Kos Holidays
UTC +02:00
Euro
Greek
Much of the Dodecanese runs to pebble and rock, but Kos has long, soft, shallow-shelving sand — Tigaki alone stretches roughly 10 km, and the gradient stays gentle a long way out, which is exactly what younger families want.
The Asklepion, the Roman Casa Romana, the ancient agora, and the Plane Tree of Hippocrates all sit in or beside Kos Town. Few Greek islands pack this much classical history into walking distance of the harbour.
The marina and the ferry port put Nisyros, Kalymnos, Pserimos, Patmos, and Turkish Bodrum all within a day trip, which makes a mid-week change of scene effortless. Nisyros in particular is a draw — a half-day boat trip drops you at a still-steaming volcanic crater you can walk down into.
The island is famously flat, with dedicated bike lanes running from Kos Town out to Lambi, Psalidi, and Agios Fokas. Hire is cheap and available on almost every corner, and plenty of visitors barely touch a car all week. It is genuinely unusual among the Greek islands, where steep, switchback roads are the norm and a bike is rarely a serious option.
Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Knights of St John, Ottoman, and Italian rulers each left buildings standing — the Italian-era market hall and the medieval Neratzia Castle face each other across the same harbour.
At Therma, near Agios Fokas, a hot mineral spring runs straight into a walled rock pool at the shoreline, warm year-round and free to use — a rare thing to find a short drive from a beach resort.
The island splits into a few clear zones, and the difference between them is real — pick the wrong one and you can spend the week wishing you had booked elsewhere. Most of our Kos island holiday packages are built around these same areas.
Kos Town: The capital and the most do-it-all base — marina, castle, Roman ruins, and the long town beach at Lambi, roughly a 30-minute drive from the airport. It suits couples and anyone who wants the sights without a daily drive.
Tigaki (north coast): A 10 km sweep of shallow sand backed by a salt lake that draws flamingos in spring; some of the best beaches in Kos for young families sit along this stretch.
Marmari (north coast): Sandier and breezier than its neighbour, popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing, with low dunes behind the beach and calm shallows for paddling closer in. The breeze that pulls the watersports crowd also takes the edge off the midsummer heat.
Kardamena (south coast): The island's liveliest resort, roughly 27 km from Kos Town — a long sandy beach by day and bars by night, drawing a younger crowd alongside families. It is also the departure point for boats to Nisyros, so it works as a base even if the nightlife is not the draw.
Kefalos & Kamari (southwest): A wide scenic bay with the little Kastri islet and its white chapel offshore; among the better-value cheap holidays to Kos Greece without dropping beach quality.
Mastichari (north coast): A quieter fishing harbour with a sandy beach and the daily ferry to Kalymnos — noticeably calmer evenings than the bigger resorts.
Between ancient ruins, a flat coast made for cycling, and mountain villages inland, the list of things to do in Kos town and beyond runs well past the sun lounger.
The Asklepion: The ancient healing sanctuary, 4 km from Kos Town, rises across three terraces on a pine-covered hillside with views over to Turkey. It was one of the most important medical centres of the ancient world and is closely tied to Hippocrates. Allow an hour or so, go early before the heat builds, and take the short detour to the Casa Romana on the way back into town.
Kos Town & Neratzia Castle: The Knights of St John castle guards the harbour mouth, with the ancient agora, the Roman Casa Romana, and the Plane Tree of Hippocrates all a short walk apart. You can comfortably take in the lot across one unhurried morning.
Cycling the coast: Flat lanes run from Kos Town out to Lambi, Psalidi, and Agios Fokas. Bike hire is everywhere, and the waterfront ride is the easiest way to reach the quieter edges of the town and its beaches.
Zia & Mount Dikeos: The hill village of Zia, around 15 km from the capital, is the classic sunset spot, with walking trails climbing to Mount Dikeos at 846 m, the island's highest point. The village can get busy at dusk, so the trick is to arrive in the late afternoon, walk the lanes and the craft shops first, then settle on a west-facing terrace before the coaches turn up.
Boat trips: Day boats run out to the Nisyros volcano, to Kalymnos and Pserimos for swimming stops, and across to Bodrum in Turkey — most leave directly from Kos Town harbour.
May, June, and September are the pick of the calendar — sea warm enough to swim, daytime temperatures in the mid-20s°C, and far fewer crowds than peak. July and August are hotter and livelier, and the right choice if you are tied to the school holidays.
353818882077