Do you want to step outside your hotel into medieval streets in Rhodes Old Town or wake up next to one of Rhodes’ best beaches? As you know choosing the right area can make or break your trip and budget.
Before visiting Rhodes I spent more time than I care to admit trying to work out where to actually stay.
Should I base myself inside the Old Town? Down in Lindos? Somewhere on the east coast beaches? On the resort strip everyone seems to book by default?
Four days on the island with my best friend, who was born and raised in Rhodes and drove me everywhere in our rental car, sorted it out fast.
The answer depends entirely on what kind of trip you are planning. So instead of listing hotels and hoping for the best, here is where I would book depending on your travel style and potentially your budget.
My top hotel picks in Rhodes
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lindos Grand Resort and Spa, Best luxury resort, beach front location, adults-only, near Lindos ⭐⭐⭐⭐Melenos Art Boutique Hotel, Best boutique hotel in Lindos village, styled with local architecture and character, plus sea views
⭐⭐⭐ Athena Hotel Located in Rhodes City, close to attractions with an indoor pool and family friendly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Elysium Resort & Spa, beachfront location in Kallithea, an amazing resort, my friends mother in law got married here and it was stunning including the ammenities. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mitsis Selection Alila is best for couples or friends or solo travellers who want a polished, all-inclusive base where everything is already handled, food, drinks, beach access and pool access. There’s a public bus to Rhodes old town or a walk if you want to. Check for your availability at Mitsis Selection Alila⭐⭐⭐ Cava d’Oro, Located within Rhodes Old town, its so aethetic inside, Elli Beach a 19-minute walk away and The Street of Knights less than 1 km nearby.
The Biggest Mistake People Make When Booking Rhodes
Most visitors book the west coast because it looks cheaper and closer to the airport.
The best beaches, the most scenic bays, and Lindos are all on the east coast.
Unless you’re specifically booking an all-inclusive package holiday, I’d choose Rhodes Town, Lindos or Kolymbia first.
Rhodes Town: Best for First-Time Visitors
As a first time visitor and looking where to stay in Rhodes, I would suggest Rhodes Town. It is the most complete base on Rhodes and the one that gives you the most without needing to plan around it.
But it helps to understand what Rhodes Town actually means before you book, because it covers two very different areas that suit very different kinds of trips.
The New Rhodes Town has the main beaches, the Mandraki Harbour, the Italian-era promenade buildings, and most of the restaurants and nightlife.
and we have Rhodes Old Town which is the medieval walled city. There no cars inside the walls, cobbled streets everywhere, boutique hotels in restored medieval buildings.
The Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights, the Jewish Quarter, and dozens of hidden tavernas and courtyards are all right outside your door.
For a trip without a car, Rhodes New Town is the only sensible base. Buses run to Lindos from here, ferries to Symi leave from Mandraki Harbour, and the Old Town is nearby.
Rhodes Old Town: Best for Couples, Solo Travellers, and Anyone Who Wants to Be Inside the History
If you want to feel like you are living inside a medieval city rather than visiting one, this is where you stay.
The caveats though is the accomodations don’t have pools anywhere inside the walls, and taxis cannot drop you at your hotel door (they leave you at the nearest gate and you walk the rest), and some of the streets near the bars can be lively late on Friday and Saturday nights. If none of those bother you, staying inside Old Town is an easy choice.
We did stay inside the walls, and yes we walked through the cobbled streets at night, and it was fine and safe, and it was quiet.
There’s a local bakery nearby Old Town Corner Bakery called Old Town Corner Bakery is on Omirou Street and it bakes on site and we parked our rental car on the outside of the nearest gate. Plus all the attractions we wanted to see are so close by, and so vibrant once the day gets going.
From around €150 per night | Medieval Old Town, quiet side street off Sokratous | Best for families, small groups, anyone who wants more space inside the walls
A restored medieval building just off the main street, with suites rather than standard rooms, which gives families and small groups the space that most Old Town boutique hotels don’t have.
Stone walls, wooden beams, and a courtyard that feels genuinely historic. The location is central but on a quieter street, so you get the atmosphere without the late-night bar noise.
From around €80 per night | Medieval Old Town | Best for budget travellers, solo visitors, anyone prioritising location over facilities
Cava d’Oro is the one to know if budget is the deciding factor but you still want to be inside the walls.
The rooms are simple but the aesthetic is so charming inside and full of character. Plus Elli Beach is a nineteen-minute walk away for when you want the sea and beach. The Street of the Knights is less than a kilometre from the front door. For the price and the location combined, it is very hard to argue with.
If you are planning on staying few days, here are the best things to do in Rhodes and what you must do and what you can skip as well.
Rhodes New Town: Best for Families, Beach Lovers, and Anyone Who Wants a Pool
If you want the Old Town within walking distance but also need a pool, a beach nearby, or hotel facilities that the medieval city simply cannot offer, I can recommend you stay at Rhodes City.
You will still be in the heart of Rhodes Town, Mandraki Harbour is nearby, the Old Town is a ten to fifteen minute walk, and you can take the ferries to Symi.
This is also the section I would point families toward first. Elli Beach is one of the calmest, most accessible beaches on the island, the streets here are flat and easy with pushchairs or young kids in tow, and having a hotel pool as a backup option when everyone needs a rest could make a real difference on a longer trip.
From around €200 per night | New Town, five minutes from the Old Town walls | Best for couples wanting a pool, anyone who wants full facilities without going full resort
Rodos Park is the answer for anyone who wants Rhodes Town as their base but needs a pool. A rooftop pool with views, a full spa, and proper full-service facilities, with the medieval walls a five-minute walk away. It is the most sensible hotel for anyone who wants to be genuinely central with the option to not leave the property on a slower day.
From around €120 per night | New Town, two minutes from Elli Beach | Best for couples, solo travellers, anyone who wants beach access without leaving the city
The Island Boutique Hotel is two minutes from Elli Beach and about seventeen minutes’ walk from the Old Town walls, which makes it one of the best placed properties in the New Town for getting the combination of beach and history in one base. Good for couples who want the option of a beach day without going anywhere.
3. Ibiscus Hotel: Best Mid-Range Beachfront Option in the New Town
From around €100 per night | New Town, directly opposite Elli Beach | Best for families, couples on a mid-range budget, anyone who wants the beach right outside
Ibiscus is directly across the road from Elli Beach, with 204 rooms, a seasonal outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness centre, and a restaurant. The rooms are clean and well-located rather than particularly stylish, and the pool area is on the smaller side, but with the beach literally across the road.
Old Town is about fifteen minutes on foot. The bus station for day trips to Lindos and the ferry ticket offices for Symi are both nearby, which makes this quite a practical base if you want to use the whole island without renting a car.
4. Athena Hotel: Best Budget Family Option in the New Town
From around €70 per night | Rhodes City, close to main attractions | Best for families, budget travellers, anyone who wants to be central without spending much
The Athena Hotel is the straightforward, reliable budget option in Rhodes City, with an indoor pool that makes it particularly useful for families travelling outside peak season or anyone who wants a pool as a backup when the beach is busy.
It is close to the main attractions and well positioned for getting around the city on foot. Not the most characterful hotel on this list, but for the price and what it offers, it does the job well.
Lindos: Best for Couples and Anyone Who Wants the Most Beautiful Part of Rhodes
Lindos is the other strong base on the island and a completely different experience to Rhodes Town. It is a car-free whitewashed village about 50 minutes south of Rhodes Town, with an ancient acropolis on the hill above it and St Paul’s Bay directly below.
If I came back to Rhodes, I would stay in Lindos for at least a few nights to experience it.
The views from the acropolis over St Paul’s Bay are the most photographed thing on the island.
The trade-off is that Lindos requires a car if you want to explore the rest of the island easily, and the village itself closes up in low season. If you are visiting between November and April, Rhodes Town would be the better base.
Best Hotels in Lindos
Lindos Grand Resort and Spa: Best Luxury Option Near Lindos
From around 400 euros per night | Vlycha Bay, 2km from Lindos village | Adults only | Best for luxury couples, honeymoons, anyone who wants full resort facilities near Lindos
The Lindos Grand is the best full-service luxury resort in the Lindos area and it is adults-only, which makes it the top pick for couples who want the whole thing.
It sits on Vlycha Bay, a quiet sandy bay 2 kilometres from Lindos village with a free shuttle running between the two. Seven restaurants on site.
An infinity pool with sea views. A full spa. Private pool suites. The beach is right there with sun loungers and a beach bar. The staff service level is outstanding, which is the thing that comes up most consistently from anyone who has stayed.
If you want to stay somewhere near Lindos where you could probably not leave the property for two days and be completely happy, I would stay here.
Melenos Art Boutique Hotel: Best Boutique Hotel Inside Lindos Village
From around 270 euros per night | Inside Lindos village, directly below the Acropolis | Best for couples, cultural travellers, anyone who wants to actually be in the village
Melenos is the most atmospheric hotel on the island. It is a 17th-century sea captain’s house directly below the Acropolis, with 12 individually decorated suites that have private terraces looking out over the Aegean.
Every room is different. Handcrafted stone details, pebble mosaics, antique ceramics and textiles collected by the owner from Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. Breakfast is served on a terrace with a direct view of the bay. The hotel has its own restaurant and small spa, and the village is outside the front door.
There is no pool. The Acropolis is a 2-minute walk. St Paul’s Bay is a 5-minute walk. For anyone who wants Lindos in its most complete form, staying inside the village inside a building that has been part of it for 400 years, Melenos is the answer.
Lindos White Hotel and Suites: Best Mid-Range Resort Near Lindos
From around 150 euros per night | Vlycha Bay, same bay as Lindos Grand | Best for couples and solo travellers on a mid-range budget
Same bay as the Lindos Grand, significantly lower price. The Lindos White is a 4-star property right on Vlycha Bay with 99 rooms, two pools, a beach stretch with sun loungers, and a cable car up to the hillside block of rooms if you need it.
It is a reliable, well-located mid-range resort rather than a luxury one. Good for anyone who wants the Lindos area and the beach without the Lindos Grand price. The village is around 15 minutes by taxi.
Kolymbia sits on the east coast about halfway between Rhodes Town and Lindos, and it is the area I would pick for a holiday built primarily around the beach and pool.
It is quieter than Faliraki, less scenic than Lindos, and more relaxed than Rhodes Town. The beach is sandy with calm water. The pine-tree-lined avenue leading down to the sea is one of the more distinctive things about the area. It is well-positioned for day trips in both directions with a car, around 25 kilometres from Rhodes Town and the same from Lindos.
From around 140 euros per night | Kolymbia, 7-minute walk from the beach | Adults only | Best for solo travellers, couples or anyone who wants a cool social atmosphere over a traditional resort feel
Cook’s Club has become one of the most talked-about hotels in Rhodes and the reputation is deserved. It is a five-star adults-only resort with a design-led, social atmosphere, two pools, a poolside DJ in the evenings, three restaurants, and a mountain backdrop behind the pools that makes it look more expensive than it is.
It is absolutely beautiful and so special. I feel like it is particularly good for solo travellers and couples as well because the social spaces are set up for people to actually interact, and the hotel actively markets itself to solo guests with dedicated rates.
The location is relatively remote. Getting to Rhodes Town without a car costs around 22 euros each way by taxi. The hotel has car rental available on site, which is worth doing for at least one day to reach the Old Town and Lindos properly.
Faliraki: Best for Nightlife and Younger Travellers
Faliraki is the party strip of Rhodes. A long sandy beach, a dense concentration of bars and clubs, and a very specific atmosphere that works well for some trips and is completely wrong for others.
If a lively atmosphere is what you are after, the beach is lovely and there is no shortage of things happening in the evenings. But if you are on the fence about it, Kolymbia gives you a similar beach experience with a much more manageable atmosphere.
From around €80 per night | Faliraki Main Square, two minutes from the beach | Best for couples and solo travellers who want a stylish, affordable base right in the heart of Faliraki
Casa Cabana is a small, design-led boutique hotel right in the centre of Faliraki, around a hundred metres from the beach and a few steps from the bus stop for Rhodes Town
Also it’s an inclusive option and it’s so nice as it’s smaller than the bigger resort so it has more personality and nicer touches.
Anthony Quinn Bay is a short bike ride away, and bike rentals are available from the property. If you want to be in the thick of Faliraki without staying somewhere that feels like it, this is the one.
From around €200 per night | Blue Flag beach, Faliraki | Family-friendly with adults-only zones | Best for couples and families who want maximum variety without leaving the resort
I would say Mitsis Selection Alila is best for couples or friends or solo travellers who want a polished, all-inclusive base where everything is already handled, food, drinks, beach access and pool access.
Mitsis is a five-star ultra all-inclusive right on a Blue Flag beach, with eleven restaurants covering everything from Greek to Pan-Asian to Tex-Mex, six bars, a pool with a waterslide, a full spa, and evening entertainment in an amphitheatre.
The kind of place where you do not need to leave the property if you do not want to, but you are also close enough to Faliraki’s beach strip and Anthony Quinn Bay that a half day out is easy when you fancy a change of scene.
They have waiter service at the beach sun beds, with their own private beach which is a pebble beach so bring some flip flops or water shoes.
The west coast resort strip running south from Rhodes Town is where most of the large package holiday hotels sit. It is the most convenient area for anyone arriving into the airport and wanting to be on a beach quickly, and the prices are generally lower than the east coast.
The trade-off is the west coast gets afternoon wind from the Meltemi in summer, which means the sea is choppier and less pleasant for swimming than the east coast. The views are not as scenic as Lindos or the east coast bays. The area has a functional rather than charming feel.
For resort travellers who want full all-inclusive facilities and are not prioritising exploration, it works. For anyone who wants more from the island, I would look east instead.
Where I Would Stay if I Went Back to Rhodes Tomorrow
If I returned to Rhodes for a week, I would split the stay.
Three nights in Rhodes Town, based at Nikos Takis inside the Old Town. That is the right amount of time to see the medieval city properly, do a day trip to Symi, explore the Mandraki waterfront in the evenings, and eat well.
Then I would move to a luxury resort (after saving some money for it) and experience the resort to it’s fullest for a couple of days, and beach life.
That combination covers the two best things about Rhodes, the Old Town and Lindos, without rushing either one. A car for the Lindos half of the trip would let me add Anthony Quinn Bay and Agathi Beach. That is the week I would want.
FAQs About Where to Stay in Rhodes
Is Rhodes Town or Lindos better for first-time visitors
Rhodes Town for a first visit, without hesitation. It has better transport connections, a wider range of hotels and restaurants, and gives you access to the whole island. Lindos is the better base for a second visit or for couples on a trip built around the village and beaches.
Do you need a car in Rhodes
In Rhodes Town, no. Everything you need is walkable and buses cover the main routes. For Lindos and the east coast beaches, yes. Pick one up at the airport when you land. Rates there are cheaper than in the city. Compare car hire rates at Rhodes Airport
Which side of Rhodes has better beaches
The east coast. It faces away from the Meltemi wind that affects the west coast in summer, which keeps the water calmer and clearer. Tsambika, Anthony Quinn Bay, and Agathi are all on the east coast and all significantly better for swimming than the west coast resort beaches near Ixia.
Is Faliraki too touristy
It is the liveliest and most tourist-heavy area on the island. Whether that is too much depends on what you want from the trip. For nightlife and a young, social atmosphere, Faliraki works well. For anything else, there are better options.
How many nights should you stay in Rhodes
Four nights minimum to see the main things properly. A week is better. Three nights means you are either rushing or skipping Lindos, which is the wrong call.
What is the best area to stay in Rhodes for families
Kolymbia. Sandy beach, calm water, relaxed atmosphere, and good resort facilities. It is also well-placed for day trips to Rhodes Town and Lindos with a car. The Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort in Kalathos, just south of Kolymbia, is also consistently rated as one of the best family resorts on the island.
My Final Recommendation
If this is your first time in Rhodes, and fancy to explore rather than a resort then book Rhodes Town and stay as close to the Old Town as you can. The medieval city is the best thing on the island and you want to be inside it in the mornings before the crowds arrive and again in the evenings when it quiets down.
If you are coming as a couple or fancy a resort vibe, book Lindos. Two or three nights in the village with the acropolis above you and St Paul’s Bay below is the kind of trip you will still be talking about years later. Or even Faliraki for the all inclusive and luxury resort vibes.
If you are staying a week, split it. Three nights in Rhodes Town and four in Lindos is the combination that covers everything the island does well. Rent a car for the Lindos half and use the east coast beaches on the days in between.
Courtney xx
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend places I have personally researched and would recommend. Thank you
Hey! I’m Courtney, creator behind the travel and food site WhatsupCourtney and @heywhatsupcourtney on socials.
If you want trips that feels good while you’re there without the stress and to find a way to go on trips more often, you’re in the right place.
You will find detailed travel itineraries to destination guides and food worth seeking out, everything here is built to help you spend less time planning and more time experiencing the places you visit.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Leave a Reply