Europe · Beach and resort guide
Easy cycling, beach resorts and a compact island shape that keeps exploring manageable.
Is it right for you?
A strong fit for
Families, couples and active resort stays.
We would think twice for
Travellers wanting drama in their scenery, because Kos is flat and agricultural by Greek island standards, and its appeal is ease rather than spectacle.
What we would want you to know
Some beach areas are breezier and more isolated than others.
Our research-led view
We have not stayed on Kos, so everything here comes from research, resort by resort, and from the families who ask us about it. What we keep coming back to is how easy the island is: flat, compact and quick to reach from the airport, which makes it a natural first family holiday abroad.
We have not been here ourselves yet and will never pretend otherwise. This advice comes from the operator, mapping, hotel and transfer research we do for real enquiries.
Map and areas
A real working town with ruins scattered between the streets: the ancient agora, a Roman odeon and the Knights' castle by the harbour. Seafront hotels either side have beaches of sand and pebble, flat cycle paths make bikes the easy way around, and Bar Street gets loud late.
A low-rise north-coast village behind a long sandy beach that shelves very gently, with a salt marsh full of birds behind it. Evenings are quiet, along a strip of tavernas and bars, and the afternoon wind cools things down but can bring small waves.
Next along from Tigaki, with wider sand, dunes and several large all-inclusive hotels. The steady breeze brings kitesurfers and windsurfers, and there is little village life, so it suits families who plan to stay in the hotel.
A small fishing port with a sandy beach and a handful of tavernas, where boats leave for Kalymnos. It is quieter than Tigaki or Kardamena, close to the airport and a good base for a slower week.
The island's lively resort on the south coast: a long stretch of sand, boats to Nisyros and a strip of bars that runs late in high season. Families do better at the hotels on the edges than in the middle of town.
The hilly south-west, where Kamari bay looks out to the islet of Kastri and the old village of Kefalos sits on the ridge above. The island's prettiest beaches are around here, but it is the furthest point from Kos Town, so a car helps.
Weather and seasons
Kos has a steady Dodecanese summer: dry from June to September, with August highs around 31°C and a northerly breeze that stops the heat feeling heavy but can whip up the north-coast beaches in the afternoon. For toddlers, June and early September are kinder: June's sea is about 22°C, September's nearer 24°C, and the wind is more often light. May suits cyclists, before the heat arrives, and the Hippocratia festival fills the summer calendar with concerts. By November most resort hotels have shut for the winter.
Worth timing a trip around
A long summer season of concerts, theatre and exhibitions in honour of Hippocrates, including a re-enactment of the Hippocratic oath by newly qualified doctors at the Asklepion.
Held on the first Saturday after 15 August, with local honey and honey sweets to taste, traditional music and village dancing.
| Month | High | Low | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C | 9°C | 17°C | 80 mm |
| February | 15°C | 10°C | 17°C | 69 mm |
| March | 17°C | 11°C | 17°C | 43 mm |
| April | 20°C | 14°C | 17°C | 2 mm |
| May | 24°C | 17°C | 19°C | 6 mm |
| June | 29°C | 21°C | 22°C | 0 mm |
| July | 32°C | 23°C | 24°C | 0 mm |
| August | 31°C | 23°C | 25°C | 0 mm |
| September | 29°C | 21°C | 24°C | 0 mm |
| October | 25°C | 18°C | 23°C | 7 mm |
| November | 21°C | 15°C | 21°C | 44 mm |
| December | 16°C | 11°C | 19°C | 80 mm |
Temperatures are 2015 to 2024 averages from NOAA records for Kos, 21 km away at 126 m. Rainfall is from the same station and shows the typical (median) month, so one freak storm does not skew it. Sea temperatures: NOAA OISST, 1991 to 2020.
Sand, shingle and swimming
A small sandy beach in Kamari bay beside the ruins of two early Christian basilicas, looking straight out to the chapel on Kastri islet, which strong swimmers can reach. Calm, clear water on most mornings.
Hot spring water runs down the rocks into a stone-ringed pool on the shore, so you move between hot water and cool sea. Pebbly, with a steep path down; go early or late to avoid the crowds.
A long sand-and-pebble beach north of Kos Town, an easy flat cycle from the harbour along the promenade, with plenty of loungers and cafés.
Soft sand and very shallow water that stays knee-deep a long way out, ideal for small children early in the day, while the breeze is still light.
Things to do
The healing sanctuary where Hippocrates is said to have taught, built in terraces on a hillside above Kos Town with views across to Turkey. Go early, because there is little shade on the upper levels.
The Knights of St John's harbour fortress reopened in 2025 after long repairs following the 2017 earthquake. Cross by the bridge next to the ancient plane tree that tradition links to Hippocrates.
A mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikeos that fills at dusk with visitors who come for the sunset over the sea and dinner on a terrace. Shops sell local honey and herbs.
A ruined Byzantine castle and deserted village on a hilltop, reached by a short walk from the road. Quiet and atmospheric, and a good contrast to a beach day.
A large Knights' fortress on the central plateau near the airport, its long walls enclosing a couple of small chapels. Rarely busy, and worth a stop on the way to Kefalos.
Boats from Kardamena and Kos Town cross to Nisyros, where you walk down into the steaming Stefanos crater. The ground is hot and smells of sulphur, so wear closed shoes.
The Alykes salt lake behind Tigaki draws flamingos in winter and spring, and wading birds for much of the year. A flat, easy walk or cycle from the resort.
Day boats from Kos Town call at Kalymnos, Pserimos and the islet of Plati for swimming stops and lunch. Easy with children, though the boats are busy in August.
Food and drink
Kos's wine cheese: sheep or goat's milk cheese matured in red wine lees until the rind turns dark red. Try it fried as saganaki with lemon.
Thin fried pastries filled with soft cheese, sweet with honey and cinnamon or savoury with herbs. A carnival treat now found all year.
Hand-rolled flat pasta boiled in meat stock and served with butter and grated mizithra, a village dish worth asking for.
Thyme honey from the villages around Antimachia, sold at roadside stalls and celebrated at a festival every August.
Money
Kos competes hard on price, with a big stock of mid-range and four-star family hotels, many of them all inclusive. School holidays are the main thing that moves the cost. We rarely think the top room categories are needed here, because the island outside the hotel is cheap to enjoy: bike hire, buses and tavernas will not stretch a budget.
Flights and transfers
Direct seasonal flights run from Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle, and the island is small enough that no transfer should frighten anyone. It is one of the easiest Greek islands to do with young children for exactly that reason.
Flights from UK airports
Route check September 2026. Some routes are seasonal and schedules change, so we confirm the live options when we quote.
Practical details
2 hours ahead of the UK
Euro (€)
Greek
Type C and F, 230V
On the right
Not recommended for drinking; bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere
Rounding up, or around 10 percent in tavernas, is appreciated
Entry for British passport holders
Visa. No visa needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
Passport. Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave the Schengen area.
The EU Entry/Exit System is now in use, so you may be asked to register your fingerprints and photo at the border on your first visit. It is free.
Summarised from the FCDO travel advice on gov.uk, checked 29 September 2026. Rules change: read the current entry requirements and the full travel advice before you go.
Questions we get asked
Often, in a pleasant way. A northerly breeze blows through much of the summer and keeps the heat manageable. The north coast, at Tigaki and Marmari, feels it most in the afternoons, which kitesurfers love; Kardamena and Kefalos on the south coast are usually more sheltered.
Yes, most of the northern half is flat. Kos Town has dedicated cycle lanes along the seafront to Lambi and Psalidi, and bikes are for hire in every resort. The centre of the island rises towards Mount Dikeos, so leave the hills to e-bikes or keen riders, and ride early in summer.
Mastichari and the Kefalos area are the calmest, followed by Tigaki. Kardamena and the centre of Kos Town are the livelier choices. If you want quiet with a few restaurants in walking distance, Mastichari is our usual answer.
Easily. Day boats go to Nisyros and its volcano, and to Kalymnos, Pserimos and Plati, while ferries run on to Rhodes and the smaller Dodecanese islands. We keep island trips for calm days and early in the week, so a cancelled boat can be rebooked.
It is one of the easiest choices we know. The transfer is short, the island is small, and the north-coast beaches at Tigaki and Marmari shelve gently over soft sand. Go in the morning, before the afternoon breeze brings small waves, and choose a hotel with a shaded splash pool.
Photographs
Also worth a look
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