Kallithea Beach

Kallithea sits on the northeast coast of Rhodes, about 9 kilometres south of Rhodes town, and is better known for the building above it than for the beach itself. The bay is small, rocky and deep, with pebble coves between sculpted limestone outcrops, and the domed spa complex standing over it is one of the most photographed pieces of architecture on the island.

The Springs and the Italian Complex

The mineral water at Kallithea had a local reputation long before anyone built here, but the complex that survives dates from the Italian administration of the Dodecanese. It was designed by the architect Pietro Lombardi and opened in July 1929 as a thermal spa, in a Moorish-influenced style: a domed rotunda where the water came up, colonnades, a terrace above the sea and floors laid in the black and white pebble mosaic that is traditional throughout the Dodecanese.

The spa stopped operating in 1967 when the source failed, and the buildings were left to deteriorate for decades. A full restoration brought them back, and the site reopened to visitors in July 2007. It now works as a paid attraction with a small museum, a restaurant and swimming platforms cut into the rocks below, and it is used regularly for weddings and events. There is an entrance charge, and the beach areas within the grounds are part of it.

The Bay and the Anchorage

Outside the complex the shoreline breaks up into a series of small inlets backed by pines, with flat rocks to swim from and steps down into deep water rather than any real stretch of sand. The water is exceptionally clear here because the bottom is rock rather than sand, which is also why it is one of the better snorkelling spots close to Rhodes town.

The bay's shelter and its short distance from the harbour make it one of the anchorages you'll visit on a private gulet charter from Rhodes, usually as the first stop heading south down the east coast, with the domes and colonnades in full view from the water.

In and On the Water

• Snorkelling and diving - rocky seabed with good visibility and the usual Mediterranean reef fish; the drop-offs close to shore mean you do not have to swim far.
• Watersports - jet skis, water skiing and towed inflatables operate from the beach in season.
• Sunbeds, umbrellas, cafes and canteens are all on site, and the swimming platforms make up for the lack of sand.

South towards Faliraki the coast opens into further coves that see fewer people, shaded by pines and broken up by the same weathered rock formations. Tavernas are spread along the road behind the coast.

Practical Notes

• Kallithea is roughly 9 kilometres from Rhodes town and is served by local buses along the east coast road, as well as taxis and hire cars. There is parking at the site.
• Access to the springs complex and its beaches is ticketed; the coves outside the grounds are free.
• The water gets deep quickly off the rocks and platforms, which suits confident swimmers more than small children.