Is Rhodes Old Town a good base?

Yes, for most visitors it is the best base. The UNESCO-listed medieval city puts you within walking distance of the Palace of the Grand Master, restaurants, and the town beach. The main trade-off is that it can be noisy until late at night in summer, and street parking is impossible — plan to leave bags at your hotel and explore on foot.

Is Lindos worth staying in?

Lindos is best for visitors who specifically want the village atmosphere and direct access to the acropolis and St Paul's Bay. It is more expensive than Rhodes Town and less convenient for island-wide exploration. Traffic is banned in the village centre, which means porters and donkeys for luggage. For a night or two as part of a longer island stay, it is special. As a base for a week, it can feel limiting.

What is the best area in Rhodes for families?

Faliraki and Ixia are both popular family choices. Faliraki has a wide sandy beach, shallow water at the south end, and a water park. Ixia is quieter with a long pebbly beach and excellent wind conditions — better if you have teenagers who windsurf. Both have regular bus connections to Rhodes Town.

When is the best time to visit Rhodes?

May, June, and September offer the best combination of warm weather (25–30°C), manageable crowds, and reasonable hotel prices. July and August are the hottest and most crowded; Old Town accommodation fills quickly and prices peak. April and October are pleasant for sightseeing but some beach-focused businesses close.

How far is Lindos from Rhodes Town?

Lindos is approximately 55km south of Rhodes Town, around 50–60 minutes by car. KTEL buses run from the Rimini Square bus stop in Rhodes Town to Lindos several times daily — journey time approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, fare approximately €6 as of 2026. Taxis cost approximately €50–65 one way.

Where to Stay in Rhodes | The Greece Guides

Rhodes divides its accommodation into two distinct experiences: the medieval city and the beach. The island’s capital — one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe — suits visitors who want history, restaurants, and evening culture. The coastal resorts, particularly Faliraki and Ixia, suit beach-focused travellers willing to trade character for sand and facilities.

Prices listed are approximate as of 2026 and vary significantly by season and room type.

Rhodes Old Town

The walled medieval city is the most compelling place to stay on the island. Built by the Knights of St John in the 14th century, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cobblestone streets, Ottoman mosques, Byzantine churches, and Venetian-era inns packed into roughly 1.4 square kilometres. Most hotels are converted historic buildings — thick stone walls, arched ceilings, and rooftop terraces are common.

The practical reality: Old Town is busy in summer. The main thoroughfares (Sokratous Street, Ippotou Street — the Street of the Knights) are tourist-facing and can feel crowded from 10am to midnight in July and August. The quieter neighbourhoods toward the Jewish Quarter and the inner walls are more residential and calmer.

Budget (€50–100/night): A handful of guesthouses occupy converted historic buildings near the inner squares. Andreas Hotel (Omirou 28d) is a well-reviewed small guesthouse with rooftop terrace, from approximately €65/night in shoulder season. Spot Hotel (near Plateia Arionos) offers basic rooms in a historic building from approximately €55/night in May.

Mid-range (€100–200/night): Many of the best mid-range options are in the Jewish Quarter, away from the main tourist drag. Nikos Hotel (Sokrates area) has renovated rooms in a medieval building from approximately €110/night in June. Marco Polo Mansion, a restored Ottoman-era house near the Süleymaniye Mosque, has individually decorated rooms from approximately €130/night in shoulder season. Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel has elegant rooms and a private courtyard from approximately €150/night.

Luxury (€200–450+/night): Kokkini Porta Rossa occupies a 16th-century building near the Red Gate — rooms have original stonework and vaulted ceilings, from approximately €220/night in peak season. Avalon Boutique Hotel offers suites around an Ottoman garden from approximately €280/night in August.

Best for: First-time visitors, history enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to be in the thick of the action. The Old Town’s compactness means everything — restaurants, markets, bars, and sights — is walkable.

Note: No vehicles permitted in the heart of the Old Town. Hotels will arrange luggage transport from the gate. Air conditioning is standard in most mid-range properties, but some budget guesthouses in converted historic buildings can be warm.

New Town and Mandraki Harbour

The New Town (Neochori) immediately outside the Old Town walls is more modern and significantly cheaper. Mandraki harbour — where legend places the Colossus of Rhodes — has good access to restaurants, the National Theatre, and water taxis to the Old Town beach.

Budget (€40–80/night): Several family-run hotels and small pensions in the blocks behind Mandraki. Hotel Anastasia (28 Oktovriou Street) is a long-standing mid-budget option from approximately €50/night. Spot Hotel New Town has clean rooms from approximately €55/night in June.

Mid-range (€90–180/night): Best Western Plus Dionysos is well-positioned near the beach and ferry port, from approximately €120/night. Rhodes Palladium Leisure & Wellness is a spa hotel with pool from approximately €150/night in July.

Best for: Visitors on a tighter budget who want a base near the Old Town without staying inside it, or those arriving/departing by ferry who want convenience.

Lindos

Lindos sits on the east coast of the island, 55km south of Rhodes Town. The village is built on and around a rocky promontory topped by one of Greece’s most spectacular ancient acropolises — a fortified hill with Doric columns above sheer white walls above a turquoise bay. The village centre is car-free: whitewashed cubic houses, bougainvillea, and paved donkey tracks.

Accommodation in Lindos is in the top quarter of Rhodes prices. Most properties are boutique guesthouses in traditional Lindian captain’s houses — courtyard, pebbled floors, and thick walls are standard.

Mid-range (€120–220/night): Lindos Harmony (near St Paul’s Bay) has rooms from approximately €140/night in June with sea views. Melenos Lindos Boutique Hotel occupies a restored captain’s house with an exceptional terrace restaurant, from approximately €200/night in shoulder season.

Luxury (€250–500+/night): Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites, on the hillside above St Paul’s Bay, has 70 suites with private pools and direct sea views from approximately €300/night in August. Atrium Platinum Luxury Resort, a larger property above the bay, starts from approximately €280/night in peak season.

Best for: Romantic breaks, honeymooners, and visitors who specifically came to Lindos. Not ideal for island-wide exploration — it’s at the far south of the island’s east coast, adding significant driving time to other destinations.

Faliraki

The largest beach resort on Rhodes, 14km south of Rhodes Town on the east coast. Faliraki has a long sandy beach, calm shallow water at the southern end, and a busy resort strip with bars, restaurants, and accommodation. It has the island’s most family-focused infrastructure — the Faliraki Water Park sits at the village edge.

Budget (€40–75/night): Numerous small hotels and apartment studios behind the main strip. Faliraki Beach Hotel has basic rooms from approximately €45/night in May. Horizon Studios offers self-catering apartments from approximately €55/night for couples.

Mid-range (€80–160/night): Several larger 3–4 star hotels with pools along the beach road. Paradise Hotel Faliraki (beachfront, family-friendly) from approximately €100/night in June. Blue Horizon Hotel (pool, restaurant) from approximately €120/night in July.

Luxury (€200–350/night): Esperos Palace Hotel & Spa, a larger beach resort with multiple pools and spa, from approximately €220/night in August. Eden Roc Resort is the most polished large-scale property in Faliraki, from approximately €280/night in peak season.

Best for: Families with young children, beach-focused visitors, and groups who want a lively resort atmosphere. Less suited to visitors prioritising cultural exploration — Rhodes Town is 20 minutes by bus but the resort dynamic is distinct.

Ixia

A quieter resort 5km west of Rhodes Town, immediately south of the airport. Ixia has a long pebble-and-sand beach exposed to reliable northerly winds (the Meltemi), which makes it one of Greece’s best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots. The beach is less crowded than Faliraki and the atmosphere is notably calmer.

Budget (€50–90/night): Several guesthouses and smaller hotels set back from the main road. Elafos & Elafina Hotel has basic rooms from approximately €55/night. Parthenon Hotel has clean, modest accommodation from approximately €65/night in June.

Mid-range (€100–200/night): Dionysos Hotel (beachfront) from approximately €120/night in July. Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa, positioned above the beach on a hill with sea views, from approximately €170/night in June.

Luxury (€220–450/night): Mitsis Alila Exclusive Resort is one of the top addresses on the island’s west coast — clifftop position, infinity pools, full spa, from approximately €280/night in August. Elysium Resort & Spa (adults-only) starts from approximately €250/night.

Best for: Windsurfers and kitesurfers, couples looking for a quieter alternative to Faliraki, and visitors who want beach access combined with easy proximity to Rhodes Town.

Getting between areas

The KTEL bus network connects most coastal resorts to Rhodes Town. Buses from Rimini Square (east coast) and Averof Street (west coast) serve Faliraki (€2.50, 30 min), Lindos (€6, 75 min), and Ixia (€2, 15 min) regularly throughout the day as of 2026. Frequency drops off after 21:00. Taxis are metered; most central Rhodes to resort journeys cost €15–35.

Renting a car is the most practical option for exploring the full island. Hire from approximately €30–50/day in shoulder season from agencies on the main road opposite the Old Town or at the airport.

Where to eat near your accommodation

In Rhodes Old Town: Kerasma by Manos Daskalakis (near Plateia Arionos) is one of the island’s best modern Greek restaurants — approximately €40–55 per person. Mama Sofia is a longstanding taverna in the Old Town with traditional dishes at €20–30 per person. For breakfast, To Steki tou Tsima near the Jewish Quarter is a good café-bakery.

In Lindos: Mavrikos restaurant (founded 1933, family-run since) is the most famous table in Lindos — traditional Greek dishes with excellent local wine, approximately €35–50 per person. Melenos Hotel restaurant serves sunset-view dinners from approximately €45–60 per person.

In Faliraki and Ixia: Both have the full range of beach resort dining. Kostas Fish Taverna in nearby Ladiko Bay is worth the short drive for fresh grilled fish at approximately €15–25 per main.

Where to Stay in Rhodes: Best Areas and Hotels