine per year.
Great Value
Rhodes - sun, history and great value villas
Rhodes offers premium villa experiences at better value than Mykonos or Santorini. Book now.
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands, in the south-east of the Aegean, close to the coast of Turkey. Rhodes town, at the northern tip, has the largest medieval old town in Greece, and the island's two coasts are very different: the east is sheltered, with long sandy beaches and calm bays, while the west faces the summer wind and is popular with windsurfers.
We list villas and hotels in Rhodes town, on the west coast at Ialisos and on the east coast at Faliraki and Lardos. Below: what each area is like, who it suits, the best beaches, how to get here and when to come.
Town, east coast or west coast: where to stay
Rhodes town is two towns in one. The medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, was built by the Knights of St John, who held the island from 1309 to 1523. Inside its walls are the Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of the Knights and a maze of lanes full of restaurants and small hotels. Around it is the modern town, with Mandraki harbour, where the boats leave for the island of Symi. It suits short stays, history and travellers without a car.
The east coast has the island's best-known beaches and the calmest water. Faliraki, south of the town, is a resort with a long sandy beach, hotels and nightlife. About 47 km from the town, Lindos is a white village below an ancient acropolis, and Lardos, just south of it, is quieter, with beaches nearby. It suits families and beach holidays.
The west coast, around Ialisos and Ixia, is close to the town and the airport. The summer wind makes the sea livelier here, and Ixia is one of the main windsurfing spots on the island. It suits active holidays and anyone who wants to be near the town.
The south is the quietest part of the island, with small villages and long empty beaches. At the southern tip, Prasonisi is joined to Rhodes by a sandbar between two seas.
The best beaches on Rhodes
For calm water, choose the east coast. The west coast is windier, especially in July and August.
East coast
- Anthony Quinn Bay: a small cove of very clear water between big rocks, good for snorkelling.
- Tsambika: a long sandy beach below a hill with a white chapel on top, and the Tsambika monastery inland.
- St Paul's Bay: below the acropolis of Lindos, a lagoon almost closed by rocks, so the water stays calm when the rest of the coast is choppy.
- Faliraki: a long sandy beach with sunbeds, water sports and plenty of places to eat.
West coast and south
- Ixia: a long beach close to the town, with calm mornings and windy afternoons, popular for windsurfing.
- Prasonisi: at the southern tip, a sandbar with flat water on one side and waves on the other, one of the best places in Greece for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
What to see
Besides the old town and Lindos, the Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes) is a shaded, wooded valley inland, best visited between June and September, when thousands of butterflies gather there. Symi, a small island with a harbour of painted houses, is a popular day trip: the boats from Rhodes town take from about 50 minutes to 1 hour 15.
When to go
The sea temperatures below are monthly averages for Rhodes.
May: the sea is about 20°C and the island is green and quiet. June: about 23°C. July and August: the warmest sea, about 26 to 27°C, the strongest wind on the west coast, and the busiest weeks, especially around 15 August, so book early. September: the sea is still about 26°C, with fewer people. October: about 24°C, and still good for swimming. November: about 22°C, and Rhodes has one of the longest swimming seasons in Greece.
Getting here
Rhodes airport (RHO) is on the west coast, about 14 km from Rhodes town, with flights from Athens all year and, in summer, direct flights from many European cities. Ferries from Piraeus take about 15 to 18 hours, and arrive in Rhodes town.
How we choose where you stay
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Browse villas and hotels in Rhodes, or ask for a shortlist.
From Rhodes to the villas
Rhodes has its own international airport and a main port in Rhodes town. The island is far from Athens, so most visitors fly.
By air
Rhodes airport (RHO) is on the west coast, about 14 km from Rhodes town. There are flights from Athens all year and, in summer, direct flights from many European cities. The airport is close to the west coast resorts such as Ialisos, while the east coast and Lindos are further south.
By ferry
Ferries from Piraeus take about 15 to 18 hours and arrive in Rhodes town. Rhodes is also the hub for the other Dodecanese islands: boats to Symi take from about 50 minutes to 1 hour 15, and there are connections to islands such as Kos.
Getting around the island
Buses run from Rhodes town along both coasts, including to Lindos. Taxis are available at the airport and in the town. A car is the easiest way to reach Lindos, about 47 km from the town, and the quieter south, including Prasonisi.
Choose your villa or hotel in Rhodes
Villas near Rhodes
More stays a short drive away, across South Aegean.
Around Rhodes
Part of South Aegean.
Rhodes: questions guests ask
Five days suits most first visits. That gives you time for the old town of Rhodes, a day in Lindos, a day trip to Symi and a few beach days. With three days you can still see the old town and Lindos and have one day on the beach.
Rhodes is one of the largest Greek islands, so a week or more lets you see the quieter south and the west coast as well.
Where is Rhodes
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