A medieval stone gateway in Kos Town almost buried under purple bougainvillea, with bicycles parked on the square in front of it

Where to stay in Kos, and the best hotels in each area

Seven bases on a flat island, the hotels worth booking in each, and how far a rented bike will take you from every one.

The best hotels in Kos, Greece, are spread along a narrow island 45 km long, and apart from one ridge in the east it is flat. That flatness decides more about where to stay on Kos than any hotel does: from the right base you can ride a bike to the beach, the ruins and dinner, and from the wrong one you need a car every day.

The short answer, by the kind of trip

A first visit
Kos Town
By bike from here: Everything. Lambi beach in 10 minutes, Tigaki in 45, on a flat seafront cycle path.
Families with small children
Tigaki or Marmari
By bike from here: Shallow sand at the door, and Kos Town is a flat 45-minute ride along the coast.
Nightlife
Kardamena
By bike from here: The bars and the beach on foot. Anything further is a climb or the main road.
Couples, adults only
Lambi or Psalidi
By bike from here: Kos Town's restaurants in 10 to 15 minutes, home by bike after dinner.
Island-hopping to Kalymnos
Mastichari
By bike from here: The ferry ramp on foot, the airport in 25 minutes. Kos Town is a bus away.
Quiet, and the best sand
Kefalos and Kamari
By bike from here: Very little. Kefalos sits on a headland and every road out of it climbs. Hire a car.

The best areas to stay in Kos, and the hotels in each

Seven areas, from Kos Town at the north-eastern tip to Kefalos at the far south-west. Each has hotels at every level and a beach you can walk to, except the town itself. The line under each name gives the drive from the airport and what a bike gets you there. Our map of Kos shows where each one sits, and the Kos airport guide covers the bus and taxi to each of them.

Fishing boats moored in the harbor at Kos Town, with the palm-lined waterfront and the Dikeos hills behind
Mandraki, the old harbor of Kos Town. The castle is at the mouth of it, the plane tree of Hippocrates two minutes inland, and the Bodrum boats leave from the quay beyond.

For a first visit, and for going without a car

Kos Town

Airport 30 min · Everything within a flat bike ride

Kos Town is the only base on the island where you can do everything on foot or on a bike. The harbor, the Castle of Neratzia, the Ancient Agora and the plane tree of Hippocrates sit within a few minutes of each other, the ferries to Bodrum and the other Dodecanese islands leave from the quay, and the evenings run from harbor-front tavernas to the bars of Bar Street. Its weak point is the sand: the town beaches are narrow, so most people ride ten minutes out to Lambi or Psalidi for the day. Stay near the seafront at the eastern end if you want sea views and quiet nights, and a street or two inland if you want the lowest prices.

  • Albergo GelsominoLuxury

    Albergo Gelsomino

    Seafront, by the harbor

    From

    $117

    A restored Italian-era hotel on the seafront road, a few minutes on foot from the plane tree and the castle. The address in town if you want a building with some history rather than a resort.

    • Seafront
    • Historic building
    • Walk to the harbor

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Kos Aktis Art HotelMid-range

    Kos Aktis Art Hotel

    Seafront, Vasileos Georgiou

    From

    $99

    A design hotel directly on the waterfront road, looking across the water towards the Turkish coast. Quiet for the center, and the cycle path passes the door.

    • Seafront
    • Design hotel
    • Cycle path outside

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Blue Lagoon City HotelMid-range

    Blue Lagoon City Hotel

    Town center

    From

    $89

    A modern hotel in the town grid, five minutes on foot from the ferry quay. Practical if you are catching an early boat to Bodrum or Kalymnos.

    • Near the port
    • Modern
    • Central

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Peridis Family ResortMid-range

    Peridis Family Resort

    Eastern edge of town

    From

    $75

    A family resort with pools on the eastern side of town, near the marina. The resort format without giving up the walk into the center for dinner.

    • Family resort
    • Pools
    • Walk to town

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Triton HotelValue

    Triton Hotel

    Harbor front

    From

    $61

    A straightforward hotel at the harbor end of the seafront, four minutes from the plane tree. You are paying for the location, which is the right thing to pay for here.

    • Harbor
    • Central
    • Good value

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Kos Bay HotelValue

    Kos Bay Hotel

    A street back from the marina

    From

    $25

    The budget end of town: simple rooms a street back from the water, near the marina. Fine for a bed between days on the bike.

    • Budget
    • Near the marina
    • Simple rooms

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
A concrete wartime bunker half in the waves on Lambi beach, Kos, with the Turkish coast and the houses of the Bodrum peninsula across the water
Lambi beach, north of Kos Town, with the Turkish coast a few kilometers across the strait. Photo: Karelj, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

For the beach, ten minutes from town

Lambi

Airport 30 min · Kos Town 10 min by bike

Lambi is Kos Town's beach suburb: a long strip of sand and shingle running north-west from the harbor, lined with hotels, and joined to the center by the seafront cycle path. It solves the one problem with staying in town, which is the beach, and it keeps everything else: you ride or walk in for dinner in ten minutes and back the same way. It is also where the island's adults-only boutique hotels have clustered, which makes it the easy answer for couples.

  • Aqua Blu Boutique Hotel & Spa - Adults OnlyLuxury

    Aqua Blu Boutique Hotel & Spa - Adults Only

    On Lambi beach

    From

    $139

    Adults only, with the sand right below the terrace and a spa. Dinner in Kos Town is ten minutes away by bike along the seafront.

    • Adults only
    • On the beach
    • Spa

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Lango Design Hotel & Spa - Adults OnlyLuxury

    Lango Design Hotel & Spa - Adults Only

    Lambi, near the beach

    From

    $159

    A design hotel for adults, a few steps from the sand and a five minute drive from the port. Pick it for a quiet week that still ends in town every evening.

    • Adults only
    • Design hotel
    • Spa

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Diamond Boutique HotelMid-range

    Diamond Boutique Hotel

    Lambi, near the beach

    From

    $75

    Small and near the beach, about a quarter of an hour on foot from the harbor. The boutique option at a four star price.

    • Boutique
    • Near the beach
    • Walk to town

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Atlantis Hotel - All InclusiveMid-range

    Atlantis Hotel - All Inclusive

    On Lambi beach

    From

    $106

    All inclusive on the sand, and the rare one within walking distance of a real town. Eat in when it suits you and out when it does not.

    • All inclusive
    • On the beach
    • Pool

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Costa AngelaValue

    Costa Angela

    On Lambi beach

    From

    $57

    A simple beach hotel with the sand outside and free parking. The cheapest way to wake up on the beach this close to town.

    • On the beach
    • Budget
    • Parking

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
Bathers in the pool of volcanic hot water on the shingle beach at Therma, below the cliffs beyond Agios Fokas on Kos
Therma, at the end of the road past Agios Fokas, where a hot spring runs into the sea. Photo: kallerna, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

For five star resorts, still close to town

Psalidi and Agios Fokas

Airport 35 min · Kos Town 15 to 30 min by bike

East of town, the coast road runs past Psalidi and on to Agios Fokas, and this is where Kos keeps most of its big five star resorts. The beach is pebble and shingle rather than sand, the water is clear, and the Turkish coast fills the horizon. What makes it work is the cycle path: Kos Town is fifteen minutes away on flat ground, so a resort here does not mean eating in the resort every night. At the far end of the road is Therma, where volcanic hot water pools on the beach.

  • Michelangelo Resort and SpaLuxury

    Michelangelo Resort and Spa

    Agios Fokas, on the water

    From

    $117

    A five star directly on the water at Agios Fokas. It is quiet out here, and the hot spring at Therma is a short drive further along the road.

    • Waterfront
    • Spa
    • Five star

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Dimitra Beach Hotel & SuitesLuxury

    Dimitra Beach Hotel & Suites

    Agios Fokas

    From

    $109

    A large five star on the beach road, with suites and pools. A good fit for families who want a resort and the town within reach.

    • Beach road
    • Suites
    • Pools

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Mitsis Ramira Beach Hotel - All InclusiveLuxury

    Mitsis Ramira Beach Hotel - All Inclusive

    Psalidi, by the sea

    From

    $108

    All inclusive from the Mitsis group, by the sea at Psalidi. The closest of the big all-inclusive resorts to Kos Town.

    • All inclusive
    • By the sea
    • Close to town

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Kipriotis Panorama Hotel & SuitesLuxury

    Kipriotis Panorama Hotel & Suites

    Psalidi

    The upmarket part of the Kipriotis complex, which also holds the island's convention center. Good facilities, less of a beach hotel than its neighbors.

    • Five star
    • Suites
    • Large complex

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
  • Kipriotis Village Resort - All InclusiveMid-range

    Kipriotis Village Resort - All Inclusive

    Psalidi, on the beach

    A very large all-inclusive resort on the beach, built for families. Choose it for the pools and the program, not for intimacy.

    • All inclusive
    • On the beach
    • Family

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
The long sandy beach at Marmari on the north coast of Kos, with swimmers in shallow water, parasols and small sailing boats pulled up on the sand
Marmari beach, on the north coast west of Tigaki. Photo: Henning Ihmels, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

For families, and the flattest cycling on the island

Tigaki and Marmari

Airport 25 min · Kos Town 45 min to 1 h by bike

The north coast is where families go, and for a good reason: long sandy beaches that stay shallow a long way out, with the islands of Pserimos and Kalymnos across the water. Tigaki is the livelier of the two, with a small strip of shops and tavernas, and the Alykes salt lake behind the beach. Marmari, five kilometers west, is quieter and has the dunes. Both are joined to Kos Town by a flat coast road that fills with rented bikes all summer. The beaches face the meltemi, the northerly summer wind, so expect waves and a breeze in July and August, which is great for kitesurfers and less so for toddlers.

  • Astir Odysseus Kos Resort & SpaLuxury

    Astir Odysseus Kos Resort & Spa

    Tigaki

    From

    $139

    Five stars by the sea, a short walk from the main Tigaki beach, with the salt lake behind it. Tigaki's most comfortable hotel.

    • Five star
    • By the sea
    • Spa

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Cooks Club TigakiMid-range

    Cooks Club Tigaki

    Tigaki, near the beach

    From

    $100

    A younger, design-led hotel near the beach and the salt lake. The pick for couples who like Tigaki's flat lanes but not a family resort.

    • Design hotel
    • Near the beach
    • Couples

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Labranda Marine AquaPark Resort - All InclusiveMid-range

    Labranda Marine AquaPark Resort - All Inclusive

    Tigaki, on the beach

    From

    $111

    All inclusive on the beach with its own waterpark, which is the whole argument for families with children of school age.

    • All inclusive
    • Waterpark
    • On the beach

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • OKU Hotel KosLuxury

    OKU Hotel Kos

    Marmari, on the beach

    From

    $228

    The most expensive hotel on this page, and a design resort that looks nothing like the rest of the north coast. On the beach, pared back and quiet.

    • Design resort
    • On the beach
    • Quiet

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • D Andrea Lagoon All Suites - Adults onlyLuxury

    D Andrea Lagoon All Suites - Adults only

    Marmari

    All suites, adults only, a short drive from Marmari beach. The quiet end of an already quiet coast.

    • Adults only
    • Suites
    • Quiet

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
  • Caravia Beach Hotel & Bungalows - All InclusiveMid-range

    Caravia Beach Hotel & Bungalows - All Inclusive

    Marmari, on the beach

    From

    $133

    Bungalows spread out along the sand at Marmari, all inclusive. Low-rise, green and easy with children.

    • All inclusive
    • Bungalows
    • On the beach

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
The harbor at Mastichari on Kos, with a white ferry for Kalymnos at the quay and the mountains of Kalymnos across the water
Mastichari harbor, where the ferry to Kalymnos leaves. Photo: Karelj, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

For Kalymnos, and a quieter village

Mastichari

Airport 10 min · Kalymnos ferry on foot

Mastichari is a working fishing village with a long sandy beach, ten minutes from the airport, and the point where the short ferry crossing to Kalymnos leaves. That makes it the natural base for anyone planning to see a second island, and a good one for couples who want tavernas on the harbor and early nights. The beach takes the meltemi head on, so it is cooler and emptier than the south coast in August. The trade-off is distance: Kos Town is 24 km away, which is a bus ride rather than a bike ride.

  • Kouros Palace HotelLuxury

    Kouros Palace Hotel

    Mastichari, on the beach

    From

    $98

    A five star on the beach a couple of minutes' drive outside the village. Resort facilities with the Kalymnos ferry close by.

    • Five star
    • On the beach
    • Near the ferry

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Gaia PalaceLuxury

    Gaia Palace

    Between Mastichari and Marmari

    A large five star near the beach on the coast east of the village. Suits families who want a big pool complex and a short airport transfer.

    • Five star
    • Near the beach
    • Pools

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
  • Smy Princess of KosMid-range

    Smy Princess of Kos

    Mastichari, on the beach

    From

    $67

    On the beach and within reach of the village on foot. The balanced choice for Mastichari: a proper hotel without the resort price.

    • On the beach
    • Walk to the village
    • Mid-range

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Eurovillage Achilleas HotelValue

    Eurovillage Achilleas Hotel

    Mastichari, on the beach

    From

    $41

    A simple hotel on the beach, a short walk from the harbor. The budget base for day trips to Kalymnos.

    • On the beach
    • Budget
    • Walk to the ferry

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
The waterfront at Kardamena on the south coast of Kos, with white buildings and tavernas along the beach and mountains in the distance
Kardamena seafront, on the south coast. Photo: Michael Schmalenstroer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

For nightlife, and the shortest transfer

Kardamena

Airport 12 min · Uphill out of the village

Kardamena is the island's party resort and its biggest package destination, twelve minutes from the runway. The village itself is compact: a harbor, a long sandy beach that shelves gently, and streets of bars and clubs that run late from June to August. The big all-inclusive resorts are outside it, along the coast on either side, often a taxi ride from the center, so check which you are booking. The day boats to the volcano on Nisyros leave from the harbor. Everything flat is on the front; the road out of the village climbs in every direction.

  • Mitsis Norida Beach Hotel - All InclusiveLuxury

    Mitsis Norida Beach Hotel - All Inclusive

    Kardamena coast, on the beach

    From

    $130

    A five star all-inclusive on its own stretch of beach, well away from the bars. Pick it for a week that never leaves the resort.

    • All inclusive
    • On the beach
    • Away from the bars

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Mitsis Blue Domes Resort & Spa - All InclusiveLuxury

    Mitsis Blue Domes Resort & Spa - All Inclusive

    Kardamena coast

    From

    $167

    A big all-inclusive resort by the sea, about ten minutes' drive from the harbor. Built for families who plan to stay put.

    • All inclusive
    • Spa
    • Family

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Atlantica Carda BeachLuxury

    Atlantica Carda Beach

    Kardamena coast, on the beach

    From

    $211

    One of the newer five stars on the south coast, directly on the beach. The price reflects it.

    • Five star
    • On the beach
    • Newer build

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Atlantica Belvedere ResortLuxury

    Atlantica Belvedere Resort

    Gourniati, west of Kardamena

    On the beach west of the village, a short walk from Paschalis beach. Quieter than central Kardamena and still close to the airport.

    • On the beach
    • Five star
    • Quiet side

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
  • Rio HotelValue

    Rio Hotel

    Kardamena village

    From

    $48

    A simple hotel in the village, ten minutes on foot from the harbor. Book it if the nights are the point and the room is for sleeping.

    • In the village
    • Budget
    • Walk to the bars

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
Kastri islet and its white chapel in Kamari bay at Kefalos, south-west Kos, seen through the branches of a pine
Kastri islet and its chapel, off Agios Stefanos in Kamari bay.

For the best sand, if you will drive

Kefalos and Kamari

Airport 25 min · Hilly, take a car

Kefalos is the far south-western end of Kos: a village up on a headland, Kamari bay below it, and the best beaches on the island strung along the coast to the east, from Agios Stefanos to Camel Beach and Paradise. It is 43 km from Kos Town and it feels it, which is exactly why people choose it. It is also the one area of the island where a bike will not do. Kefalos sits high above the bay, and every road out climbs. Book a car with the room.

  • Ikos Aria - All InclusiveLuxury

    Ikos Aria - All Inclusive

    Kefalos bay

    The top of the all-inclusive market on Kos, above Kefalos bay. Several à la carte restaurants are included, which is what the price pays for.

    • All inclusive
    • Premium
    • Kefalos bay

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
  • White Rock of Kos- Adults OnlyLuxury

    White Rock of Kos- Adults Only

    Near Agios Stefanos

    From

    $161

    Adults only, by the sea, a short drive from Agios Stefanos. The quiet end of the island at its most comfortable.

    • Adults only
    • By the sea
    • Quiet

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Kordistos HotelMid-range

    Kordistos Hotel

    Agios Stefanos, on the beach

    On the beach at Agios Stefanos, the stretch of sand opposite Kastri islet. A plain hotel in a very good spot.

    • On the beach
    • Agios Stefanos
    • Parking

    Check live prices and availability

    See availability
  • Albatross StudiosValue

    Albatross Studios

    Kamari

    From

    $45

    Studios near Kamari beach with a kitchenette, handy for a long stay. There is a free airport shuttle at set hours.

    • Studios
    • Near the beach
    • Kitchenette

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability
  • Hermes HotelValue

    Hermes Hotel

    Kefalos

    From

    $22

    One of the cheapest beds on Kos, in Kefalos village, ten minutes on foot from the beach. Basic. With a car, it does the job.

    • Budget
    • Parking
    • Basic

    Nightly rate from the Hotels.com catalogue

    See availability

Photos and star ratings come from the Hotels.com catalogue, checked in September 2026, and the buttons open the property there. Rates move with the dates, so check them on the hotel page.

How far a bike gets you from each base

Kos has something no other Greek island its size has: cycle lanes, and ground flat enough to use them. A marked path runs along the seafront out of Kos Town in both directions, the coast road to Tigaki and Marmari is level all the way, and bike rental shops are as common as car hire desks. From the right base, a bike can replace a rental car for the whole week. Choose a base below to see what you can reach from it.

Pick the base you are considering

Riding from

The best base on the island for a bike. The seafront path runs flat in both directions, and the sights are all inside the first half hour.

  • Lambi beach

    Seafront cycle path all the way

    Flat, 2 km. Seafront cycle path all the way

    10 min

  • Psalidi

    Same path, heading east

    Flat, 4 km. Same path, heading east

    15 min

  • Asklepieion

    Gentle rise, cycle path most of the way

    Climbs, 4 km. Gentle rise, cycle path most of the way

    20 min

  • Agios Fokas

    Coast road past the Psalidi resorts

    Flat, 8 km. Coast road past the Psalidi resorts

    30 min

  • Tigaki

    The classic first ride on the island

    Flat, 12 km. The classic first ride on the island

    45 min

  • Therma hot spring

    Flat to Agios Fokas, then a steep drop to the sea, and back up

    Climbs, 12 km. Flat to Agios Fokas, then a steep drop to the sea, and back up

    55 min

  • Marmari

    Tigaki road, four kilometers further on

    Flat, 16 km. Tigaki road, four kilometers further on

    1 h

  • Zia

    350 m of climbing, the one hard ride

    over 1 hClimbs, 15 km. 350 m of climbing, the one hard ride

    1 h 30

FlatClimbsMain road, not advisedTimes at 15 km/h on a rental bike, rounded, one way.

Rental shops in Kos Town, Lambi, Tigaki and Marmari rent by the day or the week, with child seats and trailers. Electric bikes are common now, and they are the answer to the one hard ride, up the ridge to Zia. What a bike will not do safely is the main island road from Kos Town to the airport and the south: it is fast, narrow and has almost no shoulder. Ride the coast, and take the bus or a car for the long haul.

Kos Town seafront

The seafront avenue in Kos Town with a marked red cycle lane, palms, the beach and the Italian-built administrative building with its clock tower
The red cycle lane on the seafront road in Kos Town, running past the Italian-era government building. It carries on east to Psalidi and north-west to Lambi, and it is the reason Kos Town and its beach suburbs work without a car.

Kos Town or Kardamena? The four main bases compared

Most first-time visitors end up choosing between Kos Town and Kardamena, and the other two worth weighing are Mastichari and Kefalos. They are four quite different holidays on one small island.

Kos Town, Kardamena, Mastichari and Kefalos compared on nightlife, beach, airport transfer, cycling, boats and who each suits
QuestionKos TownKardamenaMastichariKefalos
The nightsBar Street and the harbor, lively until late, walkable homeThe island's party resort, bars until the small hours in summerTavernas on the front, early nightsVery quiet, a few tavernas in Kamari
The beachNarrow town beaches. Lambi and Psalidi are a short rideLong, sandy, shelves gently, busyLong, sandy, windy, cooler than the southThe best sand on the island, Agios Stefanos and Camel Beach
From the airport30 min, or the KTEL coach12 min10 min25 min
By bikeEverything: flat seafront paths both waysLocal only, uphill out of the villageFlat lanes nearby, too far from townHilly. A car base
Boats from hereBodrum, Kalymnos, Pserimos, the Dodecanese ferriesDay boats to Nisyros, the volcanoKalymnos in about 20 minNone to speak of. Kastri islet is a swim off Agios Stefanos
Best forFirst visits, no car, historyGroups, nightlife, all-inclusiveCouples, island-hopping, quietScenery, windsurfing, doing nothing

If you are unsure, stay in Kos Town or Lambi. It is the only base where the history, the ferries, the restaurants and a beach are all within walking or cycling distance, and a car for a day or two covers the rest of the island. Kardamena suits groups who are there for the nights. Mastichari suits people who want a village and a second island. Kefalos suits people who want to switch off and will drive to do anything else.

The boat from your base

Kos is a hub for the islands around it, and the base you pick decides which boat is on your doorstep. From Kos Town harbor, ferries run to Kalymnos, Nisyros, Rhodes and the rest of the Dodecanese, and to Bodrum in Turkey, about twenty minutes across the strait. From Mastichari, the short crossing to Kalymnos leaves several times a day. From Kardamena, day boats go to Nisyros, where you can walk down into the volcanic crater. The map of the Dodecanese shows how the islands fit together, and our guide to the Dodecanese covers which of them are worth a night rather than a day.

Where not to stay in Kos

No part of Kos is a bad place in itself. The mistakes come from booking an area for a holiday it does not suit.

  • Central Kardamena, if you want to sleep

    From June to August the bars in the middle of the village play late, and the noise carries. If you want the south coast without it, book one of the resorts along the beach outside the village.

  • Kefalos, without a car

    The quietest corner of the island is also the most cut off. Kefalos is 43 km from Kos Town, the buses are thin and stop early, and the village sits on a hill above everything.

  • An all-inclusive far from a village, if you want to explore

    Several of the big resorts around Kardamena, Mastichari and Psalidi stand on their own stretch of coast. Fine for a week by the pool, frustrating if you want to walk out to dinner.

  • Tigaki or Marmari, if you hate wind

    The north coast faces the meltemi. In July and August the afternoons are breezy and the sea can be rough, which is great for kitesurfing and less so for small children.

  • Inland Kos Town, for a beach week

    The cheapest rooms in town are a few streets back from the water, and the town beaches are narrow. Fine with a bike for Lambi; a chore without one.

All-inclusive, adults only and boutique hotels in Kos

Kos is a charter island, and that keeps its prices low. In the Hotels.com catalogue, simple hotels in Kos Town, Kardamena and Kefalos start at around €20 to €40 ($25 to $45) a night, well-placed four stars at around €60 to €90 ($70 to $105), and most five stars at around €85 to €145 ($100 to $170). Those are starting rates, off peak: August can double them. At the top, OKU in Marmari and Ikos Aria at Kefalos cost what luxury costs anywhere in Greece.

All-inclusive resorts are concentrated around Kardamena, Psalidi and the north coast, and on Kos they make sense more often than in the Cyclades, because many resorts stand well outside any village. Adults-only hotels have gathered at Lambi, with more at Marmari and near Agios Stefanos. Boutique hotels are rare outside Kos Town and Lambi, and the ones in town, in restored Italian-era buildings on the seafront, are the ones to look at. If you are comparing islands, the same guide for Rhodes covers the bigger neighbor to the south-east.

Questions people ask about staying on Kos

Is it better to stay in Kos Town or Kardamena?

Kos Town for a first visit, for history and for doing without a car: the castle, the ancient sites, the ferries and the restaurants are all within walking distance, and the flat seafront cycle path takes you to the beaches at Lambi and Psalidi. Kardamena if the trip is about nightlife and a beach you can walk to, with the shortest airport transfer on the island. Kardamena's big resorts sit outside the village, and it is 35 minutes by car from Kos Town.

Which town on Kos is considered the nicest?

Kos Town, for most people. It has a medieval castle at the harbor mouth, Roman and Hellenistic ruins in the middle of the streets, the plane tree of Hippocrates and a seafront built by the Italians in the 1920s and 1930s. For a village rather than a town, Zia on the Dikeos ridge is the prettiest place on the island, and Mastichari is the most authentic of the beach villages.

Which resort is best in Kos?

It depends on the trip. Tigaki and Marmari for families, with shallow sandy beaches and flat cycling. Lambi and Psalidi for couples and adults-only hotels close to town. Kardamena for nightlife. Mastichari for a quiet village and the ferry to Kalymnos. Kefalos for the best beaches, if you are happy to drive everywhere.

Where is the best place to stay in Kos for couples?

Lambi, on the northern edge of Kos Town. It has the island's cluster of adults-only boutique hotels on or near the beach, and the town's restaurants are ten minutes away by bike along the seafront. For something quieter, look at the adults-only hotels in Marmari or near Agios Stefanos on the Kefalos coast, and plan on renting a car.

Where is the best place to stay in Kos for families?

Tigaki or Marmari on the north coast. The beaches are sandy and stay shallow a long way out, the lanes behind them are flat enough for children on bikes, and there are all-inclusive resorts with waterparks. The one drawback is the summer wind, which blows onshore on the north coast in July and August and can bring waves.

Where should I stay in Kos for the first time?

Kos Town, or Lambi just outside it. It is the one base where you can see the island's history, eat well, catch a boat and reach a beach without a car. From there you can rent a bike for the north coast and book a car for a day or two to see Zia and Kefalos.

Is Kos or Corfu nicer?

They are different holidays. Corfu is greener and hillier, with a UNESCO-listed old town, a long season and a coast of coves. Kos is flatter, drier and smaller, with long sandy beaches, cheaper hotels, a real cycling network and ferries to Turkey and the other Dodecanese islands. Corfu for scenery and variety, Kos for an easy beach week with a town you can ride to.

Is Kos tacky?

Parts of it, in the way most charter islands are. Kardamena and the bar streets of Kos Town are loud in July and August, and the big all-inclusive resorts could be anywhere. But Kos Town has serious ancient sites and a handsome Italian-era seafront, the hill villages around Zia are quiet and traditional, and Mastichari and Kefalos are still working villages. Where you stay decides which Kos you get.

Is it safe to go on holiday to Kos?

Yes. Kos has low crime and is one of the busiest holiday islands in Greece, with over two million air passengers a year. The island was at the center of the 2015 refugee crisis, and Greece still runs a reception center for asylum seekers on Kos, but it sits inland near Pyli, away from the resorts and the town, and visitors are very unlikely to notice it. The usual care applies to scooters, quad bikes and the main road at night.

Where are the best beaches in Kos?

In the south-west, between Kefalos and Kardamena: Agios Stefanos opposite Kastri islet, Camel Beach and Paradise Beach have the best sand and the clearest water. On the north coast, Tigaki and Marmari are long, sandy and shallow. Near Kos Town, Lambi is sand and shingle, and the coast past Psalidi and Agios Fokas is pebbly, ending at the hot spring beach at Therma.

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