Faliraki Beach: The Liveliest Sand on Rhodes

If you want a beach that has thought of everything, this is it. Faliraki Beach is the most popular and the most fully organised stretch of sand on Rhodes — more than five kilometres wide, with just about anything you could ask for along its length. Beach fun, shallow water, bars, cafés, nightclubs, restaurants, fast food, watersports, and hotels right behind: it’s the go-to choice for visitors who want a bit of everything but would rather not stay in Rhodes Town itself.

Golden sand, well organised

The beach mixes impressive golden sand with small rocks and pebbles in places. Many sections are very well set up, with numerous beach bars and rows of loungers; occasionally the parts in front of certain hotels are reserved for their guests. Watersports run the full gamut — and if hunger strikes, you can choose from more than sixty restaurants serving everything from traditional Greek cooking to international cuisine.

Mandomata: the secluded naturist beach

At the far right end of Faliraki beach lies the small, secluded Mandomata naturist beach. Tucked between Kathara Beach and Anthony Quinn Bay, it’s a particularly lovely and private spot with a history of its own. When Faliraki’s tourism took off, Mandomata’s location and natural shape quickly made it a favourite among naturists — something that caused a stir among locals back in the 1960s and 70s, when public nude bathing was unheard of. Today privacy is assured: boats and non-naturist access into the bay are not permitted, sunbeds and umbrellas are available, and a traditional restaurant nearby handles food and refreshments.

Good to know

Faliraki Beach is about 14 kilometres from Rhodes city — roughly a 20-minute drive — and around 18 kilometres (about 25 minutes) from the airport. It’s well connected by bus and taxi, the road is well maintained, and parking is available. As the island’s most organised resort beach, the list of things to do is long: jet ski, water ski, parachute rides, banana boats, water playgrounds for children, beach volleyball, and the superb Faliraki Water Park, one of the best in Europe. Nearby you can visit Anthony Quinn Bay, the hilltop monastery of Profitis Ilias, the village of Kallithies, or the famous Kallithea Springs — and when night falls, the bar street and seafront offer just about limitless options.