Stay in Rhodes: choose a base by how you spend your days
Most visitors pick one of three bases. Rhodes Town puts the medieval Old Town, the Archaeological Museum and the harbours on your doorstep. Lindos is a village under an acropolis, with beaches close by. Faliraki is a coastal resort with a long sand beach and its own water park.
This guide compares areas, not individual hotels, and it gives no room prices. Rates change by date and by property, so check them on the booking page you use. It is an independent guide, not the official tourism website of Rhodes.
Hotels in Rhodes by area: the main areas compared
What each base is good for, and what to keep in mind.
| Area | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodes Town and the Old Town | Sights on foot, the palace, the museum, the harbours, evenings out | The Old Town is a lived-in UNESCO site, so ask the property how you reach it |
| Lindos | The acropolis, the village lanes, St Paul's Bay and the main beach | The acropolis is a walk from the village, and the town is about an hour from Rhodes Town by car |
| Faliraki | A long sand beach, the water park, easy beach days | The water park season ends on 26 October in 2026, and a hotel's own season may differ |
| Tsambika and Afandou | Fine sand at the foot of the monastery hill, a long beach with beach volleyball | Check how you will reach the Old Town and Lindos |
| Ixia | Water sports, with facilities on the beach | Wind and sea conditions change from day to day |
| Southeast coast and Kiotari | A coastal base away from the main sights | Fires in 2023 led to evacuations here, so ask about the current state |
Rhodes tours and day trips
Island tours, boat trips and excursions from Rhodes, with live prices and availability.
Rhodes Town and the Old Town
The medieval city of Rhodes was inscribed by UNESCO in 1988. It includes the Street of the Knights, the Grand Master's Palace and the Great Hospital, and people still live there. Staying in or near it means you can walk to the palace and the Archaeological Museum, which is housed in the former Knights' hospital.
Statements like "car-free" or "always quiet" need to be checked for the exact property. Ask about access by car or taxi, luggage and street noise before you book.
Building works at the New Market have changed the bus and pedestrian area since 11 September 2026. In the Averof street section between Papagou and Gallias the boarding point for the local and long-distance buses has moved, for a planned three months.
Lindos
The acropolis and the beaches are separate stops. You reach the acropolis on foot from the traditional village, about 10 minutes according to the heritage portal. Entry costs €20, or €10 reduced.
Lindos suits visitors who want a village base and are happy to travel for the rest of the island. The heritage portal gives about an hour by car from Rhodes Town. The national tourism site gives 50 km and 1 hour 40 minutes by bus from the central bus station.
St Paul's Bay is a small bay with two small beaches of sand and pebbles, separate from the main beach below the village.
Faliraki, Tsambika and Ixia
Faliraki is a coastal resort with a beach of roughly 4 km, according to an older municipal description. The water park there lists 4 May to 26 October as its 2026 season, with adult entry at €30 in 2026. A hotel's own season may differ from the water park's, so ask the property.
Further south, Tsambika has fine sand at the foot of its monastery hill, and Afandou has a long beach with beach volleyball and beach football. Ixia has facilities for water sports. Wind and sea conditions vary, so do not count on one particular day.
Which base fits which kind of trip
Where to stay in Rhodes, Greece, for sights
Rhodes Town puts the palace and the Archaeological Museum within walking distance, and Lindos is the base if you want the acropolis, which is about 10 minutes on foot from the village.
Places to stay in Rhodes for beach days
Faliraki has a long sand beach and a water park, Tsambika has fine sand at the foot of its monastery hill, and Afandou has a long beach with beach volleyball and beach football.
Where to stay in Rhodes for water sports
Ixia has facilities for water sports on the beach. Wind and sea conditions change from day to day, so do not count on one particular day.
The accommodation fee
A daily charge per room or unit, in force since 1 January 2025.
| Accommodation | April to October | November to March |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, 1 to 2 stars | €2 | €0.50 |
| Hotel, 3 stars | €5 | €1.50 |
| Hotel, 4 stars | €10 | €3 |
| Hotel, 5 stars | €15 | €4 |
| Furnished rooms or apartments in the legal category | €2 | €0.50 |
| Regular short-term rental | €8 | €2 |
| Short-term rented detached house over 80 m² | €15 | €4 |
| Tourist furnished villa | €15 | €4 |
The fee is per room or unit and per day, not per guest. The guest pays it, you get a separate receipt, and it is settled after the stay and before departure. These are the rates published in the official gazette in December 2024, effective from 1 January 2025.
Questions to ask before you book
Short checks that save trouble on arrival.
How do I get there?
Ask about the transfer from the airport and the nearest bus stop. Check the current timetable before you go.
Rhodes airport →What is open in my month?
Many sights and the water park run seasonal hours. Look up your dates in the weather guide.
Weather and best time →How far is the beach?
Distances vary a lot inside one area, so look at the map. Our beach guide lists twelve beaches.
Beaches →Is the fee included?
Ask whether the accommodation fee is added at check-out or already in the rate.
Where to stay in Rhodes: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Rhodes for a first visit?
Rhodes Town if you want sights on foot, Lindos if you want a village and the acropolis, Faliraki if you want a long sand beach. The table above shows what each base gives you and what it costs in travel time.
Is Lindos far from Rhodes Town?
The heritage portal gives about one hour by car. The national tourism site gives 50 km and 1 hour 40 minutes by bus from the central bus station. Treat these as orientation values and allow extra time.
Is the Old Town a good place to sleep?
It is a lived-in UNESCO site close to the palace and the museum. Whether a given property is quiet or reachable by car needs to be checked with the property itself.
Do I pay an extra fee for accommodation?
Yes. Since 1 January 2025 a daily accommodation fee applies per room or unit, between €0.50 and €15 depending on the type and the season. It is not charged per guest.
Are the 2023 fires still a reason to avoid the southeast?
The 2023 fires led to precautionary evacuations around Kiotari and other places, and evacuated does not mean destroyed. Ask the property about its current state and facilities.