Where to Stay in Rhodes, Greece

A beautiful Greek island and the largest of the Dodecanese, Rhodes is a delightful place to visit in Greece.

Full of some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe! Fascinating ancient history and a charming Old Town, Rhodes is the perfect combination of nature, antiquity and traditional whitewashed Greek beauty. It kind of reminded me a little of my trips to Milos and Zakynthos, another 2 beautiful, underrated islands in Greece.

However, being the largest of the Dodecanese islands, it does mean deciding where to stay in Rhodes town can be a little tricky.

There are a few main areas where people tend to stay and each has certain upsides and downsides compared with the others. It entirely depends on what you’re looking for when you travel, which is why we have this post to break it down for you and help you pick out the best areas to stay in Rhodes.

Regardless of where you stay in Rhodes town, you’ll definitely love this island.

Where is Rhodes, Greece

Map of Rhodes, Greece

This largest island in the Greek Dodecanese group is located in the Southeastern Aegean, Northeast of Crete and Southeast of Athens. The city of Rhodes is located right at the northern tip of the 1,400 square kilometres (541 sq mi) island.

Where to Stay in Rhodes, Greece 

Rhodes Old Town 

Rhodes Old Town

There is hardly a fight when it comes to where the best area to stay in Rhodes is. For first-timers looking for where to go in Rhodes, you’ll more often than not end up in Rhodes Old Town.

Rhodes Old Town was by far my favourite place to stay in Rhodes because it was most traditional, and affordable and it felt like much more of a slice of ancient Greece than the rest of the island. You’ll be completely surrounded by history and there is so much to do in the Old Town! 

There’s a reason why this old town was declared a Heritage Site. Wander down to the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights or see the Street of the Knights. The Street of the Knights is a beautiful 600-metre street lined with old inns. The entire town is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you can easily spend hours just exploring the cobbled streets and mingling with the locals.

As well as its ancient charm, staying in Rhodes Old Town will also give you easy access to public transport, a wide selection of delicious restaurants for your evening meals and a couple of gorgeous beaches.

We stayed in Finestra Apartment, which is tucked away in a cobbled alleyway. It was such an amazing stay experience. They have a balcony overlooking the gardens, it’s right in the centre of the old town and really close to the beach! It’s a place perfect for both a family or a couples holiday. 

Faliraki 

Rhodes’ nightlife central, Faliraki, is perfect for anyone who wants to experience a more vibrant side to the island. Although it’s more fun, it comes with a lot less authenticity.

If you’re looking for a more traditional slice of Greece, then you may not prefer it here. The area in general is less historic, but it’s closer to Lindos than the Old Town, and easy to reach by bus if you fancy going to Lidos on a day trip.

There are also some amazing restaurants in Faliraki, serving everything from traditional Greek dishes to international cuisines from all over the world. 

In Faliraki, you’ll find all the traits of a cheap Caribbean island; a great selection of bars, energetic nightlife, great beaches, water sports, a water park and other tourist-geared activities.

That said, staying in Faliraki doesn’t mean you have to stay right in the centre of the nightlife. Faliraki is still a super popular area to stay on the island and is great for younger people and couples.

We stayed in Kathara Bay Apartments on the outskirts of the town centre. Our apartment was gorgeous with bright, modern décor and a big, comfortable bed. It was super spacious, was still walking distance to the main town but far enough away so we weren’t disturbed by the noise.

We also had the best little private pool, which just added to the already pretty awesome deal! 

Lindos 

Without a doubt the cutest place to stay in Rhodes, Lindos is undeniably beautiful. Here, you’ll find whitewashed houses, a hilltop acropolis and some of the best beaches on the island! There’s hardly any reason why this isn’t the best area to stay in Rhodes!

In my opinion, even if you decide not to stay in Lindos for the duration of your stay, it’s well worth a day trip and can be easily reached by bus from most areas on the island. 

If you’re wondering where to go in Rhodes for some authentic Greek experience, you can’t miss this place.

Lindos has everything you can ask for in a Greek town and is incredibly picturesque. Its cobbled streets are lined with large flower pots, olive trees and quirky taverna’s are something, and you will also come across some of the cutest churches as you explore.

The Acropolis of Lindos is unmissable, although it does involve a rather steep climb up a hill to reach. If you’re not a fan of walking up an incline in the heat, you can always take a traditional donkey ride up to the top instead! If you do decide to walk, head down to St Paul’s Bay afterwards for a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the most beautiful beach in Rhodes. 

As well as natural wonders, ancient history and traditional Greek buildings, Lindos also has great bars, restaurants and nightlife too, so you can literally find a bit of everything in this postcard-worthy town. 

There are so many incredible places to stay in Rhodes’ Lindos and it depends on what you prefer when you travel. For a chilled, self-catering apartment, Lindos SeaStar Apartment is a great choice.

However, if you love a hotel, Lindos Royal Resort is a fabulous all-inclusive resort right on the beach that’s voted one of the best resorts in Rhodes to stay in.

Pefkos 

Perfect for the older generation or for couples who fancy a more secluded romantic getaway, Pefkos is a much more low-key place to stay in Rhodes for couples. Full of picture-perfect beaches, sun loungers and plenty of ice-cream, the town will certainly charm you.

It also won’t matter if you’re after a touch of traditional Greece, or whether you’d want more modern holiday-comforts; Pefkos has a little bit of everything. With streets lined with traditional tavernas inviting you in or delicious restaurants with a view, Pefkos will give you the kind of relaxing break you’ve always dreamed about.

For the perfect place to stay, St Thomas Beach Luxury Apartments is stylish, incredibly comfortable and have everything you need for a romantic time in Rhodes as a couple.

Kolymbia 

Kolymbia’s delightful mountain backdrop

If you enjoy staying in places with a gorgeous view, Kolymbia’s delightful mountain backdrop will be just up your street!

If Faliraki is a little too touristy for you, but you don’t fancy the Old Town, then Kolymbia is your best bet. This pretty seaside resort in Rhodes combines traditional wooden fishing boats and cobbled streets with modern buildings and slightly calmer nightlife.

The picturesque harbour front is the perfect place to sit and enjoy a coffee with the local fishermen. The golden sand beaches aren’t too crowded either.

Plus, the actual location of the village is incredibly convenient. About halfway between Rhodes Old Town and Lindos, it makes getting to either of these towns an easy trip by public transport. Faliraki is just down the road as well so if you’re visiting Rhodes as a family, it won’t take you too long to get to the huge Faliraki waterpark!

Overall, the mix of tradition and modernity with an almost perfect location for exploring more of the island makes Kolymbia one of the best places to stay in Rhodes.

Full of luxury apartments and top hotels in Rhodes, for a wonderful escape in Kolymbia, Casa Cook Rhodes will blow you away. Modern and stylish, this epic hotel offers world-class service in a picture-perfect setting. As an adults-only property, you can be sure it’ll meet your standard for a hotel for couples. 😉

For a self-catering getaway, Kolymbia Dreams luxury apartments will give you the same high standards, but with a little more freedom. Perfect for families and couples that like their own space.

Ialyssos 

If you’re looking to visit Rhodes on a budget, then Ialyssos will be the perfect place for you. Located west of Rhodes Old Town, this endearing coastal resort has something for everyone.

The seafront pebble beach is lined with some of the best hotels in Rhodes, and you’ll also find a great selection of restaurants, tavernas and a wonderfully chilled-out vibe.

Ialyssos is also perfect if you’re after a slice of the local life as, if you climb the hill to the original village, you’ll find a charismatic Greek charm, historic beauty and locals going about their day-to-day life.

One of the best places to stay in Rhodes for the best of both worlds and it has the added bonus of being pretty cheap!

For the perfect place to stay, Holiday Nest has really pretty and affordable apartments. They’re also super close to the beach which is a bonus!

Getting to Rhodes, Greece

By plane

You can fly from Athens or Thessaloniki airports. There are also connections to and from other Greek islands such as Kos, Leros, Mytilini, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete.

International flights are also available from Frankfurt Hahn, Brussels Charleroi, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Bologna, Cagliari, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Liverpool, London, Stockholm and Kaunas.

Airlines that fly to Rhodes are:

• Olympic Airways 
• Aegean Airlines
• Ryanair

By ship

There are connections between Piraeus and Rhodes. The duration of the trip is approximately 12 hours and it stops at other Greek islands: Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos and Kos.

You can also connect directly from all the other islands of the Dodecanese and Crete to Rhodes.

Check the ferry schedule here:

Overall, there are so many amazing places to stay in Rhodes. Whether you want a family escape or a solo trip, the island is beautiful and is my all-time favourite place in Greece that’s great to visit anytime of the year.