Kos

A large resort island in the Dodecanese and birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, with the Asklepieion, Knights' castles and long beaches — and boats across to Bodrum.

Kos is the third-largest island of Greece's Dodecanese, a long, narrow strip running east to west for about 40 km. Kos Town, at its northeastern tip, lies only about 20 km across the water from Bodrum in Turkey. The island is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine; the Asklepieion healing sanctuary, the Ancient Agora and Roman ruins are scattered throughout town, while the Knights of St John left behind the castles of Neratzia and Antimachia. The terrain is mostly flat, but mountain villages such as Zia sit on the Dikaios ridge in the east, where watching the sunset is a classic experience. On the north coast, Tigaki and Marmari beaches have shallow water and steady winds, good for families and windsurfing; Kefalos Bay in the southwest has Paradise Beach and Agios Stefanos Beach, and the southeast has a natural hot-spring beach. The climate is dry: beach season runs May–Oct, July–Aug is the hottest and busiest, spring and autumn suit cycling and sightseeing among the ruins, and most resorts close in winter. Getting there: the airport is in the middle of the island and receives plenty of European charter flights in summer, with daily flights and ferries from Athens. From Kos harbour, boats go to Bodrum (passport required; mind Schengen entry/exit rules), Kalymnos, Nisyros, Rhodes and more. Kos Town has an excellent network of bike lanes, and renting a car or e-scooter is easy. Allow 4–7 days.

Top sights

• Asklepieion of Kos – The ancient temple and medical centre of Asklepios, god of healing, built into the hillside on three terraces. Legend says Hippocrates prac…
• Neratzia Castle – A harbour fortress built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, with double walls guarding Kos harbour. From the walls you can see…
• Zia – A whitewashed mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikaios, famous for sunsets over the Aegean and neighbouring islands, and crowded wit…
• Paradise Beach – Kos's best-known beach, with golden sand and turquoise water. Natural gas bubbles rise through the shallows, which is why it is also called…
• Tree of Hippocrates – An ancient plane tree said to be where Hippocrates once taught. Its trunk is propped up by a metal frame, and it is the most famous symbol…
• Ancient Agora of Kos – A large ancient Greek and Roman site in the old town center, where the Temple of Aphrodite and scattered columns lie among trees and flower…
• Western Archaeological Site of Kos – A Roman quarter on the west side of Kos Town, with paved streets, a colonnaded gymnasium and well-preserved mosaic floors.
• Casa Romana – A restored Roman aristocratic house with three courtyards, wall paintings and sea-themed mosaics, offering a direct glimpse of everyday lif…
• Roman Odeon of Kos – A small Roman theatre from the 2nd century AD, with more than a dozen tiers of well-preserved marble seats. Free to visit, with occasional…
• Archaeological Museum of Kos – An archaeological museum housed in an Italian-era building, with highlights including a statue believed to be Hippocrates and the mosaic of…
• Kos Town Harbour & Old Town – A palm-fringed harbour and a pedestrian old town lined with yachts, fishing boats and restaurants. Ferries to Bodrum and nearby islands lea…
• Loggia Mosque (Gazi Hassan Pasha) – An Ottoman mosque completed in 1786, with a minaret and a marble fountain standing beside the Tree of Hippocrates.
• Dikaios Christos Peak – The highest point on Kos Island (about 846 m), topped by a small white chapel, with 360-degree views over the whole island and its neighbou…
• Palaio Pyli – A Byzantine hilltop castle and abandoned village, with frescoed chapels among pine trees. An adventurous destination far from the crowds.
• Plaka Forest – A pine-forest picnic spot near the airport, home to a large flock of peacocks. An easy outing for children.
• Antimachia Castle – A large inland castle built by the Knights of St John in the 14th century, with two small chapels within its walls and views over the sea o…
• Agios Stefanos Beach & Kastri Islet – Beside the beach are the remains of early Christian basilicas from the 5th century, and offshore is Kastri Islet with its small chapel, amo…
• Tigaki Beach – A long beach of fine sand on the north coast with shallow, gentle waves, ideal for family swimming, and backed by the Alykes salt lake wetl…
• Alykes Salt Lake – A protected salt-lake wetland beside Tigaki where flamingos and herons gather in winter and spring, and the lakebed turns white in summer.
• Marmari Beach – A dune beach on the north coast with a cluster of resort hotels and steady winds, a popular spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
• Therma Beach (Embros Thermes) – Hot springs seep from the rocks into the sea. You can soak in a natural pool of hot water ringed by stones while watching the sea, a unique…
• Mastichari – A fishing village and beach on the north coast. The harbour runs boats to Kalymnos and Pserimos, and the seaside tavernas have a relaxed at…
• Kardamena – A resort town on the south coast known for its long beach and bar street, and the departure point for day trips to the volcanic island of N…
• Nisyros Volcano Day Trip – A boat trip from Kos to the active volcanic island of Nisyros, where you walk into the Stefanos crater to see steaming vents, then tour the…

Where to eat

• Platanos Restaurant – A long-established restaurant opened in 1979, dining on the old town's central square under the Hippocrates Plane Tree.
• Taverna Romeo – A budget-friendly family taverna in Psalidi, highly rated for homemade moussaka and grilled skewers.
• Oromedon Mountain Village Restaurant – A family restaurant in the hill village of Zia, serving wood-oven slow-roasted meats made with farm produce, with terra…
• Barbouni Seafood Restaurant – A seafood restaurant by Kos harbor with a sea-facing terrace, where you can watch the sunset over the Turkish coast.
• Agios Theologos Beach Taverna – A summer-only taverna on the beach at the westernmost tip of Kos, known for its own goats, homemade bread, and sunsets.

Itineraries

• Dodecanese Island Hopping: Rhodes, Symi, Kos & Kalymnos – Start from the medieval city of Rhodes and hop north through Symi, Kos, and Nisyros, ending in Kalymnos.
• Aegean Cross-Border Journey: Turkey to Greece – A cross-border route from Istanbul through Ephesus and Bodrum, crossing by ferry to Kos and Rhodes, and ending in Athen…