Kiotari is a relatively modern, relaxed coastal resort on the east coast of Rhodes, set in the south-east of the island well south of Lindos and roughly an hour’s drive from Rhodes town. It grew up mainly around larger, often upmarket beachfront hotels and is defined by a long pebble-and-shingle beach with clear, calm water, a quiet and uncrowded feel, and a spread-out, low-key layout rather than a dense resort strip. Travellers choose it as a peaceful base for touring the south of the island. Plan tickets and tours through My Greece Tours.
For the wider island context, see our Rhodes travel guide, which places Kiotari within the south-east coast. The sections below cover what Kiotari is, where it lies and how to reach it, what the beach is like, what there is to do in and around the resort, and who the destination suits best along with practical visiting tips.
What is Kiotari?
Kiotari is a modern, relaxed beach resort on the south-east coast of Rhodes, built largely around big beachfront hotels. It is known for a long pebble-and-shingle beach, calm clear water, a quiet uncrowded atmosphere and a spread-out, low-key layout rather than a busy resort centre.
Unlike older, organically grown villages on Rhodes, Kiotari developed comparatively recently as a coastal holiday destination, and that history shapes its character. The resort centres on a string of substantial, often upmarket beachfront hotels rather than a tight old-town core, so it feels open and unhurried. Buildings are spread along and back from the shore, with tavernas and beach bars dotted between the hotels rather than packed into one strip. The result is a calm, restful place that suits travellers who want sea, space and quiet over nightlife and crowds. It sits firmly in the south of the island, away from the busier northern resorts.
Because Kiotari is low-key and spread out, many visitors treat it as a base rather than a destination in itself, driving out to villages, beaches and sights across southern Rhodes. The atmosphere is family-friendly and unhurried, with the long beach as the main focus of the day. Our guide to where to stay in Rhodes covers how Kiotari compares with other bases on the island, and the next section covers where Kiotari lies and how you get there.
Where is Kiotari and how do you get there?
Kiotari lies on the east coast of Rhodes, in the south-east of the island, well south of Lindos and roughly an hour’s drive from Rhodes town. The easiest way to reach it is by car along the east-coast road, though public buses also serve the resort from Rhodes town.
Rhodes town and the island’s airport sit in the north, so reaching Kiotari means following the east-coast road south past the larger northern resorts and beyond Lindos. The drive takes around an hour from Rhodes town in normal conditions, and the route is straightforward, hugging the coast for much of the way. Hiring a car is the most convenient option, because it lets you reach the resort directly and then explore the quieter south at your own pace. The spread-out layout of Kiotari, where hotels and tavernas are strung along the shore, makes a car especially useful for getting around once you arrive.
Public buses also connect Rhodes town with the southern resorts, including Kiotari, so it is possible to visit or stay without driving, though services are less frequent than in the north and timetables reward planning ahead. Many visitors arriving by air collect a hire car at the airport and drive straight down. Our guide to Lindos, Rhodes covers the famous town just to the north that most Kiotari trips pass through, and the next section covers what the beach itself is like.
What is Kiotari beach like?
Kiotari beach is long and mostly pebble-and-shingle, fronted by clear, calm water that is good for swimming. It is quiet and uncrowded compared with northern Rhodes, with tavernas and beach bars spread along the shore and plenty of room to spread out rather than a packed, intensively organised strip.
The defining feature of Kiotari is its beach, which runs for a long stretch along the resort. The shore is mostly pebble and shingle rather than soft sand, so water shoes can make entering the sea more comfortable, but the trade-off is notably clear water that stays calm in settled conditions. Because the resort is spread out and away from the busy north, the beach rarely feels crowded, and there is space to find a quiet spot even in high season. Sun loungers, tavernas and beach bars appear along the front, fronting the larger hotels, so refreshments and shade are within easy reach.
The calm, clear water and relaxed pace make Kiotari beach well suited to swimming and unhurried days by the sea rather than a packed watersports scene. The long shoreline means you can walk to find your own stretch, and the backdrop of low-key development keeps the focus on the sea rather than on a dense built-up strip. Our guide to Rhodes beaches covers how Kiotari compares with the island’s other shores, and the next section covers what there is to do in and around the resort.
What is there to do in and around Kiotari?
Beyond the beach, Kiotari works best as a base for the south of Rhodes. Nearby highlights include the inland village of Asklipio with its Byzantine church and castle, the far-southern beaches and the windswept tip at Prasonisi, and the famous town of Lindos a short drive north along the coast.
In the resort itself, the day revolves around the beach, with tavernas and beach bars along the shore for eating and drinking. The real range of things to do, though, opens up when you head out from Kiotari into the surrounding south. Just inland lies the village of Asklipio, known for its Byzantine church and its hilltop castle, which together give a sense of the older, quieter Rhodes away from the coast. The drive up to the village and the views from the castle make for an easy, rewarding half-day trip from the resort.
Further south, the island narrows towards Prasonisi, the dramatic spit at the southern tip where two seas meet, along with a string of far-southern beaches that reward those willing to drive. To the north, Lindos with its acropolis and old town is within easy reach for a day out. Our guide to Asklipio, Rhodes covers the nearby Byzantine village and castle in detail, and the next section covers who Kiotari suits best and the tips that help you visit.
Who is Kiotari best for and what tips help you visit?
Kiotari suits couples and families who want a quiet, comfortable beach holiday with space and calm water, and who plan to explore southern Rhodes by car. It is less suited to travellers wanting lively nightlife or a walkable resort centre, given its spread-out, low-key layout.
The resort is at its best for visitors whose priorities are a relaxed pace, a long uncrowded beach and a base for touring the south rather than non-stop entertainment. Families appreciate the calm water and the room to spread out, while couples value the quiet and the upmarket beachfront hotels. Travellers who want a buzzing strip, a dense centre full of bars or easy nightlife on foot may find Kiotari too peaceful and too spread out, and would do better in the livelier northern resorts. Knowing this in advance helps you set the right expectations before you book.
A few practical tips make a Kiotari stay smoother. Hiring a car is strongly recommended, both for reaching the resort and for exploring the spread-out south at your own pace. Pack water shoes for the pebble-and-shingle beach, and plan day trips to Asklipio, the far-southern beaches, Prasonisi and Lindos to round out the time by the sea. Plan your visit and tours through our Rhodes travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kiotari a good place to stay in Rhodes?
Kiotari is a good choice for travellers who want a quiet, comfortable beach holiday with easy access to the south of Rhodes. It is a relatively modern resort built mainly around larger, often upmarket beachfront hotels, set on a long pebble-and-shingle beach with clear, calm water and an uncrowded, spread-out feel. That makes it especially well suited to couples and families who value space, calm seas and a relaxed pace over nightlife and crowds. It also works well as a base for exploring southern Rhodes, with the inland village of Asklipio, the far-southern beaches, Prasonisi and Lindos all within reach. The main trade-offs are that the resort is low-key rather than lively, and its spread-out layout means there is no dense, walkable centre, so hiring a car makes a stay much more convenient. If you want buzzing nightlife or a compact resort you can explore on foot, the busier northern resorts will suit you better.
How far is Kiotari from Rhodes town and Lindos?
Kiotari sits on the east coast in the south-east of Rhodes, roughly an hour’s drive from Rhodes town in normal conditions. Because the island’s main town and its airport lie in the north, reaching Kiotari means following the east-coast road south, passing the larger northern resorts and continuing beyond Lindos to the quieter south. Lindos itself lies to the north of Kiotari and is within easy reach for a day out, so many visitors staying in Kiotari drive up the coast to see its acropolis and old town. The most convenient way to cover these distances is by car, which lets you reach the resort directly and then explore the surrounding south at your own pace. Public buses also link Rhodes town with the southern resorts, including Kiotari, but services are less frequent than in the busy north, so it is worth checking timetables and planning journeys in advance if you intend to travel without a car.
What is Kiotari beach like and is it sandy?
Kiotari beach is long and mostly pebble-and-shingle rather than soft sand, fronted by clear, calm water that is well suited to swimming. The shingle means many visitors find water shoes helpful for entering the sea comfortably, but the reward is notably clean, clear water and a calm surface in settled conditions. The beach is one of the quietest and least crowded of the larger Rhodes resort beaches, thanks to its spread-out layout and its position away from the busy north of the island. Along the shore you will find sun loungers, tavernas and beach bars fronting the larger hotels, so shade and refreshments are easy to come by, yet the overall feel stays relaxed rather than intensively organised. The long shoreline gives you room to walk and find your own stretch, which makes Kiotari a good fit for unhurried days by the sea and gentle swimming rather than a packed, lively beach scene.