Rhodes is one of those places that keeps pulling people back. There’s something about the combination of medieval cobblestones, insanely blue water, and the kind of evenings that stretch on until ten o’clock that makes it genuinely difficult to choose anywhere else in Greece. But here’s the thing nobody tells you before you book: Rhodes isn’t a single destination. It’s more like two or three, depending on which coast you end up on.
Most people pick a hotel based on photos and price, which is fine, until they arrive and realise the west coast gets battered by Meltemi winds half the summer while the east coast stays glassy and calm. Or they book a beach resort and spend the whole trip wondering what it would’ve been like to sleep inside the medieval walls. The east vs. west coast question alone is enough to derail an otherwise straightforward booking decision.
This guide is my attempt to cut through all of that. Whether you want a boutique room inside a Crusader-era building, an adults-only suite with a sea view, or a family-friendly beach hotel with calm shallow water, there’s a version of Rhodes for you. You just need to know where to look for the best places to stay in Rhodes.
The West Coast: Ixia and Ialyssos
The west coast gets a bit of a mixed reputation, and honestly, as the Meltemi winds pick up reliably during July and August, which means the sea can be choppy and the beach less relaxing than you’d hope. That said, if you’re into windsurfing, Ixia is one of the best spots in the Mediterranean for it, and the sunsets here are some of the best I’ve seen anywhere in Greece. Long, slow, orange ones that are best watched with a cocktail in hand.
The other big draw for this stretch is how close it is to Rhodes Old Town, you’re looking at around ten minutes by car, which means you can do the full medieval evening stroll and still be back at the hotel pool by nine.
Amus Hotel & Spa
We stayed in this hotel for a long weekend and chose it due to its beautiful grounds and proximity to the sea. Rhodes Old Town is only a 10 minute drive away and the airport is 20 minutes in the other direction so no time wasted with long transfers.
When we arrived we weren’t disappointed, this 5 star hotel has a lovely spacious lobby and we were greeted immediately by the friendly and competent staff. We had booked a forest view room but were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a sea view room with a small seating area and lovely balcony looking out over the crazily blue sea.
This hotel has recently had a complete refurb and rebrand, it used to be called Rhodes Bay and was looking a little tired. Now it is stylishly decorated with great facilities. The 10th-floor Iliades restaurant has views that make even a mediocre dinner feel memorable, and the Bakaliko Taverna downstairs does proper Greek food.
There are two sections to the spa, the free section and the section you have to pay 30 euros to use. We were shown around the adults only fee paying part and its stunning, the other free section is a bit tired and definitely needs a spruce up. If you book a treatment then you can have access to the spa for free for the remainder of your stay so definitely worth considering.
One thing to set expectations on: there’s a road underpass between the hotel and the beach, and the beach itself is pebbly rather than sandy. If you’ve been picturing turquoise water lapping gently against soft sand, this isn’t quite that. The water is gorgeous, the pebbles just take some getting used to. Worth knowing before you arrive rather than after.
The Ixian Grand & All Suites
Adults-only, sleek, and considerably more modern in its aesthetic than Amus, this one works well for couples who want something quieter and more design-forward. If Amus leans into character and history, The Ixian Grand is all clean lines and an uncluttered pool deck. Different priorities, different hotel. Both are solid choices depending on what you’re after.
The East Coast: Where the Water Stays Calm
The east coast is sheltered from the Meltemi, which means the sea is calmer, the beaches are sandier, and families tend to gravitate here naturally. Faliraki, Afandou, Kallithea, Pefkos are the spots that deliver on the postcard version of a Greek beach holiday. The water genuinely is that colour.
Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites
This is the one that keeps appearing near the top of Greece hotel rankings, and having spent time here I can see exactly why. The property is built into a hillside in an amphitheatre layout above Vlycha Bay, so almost every angle gives you a view worth staring at. It’s adults-only, which keeps the atmosphere calm, and the “Five Senses” dining experience is something people genuinely talk about afterwards, although not in a pretentious way, just because it’s thoughtfully done. It’s not cheap, but for a special trip or a milestone birthday, it’s the kind of place that justifies the spend.
Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa, Kallithea
All-inclusive done properly. The white marble aesthetic isn’t to everyone’s taste, but the execution here is good, the à la carte food is far better than you’d expect from an all-inclusive, the pools are immaculate, and there’s enough going on that you could genuinely spend a week without leaving the grounds if that’s what you wanted. For people who find decision fatigue around meals stressful on holiday, this format takes all of that away. It’s unapologetically a resort, and for the right person, that’s exactly the point.
Pefkos and Afandou for Families
If you’re travelling with young children, these two villages are worth looking at. The water is shallow and calm, the pace is gentle, and neither place has the chaotic resort-town energy that some east coast spots can tip into. Pushchair-friendly, relaxed, and with enough local tavernas that you’re not trapped eating at the hotel every night.
Rhodes Old Town: Sleeping Inside the Walls
Staying inside Rhodes Old Town is not the practical choice. The streets are cobbled and narrow, parking is a nightmare, and you won’t have a beach on your doorstep. But when the cruise ships leave at five o’clock and the lanes go quiet, it becomes something else entirely. The atmosphere in the evening is unlike anything you’ll get from a beach hotel.
Spirit of the Knights Boutique Hotel
This is my favourite option for Old Town accommodation. Housed in a building with genuine Crusader-era architecture, hand-carved details, original stonework, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re actually living in the history rather than just visiting it. Rooms are characterful rather than modern, which suits some people perfectly and others not at all. If you need a gym and a swim-up bar, look elsewhere. If you want to wake up inside a medieval city and wander out for coffee before the day-trippers arrive, this is perfect.
A two-night split stay, Old Town followed by a beach resort, or vice versa, is definitely one of the better ways to experience Rhodes if your schedule allows it. You get the history and the swimming. It does mean packing up and moving, which is annoying, but most people who’ve done it say it’s worth it.
Villas, Villages, and the Road Less Booked
Rhodes has a villa scene that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. For groups or families, renting a private villa in one of the inland villages can give you three times the space for half the price of a beachfront hotel, and the experience of actually being somewhere rather than sealed inside a resort bubble.
Koskinou is the village that keeps coming up when people ask about this. It’s got those deep pink and terracotta doorways that photograph beautifully, traditional whitewashed houses, and a pace of life that feels genuinely local. It’s not a tourist village, which is either a selling point or a red flag depending on your holiday style.
For total seclusion, south Rhodes, particularly around Lachania, offers an almost completely different experience. Small, quiet, with an old-Greece feel that’s largely disappeared from the more popular resorts. If you’ve done Rhodes before and want something that doesn’t feel like anywhere you’ve already been, this is worth looking into.
The Practical Stuff
May, June, September, and October are the shoulder season sweet spots, lower prices, fewer crowds, and weather that’s genuinely lovely without being relentlessly hot. July and August are peak season for a reason, but if you’re going then, book early and brace for the heat (temperatures regularly hit 35°C) and the Meltemi on the west coast.
Transport is worth thinking through before you arrive. If you’re staying in Ixia or Rhodes Town, the bus network is actually decent and saves the hassle of a hire car. But if you’re based in Lindos or anywhere on the south coast, you need a car, full stop. The bus timetables don’t work for day trips and taxis add up quickly.
One more thing on the wind: the Meltemi typically runs strongest from mid-July through August, predominantly affecting the north and west of the island. If wind bothers you, on the beach or just generally, the east coast is the safer bet for that period. It’s not a minor inconvenience; on a bad day it genuinely changes what’s enjoyable about being outside.
So, Which Part of Rhodes Are You?
If you love history and atmosphere above beaches: Old Town, two nights minimum, Spirit of the Knights if the budget allows. If you want calm water, soft sand, and a proper luxury hotel: east coast, Lindos Blu or Mitsis Alila. If you want sunsets and don’t mind a bit of wind: west coast, Amus for character or The Ixian Grand for something more contemporary. And if you want space, privacy, and a local experience: look at villas in Koskinou or head south to Lachania.
Rhodes rewards people who make an actual decision about what they want from a holiday rather than just picking the cheapest available room. Figure that out first, and the rest gets a lot easier.