If your idea of a perfect holiday is a peaceful resort close to more lively towns, then Kalithea is for you. Located halfway between culture capital Rhodes Town and the party hub of Faliraki, Kalithea retains a laidback vibe that makes it seem worlds away from both. It has a long history as a spa town where people came to enjoy the springs, and the restored baths are now a local landmark.
Kalithea’s beach is a sand and shingle sunspot on the calmer, more sheltered east side of Rhodes Island, with gentle waves lapping at the shore. There’s a second beach in the grounds of the old spa, which has a small entry fee but is in a beautiful setting in a cove. Kalithea is a prime spot for snorkelling and scuba diving; there’s a wide variety of marine life and even some underwater caves.
Kalithea is just a 10-minute drive from Rhodes Town, a gold mine of historical and cultural sights including the huge walls and towers that surround the town, a medieval castle and an ancient Greek acropolis. 10 minutes in the other direction is Faliraki, the party town that also has one of Europe’s biggest water parks. Slightly inland is Koskinou, an old village with houses painted in beautiful bright colours.
While the serious clubbers stay down the road in Faliraki, visitors to Kalithea spend their evenings relaxing in quiet tavernas with some authentic Greek mezze to snack on and a bottle of local wine. The old spa is a particularly nice spot to pass the evening, where there’s a waterside bar, or the resort has one club, an open-air venue that hosts some famous name DJs during the summer.
GMT +2
€3
Around $20
3 hrs
(from London)
Euro
Greek