Kos Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Kos featuring a castle and a coastal town
Kos featuring heritage architecture
Kos
Kos featuring a coastal town and general coastal views
Kos

This island town impresses with magnificent Roman and Ottoman ruins, Hellenistic artifacts and medieval architecture.

From the Greeks to the Romans to the Ottomans, the world’s most powerful civilizations have left their mark on the remarkable Kos Town. Strewn with medieval castles and ancient marketplaces, as well as a Roman Odeon and one of history’s earliest medical centers, this village overflows with history. Explore the fascinating ruins before hitting the beach.

Kos’s archaeological ruins are some of the most popular in the Dodecanese. Visit the central square and stand under the Tree of Hippocrates, a plane tree where Hippocrates once taught his students. Meander along the port to the impressive Castle of Neratzia. Built by the Knights of St. John, this defensive structure overlooked the water passage between Kos and Halicarnassus. The inner Keep was built in the 14th century while the outer Keep dates back to around the 16th century.

South of the harbour is the excavation of the Ancient Agora where ancient houses with mosaics, columns, temples and bathhouses recall the lives of bygone civilizations. Stroll through the Ancient Market, which dates back to the third century B.C.

Continue your explorations in the Northern Baths area, home to the Ancient Stadium, and at the ruins of the Western Archaeological Site. Examine the intricate mosaic floors in the restored Casa Romana then rest on the stone steps of the nearby Roman Odeon Amphitheatre, which was built between the first and second century. Look to the stage area and imagine that in its time, up to 750 people would gather here to watch theatre, music performances and Roman games. Many excavated relics from this area can be viewed at the Archaeological Museum on Eleftherias Square.

Other impressive sites include the House of Count Francesco Sans, the Mosque of Gazi Hasan Pasha and the Panellenion Complex, where the Italian National Fascist Party held office. Day-trips to the ancient structures of the Asclepeion are also popular. This famed healing resort is where Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, is thought to have trained.

After a day of sightseeing, unwind on Zouroudi Beach or the quieter Psalidi Beach. For further relaxation, sink into the warm mineral baths at Therma.

Kos Town is located on the northeast coast of the island. Get here by boat from Piraeus, Rhodes or Turkey or fly into Kos Island International Airport, Hippocrates.

Neptune Luxury Resort
Neptune Luxury Resort
5 out of 5
Mastichari, Kos
The price is £179 per night from 3 Jul to 4 Jul
£179
3 Jul - 4 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Kos. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (400 reviews)
"Lovely food and staff are very helpful. The resort is mainly used by German tourists."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

Neptune Luxury Resort
Kosta Palace
Kosta Palace
4 out of 5
Kos town, Kos, Kos Island
The price is £111 per night from 3 Jul to 4 Jul
£111
3 Jul - 4 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Kos. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (366 reviews)
"The front desk staff was friendly and helpful the minute I arrived. They answered my questions about the and gave me wonderful recommendations for some delicious food! The roof top pool and bar were lovely and perfect for a cool drink to watch the boats in the Marina. Thank you for a lovely ..."

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Kosta Palace
OKU Hotel Kos - Adults Only
OKU Hotel Kos - Adults Only
5 out of 5
Marmari, Kos
The price is £353 per night from 3 Jul to 4 Jul
£353
3 Jul - 4 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Kos. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (243 reviews)
"The property is absolutely lovely, we especially liked that you feel the nature around the property. The best bit about it, is how lovely the staff are. Katerina in particular was a gem! Would definitely recommend."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

OKU Hotel Kos - Adults Only
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Eurovillage Achilleas Hotel
Eurovillage Achilleas Hotel
4 out of 5
Mastichari, Kos
Stay at this 4-star beach aparthotel in Kos. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Mastichari Beach and Kardamena Port ...
7.2/10 Good! (60 reviews)
"Very clean Helpful staff"

Reviewed on 1 Jun 2025

Eurovillage Achilleas Hotel
Bristol Hotel & Apartments
Bristol Hotel & Apartments
2 out of 5
Patakou 5, Kos, Kos Island
Stay at this aparthotel in Kos. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, bike hire on-site and furnished balconies. Popular attractions Port of Kos and Tigaki Beach are located ...
7/10 Good! (40 reviews)
"We were on the first tourist flight of the year to Kos with wet & windy weather forecast. Kos Town was eerily quiet and this hotel worryingly cheap but it was open and offered us a bargain stay early in the season. Yes it's a little basic and not sparklingly clean everywhere but offered very good ..."

Reviewed on 17 Apr 2025

Bristol Hotel & Apartments
Kos Divine Hotel and Suites
Kos Divine Hotel and Suites
4 out of 5
2 Charmilou Str., Kos, Kos Island
Stay at this 4-star spa aparthotel in Kos. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Port of Kos and Kos Marina are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (62 reviews)
"Amazing place to stay, custom service was excellent, management knowledgeable and friendly, buffet best !!! Beds are very comfortable, rooms are clean and I will highly recommend anyone to stay here. I am from United States and traveling a lot, and know well where to choose to stay for my vacations, ..."

Reviewed on 31 May 2025

Kos Divine Hotel and Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Kos

4.3
Top destination
5 - Excellent
41
5 - Excellent 44%
4 - Good
42
4 - Good 45%
3 - Okay
9
3 - Okay 10%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Our resort was lovely and no reason to leave the resort. However its a shame that many historical sites in Kos Town have been ruined by 2017 earthquake and not repaired or reopened due to safety. We were disappointed that we were unaware of this.

4/5 - Good

Emma

Beautiful beaches, lovely restaurants and food, nice little shops in Kardamena and Mastichari but very barren and run down outside the tourist spots

4/5 - Good

Kamil

Not so much to see and explore in Kos. Good for all inclusive holidays with kids if you don't plan to move around too much.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Relaxing. Easy to get around. Fairly cheap food, drinks and buying gifts.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Very good town, lot to go at.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Didn’t go there for sightseeing but for a couple of days serious rest and relaxation, which is what we got with the lovely hotel.

Cities near Kos