Where to look
History & Culture Lovers
History enthusiasts · UNESCO site visitors · Knight Hospitaller fans · Byzantine art lovers The Medieval City of Rhodes is one of the most remarkable historical places in the Mediterranean. The Knights of St John built a fortress-city between 1309 and 1522 that survives almost entirely intact — a 4km circuit of towers and walls enclosing the Palace of the Grand Master (rebuilt in the 1930s), the Street of the Knights (where the different national 'tongues' of the order had their inns), and a network of Gothic churches, Ottoman mosques and Byzantine ruins that overlap across 700 years of continuous habitation. The Acropolis of Lindos, 55km south of Rhodes Town, crowns a 116-metre limestone rock above the fishing village with a 4th-century BC temple of Athena (one of the finest in the Aegean), a Knights' castle built on top, and views from the ramparts over both the Atlantic-blue sea and the village below. The Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes), open June–September, shelters thousands of Jersey Tiger moths in a lush canyon — unusual and genuinely beautiful.
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Swimmers · Long sandy beach seekers · Sun worshippers The east coast of Rhodes has the finest beaches — protected from the prevailing northwest wind that affects the west coast, the east coast is reliably calm with warm, clear water. Tsambika is the standout: a wide crescent of golden sand in a sheltered bay, accessible by a short walk down a path from the car park on the headland. The water is crystal clear and the scenery dramatic. It gets crowded in July and August but remains beautiful. Agathi Beach near Haraki is smaller and less visited — a perfect cove with turquoise water and a traditional taverna. Stegna and Charaki nearby are equally good east coast beaches with local character. For organised resort beach, Faliraki is the most developed — long, sandy, with watersports, beach clubs and all facilities. Prasonisi in the far south, where the island tapers to a thin sandy spit with sea on both sides, is extraordinary — one side is always flat, the other always windy.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting calm organised beaches Kolymbia is the most attractive family resort on Rhodes — a planned settlement of eucalyptus-lined avenues, calm beaches and a relaxed, unspoilt atmosphere compared to the main resort strips. The beaches are sandy and calm, the village has good tavernas and shops, and the accommodation is predominantly apartment complexes with pools that work well for families who want self-catering flexibility. Kallithea Springs, just south of Faliraki, has beautifully restored 1930s-era Italian spa buildings (built during the Italian occupation of Rhodes) on a stunning bay with excellent snorkelling and swimming. It is not a beach with facilities for young children but older children will find the architecture fascinating. For pure family beach, Faliraki has the longest sandy beach on the east coast with watersports, aqua parks and all family entertainment.
Party & Nightlife
18–30s crowd · UK holiday makers · Club and bar strip lovers Faliraki on the east coast used to be one of the most notorious party resorts in the Mediterranean — a reputation it has toned down but not entirely shed. The bar street behind the beach has a continuous strip of bars and clubs catering to the young British tourist market, with cheap drinks, foam parties and themed nights that run from 10pm through 4am throughout the summer season. Rhodes Town has a more sophisticated nightlife around the New Market area and on the Mandraki harbour waterfront — cocktail bars, waterfront restaurants and smaller clubs that attract a more mixed-age and mixed-nationality crowd. The Medieval City has atmospheric bars in the old town lanes — more romantic than party-oriented. Bar Street in Faliraki is the right choice for the classic holiday party experience; Rhodes Town for something more adult.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymoons · Special occasions · Medieval history lovers Lindos village is the most romantic address in Rhodes — a whitewashed hilltop village with Byzantine and Ottoman house architecture, cobbled lanes too narrow for cars, rooftop restaurant terraces looking up to the Acropolis, and a beautiful sheltered bay (Lindos Beach) below. The combination of ancient history, architectural beauty and turquoise sea makes Lindos one of the most memorable small places in Greece. The Medieval City of Rhodes at night — the illuminated walls, the gate towers casting shadows, the sound of the fountains in the empty lanes of the old town after midnight — is genuinely otherworldly and deeply romantic. A small boutique hotel inside the city walls, in a restored Knights' building, provides one of the most unusual and memorable accommodation experiences in the eastern Mediterranean.
Wind Sports & Active Travellers
Windsurfers · Kitesurfers · Hikers · Cyclists · Water sports enthusiasts Prasonisi, the southernmost tip of Rhodes, is where two seas meet — the Aegean to the east and the Mediterranean to the west. The geography creates a unique wind pattern: one side of the thin sand spit connecting Prasonisi island to the mainland is always flat water (for beginners and freestylers), while the other side always has waves (for wave sailors). This makes Prasonisi a world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing destination usable in virtually all wind conditions. Ixia beach, on the west coast just south of Rhodes Town, has consistent northwest wind that makes it excellent for windsurfing lessons — several well-established schools operate on the beach. The Seven Springs (Epta Piges) in the interior is a leafy mountain spring with peacocks and waterfalls — a pleasant inland excursion. The butterfly valley (Petaloudes) offers a gentle walk through a canyon full of moths in summer.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Students · Cost-conscious visitors · Island hoppers to Turkey Rhodes Town is the best budget base — the city has the widest range of accommodation at all price points, excellent local tavernas in the New Market area, and the Medieval City itself (one of the finest free sights in Greece) on the doorstep. The east coast resorts (Faliraki, Kolymbia) have competitive apartment and studio prices due to high supply. Self-catering is very affordable — the local market and supermarkets have excellent produce at Greek prices. A day trip to Marmaris, Turkey by fast ferry (50 minutes) is one of the best-value day trips in the eastern Mediterranean — Turkish prices for food, spices and textiles are significantly lower than Greece. May and October cut island-wide prices by 40–50% while maintaining excellent weather and sea temperatures. The KTEL bus network connects Rhodes Town with Lindos and the east coast resorts cheaply.
🏛️ Rhodes Medieval City
UNESCO World Heritage City. 4km medieval walls, Palace of Grand Master, Street of Knights. Most atmospheric area on the island. History · Culture · Romance · All types
🏖️ Faliraki
East coast resort. Longest organised beach. Party strip (Bar Street). Young UK-oriented crowd. All facilities. Party · Beach · Families
🌿 Kolymbia
East coast family resort. Eucalyptus avenues, calm beaches, relaxed atmosphere. Between Faliraki and Lindos. Families · Relaxed · Budget
💎 Lindos
Most beautiful village on Rhodes. Acropolis, whitewashed houses, narrow lanes. Most expensive. Rooftop bars with temple views. Romance · History · Culture
🏄 Prasonisi (south tip)
Where Aegean meets Mediterranean. World-class windsurfing and kitesurfing. Two seas = two conditions. Basic accommodation. Wind sports · Active · Nature
🌊 Ixia (west coast)
West of Rhodes Town. Consistent NW wind, windsurfing schools. Pebble beach, not as calm as east coast. Good hotel strip. Wind sports · Couples · Convenient
🦋 Valley of the Butterflies
Petaloudes canyon with thousands of Jersey Tiger moths (June–Sept). Lush, cool canyon. Day trip destination. Nature · Families · Day trip
Tips for booking
- Walk the city walls at sunset. The 4km circuit of the medieval walls can be walked for free at certain sections. The view from the towers over the old town rooftops and then down to the sea is the finest perspective on the city. The Grand Master's Palace is also worth the entry fee — the floor mosaics are extraordinary.
- Drive the east coast road in early morning. The coastal road from Rhodes Town to Lindos passes through spectacular scenery — the road rises and falls over rocky headlands with constant views of turquoise water. In the morning, before the tourist buses start, the drive is quiet and the light is perfect.
- Kolymbia is quieter and cheaper than Faliraki. The eucalyptus avenues, smaller crowds and local character make it significantly more pleasant for families who want a relaxed holiday rather than an entertainment resort. It is 5km south of the turning for Kallithea Springs.
- Lindos rooftop bars are spectacular for evening drinks. The village of Lindos has several rooftop bars with views over the Acropolis and the sea. They are not cheap, but sunset drinks with the temple silhouetted against the pink sky is one of the finest summer evenings in the Aegean.
- Stay inside the Medieval City walls for the most atmospheric experience. A handful of boutique hotels have opened inside the old city in restored medieval buildings. Waking up in a room with a vaulted stone ceiling, 700-year-old walls and a courtyard garden — while being 5 minutes' walk from the beach — is one of the finest combinations in the Aegean.
- Prasonisi is the best destination in Greece for windsurfing. The unique two-seas geography means there is always a side suitable for your ability level. Several schools operate at Prasonisi itself and the accommodation in the tiny nearby village is basic but well-suited to sports-focused visitors who are on the water all day.
- The KTEL bus to Lindos costs around €5 and runs frequently in summer. This is significantly cheaper than a tour bus and gives the same result. The bus journey along the east coast road past Tsambika and Agathi is enjoyable in itself.
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