Yes, we know, this blog post is way overdue. But since we don’t know when we’ll travel again, we might as well look back on our previous trips. That way we can already plan the next ones for when it’s safe to travel again.
At a glance
- How long: A week for a beach holiday, 3–4 days for a short stay
- Best time: May–June and September–early October
- Getting there: Fly into Kos International Airport; the island is small and transfers are short
- Good for: Beach holidays, sunsets, easy island days and boat trips
Top sights
In September 2019 we visited the Greek island of Kos. We had already been to Rhodes and Crete, and since we were so in love with both islands, we knew Kos wouldn’t disappoint. It didn’t. If you want to know where we stayed, how to get around the island and what to visit, keep reading!
Where to stay in Kos
We went to Kos for 13 days. We stayed in Tigaki for 5 nights and in Kos Town for 6 nights. In Tigaki we had an all-inclusive resort, so we didn’t explore the island during the first days. We relaxed by the pool and on the beach instead. Tigaki is a great place to relax if you want to have the beach to yourself and a laid-back holiday.
If you want to explore the island, we would advise you to stay in Kos Town. It’s a lively town with plenty to do, and there are many rental services where you can rent a scooter, quad or car. There is a beach in Kos Town too, but you won’t be there alone, because many beach bars and restaurants have their own sunbeds on the sand, which you can use if you buy a drink.
Things to do in Kos
Kos Town
No matter where you stay, you have to visit the capital of Kos. Stroll around the old town with its boutique shops, visit the harbour, enjoy the beach bars and restaurants or visit the medieval sites.
The ancient theatre
We also visited a beautiful ancient theatre on the island. One small warning from experience: when we took out our tripod to photograph the two of us, security came over to tell us that professional photography isn’t allowed. We only wanted a few photos on our phone, and we were secretly flattered they thought we were professionals. So if you travel with a tripod, ask first.
Palio Pyli
Palio Pyli are the ruins of a medieval castle. It’s really impressive, because it sits on a mountain top and the view is beautiful. We got to the entrance by scooter and there was no entrance fee. PS: don’t go in flip-flops, it’s a steep, rocky climb to get to the top.
Blue churches
All around the island you can spot blue churches. We visited a few, and the locals even offered us the key to go inside. Blue churches are one of the first things we think of when we think of Greece, so we couldn’t miss them.
The best beaches in Kos
Since Kos is an island, there are plenty of beaches to explore. These are the two favourites we visited.
Agios Stefanos
This was our favourite beach on the island, a sandy beach of about 3 km. Right next to the sea you’ll find the ruins of the Agios Stefanos church, from the 5th century, where you can wander around freely. Apart from lying on the beach and enjoying the view, you can swim to the little island in the sea, which has a small blue church on it. You can also take a small boat to get there. It’s a pretty unique beach that you definitely have to see.
Kata Beach
This beach isn’t easy to find and it’s quite far from Kos Town. It was the furthest we drove with our scooter, and it was really worth it. For the last part the official roads stop, so be prepared for a bumpy ride, with some goats along the way. Once you arrive the view is insane, and if you walk down the beach and through the water you can visit a shipwreck. It was the quietest beach we visited, but the sea is really rough. It’s not a great beach for kids, and we didn’t really swim here ourselves.
Sunset at Zia
To watch the sunset we recommend Zia, a small town high up on a mountain with great views. We planned to go twice, but with so much on our list we never arrived on time. The second time it was even our own fault, because the scooter ran out of fuel on the way up and Lukas had to push it to the nearest petrol station. By the time we were halfway up the mountain the sun was going down, so we stopped and enjoyed the sunset right there. It was still a lovely view. Hopefully we can visit Zia one day with a full tank.
Boat tours from Kos Town
From Kos Town there are plenty of boat tours. We did the three-island cruise on the last day of our trip, which stops at three islands where you can explore and swim. We visited Kalymnos and enjoyed the lovely harbour town for about an hour. But when we left the harbour to head to the next island, the weather turned and we ended up in rain and a storm, in the middle of the sea on our little boat. Everyone was scared and wanted to go back. After waiting an hour on the second island and a two-hour struggle across the water, we returned to Kos. It was a whole new experience for us, and one we’ll remember forever. So we can’t really review the cruise, but do check the weather forecast before you go.
Underwater photos
Kos is also where we took our first underwater photos. It was completely new for both of us and we still have a lot to learn. It made us want to take diving lessons and study underwater photography and video.
Getting around Kos
Coach buses
We took the bus from Tigaki to Kos Town and from Kos Town back to the airport. It’s really affordable and easy. If you only want to visit a few towns, this is the cheapest and simplest option.
Rent a bike
A bike can be fun if you want to explore locally or you’re a cyclist. We didn’t choose it because we wanted to see a lot in a short time, and it was really hot and windy.
Rent a scooter, quad or car
This is the fastest way to get around and it gives you the most freedom. We chose a scooter because it was the cheapest of the three. We wouldn’t recommend a car, because the island is small enough to reach every place by scooter or quad. A quad lets you reach more difficult spots. We visited everything above by scooter, so if you plan the same spots, don’t hesitate. Just take it slowly: some roads are bumpy and goats like to wander onto them.
We rented our scooter from Ideal Rentals for two separate days and shared one, paying 16 euros each day. We started around 8.30 in the morning and had to return it by 20.00.
Good to know before you go
- Tripod at historic sites: security told us professional photography isn’t allowed at the ancient theatre, so ask first if you travel with a tripod.
- Shoes: skip the flip-flops at Palio Pyli. The climb to the top is steep and rocky.
- Scooter: we paid 16 euros per day for a shared scooter in September 2019 (rental from Ideal Rentals). Check your fuel before you head up a mountain, as we learned on the way to Zia.
- Boat tours: look at the weather forecast first. Our three-island cruise ended in a storm, and it had almost been cancelled for wind that morning. Don’t save your boat trip for your very last day.
- Beach bars: in Kos Town, the sunbeds belong to the beach bars and restaurants. You can use them if you buy a drink.
When to go to Kos
We visited in September 2019 and had pool, beach and sunset weather the whole time, with about 30 degrees every day. Most visitors go between late spring and early autumn, when it’s warm enough to swim and the island is at its liveliest. Whenever you go, a sunny day on a Greek island is easy to plan. We would do the beach in the morning, a sight in the afternoon and a sunset to finish.
How long to stay
We stayed 13 days, split between Tigaki (5 nights) and Kos Town (6 nights), and we never ran out of things to do. A week is enough to see the highlights above. If you want to combine relaxing with exploring, do what we did: start with a few slow resort days, then move to Kos Town to see the island by scooter.
FAQ
Is Kos good for a beach holiday?
Yes. The island has plenty of beaches, from the sandy stretch of Agios Stefanos to the remote, windy Kata Beach. Our favourite was Agios Stefanos, with its ancient church ruins by the sea and a little island with a blue church that you can swim or take a boat to.
Where should you stay in Kos, Tigaki or Kos Town?
Tigaki is a laid-back place for beach and pool days. Kos Town is the better base if you want to explore, because there is plenty to do and many rental services for scooters, quads and cars.
What is the best way to get around Kos?
The coach bus is the cheapest and simplest if you only visit a few towns, and we used it between Tigaki, Kos Town and the airport. A scooter gives the most freedom, and we reached every place in this guide on one. A quad is handy for rougher spots, and we wouldn’t bother with a car.
Where can you watch the sunset on Kos?
We recommend Zia, a small mountain town known for its sunset views. We never made it all the way up, but the view from halfway was still beautiful.
More Greek islands
Kos was one of our first Greek islands, after Rhodes and Crete. If you want more inspiration, read our Crete travel guide or our trip across Santorini, Milos and Paros. For more beach ideas, see the best beaches we’ve visited, and for budgeting, what our trips really cost.
That’s it for our trip to Kos! If you have any questions, send us a DM on Instagram. And if you want to follow our other adventures, follow us there as well. Thank you for reading and have fun planning your trip to Kos!
Read also: our Corfu travel guide and our Athens travel guide.
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