Kos is a mellowed down version of its big sister, Rhodes, offering a less commercial face to tourists. But once you let the island under your skin, you’ll see there is plenty of things to see and do; from beaches and bars to cycling and cars with which to tour the hills, the remote coves and the high energy beach resorts.
The coastline stretches over 290 kilometres and Kos has more than its fair share of beaches. There are golden swathes with beach bars to hidden bays with forgotten coves. Inland, there are whitewashed villages along the hillsides, wild flower fields, pine forests and castles.
Things to do
Historically, there is plenty to see in Kos. The capital of Kos is the former headquarters of the invading Roman, Turk and Italian armies – all of whom have left their architectural mark on the buildings that border its wide tree-lined streets and open squares.
For something more leisurely there are watersports rich resorts such as Tingaki and Nightlife and activities galore in Kos Town. You can stroll along the Vasileous Pavlou to Grigoriou and continue to the lovingly refurbished Casa Romana.
The view from Kardamena Castle is a must see on your Kos holiday. The ruins of Kardamena Castle are found to the north of the resort. It’s a two-hour trek, moving inland from the coast. The Castle is at the top of a hill but the payback for all your efforts is a stunning view when you arrive.
Shopping
Kos Town has the best choice of Shoppingfacilities when on holiday in Kos. There are plenty of local stalls selling traditional Greek souvenirs, and the first one you reach will be much the same as the other, so remember to look around for a good bargain!
In the central square you’ll find a good selection of boutiques for clothes and shoe shopping, and don’t forget to peruse the jewellery shops and stalls, where you’ll often find bespoke pieces for great prices.
The Market at Zipari is about five miles out of Kos Town, and has a fine and vigorous market, which caters for locals more than tourists. You’ll surely be impressed by the merchandise!
Nightlife
Kos is a place where you can either enjoy the quiet life or indulge in the night life. If your preference is the latter, then head to Kardamena. Its streets are packed with karaoke bars, English pubs and strobe-lit clubs. The capital, Kos Town, is also really lively, but it’s much more sophisticated than its neighbour. Holidays here revolve around lantern-lit dinners by the harbourside, and cocktails in the chic bars of the backstreets.
Although Kos holidays are not as wild as the wildly renowned Ibiza atmosphere, Kos Town and Kardamena do have Nightlife covered. In Kos Town there are two streets of bars but anywhere near the town centre or the seafront is a good place to sit down and chill out to start or end your clubbing evening!
Eating out
Even though Kos is a foreign country, don’t worry you can still find an all day English breakfast and even a meat and two veg meal in the most tourist parts of the islands. But when in Greece, we should do what the Greek do, so there are many other types of restaurants including Italian, French, German, Chinese, Indian, and of course Greek. A traditional taverna is more fitting during your relaxing Greek style holiday.
Eating in Greece is slow and steady and deemed a laidback experience. It’s even the norm to visit different eateries to select different courses. So why not start off with a taramasalata and take it from there.