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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Greece

KosΚως

Give Kos 3–4 nights: one day for Kos Town's ruins and castle, one for the Asklipieio, one beach day, one for a Bodrum or Nisyros hop.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–early Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, peak prices)
Airport
KGS
Nights
3–4
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
  • Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
  • Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
  • Greece ↗Greece is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
  • Greece ↗Taking stones, pottery or other objects from archaeological sites is illegal; so is exporting antiquities without a permit.
  • Greece ↗Do not photograph military sites or border zones; signs mark them.
  • Greece ↗Acropolis tickets are sold for one-hour entry slots on the official Hellenic Heritage site (hhticket.gr); in peak season slots sell out days ahead, and you cannot enter outside your hour.
  • Greece ↗Businesses must give a receipt (apodeixi) for every sale; ask for one, and do not accept a handwritten note in place of it.

Kos is the Dodecanese's second-busiest island after Rhodes: flat, cycle-friendly, with a compact town of Greek and Roman ruins, a Knights' castle over the harbour, and long sandy beaches at Tigaki, Mastichari and Kefalos. It suits mixed groups — history in the morning, beach in the afternoon — and it is the easiest Greek island to combine with Turkey, since Bodrum is a 25-minute catamaran away. It is not a quiet island in July and August.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Kos, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee (freddo espresso, cappuccino)€2.50–4.50 (≈ US$3–6)
  • Beerdraught / supermarket can€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)€1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Museum or sight ticketAsklipieio or museum entrycheck€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
  • Budget bedHostel or studio bed, a night, per person€20 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, hotel or apartment, a night, per room€90 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedDouble room, hotel or apartment, a night, per room€200 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €105 (≈ US$130) · High €190 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Asklipieio (sanctuary of Asklepios)Hippocrates and the Tree of HippocratesNeratzia castle and the Avenue of the PalmsBeaches at Tigaki, Mastichari and KefalosBodrum day trips by catamaran
Airports
KGS Kos International Airport (Kos Island, Ippokratis) (About 25 km southwest of Kos Town near Antimachia; KTEL bus to Kos Town via Mastichari, or taxi (airport taxis carry a minimum charge of at least €15).)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Kos: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

14°C

8°C

12 rd

Feb

14°C

8°C

10 rd

Mar

16°C

9°C

8 rd

Apr

20°C

12°C

6 rd

May

24°C

15°C

4 rd

Jun

29°C

19°C

2 rd

Jul

32°C

22°C

1 rd

Aug

32°C

22°C

1 rd

Sep

29°C

20°C

2 rd

Oct

24°C

16°C

5 rd

Nov

19°C

13°C

8 rd

Dec

15°C

10°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

KTEL Kos buses run from Kos Town to the airport, Mastichari, Tigaki, Kardamena and Kefalos on a limited timetable — check the current schedule before you plan a day. Scooters and cars rent widely (scooter from about €14/day in low season, 2026 estimate); roads are mostly asphalted and Kefalos is about 40 minutes from Kos Town by car. Taxis wait at the airport and in Kos Town; short airport hops carry a minimum charge of at least €15. Ferries from Mastichari to Kalymnos run several times a day, and Kardamena–Nisyros ferries run in high season.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bodrum, Turkey

go

Door to door: About 25 min crossing plus port formalities

Catamaran from Kos harbour, foot passengers only

Two sailings a day year-round on one operator, twice daily May–Oct on another; bring your passport and check the return time before you leave.

Nisyros

go

Door to door: About 1 h crossing

Ferry from Kardamena in high season

Volcanic caldera island; sailings are seasonal, so confirm the day you want.

Kalymnos

go

Door to door: About 30 min crossing

Ferry from Mastichari, roughly every two hours

Easy half-day or overnight; the main link for the island group.

Kefalos and Cape Krikelos

go

Door to door: About 40 min by car

KTEL bus or rental car from Kos Town

Quiet bays and the southwest end of the island; a car makes the small beaches reachable.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Kos Town (centre and Lambi)

Walk to the ruins, castle, harbour and ferry quay; Lambi has the nearest beach strip, about 1 km north.

Tigaki

Sandy beach and shallow water, about 11 km west of town; family hotels and tavernas, quieter at night.

Mastichari

Northwest village with a sandy beach and the main ferry link to Kalymnos; good for wind and kite conditions.

Kardamena

South coast resort by the airport, with the summer ferry to Nisyros; bar-heavy nightlife.

Kefalos and Kamari

Quiet southwest end, 40 min by car from Kos Town; several bays and the road to Cape Krikelos.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€45–75 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
Mid
€80–140 (≈ US$95–170) excl. bed
High
€150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, hotel or apartment1 × 4 nights × €90€360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 4 days × €105€840
KTEL bus, Kos Town to Tigaki or the airport, one way2 × €3€6
Scooter rental, one day2 × €14€28
Bodrum catamaran return, foot passenger2 × €46€92
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€136
Trip total≈ €187 per person per day, bed included€1,492≈ US$1,800

2026 estimate in euro; flights and ferry tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Pita gyros€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
Taverna main (moussaka, grilled fish)€8–16 (≈ US$10–19)
Coffee (freddo espresso, cappuccino)€2.50–4.50 (≈ US$3–6)
Beer: draught / supermarket can€3–5 (≈ US$4–6) / €1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
Scooter rental, one dayLow season to high season; check insurance.€14–25 (≈ US$17–30)
Taxi from the airport, minimum charge€15 (≈ US$18)+
Asklipieio or museum entrycheck€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Kos is a low-risk island; the real issues are scooter accidents, summer heat and rip currents on windy beach days. Swim near other people, keep valuables out of sight on the beach, and use 112 for anything urgent.
  • Neratzia castle has been closed to visitors since the 2017 earthquake — check before you walk up.
  • July–August heat and crowds: book beds and ferries ahead, and start sightseeing before 11:00.
  • Scooter and ATV rental: check the insurance and wear a helmet; island roads have gravel shoulders.
  • Bodrum catamarans land at different points — one operator uses the cruise terminal several km south of the marina, so allow transfer time.
  • The Bodrum car ferry has not been running in recent seasons — check before planning to take a vehicle.

Emergency numbers

European emergency number
112
Police
100
Ambulance
166
Fire
199
Tourist police
1571
Coast guard
108

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

KosΚως

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Σε αυτή τη διεύθυνση, παρακαλώTo this address, please

Emergency

  • European emergency number112
  • Police100
  • Ambulance166
  • Tourist police1571
  • Coast guard108

Embassy

No embassies on Kos; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Irish missions are in Athens. Consular help for the Dodecanese is handled from Athens or Rhodes — check before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Kos Town → Tigaki, KTEL bus: about €3 (≈ US$4), 20–25 min
  • Kos Town → airport, KTEL bus: about €3–4 (≈ US$4–5), 30–40 min
  • Kos → Bodrum catamaran, foot passenger: about €23 (≈ US$30) one way, 25 min
  • Mastichari → Kalymnos ferry: about €6–8 (≈ US$7–10), 30 min (check)

Say or show

  • Γεια σας — Hello (YAH sas)
  • Ευχαριστώ — Thank you (ef-kha-ree-STO)
  • Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ — The bill, please (ton lo-gha-ria-SMO, pa-ra-ka-LO)
  • Πόσο κάνει; — How much is it? (PO-so KA-nee)
  • Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα; — Can I pay by card? (bo-RO na plee-RO-so me KAR-ta)
  • Πού είναι η παραλία; — Where is the beach? (poo EE-ne ee pa-ra-LEE-a)

Ferry and bus times change with the season; confirm the day before you travel.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kos. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–early Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, peak prices) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 5 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for KGS: KTEL timetable, taxi minimum charge, late-arrival fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kos Town ruins, harbour and castle, Lambi beach, Asklipieio.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Asklipieio, Archaeological Museum, Neratzia) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Ferry fixtures for Mastichari–Kalymnos, Kardamena–Nisyros and the Bodrum catamaran.

Meanwhile

Back to Greece

Sources