Rhodes Airport Transfer
to Ialyssos

Ialyssos — also spelled Ialysos — is one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes and today one of its most convenient and well-connected resort areas. Located on the west coast of the island just 8 km north of Rhodes Diagoras Airport, it serves as a natural gateway to Rhodes, blending modern beach resort amenities with historical roots that stretch back over three thousand years to the Dorian Greeks who first established a major city here in antiquity.

The coastal strip that forms the modern resort of Ialyssos is actually composed of several adjacent seafront communities — Ialyssos, Ixia, and Trianda — which merge seamlessly into one another along the wide west-coast promenade. The beach is a long, flat expanse of dark volcanic sand and pebbles stretching for several kilometres, facing directly into the prevailing Meltemi winds that sweep down from the Aegean throughout the summer months. It is this wind that has made Ialyssos internationally famous among windsurfers and kitesurfers. The conditions here — steady, reliable Meltemi winds of 15–25 knots from late June through August — are considered among the best in the entire Mediterranean for board sports, and the area regularly hosts major European windsurfing competitions. Several professional water sports schools operate on the beach throughout the season, offering lessons for all levels from complete beginners to advanced athletes.

Rising directly above the resort is the forested hill of Filerimos, one of the most significant historical and spiritual sites on the island of Rhodes. The summit is crowned by a Byzantine monastery dedicated to Our Lady of Filerimos, built on the foundations of a 5th-century Paleo-Christian basilica, which itself was constructed over the ruins of an ancient Greek temple to Athena Polias. The monastery's church retains remarkable medieval frescoes and Byzantine icons, and the surrounding grounds include a Doric fountain, ancient columns, and the excavated remains of the ancient Acropolis of Ialyssos. A dramatic Way of the Cross — a long avenue flanked by life-size bronze stations of the cross and shaded by rows of tall cypress trees — leads to a large cruciform chapel at the tip of the headland, offering breathtaking panoramic views across the Aegean Sea to the Turkish coastline and south toward Rhodes Town. A colony of peacocks wanders freely through the grounds, adding a surreal and memorable dimension to the visit. Filerimos is without question one of the finest historical sites in all of Rhodes and absolutely worth a half-day of any visitor's time.

Beyond the beach and Filerimos, Ialyssos is exceptionally well-positioned as a base for exploring the rest of the island. Rhodes Town and its extraordinary UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town — built by the Knights of St John in the 14th century and considered one of the best-preserved medieval walled cities in Europe — is just 10 kilometres to the north, easily accessible by bus, taxi, or short drive. The old town's Palace of the Grand Master, the Street of the Knights, the Archaeological Museum, and the atmospheric Turkish Quarter are all within easy walking distance of the city gate. The island's other major attractions — Lindos (55 km south), the Valley of the Butterflies (25 km south), and Tsambika Beach (40 km south) — are all convenient day trips from an Ialyssos base.

Accommodation in Ialyssos and the adjacent resort strip ranges from large all-inclusive beach hotels and five-star boutique properties to self-catering apartments and private villas. The area is particularly popular with British, German, and Scandinavian visitors who return season after season, appreciating the combination of reliable sunshine, excellent water sports, easy access to history and culture, and the short transfer from the airport.

With the airport just 8 km away and a private transfer taking only 10–15 minutes, arriving at your Ialyssos hotel has never been simpler. No taxi queue, no shared shuttle, and no delays — just a comfortable Mercedes-Benz, a professional driver, and the beginning of your Rhodes holiday from the moment you land.