St Pauls Bay Beach
Best for. Couples and snorkellers who want the most sheltered, clearest water around Lindos in a dramatic almost enclosed bay, with the little white chapel and the Acropolis above.
Best spot. The sandier of the two small beaches on the southern side, where entry is easiest and the calm water is clearest for a snorkel along the rocks.
Know this. It is tiny and famous, so it fills fast and the rocky entry suits adults more than toddlers. Come early, bring water shoes, and treat it as a swim cove not a lounging beach.
St Pauls Bay is the cove that makes people gasp on the walk down from the Acropolis. It is almost completely enclosed by rock, with a narrow opening to the sea that leaves the water inside still, clear and a deep shifting blue. A small white chapel sits above the southern shore, the cliffs rise toward the ancient citadel, and the whole scene looks engineered for a photograph. It earns its fame honestly.
There are really two small beaches here, one on the south side that is sandier and easier to enter, and one on the north that is rockier and quieter. The water is the reason to come. Because the bay is so sheltered it stays calm when the open coast is choppy, and the clarity along the rocky sides makes it one of the better snorkels near Lindos. Bring a mask and water shoes and you will not regret either.
Now the honest read. St Pauls Bay is small, and small plus famous means crowded. By mid morning in summer the limited sand is taken, the few sunbeds are gone, and the cove can feel busy in a way that dents its serenity. The entry is rocky in places and the sand patches are modest, so it suits confident swimmers and couples more than families with toddlers chasing a big sandy playground.
Who should skip it. If you need a wide soft beach with full facilities and easy shallow entry for small children, the main Pallas bay on the other side of the headland is the better call. But for clear, calm water in a dramatic natural amphitheatre, with the chapel and the Acropolis framing every swim, St Pauls Bay is one of the loveliest dips on Rhodes when you time it right.
A swim cove, not a club
St Pauls Bay is a small natural cove with limited sunbeds and no beach club. For daybeds, service and music, the organised beaches around Lindos and further up the coast are the place to look. Use the Rhodes beach clubs guide and keep St Pauls Bay for the snorkel and the view.
Sunbeds at the cove
A small number of sunbeds and a seasonal snack point serve the two little beaches. There is no branded club here, and any operator details are to be confirmed locally.
East coast, below the Acropolis of Lindos
St Pauls Bay sits just below the Acropolis of Lindos on the east coast, around forty five minutes by car from Rhodes town and the airport. From Lindos village it is a steep walk down toward the chapel and the cove, with limited roadside parking on the approach above.
Many visitors reach it by water taxi or excursion boat from the main Lindos bay, which avoids the climb and gives a fine view of the enclosed cove from the sea. Buses serve Lindos village, from where the bay is signed downhill.
Because facilities are limited, bring water, sun cover and water shoes for the rocky entry. Lindos village above has tavernas and shops for everything the cove does not provide.
Photo: Enrico Pinelli via GoogleBook a beach club
St Pauls Bay has no club of its own. Tell us your dates and party size and we can point you to a daybed at an organised beach near Lindos. 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 St Pauls Bay
Is St Pauls Bay good for snorkelling?
Yes. The almost enclosed cove stays calm and clear in typical conditions, and the rocky sides hold plenty to see, which makes it one of the better snorkels near Lindos. Bring a mask and water shoes for the rocky entry.
Is St Pauls Bay suitable for young children?
Less so than the main Lindos beach. The sand patches are small and the entry is rocky in places, so it suits confident swimmers and couples more than toddlers. Supervise children closely and consider water shoes.
How do I get to St Pauls Bay?
From Lindos village it is a steep signed walk down toward the chapel, with limited parking above. Many visitors instead take a water taxi or excursion boat from the main Lindos bay to avoid the climb.
Why are there two beaches at St Pauls Bay?
The cove has a small sandier beach on the south side by the chapel and a rockier, quieter beach on the north side. The southern one is the easier entry and the more popular of the two.
When is St Pauls Bay least crowded?
Early morning, before the day visitors arrive and before any chapel weddings, is by far the quietest time. June and September are calmer overall than the busy July and August peak.
