The Best Beaches in Rhodes: A Local's Guide, Coast by Coast

Rhodes has dozens of beaches, and they are not all created equal. The west coast catches the summer wind and is better for windsurfing than swimming. The east coast is sheltered, sunny and dotted with bays of every shape: long sandy stretches, pebble coves, and clear rocky inlets made for snorkelling.

We live in Lindos, halfway down that east coast, so these are the beaches we swim at ourselves and recommend to guests every summer. They are listed roughly from north to south.

Elli Beach, Rhodes Town

The town beach curls around the northern tip of the island beside Mandraki. It is lively, well organised and handy if you are staying in the city, with a famous diving platform and the Aquarium at the far end. The water deepens quickly and the northern tip can be breezy, but for a swim between museum visits it is ideal.

Best for: a quick swim in town.

Kallithea Springs

A few kilometres south of Rhodes Town, the restored Italian-era spa of Kallithea sits over a series of small rocky coves with very clear water. It is more of an experience than a classic beach: domed pavilions, pebble mosaics and ladders into the sea. There is an entrance fee to the spa grounds.

Best for: snorkelling and a bit of architecture with your swim.

Anthony Quinn Bay and Ladiko

Just south of Faliraki, this small, steep-sided cove is named after the actor who fell for it while filming The Guns of Navarone here in the early 1960s. The water is an extraordinary shade of green-blue, and the rocks on either side are excellent for snorkelling. It is small and gets busy by late morning, so arrive early. Ladiko, next door, is similar and slightly more relaxed.

Best for: snorkelling and photographs.

Faliraki

A long, sandy beach with every facility you could want: sunbeds, water sports, cafés and bars. It is the island’s best-known resort beach and a good choice for families and groups who want everything in one place.

Best for: facilities and water sports.

Traganou and Afandou

Traganou is a long pebble beach with small sea caves at its northern end. Afandou next to it is wide, open and rarely crowded. Neither is especially polished, which is precisely the appeal.

Best for: space and quiet.

Tsambika

One of the most loved beaches on Rhodes: a wide bay of fine golden sand with shallow, clear water that stays knee-deep for a long way. Above it, the little monastery of Panagia Tsambika sits on the headland, reached by a steep climb of a few hundred steps with a huge view at the top.

Best for: families with small children, lazy sand days.

Agathi

A small, pretty bay of soft sand north of the fishing village of Haraki, overlooked by the ruins of Feraklos castle. The water is shallow and calm. It is reached by a short road and feels a world away from the bigger resorts.

Best for: a quiet sandy day, and lunch in Haraki afterwards.

Lindos main beach and Pallas

Right below the village, Lindos Bay is a curve of sand and fine pebbles with calm, clear water, sunbeds and tavernas. Pallas beach, beside it at the foot of the Acropolis rock, is a little quieter. Both are a short walk downhill from anywhere in the village.

Best for: easy swims between sightseeing, and the Acropolis as your backdrop.

Saint Paul’s Bay, Lindos

If there is one beach that defines Rhodes, it is this: an almost perfectly round lagoon of turquoise water, closed off from the open sea by a narrow gap in the rock, with a small white chapel at the water’s edge. Tradition holds that Saint Paul landed here in the first century. It is also one of the most popular wedding spots on the island.

Come early in the morning, when the water is glassy and you might have it almost to yourself. Our page on Saint Paul’s Bay has more.

Best for: everyone. Especially couples.

Glystra, Kiotari and Gennadi

South of Lindos, Glystra is a small, sheltered cove of sand and clear water. Beyond it, Kiotari and Gennadi are long, open beaches of sand and shingle where you can always find space.

Best for: escaping the crowds.

Prasonisi

At the southern tip of the island, Prasonisi is a sand spit joining Rhodes to a small islet, with the Aegean on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. In summer the wind makes it one of Europe’s best-known spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing. On calmer days the sheltered side is fine for swimming, but most people come to watch the sails.

Best for: windsurfers, kitesurfers and a memorable day out.

Which beach for which traveller?

• Families with small children: Tsambika, Agathi, Lindos main beach.
• Snorkellers: Anthony Quinn Bay, Ladiko, Kallithea Springs.
• Couples: Saint Paul’s Bay, Glystra.
• Facilities and water sports: Faliraki.
• Wind sports: Prasonisi.

Tips for beach days on Rhodes

• Go east when the wind blows. When the west coast is choppy, the east is usually calm.
• Arrive early. Small coves like Anthony Quinn Bay and Saint Paul’s Bay fill up by late morning in high season.
• Pack water shoes. Many coves are pebbly or rocky at the waterline.
• Respect the sun. From June to September, the hours around midday are fierce. Take shade, water and a hat, and swim early or late.
• Bring cash for sunbeds. Organised beaches usually charge for a set of sunbeds and an umbrella, and smaller places may not take cards.
• Look for the hidden ones. Our guide to Rhodes’ hidden beaches covers quieter spots.

A base between the best beaches

Lindos sits right in the middle of the island’s best stretch of coast, with Saint Paul’s Bay and the main beach on foot and Tsambika, Agathi and Glystra a short drive away. Lindos Comfy Suites is a family-run, 21-suite hotel on the edge of the village. See the suites and book direct with us at comfysuitesrhodes.com.