GREECE

Kos Island

We visited the marvellous Kos Island in July 2007 and would like to share our experience and views with you. The following assessment of the island is based upon our own experiences and therefore description given here necessarily contains an element of subjective opinion, which may not reflect your own experience on another occasion.

General Information

In our opinion Kos is one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean Sea. It is the third largest island of the Dodecanese after Rhodes and Karpathos. It has a large number of archaeological sites and monuments from every era. The island is equipped with abundant facilities for tourists. It offers all the usual amenities and is a fine spot for a pleasant, carefree holiday. It has to offer:

Warm - long sunny days,
Variety of beautiful and wild and nude sandy beaches,
Crystal clear sea water,
Variety of water sports,
Health spas - Embros Thermae is a must see,
Ancient, Byzantine and beautiful Venetian monuments,
Byzantine churches,
Friendly Greeks,
Delicious, fresh Greek food and tiny McDonald’s Restaurant located by Eleftherias Sq,
Variety of clubs, bars and restaurants,
Fabulous night life and great atmosphere in Kos Town.

Historical Sites

Kos has a variety of historical sites and monuments from almost every era. We found there a variety of interesting places and on this page we describe a few of them. We think that during the summer holiday it may be difficult to visit all the sites, so we have chosen the most interesting places on the island. Please click on the following links to find out more:

Historical sites - in Kos Town:

Historical sites - rest of the island:

Daily Excursions from Kos

If you have plenty of time and would like to explore the region, you have plenty of choice. You can buy all trips in the local travel shop or directly from a ship crew member in the harbour in Kos Town. If you are heading to Nisyros Island you may also purchase a ticket directly from the captain in Kamari Marina (Kefalos) and sail from Kamari. The fare usually includes a bus tour to the volcano. If you buy trips locally, you may save lots of Euros as these are cheaper than trips sold by tour operators.

Fishing and BBQ on the beach

This may be a really a great day for you as it was for us. The trip lasts almost all day. It starts from Kamari at around 9 a.m. and finishes about 5 p.m. If your hotel is located in Kefalos you will be picked up by a minibus before 9 a.m. The excursion includes: - fishing - from the boat around the coves of Kefalos - if you are lucky you may catch real octopus! Usually free ouzo is served when you catch a fish; and BBQ - served on private, quiet, stony beach - meat, fish, octopus (if someone caught one), delicious fresh salad and plenty of local vine and ouzo - all included in the price! After the barbecue you have plenty of time to relax and swim in the warm, crystal clear sea. Summarising food was delicious and the whole day was very interesting - worth to go.

3 Islands Cruise - fantastic day at sea

The cruise usually starts around 9 a.m. from Kos Town and finishes around 5 p.m. If you stay outside Kos Town, the tour bus will pick you up from your hotel or a central place in your village / town. During the cruise you will sail to Pserimos Island - to a rocky and uninhabited beach - with a stop for a barbecue and a swim in the crystal clear water. Lots of time for relaxation! Then you will continue your journey to Pserimos port - a truly traditional Greek island. In the port you can have time to explore it or sunbathing on a lovely beach. After about 45 minutes’ you will sail to Kalymnos Island. On the island you will have enough time to jump in the sea and later do some shopping. The third island which you will visit is Plati. You will not actually disembark but will have a perfect opportunity to jump from the deck and swim nearby.

We feel that this excursion may be ideal for everyone who loves sailing and enjoy the life. If you like good Greek food you will like this trip.

Published on 9th December 2009

By Arek Zasowski

Photographs by Viola and Arek Zasowski

What to do on the island?

Once you are on the island, you may be wondering what to do next? Obviously, you may or will sunbathing beside the swimming pool or on the local beach, have fun with friends or family, go out for a drink in the evening and spend your holiday as enjoyable as you can. However, if you are a bit adventurous and would like to explore the island, we have got some suggestions you may find useful.

Best sandy beaches on Kos

Marmari and Tigaki Beach - great but busy and a bit windy beach. If you like big waves and clear turquoise water it will be perfect for you. There are also plenty of parking spaces available.
Beach between Marmari and Tigaki - wild and quiet, nude beach - perfect for all naturists who love to lay naked on the warm sand. Great place for undisturbed relaxation.
Paradise Beach - near Kefalos - busy, sandy, shallow, beach with plenty of water sport facilities available. There is a nearby water park and a great beach bar. It is definitively the best beach on the island!
Paradisco Beach - located south west from Kefalos - not easy to find - sandy, shallow, and very quiet beach. To get here you need a jeep, a quad or motor bike and a good map as it is not easy to find. Definitely one of the most beautiful places on the island! If you cannot find it ask locals for directions.

Sunsets - the location to take good sunset photo

Zia - fabulous place to enjoy the sunset, great location for taking a good photo. You will find there plenty of tasty fresh food served in local restaurants with romantic terraces and fabulous view over the island.
Tigaki - sunset on the beach? This is a perfect place take the photo!

Health and Spa

Embros Thermae - great place for your body treatment, soul and skin! Warm water comes from the ground all year round. Fabulous feeling - almost like a Jacuzzi but natural. Located just around 15 minutes’ drive from Kos Town.

Restaurants - where to eat?

Kefalos - go to Rainbow Vasilis Ioannidis Restaurant - Taverna. They serve in our opinion the best Greek food on the island! Friendly atmosphere, located on the beach (for the avoidance of doubt they did not pay us for this opinion).
Kos Town - traditional Zorbas Taverna situated on Diagora Square serves delicious Greek cuisine.

Shopping - what is the cheapest or best place for shopping?

Zia - if you are looking for nice and cheap souvenirs Zia is A MUST go place, perfect for holiday shopping - plenty of beautiful souvenirs and great atmosphere.
Kos Town - plenty of good quality shops located along Apellou Ifestou and Eleftherias Square.