Last updated: August 2026
Rhodes holidays have been a firm favourite with British travellers for decades, and the island consistently delivers one of the most complete holiday experiences in Greece. The combination of a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage walled city, the postcard-perfect village of Lindos perched on its clifftop acropolis, long sandy beaches and reliable sunshine make Rhodes a destination that truly caters for all tastes. Greece’s fourth-largest island is big enough to offer real variety, yet small enough to explore thoroughly in a single holiday.
Rhodes suits families, couples and culture enthusiasts equally well. Lively resorts like Faliraki cater to younger travellers and those wanting a vibrant beach atmosphere, while quieter areas like Ixia, Ialyssos and the island’s less-developed south offer a more relaxed pace. The medieval old town of Rhodes is a destination in its own right – one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe – and can be combined easily with beach time in any resort.
Rhodes Town contains one of the best-preserved medieval walled cities in the world, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary significance. The old town is ringed by massive medieval walls built by the Knights of St John, who controlled Rhodes from 1309 to 1522. Within the walls, thousands of years of history – ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Crusader and Ottoman – are layered one upon another in a remarkable urban palimpsest.
The Street of Knights (Ippoton) is the old town’s most famous thoroughfare – a cobbled medieval street flanked by the imposing Inns of the Knights, each inn representing a different European langue of the Order. At the top sits the Palace of the Grand Masters, a magnificent castle whose interior now houses excellent mosaic and artefact displays. The old town’s souks, mosques, Byzantine churches and Ottoman fountains can occupy a full day of exploration even for the most seasoned traveller.
Lindos is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful spots in Greece, and it is a must-visit on any Rhodes holiday. The ancient acropolis, perched dramatically on a 116-metre clifftop above the modern village, contains a 4th-century BC temple of Athena and ancient walls that are breathtaking in their setting. The views from the acropolis over the deep blue sea and white village below are among the finest in the Aegean.
The village itself is a gem – a labyrinth of whitewashed captain’s houses decorated with black and white pebble mosaics (chochlakia) that are unique to Lindos. The village has excellent restaurants, bars and boutiques, and the main beach below is a lovely sheltered bay.
St Paul’s Bay, around the headland, is a smaller, quieter cove said to be where Saint Paul landed during his missionary journey. The combination of ancient history, stunning scenery and a beautiful beach makes Lindos exceptional.
Faliraki, on the east coast about 16 km south of Rhodes Town, is one of the island’s most popular and lively resorts. Its long sandy beach is one of the best on the island – wide, well-maintained and with excellent facilities including sun loungers, watersports and beach volleyball. The resort has a strong young British following and a busy bar and club strip that comes alive after dark.
The Faliraki Water Park adjacent to the resort is one of the largest in Greece and provides a full day of entertainment for families with children. The resort has good links by bus to both Rhodes Town and Lindos, making it a practical base for exploring the island. For those wanting a lively, fun, affordable holiday with a great beach, Faliraki is among the best options Rhodes has to offer.
On the west coast just south of Rhodes Town, the resorts of Ixia and Ialyssos offer a more relaxed alternative to the busier east coast beaches. The beaches here tend to be pebbly rather than sandy, but the water is clear and the position – looking out towards Turkey with spectacular sunsets – is beautiful. These resorts are popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers thanks to the consistent north-west breeze that funnels down this stretch of coast.
Ialyssos also has historical interest beyond the beach – the ancient city of Ialyssos, one of the three original cities of Rhodes, has an acropolis and monastery (Filerimos) worth visiting. The Filerimos hill offers panoramic views over Rhodes Town, the airport and the Turkish coast beyond. The Butterfly Valley (Petaloudes) nature reserve nearby is accessible by road and is one of the island’s most popular excursions, particularly between June and September when thousands of butterflies gather in its shaded gorge.
Rhodes has an extraordinary depth of history that extends well beyond the medieval old town. The island was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios said to have stood at the entrance to the ancient harbour. While the statue itself is long gone, the ancient city of Rhodes and its acropolis on the Monte Smith hill above the modern city offer impressive ruins including a restored theatre and temple of Apollo.
Ancient Kamiros on the west coast is one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes and is better preserved than most visitors expect – a complete ancient Greek city spread across a hillside with streets, houses, a cistern and temples all visible. The Acropolis of Lindos has already been mentioned, but combining all three ancient cities in a day trip circuit gives a remarkable picture of the island’s pre-medieval history. The archaeological museum in Rhodes old town is excellent for context.
Prasonisi at the very southern tip of Rhodes is one of Europe’s premier windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations. A narrow sandy causeway connects the rocky islet of Prasonisi to the mainland of Rhodes, with the Aegean Sea on one side and the Mediterranean on the other – creating two completely different sea conditions simultaneously. Strong, consistent winds and the dramatic setting make it a world-class watersports venue.
Beyond Prasonisi, the beaches along the south and west coasts of Rhodes are considerably quieter and less developed than the tourist strip around Faliraki and Rhodes Town. Villages like Gennadi, Kiotari and Apolakkia offer an authentic, unhurried side of island life rarely seen by package holiday visitors who stay close to the main resorts. Exploring this quieter south of the island by hire car is highly recommended.
Rhodes International Airport Diagoras (RHO) receives direct flights from across the UK, with a flight time of approximately 4 hours from London. Direct flights operate from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and many other UK regional airports throughout the summer season. The airport is 14 km from Rhodes Town, with taxis and buses providing connections.
Transfers to most resorts take between 15 minutes and 1 hour depending on location. Car hire is available at the airport and in all main resorts and is recommended for exploring the island’s south and historical sites. For peace of mind when booking, always check your holiday is ABTA protected.
| Airport | Rhodes International Diagoras (RHO) |
|---|---|
| Main resorts | Faliraki, Rhodes Town, Lindos, Ixia, Ialyssos, Kolymbia, Pefkos |
| Highlight | Rhodes Old Town – UNESCO medieval walled city |
| Best for | History/culture, beach, families, couples, watersports |
| Climate | One of the sunniest spots in Europe, hot May-October, very mild winters |
| Flight time from London | Approximately 4 hours |
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Language | Greek |
Search4Sun compares thousands of Rhodes holiday deals from the UK’s leading tour operators, with departures from local airports across the UK. For peace of mind when booking, always check your holiday is ABTA protected.
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Rhodes is an excellent choice for families, with a wide range of sandy beaches, water parks and family-friendly resorts. Faliraki Water Park is one of the largest in Greece and a full-day attraction for children of all ages. The beaches along the east coast are generally sandy and shallow, well suited to young swimmers.
Kolymbia and Pefkos are quieter resorts particularly popular with families seeking a calmer base than Faliraki. Many hotels on the island offer dedicated family facilities including kids’ clubs, children’s pools and entertainment programmes. Rhodes Town is fascinating for children as well as adults – the medieval walls and palace feel genuinely like stepping into a story book.
The flight time from London to Rhodes is approximately 4 hours, making it one of the slightly longer short-haul Greek island flights. From northern UK airports like Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow the flight time is similar or marginally longer. Most UK airports with significant charter flight operations serve Rhodes in summer.
Direct charter and low-cost scheduled flights operate throughout the summer season from April to October. Outside this window, scheduled services are available via Athens with a connecting domestic flight, though the island is quieter and many tourist facilities closed from November to March.
Faliraki beach is the longest and most popular, with excellent facilities and a lively atmosphere. Tsambika beach, on the east coast between Faliraki and Lindos, is widely regarded as the finest beach on the island – a long arc of fine golden sand with clear water and a dramatic backdrop of cliffs topped by a monastery.
Anthony Quinn Bay, named after the actor who fell in love with it while filming The Guns of Navarone, is a beautiful small bay with clear turquoise water near Faliraki. St Paul’s Bay at Lindos is a lovely sheltered alternative to the main Lindos beach. For watersports, Ixia on the west coast and Prasonisi in the south are the top choices.
The old town of Rhodes is one of the most extraordinary medieval urban spaces in Europe – a living city where people work, eat and sleep within walls built 700 years ago. The Street of Knights is the showpiece, but wandering off the main tourist routes into the residential areas reveals a quieter, more authentic side of the old town.
The old town has a good selection of restaurants, bars and shops within the walls. Eating here in the evening – particularly in the quieter streets away from the main tourist drag – is a wonderful experience. The son-et-lumiere light show that plays on the Palace of the Grand Masters walls in summer is a memorable spectacle and worth watching once during your stay.
June and September are the best months for a Rhodes holiday. The sea is warm enough for comfortable swimming, and crowds are noticeably thinner than during the July-August peak.
July and August are the hottest and busiest months, particularly around Faliraki and Rhodes Town, though a reliable sea breeze keeps the heat manageable.
May and October offer a quieter, cooler alternative well suited to sightseeing in the old town and Lindos. Most coastal tourist facilities close between November and April.
Most popular full-day tours
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