Elli Beach is the main town beach of Rhodes, a long pebble-and-shingle strip lining the New Town on the north-eastern side of the island, close to the medieval Old Town and Mandraki Harbour. It is the most convenient stretch of sand and shingle for anyone staying in Rhodes town, with clear, deep, quickly shelving water and a fully organised seafront of sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars and watersports. A tall diving platform stands out in the water and an elegant Italian-era building anchors the promenade behind it. Plan tickets and tours through My Greece Tours.
For the wider island, including transfers, neighbourhoods and what to see, lean on our Rhodes travel guide. The sections below cover what Elli Beach is, where it sits and how to reach it, the facilities and swimming conditions, what you can do at and around the beach, and the practical tips that make a visit smoother.
What is Elli Beach?
Elli Beach is the principal town beach of Rhodes, a pebble-and-shingle stretch running along the New Town seafront on the island’s north-eastern side. It is fully organised, sits within walking distance of the Old Town, and is known for clear, deep water and a landmark diving platform.
Elli Beach forms the public face of Rhodes town’s coastline, a broad band of fine pebble and shingle backed by a paved promenade, cafes and hotels. Unlike a remote cove, it is a working town beach: people swim before breakfast, locals walk the front in the evening, and visitors drift down from their accommodation in minutes. The shore is fully organised, so rows of sunbeds and umbrellas line the better stretches, with beach bars serving drinks and snacks through the day. The water is famously clear and turns deep quickly, which gives the beach an open, sea-like character rather than the shallow lagoon feel of family resorts elsewhere on the island.
Two features make Elli instantly recognisable. The first is the tall diving platform, a pontoon and tower set out in the water, used by confident swimmers and divers who climb up and leap into the deep sea. The second is the elegant beachfront building dating from the Italian era, whose period architecture frames the promenade and gives the seafront its distinctive look. Together they mark Elli out from the plainer sands further along the coast. Our guide to Rhodes beaches covers the alternatives, and the next section covers where Elli sits and how to reach it.
Where is Elli Beach and how do you get there?
Elli Beach lines the New Town of Rhodes on the north-eastern coast, near the northern tip of the island. It is within walking distance of the medieval Old Town and Mandraki Harbour, so most visitors staying in Rhodes town simply walk, with local buses, taxis and short drives covering the rest.
The beach runs along the eastern side of the New Town, the modern district that wraps around the headland north of the medieval walls. Because Rhodes town is compact, Elli is genuinely walkable from much of the centre: from the Old Town gates or from Mandraki Harbour you can reach the sand on foot in a short stroll along the front. This proximity is the beach’s defining advantage, turning a swim into something you can fit between sightseeing rather than a separate excursion that eats half a day. The promenade behind the beach connects directly to the town’s streets, shops and tavernas, so there is no awkward transfer between beach and city.
If you are staying outside the centre, reaching Elli is still straightforward. Local buses serve Rhodes town from resorts along the coast, taxis are readily available, and drivers will find the New Town signed clearly, though parking near the seafront fills quickly in peak season. The northern point a short walk away is where two seas meet around the tip of the island, a striking spot worth pairing with a beach visit. Our guide to Rhodes Old Town covers the medieval quarter beside it, and the next section covers the facilities and swimming conditions.
What are the facilities and conditions like?
Elli is a fully organised pebble-and-shingle beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars and watersports along its better stretches. The water is clear, deep and shelves quickly, which suits confident swimmers more than toddlers. Cafes, showers and the town’s amenities sit immediately behind the sand.
The surface underfoot is pebble and shingle rather than soft sand, so many regulars bring water shoes for comfort walking in and out of the sea. The beach is well equipped: hired sunbeds and umbrellas cover the organised sections, beach bars provide drinks, snacks and shade, and watersports operators offer activities in season. Because the promenade runs directly behind, you are never far from a cafe, a shop or a place to rehydrate, which is part of what makes Elli so easy to enjoy without planning. Facilities such as showers and changing points are available along the organised front, in keeping with its role as the town’s main beach.
The defining condition is the water itself. It is clear and notably clean, and it deepens fast a short way out, giving a real sense of swimming in open sea rather than wading in shallows. That depth is wonderful for swimmers who want to strike out, snorkel or use the diving platform, but it means the beach suits adults and strong swimmers more than very young children, who need closer supervision here than at a gently shelving family beach. Conditions are generally calm in summer, though the open aspect can bring breezes and small waves on windier days. Our guide to where to stay in Rhodes covers nearby accommodation, and the next section covers what you can do at and around the beach.
What can you do at and around Elli Beach?
At Elli you can swim in deep clear water, sunbathe on organised sunbeds, try watersports, and use the landmark diving platform offshore. Around it, you are minutes from the Old Town, Mandraki Harbour, the northern point where two seas meet and the Rhodes Aquarium at the island’s tip.
The beach itself rewards an active visit. The deep, clear water is ideal for proper swimming and snorkelling, and the diving platform out in the sea is the signature attraction, letting confident swimmers climb up and dive into open water. Watersports operators run along the organised stretches in season, and the beach bars make it easy to spend a whole day moving between the sea, the shade and a cold drink. Because the promenade is lined with cafes and tavernas, an evening swim can roll straight into dinner on the front without changing location, which is one of the pleasures of a true town beach.
Just beyond the sand, Elli is the springboard for the best of Rhodes town. A short walk takes you to the medieval Old Town and to Mandraki Harbour with its landmark entrance. At the very tip of the island the northern point is where two seas meet, a memorable place to watch the water, and the Rhodes Aquarium stands right there, making an easy add-on to a beach day. Our guide to the Rhodes Aquarium covers that attraction at the point, and the next section covers the practical tips for visiting.
What tips help you visit Elli Beach?
Bring water shoes for the pebbles, arrive early in peak season to claim a good spot, and keep young children close because the water deepens fast. Pair a swim with the nearby Old Town, the northern point and the aquarium, and walk in rather than fighting for parking.
A few simple habits make Elli more comfortable. Water shoes ease the walk over pebble and shingle, and they help on the quick drop into deeper water. In high season the organised sections and the parking behind them fill early, so an earlier arrival secures a sunbed and a calmer stretch of front. Sun protection matters because the open seafront offers little natural shade beyond the hired umbrellas. Above all, treat the depth with respect: the fast-shelving water is superb for swimmers but demands close supervision of children and care from anyone less confident in deep, open sea.
Make the most of Elli’s position rather than treating it as just a beach. Because it sits beside the town, you can combine a morning swim with the Old Town, Mandraki Harbour, the northern point where two seas meet and the aquarium, all within easy reach, then return for a late-afternoon dip when day-trippers have thinned out. Staying in or near the New Town puts all of this on your doorstep and removes any transfer entirely. Plan your visit and tours through our Rhodes travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elli Beach sandy or pebbly?
Elli Beach is a pebble-and-shingle beach rather than a soft-sand one, which is typical of the town beaches along this part of the Rhodes coast. The surface is made up of fine pebbles and small stones that can feel uncomfortable underfoot, so many visitors bring water shoes for walking in and out of the sea and for standing on the shore. The pebbles do bring an advantage, though: the water at Elli stays exceptionally clear because there is little fine sand to be stirred up by swimmers and waves, which is part of why the beach is so prized for swimming. The organised stretches are equipped with hired sunbeds and umbrellas, so most visitors spend the day on a comfortable lounger rather than directly on the pebbles. If you plan to lie on the shore itself, a thick mat or towel makes the shingle far more pleasant.
Is Elli Beach suitable for young children?
Elli Beach suits confident swimmers and adults more than very young children, mainly because of its water. The sea here is clear and deep, and it shelves quickly, so the bottom drops away to swimming depth only a short distance from the shore. That makes it excellent for people who want to swim properly, snorkel or use the offshore diving platform, but it means toddlers and weak swimmers need close, constant supervision rather than the safe paddling that a gently shelving family beach allows. Families do visit, and the organised facilities, beach bars and easy town access make a day here convenient, but parents should stay within arm’s reach of small children in the water and consider buoyancy aids. If you are travelling with toddlers and want shallow, calm water as the priority, it is worth pairing Elli with one of the gentler, more sheltered beaches elsewhere on the island for the youngest members of the group.
How do you get to Elli Beach from Rhodes Old Town?
Getting to Elli Beach from the medieval Old Town is simple because the two sit close together in Rhodes town. From the Old Town gates you can walk to the beach along the seafront in a short stroll, passing Mandraki Harbour on the way, which is one of the great conveniences of basing yourself in the centre. There is no need for a transfer, a bus or a long drive: the New Town that backs Elli wraps directly around from the medieval walls, so the beach is effectively part of the same compact, walkable area. This is exactly why Elli is the most convenient beach for anyone staying in Rhodes town. If you prefer not to walk, taxis are readily available and local buses serve the town, but most visitors find the walk quick and pleasant. The northern point where two seas meet, along with the Rhodes Aquarium, lies a little further on at the tip of the island, so it is easy to combine a beach visit with a stroll to the headland.