Where to stay in Rhodes means picking a base area on a large island whose north holds the historic capital and whose long coastlines run from lively family resorts to quiet windsurfing bays. Plan tickets and tours through My Greece Tours.
For the wider picture of the island, start with our Rhodes travel guide. The sections below cover where you should stay, whether to pick Rhodes Town or a beach resort, the main areas across the island, which areas suit families, couples and nightlife, and practical tips for choosing your base.
Where should you stay in Rhodes?
Stay in the area that matches your trip: Rhodes Town for history and walkability, Ixia or Faliraki for beach-hotel convenience, Lindos and the east coast for scenery and calm, and the far south for quiet and windsurfing. The island is large, so your base shapes everything.
Rhodes is one of the biggest Greek islands, and distances between the north and the far south are real, so the base you choose decides how much driving and how much relaxing your holiday involves. If you want to walk to dinner, see ancient sites and never start the car, the north around Rhodes Town works best. If you want a sun-lounger a few steps from your room, a beach resort such as Faliraki or Ixia suits you better. Travellers chasing dramatic landscapes and slower evenings lean towards Lindos and the eastern bays, where the pace drops noticeably. Because the airport sits in the north-west, near Ialysos, your transfer time also depends heavily on the base you pick, with the far south the longest drive of all.
Accommodation across the island falls into a few clear types: city hotels and small guesthouses in and around the Old Town, large beach resorts along the west and east coasts, self-catering apartments handy for families, and private villas inland or above the quieter bays. Each type pairs naturally with certain areas, so deciding what kind of stay you want narrows the map quickly. Our guide to things to do in Rhodes covers attractions across the island, and the next section covers whether Rhodes Town or a beach resort fits you best.
Should you stay in Rhodes Town or a beach resort?
Choose Rhodes Town for history, atmosphere, restaurants and easy walking inside the medieval Old Town and lively New Town. Choose a beach resort such as Faliraki or Ixia for sand on your doorstep, family hotels and an all-day pool routine. Many visitors split their stay between both.
Rhodes Town gives you two distinct worlds side by side. The medieval Old Town, ringed by its walls, delivers cobbled lanes, atmosphere and centuries of history, while the modern New Town brings Mandraki Harbour, Elli Beach, shops and a busy evening scene. Basing yourself here means you can sightsee on foot, eat somewhere different every night and reach the airport and the rest of the island easily. The trade-off is that the town beaches, though convenient, feel more urban than the long sandy stretches found at the dedicated resorts further along the coast.
A beach resort flips that balance towards sun, sea and a simple daily rhythm. Places like Faliraki and the Ixia strip are built around large hotels, sandy or pebbly shores and pools, which suits families and anyone who wants minimal planning. You sacrifice some of the historic atmosphere and the walk-everywhere convenience, but you gain space, beachfront and resort facilities. Our guide to Rhodes Old Town covers the walled medieval quarter, and the next section covers the main areas spread across the island.
What are the main areas to stay in Rhodes?
The main bases are Rhodes Town in the north, Ixia and Ialysos just west, lively Faliraki, upmarket Kallithea, scenic Lindos with nearby Pefkos on the east coast, and the quiet far south around Prasonisi, Gennadi and Kiotari. Each offers a different coastline and atmosphere.
In the north, Rhodes Town anchors everything, with Ixia and Ialysos sitting just to its west. These western spots are known for big beach hotels, windsurfing and the breezy west-coast conditions, and they sit close to the airport, which lies on the west coast near Ialysos and Paradisi. That makes them convenient for arrivals and for anyone wanting reliable wind for water sports, though the breeze means the sea is livelier than the calmer eastern bays. They balance beach time with quick access to the capital’s sights and dining.
Heading south and east, Faliraki is the main lively resort with family hotels, nightlife and a broad sandy beach, while Kallithea and the Kalithea Springs area feel more upmarket with attractive coves. Further down the east coast, Lindos crowns a clifftop and offers a scenic village with nearby Pefkos and a quieter resort feel and sandy bays, and the far south around Prasonisi, Gennadi and Kiotari is the calmest of all. Our guide to Lindos in Rhodes covers the clifftop village and its bays, and the next section covers which areas suit families, couples and nightlife.
Which areas suit families, couples and nightlife?
Families do well in Faliraki and Ixia for sandy beaches and resort hotels; couples favour Lindos and the east coast for scenery and calm; nightlife seekers head to Faliraki and the New Town in Rhodes Town. The quiet south suits those wanting pure relaxation.
Families usually gravitate to Faliraki and the Ixia and Ialysos strip, where large resorts, sandy or shallow beaches and apartment options make daily logistics easy. Faliraki in particular pairs a broad beach with plenty of family hotels, so children have space and parents have facilities close by. Couples looking for romance and views tend to choose Lindos and the eastern bays, where the clifftop setting, sandy coves and slower evenings create a more intimate feel. The far south, around Gennadi and Kiotari, draws those who want genuine quiet and few crowds.
For nightlife, Faliraki is the island’s best-known party base, while the New Town in Rhodes Town offers bars and a buzz alongside its harbour and shops. Choosing between them often comes down to whether you also want history on your doorstep, which the capital provides, or a dedicated resort scene, which Faliraki delivers. Windsurfers and those chasing wind look south to Prasonisi, where conditions are reliable and the mood is relaxed. Our guide to Rhodes beaches covers the coastlines in each area, and the next section covers the tips that help you choose your base.
What tips help you choose where to stay in Rhodes?
Match your base to your priorities: pick the north for sights and short transfers, the east coast for scenery and calm, and the south for quiet and wind. Consider distances, airport proximity near Ialysos, beach type, and whether you want a car or to walk everywhere.
Start by deciding how you want to spend most days, because Rhodes is large enough that your base really does shape the trip. If sightseeing and dining lead your wish list, the north around Rhodes Town keeps everything within reach and minimises driving. If beach days are the point, choose the resort whose coastline suits you: breezy and active on the west around Ixia, lively and sandy at Faliraki, or scenic and calmer at Lindos and the eastern bays. The further south you go towards Prasonisi, Gennadi and Kiotari, the quieter and more remote it becomes.
Practical factors matter too. The airport sits on the west coast near Ialysos and Paradisi, so northern and western bases mean shorter transfers, while the far south involves a longer drive. Think about whether you want a hire car, which unlocks the whole island but adds cost, or a walkable base where you rarely need one. Weigh beach type, the level of nightlife you want nearby and how much atmosphere versus pure relaxation you prefer. Plan your visit and tours through our Rhodes travel guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhodes Town a good base for a first visit?
Yes, Rhodes Town is one of the most practical bases for a first visit because it combines history, dining and convenience in one place. The medieval Old Town gives you atmospheric walled streets and centuries of heritage, while the adjoining New Town adds Mandraki Harbour, Elli Beach, shops and an evening scene. From here you can sightsee on foot, eat somewhere different each night and avoid using a car for everyday outings. The location in the north also means short transfers to the airport, which lies on the west coast near Ialysos, and easy day trips to other parts of the island. The main trade-off is that the town beaches feel more urban than the long sandy stretches at dedicated resorts further along the coast, so beach purists may prefer to split their time. For most first-timers wanting a balance of culture and coast, the capital is a reliable choice.
Which area of Rhodes is quietest?
The far south of Rhodes is the quietest part of the island. Areas such as Prasonisi, Gennadi and Kiotari sit well away from the busier northern resorts and offer a calm, uncrowded atmosphere with open coastline and a relaxed pace. Prasonisi in particular is known among windsurfers because the conditions there are reliable, while the surrounding stretches appeal to travellers who simply want peace and space rather than nightlife or crowds. The trade-off is distance: the south is a longer drive from the airport on the west coast near Ialysos and from the capital’s sights, so you will generally want a hire car to explore comfortably and to reach restaurants and beaches beyond your immediate area. If your priority is genuine quiet, slow evenings and natural surroundings rather than resort facilities or busy promenades, the southern end of the island delivers that better than anywhere else.
Do you need a car when staying in Rhodes?
Whether you need a car depends entirely on your base. If you stay in Rhodes Town, you can manage without one for everyday life, walking to sights, restaurants and the New Town beaches, and using transfers or organised tours for trips further afield. The same broadly applies to large self-contained resorts where the beach, pools and dining sit within the complex or a short stroll away. However, if you choose a quieter area such as Lindos and the eastern bays or the far south around Gennadi, Kiotari and Prasonisi, a hire car becomes far more useful for reaching different beaches, villages and tavernas, since public options are limited and distances are real on such a large island. A practical approach is to match transport to base: walkable northern stays need little driving, while scenic or remote bases reward having your own wheels for the freedom to explore.