The fantastic Astir Odysseus Resort & Spa (great for families) in Kos.
The Best Places to Stay in Kos
• Kos Town: As the island’s capital and main port, Kos Town offers a rich blend of history, culture, and modern amenities. The ancient Agora, the Castle of the Knights, and the Tree of Hippocrates are just a few of the many attractions to explore. The lively town center features numerous restaurants, bars, and shops, while the nearby beaches provide a relaxing escape. This is the best place to stay for most first-time visitors to Kos.
Kos Town.
• Kardamena: This lively resort town on the southern coast of Kos is known for its beautiful sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife. Kardamena offers a wide range of water sports, beachside facilities, and entertainment options, making it a popular choice for couples and families seeking sun, sea, and fun.
• Tigaki: Situated on the north coast of the island, Tigaki boasts a stunning, 10km-long sandy beach and crystal-clear waters. The laid-back atmosphere of this resort area, combined with its natural beauty, makes Tigaki an ideal spot for a relaxing beach vacation. The nearby salt lake and wetlands are also a haven for birdwatchers.
• Mastichari: This quaint fishing village on the northwest coast of Kos offers a charming and peaceful retreat. The pristine sandy beach of Mastichari, with its shallow waters and gentle breeze, is perfect for families and windsurfers alike. The village itself features a small harbor, traditional tavernas, and a relaxed atmosphere, providing a delightful taste of Greek island life.
• Zia: Nestled on the slopes of Mount Dikeos, Zia is a traditional mountain village known for its stunning views and vibrant sunsets. The charming cobblestone streets, colorful shops, and local tavernas create a cozy atmosphere, while the nearby hiking trails and natural springs offer opportunities for outdoor exploration.
• Kefalos: Located on the southwestern tip of the island, Kefalos is a picturesque village with a rich history and beautiful surroundings. The long stretch of sandy beach, known as Paradise Beach, and the nearby coves and bays provide ample opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. The village’s traditional architecture and laid-back atmosphere make it a pleasant base for exploring the island.
• Agios Stefanos: This small resort area, situated near Kefalos, is famous for its idyllic sandy beach and the nearby islet of Kastri, which features a small, picturesque chapel. The crystal-clear waters of Agios Stefanos are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
The 8 Best Hotels in Kos, Greece
1. Aktis Art Hotel – Kos Town
Lovely, central, waterfront boutique hotel featuring minimalist and stylish rooms and suites with bathtubs and private balconies/terraces with lovely sea and Turkish coastline views. Suites add living rooms with sofa beds. Good location a short walk from the Kos Town main square, ferry port, and the harbor. Has no pool but guests can use the pool of the sister hotel (Kos Hotel Junior Suites) nearby.
2. Astir Odysseus Resort & Spa – Tigaki
Hotel Phone: +30 22420 49900
Beautiful, family-friendly resort 6 km from Kos Town, with a good range of elegant, tastefully decorated rooms, suites, and maisonettes featuring furnished balconies/terraces with garden/pool/sea views. Upgraded rooms have bathtubs, shared pools, and sofa beds depending on the category. Executive suites feature living rooms with sofa beds and top-end suites add private pools. The lovely seafront bi-level maisonettes have shared pools with private access and the presidential maisonettes have their own private pools.3. Aqua Blu Boutique Hotel & Spa – Lambi Beach
Hotel Phone: +30 22420 22440
Outstanding, sophisticated, adults-only, all-suite boutique hotel set on Lambi beach, 3 km from Kos Town, with bright suites featuring cutting-edge design, floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden floors, purified water filtration systems, open plan bathrooms, bathtubs, and balconies/terraces. Upgraded suites have sea views and pool suites have jacuzzis (some) and private pools. The top end ‘Aqua Blu Loft’ and ‘Deluxe’ suites have living rooms with fireplaces and bathrooms with jacuzzis.4. Diamond Deluxe Hotel – Lambi Beach
Hotel Phone: +30 22420 48835
Trendy, adults-only hotel set across the road from a beach and around 4 kms from Kos Town, with white-toned, airy rooms, maisonettes, and suites having parquet floors, jacuzzis, furnished balconies, and pool/partial sea/sea views. Upgraded rooms have shared swimming pools, terraces, and circular beds depending on the category. Bi-level maisonettes have double sofa beds in the living rooms and the top-end suites add circular beds and private pools.5. Michelangelo Resort & Spa – Agios Fokas
Hotel Phone: Tel: +30 22420 45900
Chic, 45-acre luxury resort on the beach and 9 kms from Kos Town. Stylish rooms and suites have bathtubs and furnished balconies with views. Suites add seating areas. The hotel has a jaw-droppingly beautiful infinity pool with splendid sea views. The resort offers B&B, half-board, full-board, and all-inclusive options.6. Grecotel Kos Imperial – Paradisi
Hotel Phone: +30 22420 58000
Huge kid-friendly resort (6 km from Kos Town) with a pebble beach, many interesting water features (seafront lagoon pool with waterfalls), and a staggering range of accommodation options that include refined, summer-type ambience, rooms, bungalows, bungalow suites, maisonettes, penthouse suites, dream villas, and royal pavilions, to name a few. Basic rooms start out with rattan furniture, fridges, bathtubs, and balconies/terraces with sea/garden views. Suites and villas have private pools, private gardens, and 4-poster beds, depending on the category.7. Atlantica Belvedere Resort – Kardamena
Hotel phone: +30 22420 45060
Luxurious adults-only resort (plenty of stone, wood, & marble) set on a gentle hill and dotted with a total of 21 infinity pools. The lovely rooms, suites, and villas feature sofa beds and furnished terraces/balconies. The 42 double guest rooms (starting category) share 11 swimming pools; suites add tiled floors, living rooms, walk-in wardrobes, and private pools; and the bi-level villas add more space. The hotel has a private beach and there’s a local bus stop into Kardamena town (4 km).8. Neptune Luxury Resort – Mastichari
Hotel Phone: +30 22420 58900
Sprawling, 37-acre, beachfront, family-friendly resort, 5 km from Mastichari town, with a huge range of tastefully decorated rooms, suites, and apartments. Starting category rooms have bathtubs and balconies/terraces with garden views while upgraded rooms have sea views (some). Family apartments have kitchenettes and the top-end apartments have well-equipped kitchens and seafront locations. The luxurious, top-end suites have walk-in closets, more balconies, and stunning sea views, depending on the category. The hotel has extensive gardens with mythological sculptures, a kids club, mini water park, outdoor games, and more options for children.
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I’m planning a one-week holiday to Kos and having a hard time getting my head around the layout of the island. Can you help me understand the main towns? And what are the best beaches? Are the beaches located near the main towns (i.e. beach towns) or are the beaches on their own? Where do ferries arrive and depart from? Thanks!
Kos is not a difficult island to navigate and once you are on the ground, its geography is easy to comprehend. Have a look at a map while you read this. Almost all inter-island ferries arrive at the main harbour of Kos Town on the far eastern side of Kos. The only exceptions to this is the ‘local’ scheduled inter-island car and passenger ferry that runs from Mastichari in the middle of the northern coast to Kalymnos and the summer excursion boats that run to neighbouring Nisyros (for the volcano) from Kardamena and Kefalos on the south coast.
There are only two sizeable towns as such: Kos Town and Kardamena. Kos is the capital while Kardamena is a sizeable tourist town with a year-round population (unlike other seaside resorts scattered around the coastline). Major inland villages include the mountain villages of Pyli, Zia and Asfendiou, the central village of Andimachia (next to the airport) and Kefalos in the far south. Along the main East-West highway you will pass through the busy agricultural settlement of Zipari. That’s about it as far as Kos’ towns and villages go.
The summer-mainly settlements of Tingaki and Marmari on the north coast, while ‘permanent’, really only come to life between April and October when they are prime tourist destinations. Same story with the beach annexe to Kefalos called Kamari.
Beaches are scattered throughout the island and ‘best’ depends on how you rate a good beach. As a rule of thumb the best sandy beaches are spread out along the soft underbelly of Kos along the south coast running in a gentle curve and names individually with evocative titles such as Paradise Beach, Magic Beach, Sunny Beach and Exotic Beach. The catch is there is little or no accommodation on these beaches so you have to travel to them from where you are staying. Buses pass by very frequently to and from Kefalos and Kos.
Other beaches around Kos can be hit and miss and are generally inferior to the above beaches. The north coast beaches around Tingaki and Marmari are on the whole a bit exposed and scraggly. Some resort hotels have better beach scenes and they are accessible to the public also. East of Kos Town as far as the headland is a very busy beach scene due in the main to the preponderance of large hotel resorts. These beaches are really only pitched at the hotel scene.
Around the headland running to Agios Fokas you will find some pleasant pebbly and less frequented beachfronts – but not much in the way of cafés or restaurants. Lastly at the far end of the road network turning back westwards you will find one of Kos’ paradoxically more popular beach scenes – the Thermal Springs beach known as Therma. The beach is pebbly and you have to walk a fair way down to get to it, but you can sit in thermal rock pools if the sea water is a bit too chilly for your liking. There a basic cafeteria and loungers to hire.
Beaches on the mid-south coast around Kardamena are probably better than their north coast equivalent as they are protected from prevailing summer winds, but can also be hit and miss. Two nice spots are the Akti Beach Club area, about 4km north-east of Kardamena and the area around the Lakitira resort 4 km south of Kardamena. Lovers of solitary beaches might try the remote beach scene of Agios Theologos where there is a very good beach tavern
Finally, Kos is a popular bicycle island because it is relatively flat all around the coastline. Hire shops abound. The most popular cycling route is along the north coast from Kos Town to Mastichari.