Faliraki of Rhodes

Faliraki of Rhodes belongs to Kalithies village, and both settlements have around 2,836 residents according to the national 2011 population count. The residents of Kalithies were mainly farmers. In the mountain side fo the village, farming and agriculture were the main occupations, while at the coastal area fishing was more popular among the locals.

The area was initially called “Pachynamos”, which means “thick sand”. Indeed, if you notice the sand grains, they are larger than in other beaches. The area of Faliraki was separated in smaller parts with their own respective names, such as Reni, Vorino, Mantomata, Lagonas, Ammades, Farkia, Mesovouni and other used by the locals for convenience.

In 1912, according to stories told by the village elders that were also confirmed by historical documents, the Italians landed in Rhodes at Faliraki main beach and declared Faliraki as an area of high strategic importance.
The conquerors also appreciated the area’s natural beauty and therefore invested in infrastructure and other projects, as they did all around the island. They chose this part of the island to build the imposing Kallithea monument and the village of Kalithies for the beautiful building which is now the village Town Hall. A lot of buildings of the era were constructed with sand taken from Faliraki beach. There are documents citing that the beach used to be full of sand dunes in winter, because of the sand carried by the heavy waves. Thus, sand was in abundance and was often used as construction material.

After the Dodecanese was freed from the Italians and was united with the rest of Greece, in 1947, the area begun flourishing. A couple of years later, in the small fishing village of Pachynamos, a resident called Panagiotis Statiou, opened the first small coffee place on the beach, where Faliraki centre is now. The man had visited Athens for medical reasons and was impressed by the beach at Faliro area, which as he said, reminded him of his home, Pachynamos. Upon his return to Rhodes, he opened his establishment and called it ‘Faliraki’ (little Faliro).
Since then, the villagers referred to the whole beach area as ‘Faliraki’ as the tavern was one of the few points of reference of the time.

Soon, villagers from other areas took to calling the beach Faliraki, too, until the ‘50s when the name was acknowledged as the area official name. Later, three more restaurants opened, by local fishermen. They served fish and fresh vegetables from their gardens to workers who loaded sand and later to visitors. The pureness and natural beauty of Faliraki begun appealing to the first tourists. By the end of the ‘60s the construction of big hospitality units had begun and development was rapid as the original Greek hospitality created a great demand for accommodation and dining facilities in the area. It is said that the fascist government of the time visited all local establishments and ordered further developments, having foreseen the huge rise of tourism in the area. Indeed, Faliraki soon rose to the first places among the global holiday destinations and welcomed thousands of visitors, among them famous artists, Greek and international, as well as football players, actors, and other personalities that were enchanted by its beauty and made Faliraki famous all around the world with interviews and mentions in the media of their time.

Today Faliraki manages to combine traditional and contemporary features, cosmopolitan with minimal, carefree feelings with adrenaline and has something to offer to every visitor, always with devotion to the values of Greek hospitality, honesty and originality that are typical for Greek people.

The water park at Faliraki of Rhodes

At the impressive Faliraki Water Park, which is currently the biggest in Europe, you can enjoy water slides, a lazy river, black holes, rafting slides, the giant slide (about 140m long), kamikaze slides, a huge wave pool, an aqua-gym, poll-cafes and much, much more. A part of the water park is especially designed for children. Fully trained and certified lifeguards guarantee for your safety.

Mandomata Nudist Beach in Faliraki of Rhodes

At the far right end of Faliraki beach, you will also find the little secluded Madomata naturist beach.

Mantomata Beach is a particularly special, lovely beach. Located in-between Kathara Beach and Anthony Quinn Bay, it is practically secluded and has a distinctive history of its own.

When Faliraki saw a tourism boom, this lovely beach quickly rose to prominence among nudists due to its desirable location and natural shape. Around the 1960s and 1970s, when nudists first began to settle in Faliraki, the locals experienced a great deal of moral distress because it was unheard of for individuals to bathe naked on a public beach at a time when females’ skirts were precisely ankle length.

The problem was resolved when the State stepped in and passed stringent beach access regulations, allowing nudists to enjoy the lovely beach officially and unhindered. Given Mandomata Beach in Faliraki is one of Rhodes’ most picturesque locations and the only designated nudist area on the island, the region increased in popularity throughout the nudist movement.

Your privacy is guaranteed at Madomata nudist beach. Both boating and non-nudist access to the beach are prohibited in the bay. For €5 per person, sunbeds and umbrellas are available. A variety of foods and refreshments are available in the neighborhood traditional restaurant.

Faliraki Beach Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from Rhodes city to Faliraki?

The distance from Rhodes city to Faliraki Beach is 14Km. It takes an average of 20 minutes to drive from the center of the city of Rhodes to Faliraki.

What are the best things to do in Faliraki?

Faliraki is the most highly organized resort on Rhodes. As such, there are many things and activities one can do. For example

• Water and beach sports activities. You will find an abundance of offerings, including jet ski, water ski, water parachute, banana boat rides, water playgrounds for younger children, beach volley courts etc. Some hotels also offer watersides for external visitors.
• Dining and eating: If you are a foodie, in Faliraki you will find one of the largest available array of restaurants for any preference. From fast food to gourmet dining, from fish tavernas on the beach to international cuisine restaurants, cafeterias, fresh ice cream and waffle shops, no visitor of any age will be left without finding something she enjoys.
• Nightlife: As with everything else, your choices here are limitless. Easy going bars, lively night clubs, cafeterias, live shows, the programme has it all.
• The Water Park: Faliraki Water Park is one of the best water parks in Europe. A day spent here, especially with your younger ones, is totally worth it.
• Explore the area: Even though it might be tempting to spend your entire holiday in a place that has it all, exploring the area is definitely worth it. For example: visit the magical Anthony Quinn bay, visit the hill and monastery of Profitis Ilias overlooking both Faliraki and Anthony Quinn, or visit the close by village of Kallithies, or visit the famous Kallithea Springs

What is the nightlife like in Faliraki?

Faliraki offers excellent nightlife opportunities. There are bars, night clubs and restaurants along the shoreline and some in the once famous bar street.

It is worth mentioning that Faliraki was once famous for it’s extremely intense nightlife lived by visitors of the British 18-30 Club, but this is no longer the case. While today’s nightlife in Faliraki is still well lived, there are no extremes and we would argue that it is a very pleasant location to spend the evening.

Is there public transport to Faliraki?

Faliraki is connected to Rhodes town, Rhodes airport, and many other locations via public transport (bus and private transfer). The road is well maintained. Parking is available. https://www.rhodes-transfer.com/rhodes-transfer/