The island of Kos (Greece) is the birthplace and kingdom of Odysseus, everyone knows this from the myths of Ancient Greece. From above, the island of the Dodecanese Archipelago resembles a sand castle framed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. The length of the coast is 112 km. The island will surely make you want to come back here. In the cold season, flamingos live here, and in summer Kos is covered with dense greenery of olive groves.
General information
The length of the island is only 50 km, and the width in different parts is from 2 to 11. A little more than 33 thousand people live on the Spit. In addition to this very island of Kos, the archipelago includes 10 more small islands and a fairly large and popular Rhodes. The capital city of Kos is characterized by a mix of cultures, dense greenery and beautiful parks. The entire area of the island is a tourist area, each settlement has its own unique appearance, character and offers a certain rest.
As most tourists note, the island of Kos is the most financially accessible, since there are many 2-star hotels on its territory. The resort is recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly in the world. The locals are very friendly and calm.
Interesting fact! On the island, you can see animals such as flamingos, large coach turtles and white-bellied seals.
Villages and beaches
You should choose your vacation spot depending on the purpose of your visit.Most people prefer the city of Kos or settlements near the capital.
Kos City
All the beaches of Kos are valued for their cleanliness, the coast in the capital is no exception. However, there is a tricky system here – the beaches belong to bars, vacationers are invited by employees of bars and cafes. Sun beds and umbrellas are free, but only if you buy something in the restaurant – ice cream or juice. Given the hospitable attitude of local residents to vacationers, there is a chance to make friends with the bartender and get the opportunity to relax on the beach without buying anything in the cafe.
The beaches in Kos are covered with pebbles, the water is clear. The only thing that can overshadow your holiday on the capital’s beach is the feeling that you are trapped in an anthill, especially in high season. If you want to relax in a more peaceful place, it is better to visit the beaches of other towns, especially since it is not difficult to get there, the distance is from 5 to 10 km. Here you can not only relax and sunbathe, but also spend time actively – go sailing, water skiing or banana.
On a note! The popular resort of Bodrum is located opposite the city of Kos in Greece on the territory of continental Turkey. There is a ferry service between the localities.
Kefalos
The resort is suitable for those who want to enjoy the history of Greece and sunbathe on the beach. It is located 43 km from the capital Kos on the opposite west bank. The beaches are well-equipped, there are enough sun beds and umbrellas, there are rental points for sports equipment. The sea is calm, there are plenty of children’s attractions, and the islands in the sea can be reached by swimming.
No description of the island of Kos in Greece is complete without mentioning Paradise Beach. The paradise name of the coastal strip fully reflects the degree of comfort of rest. The place is located near the village of Kefalos-its surroundings and the town itself is called the resort of Kamari. The beach line runs through a bay of natural origin and is framed by picturesque hills. Paradise is located near Kefalos. The beach is covered with sand, there are comfortable cabins and showers, equipment rental is provided, and there is a windsurfing school.
The descent to the sea is gradual and gentle, and families often relax here. The water is surprisingly clear, the sea inhabitants are perfectly visible. The water is 1-2 degrees lower than on other beaches of the island.
Another name for Paradise is bubble Beach. This is due to a unique natural effect – the gases of the volcano that come to the surface of the sea near the shore.
You can eat in the restaurant or mobile cafe.
Multiple routes to the beach:
- bus from Kos-ticket price from 1.5 to 3€, stop directly at the entrance to the beach;
- bike – daily rent 4€;
- a scooter ride costs an average of 20€;
- car rental-starting from 30€;
- a taxi ride from Kardamena will cost an average of 15-20€ each way.
There are 4 parking lots in the vicinity of Paradise, but tourists recommend choosing the far one.
Kardamena
The village of Kardamena is located 30 km south-west of the capital. There is everything here – a beautiful beach, souvenir shops, shops and a pier where sightseeing tours of the islands depart. The beach is well equipped. You can rent a yacht: the service for 7 days will cost about 2000-3000€.
Kardamena is a noisy and fun place, where holidays are constantly held. From the point of view of attractions, the town is somewhat inferior to other settlements, but in terms of the number of luxury hotels, Kardamene has no equal.
The best place for walking is the embankment, but it is located 3-4 km from the city. This part of Kardamena has the most 5-star hotels. Cheaper hotels are located in the central part of the village. Each hotel offers the necessary equipment for sports. Accommodation will cost from 30 to 300€, depending on the star rating of the hotel.
The flow of tourists in this resort of Greece is not interrupted throughout the year, life boils in numerous bars and discos.
A tip! Those who have visited here recommend coming to the city of Kardamena on the island of Kos in the off-season. This is the best time to visit the thermal springs and the extinct Nisyros volcano.
To get to Kardamena, you can::
- by car-rent 30-50€ per day, cheaper to rent a car for a week-from 180€;
- bike rental – from 5 to 8€ per day;
- by bus-the fare is 3€.
Mykonos is a Greek island for relaxed people
Tigaki
The resort area of Greece is located in the northern part of the island of Kos and attracts tourists with beaches with black sand of volcanic origin. Many visitors to the island go to Tigaki to see the flamingos on Lake Aliko. The most amazing photos of the island of Kos in Greece are obtained here.
Tigaki is located 11 km from the capital Kos. The main advantage of this resort is that no matter where you are staying in Tigaki, the beach can be reached on foot.
The coastal zone with a length of 10 km is usually sparsely populated, while the infrastructure here is well developed, there is everything for a comfortable stay. The descent into the water is gradual, gentle. Families with children prefer to relax here. Tigaki has several times received the “Blue Beach” award-a sign of ecological cleanliness and absolute order. It is forbidden to bathe animals here, the descent to the water is convenient and safe. Swimming is possible from May to September.
Windsurfers love to relax on the beach, as this part of Kos is windswept. The wave height reaches 2 meters.
Prices at Tigaki Beach:
- admission is free;
- chaise longue – 5€;
- beer – 3,5€;
- cocktails-from 5€;
- windsurfing lessons – on average 50€.
According to tourists, food and recreation on the island of Kos on Tigaki beach are more expensive than in other resorts of the island.
There are several ways to get to the town:
- by regular bus – 2€, the journey takes 30 minutes;
- by bike or moped – from 3 to 5€, however, cycling in mountainous areas is difficult;
- car rental costs€ 100 for 2 days.
Psalidi
The Psalidi resort area is located east of Kos. Hotels are located here, bounded on one side by a pebble beach, and on the other by a highway. Comfortable hotels attract the attention of European holiday lovers, and constant winds attract windsurfers.
Don’t look for significant attractions here. There is a windsurfing school in Psalidi, and a lesson with an instructor and a test dive will cost approximately 40€.
A sun lounger with parasol costs€ 6 and a single sunbed costs€ 3. In some places, these facilities are free, provided that you order food or drinks at the restaurant or bar. There is an opportunity to visit the thermal springs, an excursion tour costs about 15€.
Mastikhari and Marmari
These resorts are chosen by those who want to get a relaxing holiday on the Spit in Greece. There are not many attractions here, the vegetation is mostly steppe, and the neighboring islands are perfectly visible from the shore.
Marmari is located 15 km from the capital Kos, “zest” — live octopus, which restaurant owners hang out at the front door. For a portion of perfectly prepared seafood, you will have to pay from 6 to 10€.
Mastikhari is located 22 km from Kos and 7 km from the airport, today it is one of the most visited resorts in this part of Greece. There is a comfortable beach with fine sand and clear water.
The island doesn’t have the usual route markings, but there are signs everywhere, so you can’t get lost. Buses run from Kos Airport to the island’s capital, stopping at Mastikhari. The main road from Kos to Mastikhari leads from the villages of Zipari and Marmari. Flights run daily from 7-00 to 23-00, but the schedule changes frequently and you need to check it.
The beach is 2 km long and there is a surf school. The beach stretches on the left side of the port, even in high season there are not so many people here.
The coastline in Mastikhari is wide, and the descent into the water is gentle. The water here takes on a turquoise hue, which in combination with snow-white sand gives the resort a special charm. Sun loungers and umbrellas can be rented on the beach. Car rental costs from 5 to 7€. Along the coast there are olive groves, which are often found throughout Greece.
You can rent a boat, catamaran or yacht on the beach. Experienced instructors offer their services.
From Mastikhari Pier, boats leave for the nearby island of Kalymnos. The route takes approximately 20 minutes, the ticket price for an adult is 5€, and for a child-3€.
Not far from the village there is a Lido water park, the entrance fee for adults is 17€, children under 3 years old enter free of charge. There are lockers for things, clean toilets and cafes. A regular bus stops right next to the water park.
The best time to visit Mastikhari is in summer and September, when the air temperature warms up to +35°C, and the water-to +26°C. There is almost no precipitation at this time of year.
How to get there
There are two routes to get to the island-by air and by water. On the ferry, you can travel together with the car.
In the center of Kos and a kilometer from the settlement of Antimachia, there is the Hippocrates Airport. From May to October, charter flights from Russia regularly arrive here. The flight takes no more than 3.5 hours, and there is a transfer in Athens. It is a 1-hour flight from Athens to Kos.
It is important! The lowest prices for air tickets are in late April-early May and October. During the peak season, their cost increases by one and a half times. At the airport, be sure to pick up a guide to the island of Kos.
If you want to travel by ferry, you will need to fly to Athens, arrive at the port of Piraeus, and then take the ferry to Kos. The road takes longer, but in the cold season this route helps out. In addition, the cost of the route is much lower than the price of a charter flight ticket. Greek ferries are comfortable, and you can enjoy the local beauty during your trip. The road is long – 12 hours, there is a stop in Santorini. The ticket price is approximately 40€. The schedule may change depending on the season.
Useful to know! From Athens airport, you can get to the port by bus X96, ticket price is 5€, the journey takes an hour and a half. There is also a metro station in the city, the ticket price is 8€, the route duration is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Ferry services are also available between the islands of Greece, for example, from Rhodes to Kos can be reached in 4 hours.
Climate
The resort is an incredible place, as a holiday in Greece on the island of Kos is beautiful at any time of the year. However, experienced travelers recommend visiting the paradise from May to September. At the height of the season – July-August – prices on the island significantly increase.
Island in summer
The air temperature rises to +31 °C, the weather is clear, and there is almost no wind – it feels like +40 °C outside. If the main purpose of the trip is to visit the sights, do not go to Kos in the summer. In the heat, it is not very pleasant to travel around the island, but fans of beach holidays will enjoy plenty of sunbathing and swimming in clear, turquoise water. The Aegean Sea warms up to +25°C.
A tip! The heat is easier to bear by eating watermelons and peaches, which are plentiful on the island.
Kos in autumn
In September and October, Kos has a truly velvety season. The air temperature is not higher than +26°C, and the water in the sea is +22…+25 °C. Before lunch, vacationers sunbathe on the beaches, and in the afternoon they travel around the island.
When planning a vacation, check out the weather forecast – heavy rains may start here in the fall. If you still decide to go on vacation, be sure to bring an umbrella.
Island in spring
In spring, Kos is beautiful – it’s like entering a garden of eden with strange flowers. It’s not for nothing that the island’s second name is the garden of the Aegean Sea. Even cacti bloom here, if you want to preserve the exotic island of Kos in the photo, do not miss the opportunity to capture how almonds and bougainvillea bloom.
In the spring, couples love to walk around the island. The air temperature here is +17…+22°C, and the water in the sea is +17…+20°C. At this time, nectarines and sweet cherries appear on the Spit. The spring season, along with the pine season, is called velvet-you can have a beautiful tan and explore the Spit.
Island in winter
During the cold season, the island of Kos in Greece is visited only for one purpose – to be alone and take a walk along the sea coast. Weather with an air temperature of +14…+16°C in combination with a piercing wind and rain does not encourage long walks. You can warm up in a cafe or tavern with a cup of coffee with almond liqueur. In winter, most of the shops, souvenir shops and cafes on Kos are closed.
Transportation in Kos
One of the airport terminals has a bus stop. From here, transport goes to the capital and some localities. The last flight departs at 19-40, in low season-at 16-15. In total, no more than 5 flights depart per day. Please check the bus schedule in advance.
The route from the airport to Kos goes through the settlement of Mastikharia. The ticket price is from 3 to 4€. There are also buses to Kardamena and Kefalos. From the bus station in Kos there are buses to all resort towns with an interval of 1.5-2 hours. The average ticket price is 8€.
If your hotel is located far from the bus route, it makes sense to rent a taxi. From the airport in Kos, a taxi will reach you for 50-65€, which is how much you will have to pay to get to your destination.
A tip! When traveling during the holiday season, try to book a taxi in advance, as there may not be any available cars. It is most convenient to use the service online, available in Russian. In this case, the cost of the trip will be fixed regardless of the passenger’s waiting time.
You can rent a car at the airport, however, since May, there are too many people who want to use the service and prices soar. In addition, people are not always informed about all the rental conditions. The safest option is to use the Rentalcars service. To ensure that your trip to Kos is not overshadowed by the lack of transport, make sure to book a car in advance.
Interesting facts
- Kos is often called the “island of bicycles” because of the large number of people who prefer this particular type of transport. It is really convenient to get around by bike.
- In the forest on the island, you can easily meet a peacock, there are relatively many of them here.
- Hippocrates, the famous ancient Greek physician, was born on Kos. As you might guess, the airport is named after him.
- One of the most popular attractions — the plane tree of Hippocrates-was planted by the same healer more than 2000 years ago. But this is not accurate, there is no convincing evidence of this fact.
- Residents of the ancient Paleo Pili, located in the center of Kos, were forced to leave the city due to a cholera epidemic. After that, the locality became a ghost town.
Greek culture is one of the most mysterious and alluring in the world. The island of Kos (Greece) invites you to get acquainted with it, plunge into amazing legends and just relax on the beach.
