🗺️ Rhodes without mistakes: comparing six resorts by beaches and nightlife

Rhodes stretches along the coast: from the city to Lindos is more than 40 kilometers (on the map). Each part of the island lives by its own rules.

Getting the area wrong costs more than getting the hotel wrong. You'll arrive in a quiet village looking for nightlife, or on a bar street looking for peace, and you'll have to rent a car every day.

We've broken down six places on the island and compared them by beach, pace, and distance from the city. Check prices, season, and opening hours for each place before booking: schedules change every year.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

How to choose a resort on Rhodes

Closer to Rhodes Town, the resorts are bigger and livelier. Further south, toward Lindos, you'll find villages with quiet beaches and scattered hotels.

💡 In short:

First choose your pace: night bars, a family beach, or a village.
Factor in travel time: Kalafos and Kolymbia are a drive across the whole island.
Rent a car or book a transfer if you're staying beyond Faliraki.
Beaches, hotels, and transport: 09/2026, according to the official Greek tourism portal.

Resort	Pace	Beach	From Rhodes Town
Rhodes	urban, sightseeing	city beaches	center
Kallithea	calm	sand, Blue Flag	about 9 km
Faliraki	nightlife	sand, crowded	about 14 km
Afantou	family	the longest on the island	about 20 km
Kalafos	village	quiet, pebbles	about 46 km
Kolymbia	upscale	mixed	about 26 km

1. Rhodes

Fortress walls and towers of the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes

Rhodes Town is divided into two parts. The Old Town is enclosed within fortress walls, while the newer quarters stretch north along the waterfront. The entire Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, verified on 15.09.2026 on the official World Heritage Centre website.

Inside the walls you'll find the Suleymaniye Mosque, Turkish baths, and Socrates Street with bazaars on both sides. Nearby, on Monte Smith hill, stands the Acropolis of Rhodes. On the shore you'll find the ancient Mandraki harbor and the windmills, set slightly apart from the docks.

The Valley of the Butterflies in the island's interior makes a good half-day trip. Streams murmur there, dense groves thrive, and in warm weather many butterflies gather. Entry is paid, and the valley welcomes visitors only in the warm season: check the price and dates on the tourist office website.

Getting there: Diagoras Airport is about 14 km away (on the map), and the Old Town starts right behind Mandraki harbor.
Who it's for: you want history, museums, and evening strolls along the waterfront without a car.
Not for: you're coming only for a wide sandy beach.

Hotels in Rhodes on Trip.com

2. Kallithea

Domed Kallithea pavilion among palm trees by the sea

The village's name translates as "best view," and the description doesn't lie. The resort sits on a hill, greenery slopes down to the sea, and below lies a soft sandy beach.

The descent to the water is via a steep staircase. That climb is tough with a stroller or suitcase, so keep it in mind when choosing a hotel.

The beaches here belong to hotels, and many hold Blue Flag status (according to the Visit Greece portal). The strip is wide, with pines, eucalyptus, and palms behind it, and the water stays clean: there's no boat traffic along this shore.

You won't go hungry: tavernas are scattered throughout Kallithea, and on the way out there's Dias taverna with a view of the bay and generous portions. Remember the local rule: places open no earlier than noon, so get breakfast and morning coffee at your hotel. The Kallithea Springs (Kalithea Springs) are nearby: entry is paid, check the price on the tourist office website.

Getting there: about 9 km from Rhodes Town on the road to Faliraki (on the map).
Who it's for: you want a calm sandy beach and dinner with a view of the bay.
Not for: you're not willing to climb stairs to your hotel.

Hotels in Kallithea on Trip.com

3. Faliraki

Faliraki sandy beach with umbrellas and the sea

Faliraki grew from a fishing village into the island's liveliest resort. Modern hotels line the area, and the local beach is considered one of the most beautiful on Rhodes.

The strip is long and crowded. To the south it becomes less comfortable: rocks appear in places, and at the very end you may find a nudist section, officially designated.

During the day, Faliraki has a water park with slides for kids and adults. In the evening, the center shifts to Ermou Street, the local bar street with music until morning.

Getting there: about 14 km from Rhodes Town (on the map), the resort sits on the main coastal road.
Who it's for: you want beach, bars, and hotels within walking distance.
Not for: you need quiet and an early night.
The catch: the southern end of the beach is rocky.

Hotels in Faliraki on Trip.com

4. Afantou

Long Afantou pebble beach and road along the sea

The coastline here is almost bare of vegetation, while the village of Afantou itself is lush with pine, cypress, and oak. The thick trees have stood here for centuries, as has the settlement, considered one of the oldest on the island (according to the tourist office).

The Church of the Virgin Mary stands on the main square. The village has a traditional Greek look, and a small tourist train takes you to the beach, passing local sights along the way.

Afantou Beach is the longest on the island. Even at the height of the season, there's plenty of room on such a long strip. The seabed drops off fairly quickly, and the water is cooler than on other parts of the coast. Nearby is the largest golf course on Rhodes (according to the tourist office).

Getting there: about 20 km from Rhodes Town (on the map), with a train running from the village to the beach.
Who it's for: families and those who love long beaches and greenery around.
The catch: the water gets deep quickly near the shore, so keep an eye on children.

Hotels in Afantou on Trip.com

5. Kalafos

Long Kalafos pebble beach and turquoise sea

Kalafos lies on the main road to Lindos. A small village with a traditional way of life: few residents, few sights, but bars, restaurants, and several tavernas are open.

The beach stretches along the resort. There's infrastructure, but few people: the shore is considered one of the quietest and longest on the island. Underfoot is fine pebble and clean sand. The shoreline is uneven, so ask locals where it's shallow for children and where the depth increases for diving.

Water sports equipment can be rented on site. If the quiet gets too much, Lindos with its boutiques and nightlife is just a few kilometers away.

Getting there: about 46 km from Rhodes Town and roughly 4 km to Lindos (on the map).
Who it's for: you're looking for quiet, a village, and a long beach.
Not for: clubs and nightlife near your hotel matter to you.

Hotels in Kalafos on Trip.com

6. Kolymbia

Road, dry grass and white buildings in the distance

Kolymbia sits exactly halfway between Rhodes Town and Lindos. A hundred years ago, fishermen lived here, and under the Italian administration the settlement of San Benedetto stood on this spot, already drawing vacationers back then.

Today the resort has a reputation as a calm and well-kept place. Major chains have built hotels here, but a party scene never emerged: couples and families with children come here.

All around is quiet, greenery, and sea views. Kolymbia doesn't have its own long promenade, but Rhodes and Lindos are roughly equidistant from here.

Getting there: about 26 km from Rhodes Town (on the map), on the road to Lindos.
Who it's for: couples and families who want peace and greenery.
Not for: you're coming for a bar street and clubs.
The catch: there's no historic center here for strolling.

Hotels in Kolymbia on Trip.com

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which Rhodes resort should I choose for a family?

Afantou and Kolymbia work well for families. Afantou has the island's longest beach and a calm pace, but the water gets deep quickly near the shore. Kolymbia is quieter than Faliraki, hotels sit among greenery, and Rhodes and Lindos are roughly equidistant from there. In Kallithea, keep the stairs in mind: the climb with a stroller is tough.

Where are the sandy beaches on Rhodes?

Look for soft sand in Kallithea and Faliraki. In Kallithea, the beaches belong to hotels, are wide and clean, and many hold Blue Flag status (according to the Visit Greece portal). In Faliraki, the strip is long, but rocks appear in the south. In Afantou and Kalafos, sand is mixed with pebbles, and in Kalafos the seabed drops off quickly right at the shore in places.

Do I need a car on Rhodes?

Distant resorts are inconvenient without a car. You can reach Faliraki and Kallithea by bus or airport transfer. Afantou, Kalafos, and Kolymbia are further out, and there the schedule matters more. With a car, you can easily combine villages, Lindos, and the Valley of the Butterflies in one day.

What should I see on Rhodes besides beaches?

The Old Town with its fortress walls, the Suleymaniye Mosque, and Socrates Street. Mandraki harbor with the windmills and the Acropolis on Monte Smith hill are right next to it. In the island's interior, the Valley of the Butterflies is open to visitors.

When is the best time to visit Rhodes?

The swimming season here is long, with the sea staying warm from late spring through autumn. At the height of summer, Faliraki and Kallithea get crowded. Kolymbia and Kalafos stay calm all season. Check the weather and exact dates before your trip.

In short: what to book

If you're coming for history, base yourself in Rhodes Town: the Old Town is walkable, and tours depart from the harbor. If you want beach and evening bars, choose Faliraki. For families, Afantou or Kolymbia are more convenient. Kalafos suits those who want a village with Lindos nearby. Kallithea works as a compromise: sand, greenery, and quiet, but with stairs.

Hotels on the east coast get booked up early, so reserve before your trip.

Rhodes tours on GetYourGuide

Where to stay in Rhodes: 6 places for quiet and lively holidays