Elli Beach
Best for. City based travellers who want a clean, lively beach within walking distance of the old town and do not mind pebbles and deep water.
Best spot. The stretch by the landmark diving platform, where the water is deep and clear and the promenade keeps cafes and shade close.
Know this. The shore is pebble and sand, the water deepens fast, and the northern tip catches the wind, so some days run choppy.
Elli is the beach that belongs to the city. It curves around the northern tip of Rhodes, a short walk from the medieval old town, and it is where locals and visitors alike come to swim between sightseeing and dinner. The shore is pebble and sand, lined with neat rows of umbrellas, and behind it runs a promenade of cafes, bars and the grand old buildings of the Italian era. The water is clear and deep, the famous diving platform stands offshore like a landmark, and the whole scene has an easy, urban glamour that few town beaches match.
What makes Elli special is its convenience. You can spend a morning in the cobbled streets of the old town, walk ten minutes and be swimming in clear blue water by lunchtime, then dry off at a promenade cafe. The diving platform, a tower with springboards reaching into deep water, is a rite of passage for braver swimmers and a fine spectator sport for everyone else. Umbrellas, sunbeds and refreshments are all on hand, so it asks very little of you beyond turning up.
The honest read is that Elli is a town beach, with the trade offs that brings. The shore is pebble and sand rather than soft powder, the water deepens fast a step or two from the edge, which is glorious for swimmers but less so for toddlers, and the exposed northern tip can catch the wind and turn choppy on a breezy day. It is busy in summer, as any good city beach is. None of that is a flaw so much as a character. For a stylish, convenient swim within reach of the old town, Elli is hard to beat. For soft sand and shallow calm water, the family beaches down the east coast serve better.
Promenade bars and umbrellas
Elli is the organised town beach, lined with umbrella concessions and promenade bars rather than a single named club. For a dressed up daybed day, the resort beaches down the coast offer more. Use the Rhodes beach clubs guide, and keep Elli for the convenient city swim and a promenade drink.
Umbrella rows and cafes
Umbrella and sunbed hire with cafes and bars along the promenade. There is no single branded club, and operator details are to be confirmed locally.
Rhodes town, northern tip
Elli wraps around the northern tip of Rhodes town, a walk of around ten to fifteen minutes from the medieval old town and even less from the new town hotels. The promenade runs the length of the beach, so you can reach it on foot from most of the city centre without needing transport.
If you are staying outside the city, frequent buses and taxis connect the resorts with Rhodes town, from where the beach is a short walk. Parking in the centre is limited in summer, so many visitors arrive on foot or by bus rather than bringing a car right to the front.
Photo: Ellie Spyridonidi via GoogleBook a beach club
Elli is a town beach with concessions and bars, not one club. Tell us your dates and we can point you to a daybed at an organised Rhodes beach. 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 Elli
Is Elli beach sandy?
Not really. Elli is a mix of fine pebble and grey sand rather than soft powder, which is typical of the town beaches on the northern tip of Rhodes. The water also deepens quickly, so it suits swimmers more than toddlers. Water shoes make a visit more comfortable.
Can you dive off the platform at Elli beach?
Elli has a landmark diving platform offshore with springboards over deep water, long a feature of the beach. It is popular with confident swimmers, but the water is deep and there is no guaranteed supervision, so only strong swimmers should use it and always judge conditions first.
Is Elli beach close to Rhodes old town?
Yes. Elli wraps around the northern tip of the city, a walk of around ten to fifteen minutes from the medieval old town and even closer to the new town. That convenience is its main appeal, letting you combine sightseeing with a swim in the same day.
Is Elli beach windy?
It can be. The northern tip of Rhodes is exposed and catches the prevailing wind, so on breezy days the water at Elli turns choppy. When that happens, the sheltered beaches down the east coast often stay calmer, which is worth knowing if conditions look rough.
Are there sunbeds and facilities at Elli beach?
Yes. Elli is fully organised, with umbrella and sunbed hire in rows and a promenade of cafes, bars, toilets and showers right behind the beach. Prices and operating times are set locally and are to be confirmed when you visit.
