Where to stay in Rhodes: the 4 neighborhoods to know in 2026
An entire medieval city, ringed by ramparts and still lived in, then eighty kilometres of coastline: Rhodes brings together two ways of travelling that have almost nothing in common. You sleep in fourteenth-century stone, or right on the water twenty minutes away.
One of our members sums up the island without flattery: very beautiful beaches, genuine ancient sites, and modern buildings that are not all successful. Your budget follows the area you choose: around $91 to $170* inside the walls, often less on the east coast, and more in the large resorts on the west side.
There are some very beautiful beaches as well as interesting historical sites. It is true that the modern developments from recent years are not necessarily very pretty, but there are still some authentic corners left to discover.
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At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that suits you to head straight to the recommended neighborhood.
The neighborhood map in Rhodes
Get your bearings on the neighborhoods and must-see sights before choosing where to drop your bags. Click a name to jump to its description.
The Medieval Old Town Within the ancient walls
for sleeping in the setting itself, without a car
This is one of the few medieval cities in Europe that are still inhabited: cobbled lanes, the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights and ramparts you can walk along. The hotels occupy former Ottoman or Venetian mansions, often with an inner courtyard. The drawback is practical: traffic is banned or heavily restricted, you have to carry your luggage over the cobbles, and the terraces on the main lanes stay open late in summer.
The palace, seen from the outside, has some pretty impressive architecture that is well preserved. On the other hand, I found the entrance price quite high.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Marco Polo Mansion Luxury
A restored Ottoman mansion tucked deep into the alleys where every room is unique. The go-to spot if you prefer atmospheric nights in the old town over standard hotel comforts.
Aria di Rodi Mid-range
A small guesthouse inside the walls, located a few minutes from the palace. Simple rooms and a shady courtyard.
Rhodes Youth Hostel Budget
The only hostel in the Old Town, set in an old building featuring a courtyard. The lowest price for sleeping inside the fortress walls.
Pros
- Medieval surroundings right outside your door
- Everything inside the walls is walkable
Cons
- Luggage to carry over the cobbles, limited car access
- Lively terraces running late in season
The New Town and northern beaches Just north of the ramparts
to combine sightseeing, beach time, and shopping
Just north of the ramparts, the modern district lines up shops, restaurants, and the aquarium, with beaches within walking distance on both sides of the point. It is the most convenient area on the island: you can explore the medieval city on foot, swim in the morning, and catch buses to the rest of Rhodes right from here. On the downside, it lacks any distinct character, and the beaches are pebbly.
What to see & do in the neighborhood
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Grande Albergo Delle Rose Luxury
A restored 1920s seaside palace complete with gardens and an adjoining casino. The grand historic hotel of the island.
Aquamare City and Beach Mid-range
A newer spot between the modern centre and the beach, offering sea views from the upper floors. A good compromise between town and beach.
City Center Hotel Budget
A functional hotel a few minutes from the ramparts and shops. The best location-to-price ratio outside the Old Town.
Pros
- Old Town and beaches within walking distance
- Departure point for island-wide buses
Cons
- Featureless modern architecture
- Pebble beaches, no sand
Ixia and Ialyssos On the west coast, facing the wind
for large resorts, spas, and windsurfing
The west coast, exposed to the meltemi, lines up large resort hotels with pools and spas, five to ten kilometres from town. This is all-inclusive territory and one of the best windsurfing spots in the Mediterranean, precisely because of that wind. The flip side: the sea is choppy and cool, the beaches are pebbly, and you need a bus or a car to reach the old town.
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Rodos Palace Luxury
Expansive resort featuring indoor and outdoor pools just minutes from town, standing as one of the island's oldest large hotels.
Atrium Platinum Resort Luxury
A seafront spa resort geared to quiet stays, with shuttles to the centre.
Dionysos Mid-range
A good-sized hotel with a garden and a pool, a bus ride from the old town. The club formula at a moderate price.
Pros
- Spas, pools, and full resort amenities
- One of the top windsurfing spots
Cons
- Often choppy water and pebble beaches
- Bus or car required to get to town
Faliraki and the east coast Fifteen kilometres south-east
for sand, families, and beach holidays
The east coast is sheltered from the wind, meaning calm seas and sandy beaches, which explains why so many hotels cluster around Faliraki and the Kallithéa bay. This is beach-holiday territory, with studios, apartments and resort clubs at every price, and lively nightlife in the centre of the resort. People stay here for swimming rather than sightseeing, since the old town is half an hour away by bus.
Where to stay in this neighborhood
Mitsis Faliraki Beach Luxury
Large beachfront hotel offering all-inclusive packages. The quintessential resort stay along this stretch of coast.
Anelia Boutique Mid-range
Refined small property a few minutes from the beach, offering a more intimate feel than the surrounding complexes.
Bay View Studios Budget
Kitchenette studios near the bay, practical for families and longer stays. One of the lowest rates in this guide.
Pros
- Sandy beaches and calm water
- Plenty of kitchen-equipped studios
Cons
- A half-hour bus ride to the old town
- Noisy resort centre in high season
Our tips for booking the right place
- Lindos is for a day trip; sleeping there is another kind of stay: The whitewashed village and its acropolis, which our members rank at the very top of their itineraries, sit fifty kilometres south of the main town. It is an easy day trip by bus or car from any area in this guide. Booking a room there implies a slower, more stationary stay, so treat it as a second leg of your trip rather than your primary base if that is what you are after.
- The wind dictates your coast: The western shore bears the brunt of the meltemi wind, while the east stays sheltered. That single factor changes everything, leaving you with choppy, cooler water on one side and flat conditions with sandy beaches on the other. Windsurfers head west for precisely that reason, whereas families stick to the east. It is the most concrete criterion for choosing between the two coastlines.
- Luggage and cobblestones: The Old Town is largely closed to traffic, and its narrow streets are paved with cobblestones. Hotels here are sometimes several hundred metres from the nearest drop-off point. If you are travelling with heavy bags, ask your hotel where to park and how far you will need to walk.
- Booking on the west coast expecting calm swimming conditions: the wind that makes the spot famous also churns up the water and keeps it cooler. For family swimming, the east coast offers the exact opposite.
- Choosing Faliraki to tour the island sites: the resort is fifteen kilometres from the town and thirty-five from Lindos. It is an excellent beach destination, but a poor cultural base.
- Booking a room on a busy Old Town alley without checking first: in summer, the terraces stay open late, and historic stone walls do not block out the noise. Addresses on side alleys are much quieter for the same price.
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