Anthony Quinn Bay Beach
Best for. Snorkelers and strong swimmers who care more about clear water and rocky drama than soft sand or space to stretch out.
Best spot. The rock ledges on either side of the cove, where you can slip into deep clear water and snorkel along the boulders.
Know this. It is tiny and gets packed by late morning in summer, the entry is rocky, and water shoes make the whole visit easier.
Anthony Quinn Bay is the cove people photograph and then argue about. The water really is that colour, a clear gem like turquoise over pale rock that turns deep and inky within a few strokes of the shore. It takes its name from the actor who fell for the area while filming The Guns of Navarone nearby in the early sixties and bought land along this coast. The setting is genuinely beautiful, a tight inlet hemmed by pine topped rock, and on a calm morning before the crowds it can feel like a private lagoon.
What it is not is a sandy beach. The shore is pebble and rock, the entry is awkward on bare feet, and the water drops away quickly, so this is a place for swimming and snorkeling rather than building castles or paddling with toddlers. Slip in from the rock ledges with a mask and you will find fish, clear sight lines and cool deep water, which is exactly why snorkelers love it. A handful of sunbeds and a small drinks point are the extent of the comforts, so come for the sea, not the service.
The honest read is that Anthony Quinn Bay is both stunning and oversold. It is small, and in July and August the rock and pebble shore fills early, boats anchor offshore, and the limited sunbeds vanish fast. People arriving expecting a roomy sandy beach leave disappointed, while people arriving for clear water and a snorkel leave thrilled. The trick is timing and expectation. Get there early or visit in the shoulder months, bring water shoes and a mask, and treat it as a swimming cove. Want sand and space instead? The long beaches at Faliraki and Tsambika are minutes away.
No club on the cove
Anthony Quinn Bay is a small rocky snorkel cove, not a club beach. There is no daybed lounge or branded operator on the rocks, only a handful of sunbeds and a drinks point. For club style days with service and music, look to the larger beaches nearby and use the Rhodes beach clubs guide.
No beach club here
A small rocky cove with a few sunbeds and a drinks point. There is no branded beach club, and any concession details are to be confirmed locally.
East coast, near Faliraki
Anthony Quinn Bay sits just south of Faliraki on the Ladiko headland, around twenty five minutes by car from Rhodes town. A narrow road winds down from the Ladiko turning to a small parking area above the cove, from where steps and paths lead down to the rock and pebble shore.
Parking is limited and fills quickly in summer, so early arrival helps. East coast buses stop near the Ladiko and Faliraki turnings on the main road, leaving a downhill walk to the cove. Many visitors combine it with the calmer Ladiko bay next door on the same trip.
Photo: Dirk Adriaensens via GoogleBook a beach club
Anthony Quinn Bay has no club of its own. Tell us your dates and we can point you to a daybed at an organised beach near Faliraki. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Anthony Quinn Bay
Why is it called Anthony Quinn Bay?
The cove is named after the actor Anthony Quinn, who came to know this coast while filming The Guns of Navarone on Rhodes in the early sixties and bought land in the area. Locals adopted his name for the bay, and it has stuck ever since.
Is Anthony Quinn Bay sandy?
No. The shore is pebble and rock rather than sand, and the water deepens quickly close in. It is best thought of as a swimming and snorkeling cove, not a beach for lounging on soft sand or paddling with toddlers. Water shoes make a visit much easier.
Is Anthony Quinn Bay good for snorkeling?
Yes, it is one of the best snorkeling spots near Faliraki. The water is clear and deep over rock, with fish and good visibility around the ledges on either side of the cove. Bring your own mask and snorkel, and take care as there is no lifeguard.
Is Anthony Quinn Bay crowded?
Very, in peak season. The cove is small and fills early on July and August mornings, with limited sunbeds and boats anchoring offshore. For clearer water and more space, arrive early in the day or visit in June or September.
How do you get to Anthony Quinn Bay?
It lies just south of Faliraki on the Ladiko headland, about twenty five minutes by car from Rhodes town. A narrow road leads down to a small car park above the cove, with steps to the shore. Buses stop near the Ladiko turning on the main road, leaving a walk down.
