Kos Holidays

Where to visit in Kos

Make your way to bustling Kardamena for the most colourful nightlife outside of Kos Town. Bars and clubs abound along the strip known as ‘Bar Street’. After lively nights out, spend the day relaxing on the soft sands of Kardamena Beach. If you’re feeling energetic, try windsurfing or jet-skiing. Alternatively, seek out quieter sunbathing spots at either end of the beach. Then feast your eyes on the views while tucking into fresh seafood at a beachfront taverna.

In Kos Town you can be marvelling at ancient Roman ruins one moment, then shopping at modern boutiques the next. From its Byzantine and Ottoman architecture to its incredible Roman Odeon and Asklepieion, the town is steeped in history. Dine at a harbourfront taverna while gazing at the dramatic Castle of the Knights. Or shop at designer boutiques and shops offering locally made souvenirs. In the evening, hit the buzzing bars and clubs that line the streets around Nafklirou.

Escape the bustle of Kos Town and Kardamena in laidback Kefalos. Stroll around the charming hilltop village, with its ruined castle and fascinating Folklore museum. Or stretch out on the sand-and-shingle shore of Kamari Bay. If you’re feeling active, try one of the many water sports on offer. An abundant choice of eateries awaits along the beachfront when you’ve built up an appetite. Or spend some cultural time admiring the remarkable mosaics at the ruined basilica of Agios Stefanos.

Just a 25-minute walk from Kos Town along a picturesque promenade is the relaxed resort of Psalidi. Perfect for families, its sand-and-shingle beach is lapped by safe, shallow waters. Water sports are available for the adventurous, while an ample selection of restaurants and bars provide plentiful dining and drinking options. Or head to nearby Therma Beach and let its natural hot spring waters revitalise you.

In contrast to bustling Kardamena on the south coast, the north’s Tigaki is a peaceful idyll of white sands overlooked by friendly family-run restaurants and bars. Its crystal-clear, shallow waters are ideal for children and for fans of water sports like kite surfing. Live music and karaoke venues provide family-friendly entertainment for livelier evenings out. Or make your way to a laidback beach bar and sip sundowners while gazing across the sea to Turkey.

Built in the 2nd Century AD and discovered in the 1920s, the Roman Odeon is one of the most significant ancient sites on the island. The amphitheatre could hold 750 spectators and is in surprisingly good condition. It was used to hold music recitals and public meetings honouring local dignitaries.

The ruins of Asklepieion are perhaps the most important archaeological site on Kos, and date back to the Hellenistic period of the 4th Century BC. According to legend the sanitorium was founded by the father of modern medicine Hippocrates and was devoted to Asclepius, the god of healing, and was a place where Hippocrates’ teachings on medicine and healing could be taught. Set on the slopes of a lush hill with impressive sea views, the structure was built on three terraces. The first contained public baths and guest rooms, the second has the altar of Kyparissios Apollo and the third holds the Temple of Asclepius.

Nafklirou is one of Kos Town’s prime nightlife areas in the heart of the tourist zone, packed with bars and nightclubs where you can dance until the early hours. It’s a shady cobbled street that plays host to numerous tourist tat shops, but it’s undeniably pretty and remains a good place to grab a cheap afternoon drink.

Agios Stefanos beach sits two miles north east of Kefalos and is a mixture of sand and shingle with shallow waters perfect for families. The rocky area surrounding the beach is bursting with beautiful flowers and lush vegetation and there are the remains of various interesting old Christian temples to take in. The main attraction though is the tiny islet of Kastri, which holds a desolate ruined castle in the middle of the sea.