Endless Roads • Road Trips • Places to Stay
Discovering Rhodes from Kalithea Horizon Royal
Sometimes the loveliest spot at a hotel is not by the pool, but at the foot of the cliff.
On the eastern coast of Rhodes, time by the sea and the chance to explore the island go hand in hand. This is where Kalithea Horizon Royal sits high above the water, overlooking the Aegean. Below, a small rocky cove offers clear water and a quieter side of the coast. A little further along, the distinctive architecture of Kallithea Springs invites you to explore, while the medieval streets and impressive fortifications of Rhodes Town take you back through centuries of history.
It is a place where you can enjoy a relaxed beach holiday without feeling that you have to spend every day in the same spot. Much of the appeal lies in the variety: a day by the sea, a walk along the coast or an afternoon discovering the island’s history.
A hotel above the Aegean Sea
The setting of Kalithea Horizon Royal plays a large part in the character of the stay. Perched above the coast, the hotel overlooks the bay of Kalithea and the Aegean Sea. The landscape is rugged, the water shifts from deep blue to turquoise depending on the light, and rocky outcrops alternate with green slopes along the shoreline.
The resort has swimming pools, restaurants and terraces where you can take in the views. The all-inclusive arrangement makes it easy to start the day slowly, find something to eat between activities and head out whenever the mood takes you. Our room was clean and well kept, and the grounds are spacious. Lawns and open, park-like areas spread across the clifftop, so you never feel as though you are constantly surrounded by other guests. There is also a walking path along the edge of the cliff.
We visited at the end of April, during the spring holidays, and enjoyed our stay. Temperatures were around 20°C and the hotel was quiet. It was lovely for exploring the island and going on excursions, although the weather was sometimes still a little cool for spending long days swimming and sunbathing. May and June are likely to be more comfortable for that, as temperatures rise and the sea becomes warmer. There is something lovely about discovering a destination before the crowds of the high season arrive.
The little cove below: clear water and the rhythm of the sea
The small rocky cove beside the hotel lies at the foot of the cliff. It is not a long sandy beach lined with rows of umbrellas, but a sheltered spot where the rocks, clear water and surrounding coastline take centre stage.
Sun loungers are available below for a small fee. You can choose a spot, spread out your towel and look out across the sea. The atmosphere feels quite different from the swimming pools above, which were still too chilly to linger beside in April. Down by the water, you are closer to the sea and more sheltered from the wind. You can hear the waves against the rocks and feel the pace of the day begin to slow.
The water is one of the cove’s greatest attractions. Bring a snorkel set if you enjoy exploring beneath the surface. Fish swim between the rocks, and on a clear day the water is so transparent that you can see the seabed from the shore. Our daughter even spotted a moray eel. It is the sort of place where you might put on your snorkel mask for a quick look, only to find yourself staying in the water much longer than planned.
Do keep in mind that getting into the sea can be rocky. This is not a beach where you can walk into the water over soft sand. Water shoes are useful, and it is worth taking care when choosing where to enter.
The Rock and a friendly face
There is also a small restaurant by the cove: The Rock. You can stop for something to eat or drink, or pick up a drink to enjoy on your lounger. Whether food and drinks are included in your all-inclusive arrangement depends on the terms of your booking. To me, this was the loveliest corner of the resort: a swim, something to eat and the sea in view throughout the day.
But a place is not made special by its views or food alone. Sometimes, it is the people you meet along the way.
I remember Nikos, the friendly man who worked by the sun loungers. I do not know whether he still works there, but his kindness has stayed with me. It is a small detail, perhaps not something you would find in a standard hotel description, yet it is exactly the sort of memory that makes a holiday feel personal.
You remember not only how beautiful the water was, but also how welcome you felt while sitting there.
The climb is part of the experience — but there is a little train
There is one practical detail to bear in mind. The hotel sits high on the cliff, while the cove lies below. You notice the difference in height most on the way back up. In the heat of the day, the climb can be quite demanding, and the descent also calls for a little care.
Fortunately, there is another option. A little train runs down to the beach at The Rock, and staff in golf carts will occasionally give you a lift. It is a welcome alternative when the sun is strong or you are tired after a few hours of swimming. If steep slopes are difficult for you, ask locally about the train and its current timetable.
The climb is simply part of the setting. You leave the hotel behind for a while, find a quieter world beside the sea and eventually make your way back up to life on the clifftop.
For anyone who enjoys snorkelling, clear water and a more natural rocky shoreline, this little cove may become one of the highlights of the stay.
Walking along the coast towards Faliraki
A destination reveals itself differently when you explore it on foot. Not every discovery needs to be part of an organised excursion. Sometimes, the route itself is what makes the experience worthwhile.
The coastline around Kalithea invites you to look beyond the hotel grounds. The views change as you go: rocks rise above the water, vegetation follows the contours of the shore, and gaps in the landscape reveal new glimpses of the sea.
Walking in the direction of Faliraki offers another way to experience the coast, away from the sun loungers. You begin to appreciate how the shoreline unfolds, with its small coves and sheltered corners. The stop at Kallithea Springs was the highlight for me: the pale buildings, elegant arches and pebble mosaics right beside the bay make it a wonderful place to pause and explore.
Faliraki is known for its long sandy beach, a contrast to the rocky cove below the hotel. At the end of April, the town itself was a little disappointing. The beach looked lovely, but the resort still seemed to be waiting for the season to begin. In summer, it will no doubt be a much livelier place.
From the hotel, it is roughly 5 km to Faliraki. Allow about an hour and a half on foot. There is no continuous coastal path; part of the route follows the coast road, so you should not expect to walk beside the water all the way. Set out in good time and bring plenty of water.
Kallithea Springs: white architecture and a cinematic past
One of the most distinctive places in the area is Kallithea Springs. The hotel spells its name with one l, while the springs have two. Here, nature, architecture and history come together in a rather remarkable way.
The complex has an unmistakable character. Elegant arches, domes, decorative details and pebble mosaics sit beautifully among the greenery and around the sheltered bay. The pale architecture stands out against the blue of the sea, with the buildings seeming almost to belong to the landscape.
The springs were already known in antiquity for the supposed healing properties of their water. During the Italian period on Rhodes, the site acquired its distinctive architectural character. Architect Pietro Lombardi designed the complex, which officially opened in 1929. After years of decline, an extensive restoration brought it back to life, and Kallithea Springs reopened in 2007.
Today, visitors come mainly for the architecture, the bay and the clear water. You can wander through the complex, take a closer look at the buildings and then make your way down to the sea. You do not need to be an architecture enthusiast to understand why this place leaves an impression.
A setting from film history
Kallithea Springs also has a cinematic past. Its distinctive surroundings attracted several film productions, including The Guns of Navarone (1961) and Escape to Athena (1979). Both films were partly shot on Rhodes.
Nearby Anthony Quinn Bay has its own connection to the island’s film history. Anthony Quinn starred in The Guns of Navarone and became so fond of Rhodes during filming that he bought a bay near Faliraki, hoping to establish an artists’ colony there. The purchase was later overturned through legal proceedings, but the bay has kept his name.
These stories add an interesting extra dimension to exploring this stretch of coastline. Ultimately, however, it is the combination of pale architecture, rugged surroundings and clear water that makes Kallithea Springs so memorable.
A day exploring Rhodes Town
Anyone staying on Rhodes should make time for Rhodes Town. The historic centre has a very different atmosphere from the coastline around Kalithea. Away from the sea and rocky slopes, narrow stone streets, gateways, squares and historic buildings take centre stage behind the old walls.
Getting there is straightforward. The bus stops about 50 metres from the hotel and takes around 15 to 20 minutes to reach the old town. A ticket costs a few euros.
The medieval city is closely connected with the history of the Knights Hospitaller. Rhodes occupied a strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean, and its fortifications reflect the importance of the city as a defensive stronghold.
The old city walls are impressive, but the streets within them deserve just as much attention. Step away from the busy Sokratous and lose yourself in the narrower alleys, or walk along the Street of the Knights, where the façades of the old inns still carry their coats of arms. Take your time and look up at the façades and arches. Beyond the best-known monuments, there are countless small details that are easy to miss if you move straight from one attraction to the next.
The fortress and the stories behind its walls
One of the city’s best-known landmarks is the Palace of the Grand Master. This imposing building is part of Rhodes’ medieval heritage and offers a glimpse into the island’s strategic importance centuries ago.
The surrounding fortifications are equally worth exploring. The walls, gates and bastions reveal how carefully the city was once defended. Here, history is not confined to a museum; it remains a visible part of the streetscape.
Give yourself time to wander. Find a quiet square, stop for a drink or take one more turn down a street even when you had planned to head back. Sometimes, the most memorable corners are the ones you discover without looking for them.
Looking across the sea towards Turkey
The sea is never far away in Rhodes Town. From various points along the coast and near the fortifications, you can look out across the water. On clear days, the Turkish coastline may be visible from suitable viewpoints.
It is a reminder of the island’s geographical position, close to the Turkish coast and at a crossroads of cultures and trading routes. The history of Rhodes has been shaped by different civilisations, each leaving its mark on the island.
This makes a lovely contrast with the quiet cove below the hotel. There, the focus is on the water, the sunshine and the freedom to do very little. In Rhodes Town, the centuries seem much closer.
Rhodes is more than a beach holiday
What makes Rhodes appealing is its variety: coves with clear water, beaches for long walks, distinctive architecture and places where the past still feels tangible. From Kalithea Horizon Royal, you can combine all of it as the mood takes you. A quiet morning by the sea, a few hours snorkelling in the cove, a visit to Kallithea Springs or an afternoon within the medieval walls of Rhodes Town. And after a day full of discoveries, there is no need to think about your next meal.
For us, that combination was what made the stay so enjoyable. You do not have to head out every day to experience the island, but neither do you have to stay within the resort. There is room for a day by the water as well as for the little discoveries along the way. And at the end of the day, the sea is there again, with a view that changes as the light begins to soften.
PRACTICAL TRAVEL GUIDE
Planning your visit
A few practical details before exploring the eastern coast of Rhodes.
Location
Kalithea Horizon Royal is located on the east coast of Rhodes, approximately 6 km from Rhodes Town and 15 km from Rhodes International Airport.
Getting There
The hotel can be reached by taxi, transfer or rental car. Private parking is available at the hotel.
Getting Around
Rhodes Town and Faliraki are both accessible from the hotel. Local buses offer an alternative to renting a car.
The Beach
The hotel has access to a small rocky bay below the resort. Water shoes are recommended, particularly for entering the sea.
Best Time to Visit
May, June and September are attractive months for exploring Rhodes, with generally pleasant conditions and less summer heat.
Useful to Know
The resort is built on a hillside, so expect slopes, stairs and some walking between facilities. Allow extra time when walking down to the bay.
EXPLORE THE AREA
Exploring the Surroundings
Beyond the resort, there are plenty of places to discover along the eastern coast and further across Rhodes.
Kallithea Springs
Historic architecture, beautiful pebble mosaics and a sheltered bay make this one of the most distinctive places along the eastern coast.
Anthony Quinn Bay
A picturesque rocky bay with remarkably clear water. A lovely stop for anyone who enjoys swimming and snorkelling.
Rhodes Old Town
A remarkable medieval town filled with narrow streets, historic buildings and centuries of history.
Lindos
A whitewashed village beneath an ancient acropolis, overlooking one of the most beautiful bays on the island.
Seven Springs
A green and peaceful corner of Rhodes, with natural springs, shaded paths and a very different atmosphere from the coastline.
