Epic sandy beaches, ancient healing centres and water parks galore – a Kos holiday is just what the doctor ordered.
Boasting aquamarine waters and long sandy shores, Kos is king of the Greek island beaches. If beach bars and banana boats are your bag, Paradise Beach and Kardamena are the places to be. For a picturesque paddle, you can’t beat Agios Stefanos. Swim or sail over to Kastri island, where a white-and-blue chapel is an Insta favourite.
Littered with ancient Greek and Roman ruins, Kos is way older than it looks. But it’s Kos Town that really brings all the historians to the yard.
From the 14th-century Nerantzia Castle, built by the Knights Templar, to the Roman amphitheatre and ancient Agora marketplace, there’s plenty to see here. Make time for the Tree of Hippocrates, where, legend says, the famous doc taught his pupils the art of medicine. Nearby are the ruins of Asclepieion, the island’s famous healing centre that dates back to the 3rd century BC.
With not one but two Bar Streets, Kos nightlife is like a party platter – there’s something for everyone. Follow the neon lights and banging tunes to Bar Street in Kos Town and Kardamena, where party bars will keep you dancing until the early hours. Lambi and Tigaki bring all the cocktails-on-the-beach vibes, and there are a couple of late-openers for night owls.
From stuffed courgette flowers to pitaridia pasta, a Kos holiday is a real treat for foodies. Beachfront tavernas – complete with red check tablecloths and resident cats – knock out bubbling moussakas, wooden bowls of Greek salad and souvlakis the size of swords.
Best for... Beach-loving history geeks with penchant for water slides 😎
Go... To Kastri island via pedalo to check out its adorable church ⛱️
You have to... Sit under Hippocrates' Plane Tree to soak up his ancient knowledge 🤔
Aeolos Beach Hotel
4
Good
Prices from
Continental Palace
3.9
Good
Prices from
Anastasia
4.7
Excellent
Prices from
Currency
Euro
Language
Greek
Time difference
GMT +2
Cost of a beer
€3.80
3-course meal
€22
Flight time
Around 3hrs
With 300km (186 miles) of coastline, a Kos holiday is pure beach heaven. If you want soft sands, banging bars and a waterpark, Kardamena is the place to be – even at 4am! If moonlit dinners and romantic walks are more your vibe, Kefalos on the southeast coast is super smoochy.
Seeking eternal youth?* Head north from Kos Town to Thermes Beach, a hidden cove where you can soak in a natural sea pool brimming with mineral-rich thermal waters. *Not guaranteed.
Sightseeing on a Kos holiday means touring incredible ancient Greek and Roman ruins, as well as a couple of more modern (and by that, we mean medieval) castles built by the Knights Templar.
And check out the world’s oldest hospital: Asclepieion, just outside Kos Town. Built in 357 BC, the vast medicine school and healing centre is the island’s most famous archaeological site.
Kos is the most popular of the Dodecanese islands and great for families looking to fly and flop after a heavy school year. For a small island, it packs a family-fun punch, with several water parks. Aquatica and Lido are the splashiest and will keep the crew entertained and refreshed.
From Kos Town, mini Jack Sparrows can walk the plank on a pirate cruise over to Pserimos Island. Or find Nemo on a glass-bottomed boat.
Sun, sun and more sun. Closer to Turkey than Athens, Kos sees way more sunshine than the rest of Greece. It’s warm enough for vest tops and Crocs from April through to late October.
For the hottest weather, visit between June and September, when temperatures regularly hit 35C, and the beaches sizzle like souvlaki. July and August are peak season, so you might struggle to find a free sun-lounger, even in quieter resorts.
For a cheap Kos holiday, visit in April, when the days start to warm up, and the island comes to life.
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£312 ppPrices from
£249 pp