Where to Stay in Rhodes

Medieval city, beach resorts and a clifftop village

Rhodes manages to be several holidays on one island: a remarkable walled medieval city at its northern tip, a string of beach resorts down the coasts, and the photogenic clifftop village of Lindos with its ancient acropolis. Because these are spread out, the base you choose shapes the trip — a history-and-atmosphere stay in the Old Town feels very different from a beach-resort week, and combining both usually means some driving. Deciding what you want most from the island is the first step.

The other thing to weigh is how much you'll move around. The east coast holds most of the resort sand and is bus-served, the south is wilder and really wants a car, and the Old Town is a pedestrian world of its own. Here's how the main bases compare.

Best areas to stay in Rhodes

Traveller tip: Pick the vibe before the beach photo. History → Rhodes Old Town. Family pools → Faliraki. Romance / acropolis views → Lindos. West coast (Ixia) for windsurf breeze. South coast wants a hire car.

Area	Best for	Access	Trade-off
Rhodes Old Town	First visit, medieval lanes	Taxi/bus to a gate	Luggage + parking tight
Ixia / Ialysos	West beaches near town	West-coast bus	Breezier swimming
Faliraki	Family pools + nightlife	East-coast bus	Busy resort strip
Lindos	Village romance, bay views	~1h from town	Hills + limited parking

Rhodes Old Town

Rhodes Old Town is the standout for a first visit — a UNESCO-listed maze of medieval lanes, the Palace of the Grand Master and atmospheric evening dining inside the walls. It's wonderful for history and ambience, though luggage and parking are tight and many stays sit down pedestrian streets, so confirm porter help and a drop-off point. Taxi or bus from RHO to a gate; eat on a side street off Ippokratous, not on Sokratous at 13:00.

Ixia and Ialysos

For beaches near the city, Ixia and Ialysos on the west coast offer windsurf-friendly sand and resort hotels a short hop from town (breezier, which suits watersports more than flat-calm swimming). West-coast bus; windsurf morning then town for dinner.

Faliraki

Faliraki, down the east coast, is the big, busy resort strip — lively pools, family hotels and nightlife, well connected by bus. Bus from Rhodes Town to Faliraki; beach before 10:00, not the strip at 23:00 if you have kids.

Lindos

Lindos is the romantic choice, a whitewashed village beneath its acropolis with sunset tavernas and bay views, at the cost of hill walks and limited parking. Lindos is about an hour; acropolis morning then a taverna in the village, not a beach-club at 13:00 — porters from the parking.

South coast

The quieter south coast (around Prasonisi, a kitesurfing magnet) rewards travellers who hire a car and want calmer, emptier sand away from the resorts.

Typical mid-range stays are approximately £65–£95 per room per night for a standard room for up to 2 adults — an approximate 2026 planning guide for a solid mid-range Rhodes resort or Old Town base. This is accommodation only. Lindos sea-view rooms usually sit higher in peak weeks.

Arriving at RHO and getting around

Diagoras Airport (RHO) sits near Ialysos on the west coast — about 10–20 minutes to the nearby resorts, a little longer into the Old Town in traffic. From the UK there are seasonal direct flights to RHO through the summer; outside the season you'll usually connect via Athens, so compare flights from your home airport before booking. Buses link the town with Faliraki and Lindos, but evening services thin out, which is worth bearing in mind if you're staying out of town.

Whether you need a car depends on your plan: for an Old Town break or an east-coast resort, buses and the occasional taxi are fine. For the south coast, Prasonisi or general island exploring, a hire car makes a real difference — and remember the Old Town itself is pedestrianised, so you'll park outside the walls.

When to go, and when rooms cost less

May–June and September deliver warm, swimmable sea without the July–August package peak in both crowds and price. Easter and the UK school holidays lift Old Town and east-coast resorts together, so book ahead then. The shoulder weeks are the sweet spot for value — gentler Lindos rates, tavernas still open and far shorter queues at the acropolis — while deep winter is very quiet with many resort businesses closed.

Best for a first visit

Old Town for medieval lanes and evenings; Ixia, Ialysos or Faliraki for sand and pools with a short RHO transfer. Lindos is village-and-acropolis, with hills and limited parking. Many UK weeks combine a few nights of each. Seasonal directs; otherwise Athens.

A hire car for the south and Prasonisi; buses and taxis for Old Town or east-coast resorts. Crete is the bigger-island alternative if you want driving days more than walls.

Best for families

East-coast resorts still win for pools and shallow water. Old Town is atmosphere and cobbles. Lindos with a buggy is a workout. All-inclusive earns its keep on a beach week; it is wasted on a walls-and-tavernas stay.

Best for evenings

Faliraki for a louder strip; Old Town for lanes and tavernas; Lindos for a village night. Pick the strip before the hotel photos.

Rhodes stays FAQs

Old Town or a beach resort?

The Old Town for medieval atmosphere and evening lanes; Ixia, Ialysos or Faliraki for resort sand and pools with short transfers to town. Many visitors combine a few nights of each.

Is Lindos worth a base?

Yes for village charm and acropolis sunsets, if you don't mind hill walks and limited parking. It's less ideal if you want daily beach-club convenience right outside the door.

How do I get there?

Seasonal direct flights to RHO run from the UK in summer; otherwise connect via Athens. The airport is near Ialysos, close to the west-coast resorts.

Do I need a hire car?

Recommended for the south coast and Prasonisi or wider exploring. For the Old Town or east-coast resorts, buses and taxis cover most needs — and you'll park outside the walls anyway.

When is the cheapest time to visit?

The shoulder months (May–June and September) balance swimmable sea with lower rates than the August peak. Winter is cheapest but many resorts close.

Ixia or Faliraki for families?

Faliraki for the classic east-coast family strip and nightlife; Ixia/Ialysos if you want west-coast beaches closer to town and don't mind a breezier swim.

Is the south coast worth basing?

Yes if you hire a car and want emptier sand around Prasonisi. For a first week without driving, Old Town, Faliraki or Lindos are easier.

Pick your base, then book