kos-island

Information about the island of Kos

kos greece Kos, a green, lush island, is a holiday destination of many choices where you either can spend your whole holiday on a quiet beach in a laid-back village or party all night in the many bars and clubs. There is so much to see that a week or two just won’t do, and that’s one of the reasons people keep coming back to the island of Hippocrates.

The island has been quite rich ever since ancient times, with the exception of times of enslavement under the Turks and several pirate attacks. The fertile soil have blessed the locals with grapes for wine, wheat, fruits and olives as well as obsidian and rich fishing waters.

Kos is the second biggest island in the archipelago after Rhodes and can give its larger neighbour a run for its money when it comes to attracting the tourist hordes. The island has 290 kilometres of coastline with a wealth of wonderful beaches – most which are smothered with cheek-by-jowl sun shades in July and August.

A rich combination of sandy beaches and some impressive sightseeing gives Kos a broad holiday appeal and this is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in the Greek Islands.

Kos Town is a heady mix of ancient and modern where dance clubs jostle with impressive ancient monuments whilst the rest of Kos boasts a varied landscape of mountains and plains.

Kos has been a popular beach holiday island for many years and package holiday hotels line much of the east coast around Kos Town.

There is a sprinkling of pleasant beach resorts along the flat north coast but the main holiday area of Kos lies to the south-west at the party clubbing resort of Kardamena and along the sands around Kamari Bay.A string of deep sandy beaches between both resorts attracts big holiday crowds throughout the summer.

About Kos

Despite the thousands of holidaymakers that pour into the island each year Kos still has lots of open space and even the large scale hotel complexes are comfortably spread out, especially along the fast developing north coast. For an all-inclusive hotel holiday with a good beach there is little to compare with Kos in all the Greek islands.

Kos is also good for organised boat excursions where local volcanic islets and the mainland coast of Turkey providemost popular targets. Inland excursions are fully booked too, especially to Greek Nights in the mountain villages.

Kos Town is still picturesque and pleasant town, despite some drab modern buildings and the huge crowds that throng the streets. Neatly arrayed roads and wide tree-lined avenues converge on attractive, shady squares where cafe tables are set out in the sun.

Ancient ruins lie scattered across Kos town and are considered among some of the best archaeological sites in the Mediterranean

Kos is an island of big resort complexes and frantic beach parties. But it’s also the birthplace of Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, and home to the western world’s first ever medical school. History and archaeology buffs will delight in its treasure trove of fascinating ancient sites.

Huge numbers of international visitors – mostly British, Dutch and Scandinavians – arriving on the island in the summer months, the vast majority spend the day swimming and sunbathing on the beaches by day and serious partying after the sun goes down.

The discerning tourist though, will dig deeper to find an island steeped in history, a land of castles and temples from antiquity, a place where traditional unspoilt villages cling to the craggy slopes of pine-clad mountains. Look hard enough and you’ll even be able to find a quiet bit of beach even at the height of the season.

Kos History

history of kos Mythology has it that the three giants Phoebos, Kinnas and Kios fled to this island after they had been defeated at the great battle of the gods and the Titans. Heracles supposedly stayed here for a while after he had performed his 12 labours.

His ship had sunk on his way home, and he managed to swim to Kos, where he met the angry shepherd Andagoras whom he fought for many hours.

Kios then sought refuge in the mountains since king Eurypilos had ordered his arrest, but managed to capture the king’s daughter Chalkiope, with whom he had Thessalos, future king Of Leros and Nissyros.

The king of the Carians led his people to the island sometime in the 2nd Millennium BC, and this people from Asia Minor are traditionally considered to have been one of the first settlers on this island.

They were succeeded by the Minoans, Cretans, and then, in the 10th century BC, the Dorians arrived. At this time, the island was called Meropida.

The people of Kos were forced to doing Persian forces against Greece in the 5th century BC, but that changed after the Persians were defeated at the battle of Salamis. After that, Kos was a full member of the Delian League and the island was prospering under its democratic constitution.

From an early stage, the god of medicine, Asclepius, was worshipped here, and pilgrims from all over came to his temple to go through cleansing rituals, sleep in the temple, and be cured. It is no coincidence that the father of medicine, Hippocrates, was born here. read more about Kos History

In the 4th century BC Kos joined sides with the Macedonians, and the Romans conquered the island in the 2nd century BC. St. Paul the Apostle visited the island on one of his missions, and some of the earliest churches of Greece were built here – you can still see the ruins of a couple of the, Unfortunately most ancient and Christian buildings were destroyed in a big earthquake in AD 535.

With the exception of many pirate raids, Kos flourished during the Byzantine era . The Genuans and Venetians ruled the island in the 12th century, but it came under the command of the Knights of Rhodes in 1315, who taxed the locals heavily.

The Turks occupied the island in 1522, and massacres and harsh treatment of the people followed. Kos was given to Italy in 1912, and freed in 1948. Read more about the history of Kos

Architecture of Kos

kos The architecture of Kos is special, because it has received many influences from the foreign element. During the Ottoman period, the city had all the characteristics of so-called bazaar cities. Life was limited to the commercial street, around which lived exclusively Muslims, and to the tsarsi located in the center of the city, in Platanos Square. In many parts of the island there are Muslim mosques and springs. During the period of Italian rule, Kos was influenced by Venetian architecture. Also, Kos is a special case among the rest of the Dodecanese islands, as after the devastating earthquake of 1933 it was rebuilt by the Italians according to a new urban plan.

It was divided into three residential zones according to class criteria: the northern, the central and the eastern. The northern sector is divided into small houses, for the popular strata of the city (case popolari). The central part consisted primarily of two-story houses with ground-floor shops, in which the members of the bourgeoisie (palazzine) lived. Finally, in the eastern zone mansions were built in gardens for the Italian settlers (villini). Other elements of the Italian influence are the extensive green zones in the city, which also include tropical plants, as well as the characteristic public buildings designed by Italian architects and located both in the city and in the settlements of Antimachia and Kardamena.

kos architecture The buildings that were built before the earthquake (Town Hall, General Hospital, Governor’s Office, etc.) differ from the post-earthquake buildings (Casa del Fascio, Municipal Market, Casa Balilla, etc.) in terms of form, as the former are excellent examples eclecticism, while the latter have elements of rationalism and fascist architecture. In 1948, with the union of the Dodecanese with Greece, a new architectural reality took shape. At that time, large hotel units were built on the island to meet the needs of the large tourist development that began. The traditional architecture did not withstand the wear and tear of time and was replaced by the modern building.

We find it mainly in the villages of Asfendiou, Pili, Kefalos and Antimachia, where the low and wide-fronted detached houses, with a parallelogram shape, simple masonry and a flat roof, some stone and some not, are painted white and have windows and doors painted in bright colors. The interior of the house is, as in the rest of the Dodecanese, particularly well-kept, responding to the functional needs of the farming family. Noteworthy is the long wall, the canoe wall or gano wall as it is called, on which hung plates, frames, the house mirror and other necessary items that covered the basic needs of the house. In many parts of the island, the traditional windmills are also characteristic, with the most characteristic one of Antimachia. There are also many narrow, cobbled streets.

What to See in Kos

The Archaelogical Museum of Kos

archaeological-museum-of-kos The museum located at the central square of Kos town to the north side. In the museum you will see a rich collection of the archaeological findings found on the island and cover a long period from antiquity to the post-Roman years.

In the ground floor area of ​​the archaeological museum and in the atrium, the most important works of sculpture are exhibited, as well as mosaics.

In the western hall, statues from the Hellenistic era are exhibited, most of which were found preserved in the galleries of the Conservatory.

ippocrates-statue-kos The imposing statue of Hippocrates (4th century BC) is exhibited in the northwest hall, while on the walls there is a relief depicting a banquet of Late Archaic art, as well as funerary sculptures from the Late Archaic and Classical periods.

In the northern hall there are statues of Demeter, Koris and Athena (mid 4th – mid 3rd century BC).

In the same room are exhibited Hellenistic statues of Aphrodite, the Nymphs, Tyche, (1st century BC) etc. Statues from the Roman period are displayed in the eastern hall, among them a seated Hermes and Demeter.

Finally, one more mosaic, from the Hellenistic era, with a representation of the seabed, adorns the northern wall of the peristyle and comes from the restored Roman House

Castle of Neratzia

castle-of-knights-of-Kos-Neratzia The castle of Nerantzia controlled the sea passage to the Holy Land during the Crusades. For the construction of the castle, many architectural elements from the ancient city of Kos and the Asklepiion have been used which are still visible today embedded in various parts of the castle.

In the 19th century, the Castle of Nerantzia was used as a barracks for the Turkish garrison and the residence of the Turkish commander. On March 17, 1816, a powder magazine accidentally exploded and destroyed a large part of the castle.

Its current form is due to the Italian Archaeological Service which, during the Italian occupation, demolished the Turkish additions and proceeded with extensive works to restore the castle to its original form.

During the German occupation, the castle was garrisoned by the garrison and functioned as a prison. It was declared a historical monument in 1948.

Castle of Antimachia

antimachia-castle-kos The Castle of Antimachia is located in the centre of the island about 25 kilometres from Kos Town.

Built in Venetians times it passed into hands of the Order of the Knights of St John and consists of the castle ruins and two old churches. There is a good road to the castle which is not too far from the popular resorts of Kefalos and Kardamena.

It looks more impressive outside than in as the inner area is very shabby and in a poor condition. There is not much to see inside apart from two Venetian churches, Agios Nikolaos dates from the 16th century and Agia Paraskevi was built in early 18th century but there are good views of the surrounding area.

The plane of Hippocrates

plane tree of ippokrates in kos The plane tree of Hippocrates is located in the city of Kos and according to legend Hippocrates taught his students under that tree. It is also believed that the apostle Paul taught under the tree. The tree is a preserved monument of nature.

The plane tree of Hippocrates is located in Square of Platanos, in front of the Castle of the Knights and the Governorate and next to the Gazi Hassan Mosque, in the center of Kos town.

The current tree is about 500 years old and is likely a descendant of the original tree that stood there at the time of Hippocrates. The diameter of its trunk is 10 meters and the peripheral ring is up to 15 cm thick.

Some of its branches are supported by metal scaffolding to prevent them from breaking due to their weight and the forces of the wind. Next to the tree are two Ottoman fountains, the water of which, according to their inscription, comes from the fountain of Hippocrates.

The ancient agora of Kos

ancient agora of kos The Ancient Agora was the commercial and social center of Kos. It was originally built in the 4th century BC, a short distance from the port of the city. The Ancient Agora of Kos is one of the largest that has been excavated to date in Greece. As an archaeological site, the market is part of the wider archaeological zone of the port.

In this zone, apart from the visible part of the market, part of the city’s fortifications, the sanctuaries of Aphrodite and Hercules, building islands with the remains of private houses, and also part of the ancient port of the city are visible.

kos excavations of ancient agora The ancient market consisted of three main arcades, East, West and North, which met in the center in a large inner courtyard. The northern portico connected the market with the city walls, while the other two had various shops that served the daily needs of the citizens.

The excavation of the Greek archaeological service on the south side determined the length of the building to be approximately 300 meters. Further east from the ancient market, the excavations discovered part of the city’s urban plan  with wide streets, buildings,  houses and shops.

The largest part of the ancient market is buried under the modern city. In fact, its southern part came to light with recent excavations opposite the altar of Dionysus, which led to the restoration of two columns that belong to the ancient market.

Τhe Roman Villa

roman-villa-kos The Ancient Roman Villa or Casa Romana, is a Roman villa of the Pompeian type of the end of the 2nd century and the beginning of the 3rd century AD, built on the ruins of a Hellenistic house with a wonderful drainage system located in Kos. It consists of 36 rooms and 3 outdoor areas, the atria or atria (from the Latin atrium). The house has been restored.

In 1933, the great earthquake almost completely destroyed Kos. The Italians, who then occupied the island, found the opportunity to proceed with urban planning and carried out extensive excavations, as they knew that ancient monuments were hidden under the flattened buildings.

The Italian archaeologist Laurenzi undertook the excavation and then the Italian Administration proceeded with the complete restoration of the house, which was completed by 1940.

Asklepieion of Kos

asklepeion kos The Asklepieion of Kos, whose surviving ruins date back to the 4th century BC, is located southwest of today’s Kos town at a distance of about 3.4 kilometers.

It dates back to the Hellenistic era, a point of view that is reinforced by the exploitation of the space presented by the three consecutive levels – an element of oriental architecture that entered Greek architecture with the conquests of Alexander the Great.

It is built on the slopes of a hill with lush vegetation and a view of the sea and the Asia Minor coast. It is the most important archaeological monument of the island of Kos.

In ancient times it was a place of worship of the god Asklepios and a place of healing and teaching of Medicine. Hippocrates, one of the most important representatives of medicine in antiquity, taught there in the school he had founded on the site of the Asklepieion. In contrast to the sanctuary of Asclepius in Epidaurus, scientific medicine was especially developed in Kos.

Where to go

where to go in -kos Kos has many small villages worth visiting, and it is a good idea to rent a vehicle and explore them on your own.

Palio Pyli is a deserted village from Medieval times, where there are many interesting little churches and a kastro.

In Asfendiou there are very old churches and the Castle of the Knights of St. John.

Kefalos used to be the capital, Astypalea, in ancient times, and there are excavations going on here.

Kardamena has a Byzantine church dedicated to Ag Theodotos, in Antimachia there is a Venetian castle, Zia is built like an amphitheatre with many little churches and shops.

Kos villages and resorts

Kefalos

kefalos-kos

Kefalos is the most remote village of Kos. Built on a hill, it is particularly picturesque with its narrow streets and its view of the gulf of Kefalos and the islet of Kastri.

It is located on the site of the old capital of the island, Astypalaia. It got its name either from the shape of the area that looks like a vulture’s head, or because it was a capital village in ancient times.

In Kefalos, the visitor has the feeling that the sea breeze mixes with the mountain air. It is no coincidence that this part of Kos has the best climate. The area of ​​Kefalos has beaches that cover all tastes, some of them are cosmopolitan and others ideal for isolation.

For your stay in Kefalos, you will find hotels and rooms for rent, while in the traditional taverns of the area you will try the local cuisine.

Mastichari

mastichari-kosMastichari is a coastal settlement of Kos, the port of neighboring Antimachia. It is 27 km from the town of Kos and is located on the west side of the island. It is the port of the traditional settlement of Antimachia.

Mastichari has developed in recent years into a modern tourist resort. It is famous for its fresh fish and in its fish taverns, located a breath away from the sea, you will enjoy traditional seafood recipes.

Choosing Mastichari as a place of residence, one has the possibility to visit the neighboring island of Kalymnos, with which Mastichari is connected by daily routes. Mastichari is also very close to Kos airport.

For your stay you will find hotels, rooms to rent and apartments. It is a quiet village, ideal for those who, on their holidays, seek tranquility.

Asfendiou Village

asfendiou-kos The village of Asfendiou is located in the southwest of the town of Kos and is 14 km from it. It is a mountainous village, with scattered settlements that start from the slopes of Dikaios mountain and reach almost to Tigaki beach which is 7 km from it.

It is built among olives, myrtles, cypresses, pines and laurels. It is divided into the neighborhoods of Evangelistria or Pera Geitonia and Asomatos.

At a distance of 1.5 km from the village of Asfendiou is the tiny village of Zia, with a wonderful view and one of the most beautiful sunsets in Kos.

Agios Fokas

agios-fokas-kos Agios Fokas is a coastal settlement of Kos with rapid tourist development in recent years. It is located near the beach of the thermal springs of Therme and also near Psalidi beach.

Many hotel complexes are located along the distance that separates it from Kos town.

The options here for accommodation and food are many.

Hotels of all categories, rooms for rent, traditional taverns but also luxurious restaurants offering international culinary tastes.

Antimachia

antimachia-kos Antimachia, is a traditional village in Kos, which combines in a unique way the natural beauties with the authenticity, given to it by its historical past. The area of ​​Antimachia is inhabited, as evidenced by archaeological findings from the Neolithic era.

It is located almost in the center of the island of Kos and is 23 km from the town of Kos. The inhabitants of Antimachia are music lovers and are famous for their talented instrumentalists in traditional Greek music.

The people of the area have an artistic vein, as apart from music, they are distinguished for their ability to create lyrics, even satirical ones. Antimachia therefore offers the visitor a journey through time through its cultural events and attractions. For your stay in this special village of Kos, there are hotels, rooms for rent and apartments that will offer you excellent services.

Kardamena

kardamena-kos Kardamena is located in the southeast of the island of Kos. It is 29 km from the town of Kos and 6 km from Antimachia. Kardamena is the natural link between Kos and Nisyros. From its picturesque port, you can visit Nisyros by boat.

The small picturesque town is a main tourist resort of Kos that has evolved in recent years into a modern tourist resort. This village of Kos never sleeps!

It is, as the locals say, not without reason, the “nightlife” of Kos, since the nightlife here is intense and caters for all tastes.

Built almost on the sea, Kardamena has the air of the sea breeze. Your options for accommodation are many. There are hotels, rooms for rent, furnished apartments and bungalows.

Marmari

marmari-kos Marmari is a holiday resort at the nort side of Kos, which has developed touristically due to its popular beach. It is the port of the picturesque village of Pyli.

It belongs to the areas of Kos that have an intense night life. The ecological consciousness of its inhabitants has made it a model of tourist development. The hotels are located 1 km away from the beach.

In Marmari you will find large hotels as well as rooms for rent of all categories. As far as your night entertainment is concerned, Marmari is the ideal destination for those who on their holidays want to go all night long.

Pyli

kos-pyli Built almost in the middle of the island, in a green plain with olive trees, Pyli is 15 km from the town of Kos and 4 km from Marmari.

A walk to Peli, as it was called in ancient times, will take you back in time and enchant you with the beauty of the place, still unadulterated by mass tourism.

All you have to do is get lost in the alleyways with the stone-built houses that surround the picturesque square with its traditional cafes and small, family-run tavernas.

The Pyli House deserves your attention, an old house whose spaces have been designed to faithfully represent the hall, kitchen and bedroom of traditional houses.

Tigaki

kos-tigaki alykes-lake Tigaki is located on the western side of the island of Kos, 11 km from the town of Kos. It is built in a green valley with tavern, bars and accommodation along the beach front. Very close to Tigaki is the area of ​​Alykes which, together with Psalidis, is one of the two wetlands of the island. For watchers of migratory birds, the area of ​​Alykes in Tigaki is of special interest.

Tigaki is the closest settlement to the town of Kos. It is in an advantageous position since the archaeological sights of Kos are located a short distance from it.

It has a large stretch of sandy beach and offers the visitor all the tourist facilities. Today, Tigaki has developed into an autonomous tourist area with hotels, rooms and apartments for rent, taverns, restaurants, bars and cafes offering high quality accommodation.

Beaches

The most popular beach on Kos is Paradise beach, a long, beautiful sandy beach. There are sun beds, water sports and is a good place for families with children. Other popular beaches are Tagaki, Mastihari, Lambi and  also the beaches in Kardamena and Kefalos, which most surfers prefer. If you want to find a quiet beach it is best to look around on the west side.

Nightlife

You won’t be disappointed if you want to party a lot during your holidays. Kos is reputed for being one of the best party islands, with many bars and clubs, as well as beachparties. Most of the bars are in Kos town, and the two most frequented streets the so called bar mile of Kos are Nafklirou and Diakonou streets, just next to the archaeological site.

Local Cuisine

The local specialty is cheese baked with red wine called “Red Cheese”. There is a wide range of taverns and restaurants, and you can get Greek as well as international food. Most places are in Kos town, but you’ll also find many little taverns in the villages, as well as on several beaches.

Shopping

Because it is such a popular island, you’ll be able to find all kinds of shops on Kos, especially in the town. Jewellery, ceramics, leather belts, sandals, clothes, textiles, embroideries, copies of ancient artworks, paintings, icons, local wine, honey and things for the beach and much, much more. A nice place to visit is the public market just before the entrance to the archaeological site. Around the square there are several public buildings with wonderful architecture and many nice cafeterias.

Where to stay

Such a popular holiday island offers a wide range of holiday accommodation, from luxury hotels to cheap family-run domatia. It’s not a good idea to turn up on spec in the high summer as many hotels are block booked.

Kos Town which has a large number of small family-run hotels and many offer excellent value as they try to undercut the big hotels. Almost every street around the harbour has small hotels that offer cheap rooms.

There are no campsites on Kos nor any youth hostels either which is strange for such a popular holiday island.

The north coast beach resorts cater mainly for the package holiday market but smaller hotels and apartments can be found, especially in the beach resort of Mastichari which also has a small port with ferries to Pserimos and Kalymnos.

In the south, Kardamena is packed with hotels and apartments but high demand tends to push up prices. Kefalos Bay, further west, is cheaper and many small apartments can be found on the hillsides above Kefalos village.

When to go to Kos

Kos summer season starts in May with temperatures a pleasant 21°C and 25°C by June. The summer months are hot and dry and rainfall virtually nil. In July and August expect highs well over 30°C.

November and December have the highest rainfall although there are still plenty of sunshine days. By April the rainfall drops off sharply and many choose to visit Kos in May or October when it is still warm, sunny, nights are cool and temperatures range 16°C to 20°C.

Getting around Kos

Roads on Kos are reasonably good between the main resorts. A couple of tourist trains run in Kos Town. The green one does a round trip of Kos Town and a blue train heads for the nearby ruins at Asklepieion.
The DEAS bus company run routes in Kos Town while KTEL operates further afield and service schedules are on the KTEL Kos website.

Most buses run from the south side of the harbour while KTEL is based on Kleopatras, just north of the centre. There are 10 buses daily to Tingaki, six to Kefalos via Paradise beaches, five to Mastichari and Pyli with three daily to Zia.
Town buses leave every 30 minutes s to Psalidi and to Agios Fokas, Mesaria and Platani. Times are posted at the harbour and the bus station.

Taxis are plentiful and found at the harbour area, beneath the minaret, or across from the castle. Taxis fares are fixed (see Greek info pages) but check the price before getting in. It costs extra to pre-book from a hotel.

Cycling is very popular on Kos. It’s flat and there are dedicated cycle lanes. With around 4,000 cycles for hire on Kos but beware; they look alike so it’s a good idea to mark yours with a coloured ribbon or something.

The Tourist Train

kos-tourist-train Blue roller coaster: It runs its routes every hour according to the opening hours of Asklipieion, while the journey takes approximately 15 minutes.

Its starting point is at the beach fron of the port of Kos just at the road that goes along the walls of the Venetian Castle.

The green roller coaster will take you around the city.

Its route takes about 20 minutes and its starting point is the town hall in the center of the city.
A ride on the roller coasters will give you the opportunity to see the most important sights of the city.

How to get to Kos

By air

The island is well connected with all the other islands in the Dodecanese and with the Greek mainland. There are regular Olympic Airways flights to and from Athens and direct air links with the UK and other European destinations. Piraeus is 12-15 hours by ferry and Rhodes, the Dodecanese capital 92 kilometres south east of Kos, is 3.5 hours. Regular hydrofoils and catamarans connect the island with the other main islands in the group and with Samos in the North Eastern Aegean.

Kos Airport is in the centre of the island between Mastichari in the north and Kardamena to the south, and some 26 kilometres west of the capital port at Kos Town.

As well as summer charters there are daily scheduled domestic flights to Athens and to Rhodes. Cheap airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair also offer direct flights to Kos.

Hippocrates Airport, or Kos Ippokratis, has 12 check-in desks and three baggage belts but expect queues in the high summer season.

With annual passenger numbers of more than two million the airport opens 24 hours in the summer to cope with the holiday traffic.

The airport is not particularly well equipped. It has a restaurant, a health centre, some shops and a cafe/bar but not much else and there are no hotels nearby. There is parking for about 200 cars.

Public buses run to Kos Town via Mastichari and Marmarias and there are services to resorts at Kardema and Kefalos.

Taxis are a cheap way to reach nearby resorts like Kardamena and Mastichari but its expensive to Kos Town.

By ferry

Kos Town lies on main Dodecanese ferry route which runs from Rhodes – Kos – Kalymnos – Leros – Lipsi – Patmos with several ferries each day. There are sailings to islands in the Cyclades throughout the summer. The north coast port of Mastichari operates routes to Kalymnos.

The harbour at Kos Town is packed with ferry agents and travel offices with offers of scheduled services, boat trips and day excursions with daily trips to Bodrum in Turkey very popular along with excursions to nearby islets at Pserimos, Plati, Nisyros and Giali.