Rhodes
Ixia & Ialyssos
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West-coast luxury hotel strip — five-star resorts, kitesurfers on Meltemi-blown beaches, 10 minutes from old town.
The west-coast strip running from Ixia through Ialyssos to the airport packs the islands largest five-star resorts (Sheraton, Rodos Palace, Atrium Prestige) onto pebble-and-sand beaches that face the meltemi wind. This makes them gold for kitesurfers and a calculated trade for sunbathers — but with old town just 10 minutes by bus, its the best base for combining luxury with culture.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Highest concentration of five-star all-inclusive resorts on the island
- ↑10-15 minute bus to Rhodes old town — easiest culture-plus-luxury base
- ↑Kitesurfing schools rated among the best in Europe — consistent meltemi wind
What you sacrifice
- ↓Beaches are largely pebble (not sand) and meltemi wind can make sunbathing miserable
- ↓Resort strip is functional rather than charming — no village or old quarter
- ↓Most beach restaurants close late October through April
Best for
Avoid if
Other Rhodes neighbourhoods
UNESCO-walled medieval city — Knights Hospitaller streets of the Palace of the Grand Master.
East coasts package-tour party strip — 4km of beach, water park, and the islands rowdiest summer nightlife.
Sand spit where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean — windsurf and kitesurf mecca, two seas, no resorts.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
Best time to visit Rhodes →