Anthony Quinn Bay, Rhodes: The Emerald Gem of the Aegean (Your 2025 Guide): Dive into Hollywood History at Anthony Quinn Bay
Planning your Greek holiday? If you’re heading to the beautiful island of Rhodes, there’s one beach that stands out on every must-see list: Anthony Quinn Bay. Located on the stunning east coast, this small, sheltered cove is famous for its breathtaking emerald waters, dramatic rocky landscape, and a fascinating link to Hollywood history.
Often cited as one of the best beaches in Rhodes, it’s a required stop for anyone seeking crystal-clear waters and a picturesque Aegean view.
[EXCLUSIVE VIDEO] Rhodes in October: Is It Still Summer? The Magic of Anthony Quinn Bay in 8K
Watch This First: We couldn’t believe it either! It looks like July, but it’s October at this Rhodes gem. Join our cinematic tour of Anthony Quinn Bay to witness the crystal-clear water, the rocky spots perfect for snorkeling, and the ideal swimming temperatures. Watch the video in 8K/4K and find out why autumn is the secret season to visit the Mediterranean!
Watch the following video directly here or on YouTube at the link: https://youtu.be/N_iYJ_6OXtM. If you are reading this article from your smartphone, scroll to the bottom of the page and exit the mobile mode to view it directly on this page.
Table of Contents for Anthony Quinn Bay
Why the Name? A Star-Studded Connection
The bay owes its distinctive name to the acclaimed actor Anthony Quinn. During the filming of the classic 1961 movie “The Guns of Navarone”, Quinn was so captivated by the area’s beauty that he attempted to purchase it. While the deal ultimately didn’t materialize, the locals affectionately named the bay after him.
This history adds a unique layer of intrigue, turning your beach day into a visit to a cinematic landmark.
The Anthony Quinn Bay Experience: Snorkeling and Scenery
This cove is not your typical wide sandy stretch; it’s a dramatic, natural wonder of pebbles, rock formations, and dense greenery.
- World-Class Snorkeling: Thanks to the rocky seabed and transparent waters, Anthony Quinn Bay is arguably the premier spot for snorkeling in Rhodes. Bring your gear (or rent it locally) to explore the vibrant underwater life and surrounding small caves.
- The Best Views: The path leading down to the beach, and the area near the taverna, offer spectacular vantage points. These are perfect for capturing that iconic Greek vacation photo.
- Ideal for Relaxation: The bay’s sheltered position makes it a tranquil place for swimming, protected from stronger winds.
Practical Tips for US and UK Visitors
| Detail | Information for Travelers |
| Location | East Coast, just south of Faliraki, about 20 minutes from Rhodes Town. |
| Getting There | Rent a car/scooter (recommended), take a taxi, or join a popular boat tour from Mandraki Harbour. |
| Beach Type | Mostly pebbles and rocks. Water shoes are highly recommended for comfortable walking and swimming. |
| Facilities | Organised with sunbeds and umbrellas. There is a great taverna/bar at the top of the stairs. |
| Traveler Advice | GET THERE EARLY! This is one of the most popular beaches on the island. Aim to arrive before 9:30 AM in high season (July/August). |
Don’t Miss Ladiko Bay Next Door
Just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find the quieter Ladiko Bay. While similar in natural beauty, visiting both gives you a full picture of the area’s stunning coastline. Many visitors combine the two spots in one unforgettable day trip.
Plan Your Visit to Rhodes’ Most Famous Beach
Whether you’re sailing in on a boat trip or driving down with your rental car, a few hours spent at Anthony Quinn Bay will be a highlight of your Rhodes holiday. Prepare to be mesmerized by a piece of Greek paradise that captivated even a Hollywood legend.
Anthony Quinn Bay, Rhodes: Our Travel Notes (October 2025)
Date of Experience: Thursday, October 2, 2025
We visited Anthony Quinn Bay, one of the most famous beaches in Rhodes, with the specific goal of snorkeling and spotting marine life. After a sandy and relaxing beach like St. Agata, we were looking for a rockier, more vibrant environment. Here is our detailed experience and practical advice.
1. Getting There & Strategic Location
Anthony Quinn Bay is located on the East Coast of Rhodes and is easily accessible:
- Distance from Lindos: About a 40-minute drive. The road is mostly easy and paved right up to the bay’s proximity.
- Parking: The parking area is unpaved (dirt), but in October, it was free of charge.
- Finding the Correct Bay: Upon arrival, you first pass a small cove called Ladiko Beach/Playa Beach. Anthony Quinn Bay is the next one (by going straight). Both are beautiful, but our main destination was the second.
- Ideal Time to Arrive: Since spaces are limited and the shade arrives early in the afternoon (see below), it’s advisable to arrive in the morning. We arrived around 9:30 AM and still had good availability, but in high season, it is best to come even earlier.
2. Beach Services & Updated Costs
The beach is well-organized with services immediately above the cove.
Sunbeds and Umbrellas
- Total Set Cost: The price for a set of two sunbeds and one umbrella was 30€ for the entire day.
- Price Variation: We were told that the price of a single sunbed varies (10€ in low season, 15€ in high), but the cost of the set remains fixed at 30€.
- Payment Method: Payment is flexible: you choose your spot, settle down, and an attendant will come by later to collect payment.
- We paid with a card/phone (available).
- Once paid, you receive a plasticized cardboard wristband (very water-resistant) as proof of payment, and it’s advisable to keep the receipt for any checks.
- The Comfort of Mobility: A huge advantage is that you do not have an assigned sunbed. If your spot falls into the shade and you want the sun, you are free to move to another available sunbed, thanks to your payment wristband.
Beach Structure and Equipment
- The Beach: It is a narrow strip of stones and pebbles that runs along the rocky wall. Rocks are also present at the waterline.
- Advice on Stones: Walking barefoot on the beach is difficult. Fortunately, the pebbles get slightly smaller once you enter the water, making walking easier after the first few meters.
- Free Beach Area: There are unorganized spaces for laying out your towel, but they are a clear minority. Caution: In some free areas, there are signs warning of falling rocks/masses, so it is essential not to position yourself directly beneath these areas for safety.
- Rentals and Sports: There is a small kiosk on the beach (slightly past the main bar) where you can rent pedalos and canoes (pedalo cost: 30€/hour). They also sell masks and other snorkeling gear.
3. The Water, Snorkeling, and Shade
The bay is a “small corner” almost enclosed by headlands, creating the impression of a small lake of a beautiful emerald colour.
- Snorkeling (Personal Experience): This is truly the bay’s strong point. A few meters from the shore, there are many natural rocks that host diverse fish types: white, black, larger fish, and even some thin, long fish. A mask and goggles are sufficient.
- Light Tip: We snorkelled both morning and afternoon. The morning was the better experience because the water was clearer and the sunlight penetrated better (ideal around 10:00 or 11:00 AM).
- Tourist Boats: Around noon and into the early afternoon, numerous boats and guided tours arrive because the bay is very popular for swimming and snorkeling. They keep a sufficient distance from the shore, so they are not particularly bothersome.
- Shade Warning: The golden rule: shade arrives early! As early as 1:45 PM (13:45), a part of the beach was completely shaded, and the shadow quickly spreads. If you want to enjoy the sun on your sunbed, it is essential to come in the morning. The water remains sunny for longer.
4. Dining, View, and Trails
Just above the beach, near the parking lot, you’ll find an area with services and a restaurant:
- Restrooms/WC: The bathrooms are free and located behind the main kiosk (before taking the stairs down to the beach). We found them clean and well-stocked (soap and paper towels/toilet paper).
- The Bar/Restaurant with a View: We had lunch at the bar/restaurant with a magnificent panoramic view of the bay.
- Recommended Food: We tried a Chicken Club Sandwich with fries and a Mixed Seafood Platter with Tomato Sauce and Feta (calamari, shrimp, small octopus, etc.). Despite the fish-cheese combination seeming odd, the feta was not overpowering and blended very well with the sauce, making the dish truly delicious. The portions were generous.
- Atmosphere: There was background music with a pleasant rhythm, adding a cheerful atmosphere to the day.
- Trails and Hiking: For adventure lovers, there is a small path on the headland closest to the beach.
- This is a great panoramic and “Instagrammable” spot for taking photos from above.
- We saw people walking along the rocks, and the trail continues, so it is possible to do short hiking routes to explore the rocky perimeter of the bay.
Conclusions
Anthony Quinn Bay offers much more than just a swim. It is a complete destination that combines excellent snorkeling, a fascinating history, a restaurant with a view, and trails for walking.
- The Ideal Plan: We recommend arriving early in the morning, taking a pedalo ride, dedicating time to snorkeling while the light is optimal (before 11:00 AM), having lunch at the restaurant with a view, and then perhaps moving on to another beach for the afternoon as the shade starts to advance.
All prices were verified on October 2, 2025, and are provided as indicative estimates.
🐠 Rhodes’ Snorkeling Paradise: Our Day at Anthony Quinn Bay
Date of Our Adventure: Thursday, October 2, 2025
We set off from the Lindos area with the goal of reaching the famous Anthony Quinn Bay. Our expectation was to find a nice, small, and limited beach, ideal for a quick swim and some snorkeling, but we worried it would be a “static” destination where the only possible activity was sunbathing.
The reality? It was an incredible surprise: the Bay far exceeded our expectations, proving to be a dynamic place, rich in activities and corners to explore. After enjoying the total relaxation on the velvety sand of St. Agata, here we were looking for a rocky, vibrant environment—the ideal habitat for the explosion of marine life we sought.
Early Arrival and Crowd-Beating Strategy
The secret to fully enjoying this corner of Rhodes is simple: arrive early!
At 9:30 AM, even though it was the low season (October), there were already people, but most of the sunbeds were still free. Trust me, in high season, you’ll need to be here even earlier. The road from Lindos is easy (about 40 minutes).
The most “wild” part is the parking, a dirt area at the top of the hill. For us in October, it was completely free of charge.
A Quick Warning! While parking, you’ll see a first beautiful bay: that’s not Anthony Quinn, but the very close Ladiko. Go straight, pass it, and the next one, enclosed by rocky headlands that give it the look of an emerald lake (more enclosed than St. Paul’s Bay in Lindos!), will be your destination.
Sunbeds, Stones, and Magic Wristbands
Coming down the stairs, the first thing you notice is the clearly displayed cost: 30€ for a set (two sunbeds and one umbrella) for the entire day. The system here is super convenient: you choose your spot, settle down, and an attendant will come by later to collect payment. You don’t have to worry about paying as soon as you arrive!
We paid by card at an improvised kiosk—great flexibility. The proof of payment is a plasticized cardboard wristband which, incredibly, survived all our dives and swims.
The Freedom to Move: And here’s the incredible advantage: since you do not have an assigned sunbed, if the sun moves and your spot goes into the shade (which happens early here!), you are free to move to any other available sunbed in the sun. Absolute convenience!
A Sea for Exploring (and Water Shoes Recommended!)
The beach is a narrow strip of stones and pebbles running along the high rock face.
Honest Advice: Walking barefoot on the beach is painful! I highly recommend water shoes. Fortunately, as you enter the water, the stones become slightly smaller, making the swim immediately pleasant.
This bay is not just for swimming, it’s for exploration:
- Snorkeling: Just a few meters from the shore, the magic begins! The rocks are a natural habitat for fish of all kinds: large, thin, white, black… It was a truly incredible experience.
- Perfect Light: We snorkeled both morning and afternoon. Trust us: the morning is definitely better! Between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, the light penetrates best, and the water, which is notoriously crystal clear, allows for excellent visibility, even at a distance.
- Adventure and Hiking: Right next to the beach, there is a small trail on the headland. It takes you up, offering a spectacular panoramic view (perfect for photos!) and continues for those who enjoy a bit of hiking and exploring the rocky perimeter of the bay.
- Rentals and Sports: There are also kiosks that rent pedalos and canoes (30€/hour), a great alternative for exploring the bay from the water and taking a dip offshore.
Note on Free Beach Space: While there are some unorganized spaces for towels, they are very few, and sadly, in some areas, there are signs warning of falling rocks/masses. It’s best to avoid risks and stick to the safer, organized areas.
Lunch with a View, Feta, and a “Food Influencer” Moment
By midday, the bay gets lively: the guided tour boats arrive for a swimming and snorkeling stop. They keep a distance from the shore, but they add a vibrant atmosphere!
Before leaving the bay, we had lunch at the bar/restaurant located above, with a truly magnificent panoramic view over the entire gulf. The atmosphere was perfect, with soft but rhythmic background music.
- Our Dishes: We split an excellent Chicken Club Sandwich with fries and a Mixed Seafood Platter (calamari, shrimp, small octopus, mussels) with tomato sauce and Feta on top.
- The Surprise and Social Proof: Seafood with cheese? Incredibly delicious! The Feta was not overpowering but added an extra flavour to the sauce, which we happily finished completely. I was so enthusiastic that, with every bite, I made a very clear “Mhmmm!” sound. Gabriel still teases me about it! The funniest part is that the people at the table next to us noticed both our dish and my obvious joy, so they called the waiter and ordered the exact same thing! We felt like perfect food influencers for a moment, even though we absolutely aren’t, but it was a funny anecdote that confirms how inviting the dish was.
Before leaving the restaurant, we challenge you not to order our “Mixed Seafood Platter with Feta”! We captured the view and the dish that won us over: check out the Pin we created on Pinterest!
A quick Note on Facilities: The restrooms (WC) are convenient and free, located behind the kiosk at the parking level. They were clean and well-stocked—a detail that really matters!
The Final Verdict on Sun Time
The golden tip you can’t ignore: come in the morning!
By 1:45 PM (13:45), the beach is already in the shade. If you want to enjoy the sun on the sunbeds, you must take advantage of the morning hours. The water stays sunny longer, but for tanning and relaxing on the shore, the morning is essential.
Updated Prices (October 2025):
- Set of 2 sunbeds + umbrella: 30€
- Pedalo for 1 hour: 30€
🌟 Tripilare’s Final Verdict: A Piece of Our Heart Stays Here
Anthony Quinn Bay wasn’t just a stop on our trip to Rhodes; it was a genuine emotional discovery that absolutely exceeded our initial expectation of a simple “little beach.”
I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of my favourite beaches on the entire island. The experience was immersive: snorkeling just meters from the shore and finding ourselves surrounded by fish of every shape and size was a moment of pure emotion, a memory I will always cherish.
The Confirmation from Tour Operators
If we needed any confirmation that this place was special, we got it around noon! That’s when we saw the guided tour boats arrive, one after another. When you see that all the tours choose the same spot to take their clients swimming, you realize you’ve found the best spot for swimming and snorkeling on the island. Their presence, though discrete (they stay slightly offshore), is the ultimate proof that the location is truly worth visiting.
Anthony Quinn Bay represents the perfect mix: it’s a place for adventure and exploration (between swimming, trails, and pedalos) without sacrificing the comfort of sunbeds and an excellent restaurant. It is a true corner of paradise.
If I hadn’t had so many other wonders to explore in Rhodes, I would have wanted to return immediately. But it’s just a goodbye: the next time I return to the island, this Bay will be my first stop to dive back into its marvellous underwater world. It is an absolute must-visit!
Anthony Quinn Bay FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Anthony Quinn Bay: Here’s what you need to know!
How much is a set of sunbeds and an umbrella?
The cost for a set of two sunbeds and one umbrella is 30€ for the entire day. This price is fixed for the set, although the cost of a single sunbed might vary slightly between seasons.
Is Anthony Quinn Bay a sandy beach?
No, the bay is primarily a pebble and stone beach. It is highly recommended to bring water shoes for comfortable walking on the shore and entering the water.
What is the best time for snorkeling?
Snorkeling is best in the morning. The water is clearest and the sunlight penetrates best between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, offering optimal visibility of marine life.
Do you need to arrive early?
Absolutely. The bay is small and very popular. Also, the shade arrives early in the afternoon (around 2:00 PM), so arriving by 9:30 AM is ideal, especially in high season.
Can you pay with a card or phone?
Yes, you can pay for the sunbed rental with a card or phone (NFC), which offers great convenience.
Can you move freely if the sun moves?
Yes, a huge advantage is that the sunbed is not assigned. Having paid and received the wristband, you are free to move to another available sunbed if your spot falls into the shade and you prefer to stay in the sun.
Are there any free beach areas?
Yes, there are some free areas, but they are a clear minority. It is important to heed the falling rock danger signs and avoid positioning yourself directly beneath unstable rock walls.
Are restrooms available and free?
Yes, there are free restrooms located above, near the parking lot and the restaurant. They are convenient and well-maintained.
Do the tourist boats disturb visitors?
No. The numerous tour boats arrive around noon for snorkeling, but they tend to stay further away from the entrance of the bay and the main swimming area, without disturbing those on the beach.
Are there any trails or walking paths?
Yes, there is a small path that goes up the adjacent headland. This offers a spectacular panoramic viewpoint and allows for short hiking routes to explore the rocky perimeter.