Your stay — Despina Hotel
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The Property — Despina Hotel
Despina Hotel is a modest, family-run 3-star in central Rhodes Town. The lobby is small and clean, with a receptionist who remembers repeat guests. Its USP is location: a five-minute walk from the medieval Old Town and less than ten from Elli Beach. Best for budget travellers and couples wanting a quiet base rather than resort-style entertainment.
Chronicles of Rodos
Rhodes Town was founded in 408 BC by the ancient Greeks and later shaped by the Knights of St John, who built its massive fortifications and the Palace of the Grand Master. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Under Ottoman and Italian rule, the city absorbed minarets and rationalist architecture, giving it an eclectic skyline. Today it's a lively port balancing tourism with a permanent population of around 50,000.
Best Time to Visit
Full Rodos guide →Best months
May, June, September – warm, sunny, with fewer crowds than July/August. Sea temperatures are pleasant, and sightseeing is comfortable.
Peak / festival surge
July and August – peak European summer holidays. Rhodes Town is very busy, hotel prices rise 30-50% above shoulder season. The Medieval Festival (late August) and local saint days add to demand.
Budget shoulder season
April, October – milder weather (18-25°C), significant discounts on rooms, fewer tourists. Some tavernas and shops in the Old Town close in late October.
Weather & packing
July in Rhodes is reliably hot (30-35°C) with strong meltemi winds in the afternoon. Pack light cotton clothing, a sun hat, and a windbreaker for beach evenings.
Live City Briefing — Rodos
- The Old Town pedestrianisation scheme continues: the main streets are car-free from 10am to midnight, easing walking but limiting taxi access to drop-off points at the gates.
- New direct charter flights from several European cities (including Manchester and Stockholm) have started for 2026, increasing early-July arrival pressure at Diagoras Airport.
- The city council has introduced a small tourist tax (€0.50-€1.50 per night) on hotel stays from June 2026, collected on arrival.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Despina Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on an upper floor (3rd or 4th) facing the rear courtyard — quieter and more private, away from the street.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or staircase — high foot traffic and noise from street-side windows.
Best views
Rooms facing the rear courtyard offer a decent view of greenery; side-facing rooms on upper floors may catch sea glimpses.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–5 are quietest, further from street-level noise and lobby activity.
🔊 Noise notes
Main street noise along Rodos town centre during day; occasional scooter and pedestrian chatter in evening.
Insider tips
Ask for a room on the 4th floor rear — quieter and cooler. Check-in early (before 2pm) to secure a courtyard-facing room.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Despina Hotel
Free, password protected (ask at check-in), typical speed 15 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload—works well in lobby and rooms
Small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
No daily paper; the hotel's 180-year-old building once housed a tobacco warehouse—original stone walls preserved in the basement breakfast room
Check-in from 14:00 (early bag drop available from 09:00), check-out by 11:00 (late check-out until 14:00 for €30 surcharge, subject to availability)
Free in locked luggage room near reception; no time limit
No step-free entrance (two steps at front door); lift can fit a standard wheelchair but corridors are narrow; no adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; public car park at 25is Martiou Street (€10/24h, 5-minute walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €0.50 per room per night (paid on arrival in cash or card)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; €50 incidental hold on credit card at check-in (refunded at check-out if no extras used)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Τράπεζα Πειραιώς — 1.6 km · ~21 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs in Rodos town or larger villages; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport and Mandraki harbour – rates are poor.
Visa/Mastercard accepted widely in shops, restaurants and hotels; contactless is common. Small kiosks and village bakeries prefer cash.
Round up at restaurants and bars (5-10% if service is good). Taxis: round up to nearest euro. Hotel maids: €1-2 per day left in room.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A freddo espresso at a local kafenio; about €2.50.
Gyros pita from a grill house; around €3.50-4.50.
Moussaka or souvlaki at a taverna; main dish about €8-12.
Gyros and souvlaki pitas from grill shops near Mandraki and the Old Town market.
AB Vassilopoulos, Sklavenitis and Lidl are common in Rodos town.
H&M and Zara in the city centre; tourist-market stalls in the Old Town for cheap basics.
Local bus (KTEL) – single ticket around €1.80 within the city; from the airport, bus line 23 (€2.50) is the cheapest option.
Drink bottled water from supermarkets (€0.50) – not hotel minibars. Eat at tavernas away from the main tourist strip in the Old Town. Buy fresh fruit and snacks at laiki (street market) on Saturdays near the New Market.
Good to know — Rodos
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rodos, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Despina Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Τράπεζα Πειραιώς — 1.6 km · ~21 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Olympic Palace Resort, Ixia → Rhodes Town (Mandriaki harbour)
💡 This line runs right along the coast road. Get off at 'Akti Miaouli' for the old town walls or 'Plateia Eleftherias' for the main shopping. Pay the driver, no ticket needed.
Rodos City Centre Terminus → Rodos Paradise Villa area (stop: Pefki Street)
💡 The bus drops you 5 mins walk from the villa. Check the last departure time—return after 8pm requires a taxi. Timetables are posted at the terminus, rarely updated online.
Akti Miaouli stop (100m from Elakati) → Faliraki Beach
💡 The same bus continues to Anthony Quinn Bay and Ladiko Beach—get off at the 'Faliraki Center' stop for the main beach. Return buses tend to fill up by 17:00; catch one before 16:00 to get a seat.
Stella's Country Home (Koskinou) → Rodos Town (Mandráki)
💡 Catch the bus from the main road (Leoforos Kallitheas) — it's a 5-min walk from Stella's. Buses run later in summer; check the timetable at the stop as it changes seasonally.
Olympic Palace Resort, Ixia → Rhodes Town centre
💡 Call a taxi via 22410 24300 — they arrive in under 10 minutes. A ride from the hotel to the old town usually costs €10-12; confirm the fare before getting in.
Stella's Country Home (Koskinou) → Rodos Town Centre
💡 Use the 'Rodos Taxi' app or call +30 22410 65000 to flag one. For a flat rate, agree the fare before getting in — drivers often quote €15-18 for tourists, but locals pay €10-12.
Stegna Village Stop → Rodos Town (Mandriki stop)
💡 The bus runs along the coast road — sit on the left for sea views. It stops near the old town entrance, not the bus station.
Diagoras Airport (RHO) → Avenue of the Sea stop near Olympic Palace
💡 The bus stop is 150m left of arrivals. Buy a ticket from the kiosk at the stop or the driver if no kiosk; exact change helps. The hotel is a 5-min walk from the 'Rhodes City' side of the stop.
Airport Bus Stop (outside arrivals) → Mandraki Bus Stop (near Elakati)
💡 Buy a ticket from the kiosk inside arrivals—cash only. The bus drops you about 800m north of the hotel along the coast, so walk south along Akti Miaouli for 10 minutes.
Rhodes International Airport → Stella's Country Home (Koskinou stop)
💡 Bus number 01 or 02 from the airport stop outside arrivals. Get off at 'Koskinou Square' — Stella's is a 10-min walk uphill. Have small change ready, the driver doesn't give change.
Diagoras Airport Bus Stop → Rodos City Centre (nearest stop to villa: Rhodes Town Terminus)
💡 No direct bus to the villa—you’ll need a taxi from the terminus, which adds €10–15. The bus is cash only, exact change recommended. Buy ticket from driver.
Rodos Airport Bus Stop → Stegna Village Stop (near B&B)
💡 Get off at the Stegna signpost, not the main road — it's a 10-minute walk downhill. The bus can be crowded in July, so have coins ready for the driver.
About Rodos
Wikipedia ↗
Rhodes ( ; Greek: Ρόδος, romanized: Ródos [ˈroðos]) is the largest of Greece's Dodecanese islands and their historical capital; it is the ninth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Administratively, Rhodes constitutes a separate municipality within the Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Despina Hotel?
Request a room on an upper floor (3rd or 4th) facing the rear courtyard — quieter and more private, away from the street.
Which rooms should I avoid at Despina Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or staircase — high foot traffic and noise from street-side windows.
Is Despina Hotel noisy?
Main street noise along Rodos town centre during day; occasional scooter and pedestrian chatter in evening.
Which rooms have the best views at Despina Hotel?
Rooms facing the rear courtyard offer a decent view of greenery; side-facing rooms on upper floors may catch sea glimpses.
What are insider tips for staying at Despina Hotel?
Ask for a room on the 4th floor rear — quieter and cooler. Check-in early (before 2pm) to secure a courtyard-facing room.
What time is check-in at Despina Hotel?
Check-in at Despina Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Despina Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free, password protected (ask at check-in), typical speed 15 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload—works well in lobby and rooms
Is there a city or tourist tax at Despina Hotel?
€0.50 per room per night (paid on arrival in cash or card)
Where can I eat cheaply near Despina Hotel?
Gyros pita from a grill house; around €3.50-4.50.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Despina Hotel?
Local bus (KTEL) – single ticket around €1.80 within the city; from the airport, bus line 23 (€2.50) is the cheapest option.
When is the best time to visit Rodos?
May, June, September – warm, sunny, with fewer crowds than July/August. Sea temperatures are pleasant, and sightseeing is comfortable.
Top Attractions in Rodos
💡 Come at dawn or dusk for photos without crowds. The lanterns look magical after sunset, and the architecture is best seen without souvenir stalls in the way.
💡 Go early morning before 09:00 for photos without crowds. The nearby Jewish Quarter has fewer tourists.
💡 Walk it at dusk when the street lamps glow and most tourists have left. Look for the carved coats of arms above each inn doorway.
💡 Sunset from the pier is excellent. Bring water shoes if you want to wade. The fish market nearby is lively at 08:00.
💡 Best light for photos is just before sunset. Grab a cheap souvlaki from a harbour-side kiosk and sit on the rocks near the windmills.
💡 Start at the Liberty Gate end; the path is mostly flat and takes about 40 minutes. Good for early morning.
💡 Climb at sunset for clear views over the bay and modern city. No ticket needed.
💡 Bring bread for the peacocks – they'll follow you. It's a 20-minute walk from the centre or a cheap bus ride (€1.20).