Kos Holidays

Kos is one of Greece’s most cycle-friendly islands, with flat routes, dedicated paths and longer countryside trails. Visitors can ride through Kos Town, follow the waterfront or head inland towards villages and quieter landscapes, making cycling one of the easiest ways to see more of the island.

Mount Dikeos rises above central Kos and offers some of the island’s best inland walking. Visitors can follow routes through pine-covered slopes and traditional villages before reaching higher viewpoints, where the landscape opens towards the coastline and neighbouring Aegean islands.

Kos’ northern coastline is known for breezier conditions, making beaches around Marmari and nearby areas popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Visitors can spend time on the water while enjoying long sandy stretches that feel more active than the island’s quieter swimming beaches.

Clear Aegean water gives visitors plenty of opportunities to snorkel or dive around Kos. Rocky coves, reefs and coastal formations create varied underwater scenery, while organised diving experiences operate from several resort areas around the island.

Boat trips offer a different view of Kos, with routes along the coast and towards nearby islands and bays. Visitors can combine time on deck with swimming, snorkelling and stops in quieter stretches of water away from the main resort beaches.

Horse riding offers a slower way to experience the countryside and coastline around Kos. Visitors can find organised rides near rural areas and beaches, with routes passing through open landscapes that reveal a side of the island far removed from Kos Town.

The Ancient Agora once formed part of Kos Town’s civic and commercial centre, with temples, public buildings and streets spread across the site. Visitors can walk among remains from different periods and see how closely the ancient city sits alongside modern Kos.

Built during the Roman period, the Odeon was used for musical performances and public gatherings. Visitors can see its restored seating and compact theatre layout, while the surrounding archaeological area offers a closer look at public life in ancient Kos.

Casa Romana is a restored Roman residence with three atriums, mosaic floors, frescoes and marble details. Visitors can move through its courtyards and rooms to get a clearer sense of how wealthier families lived on Kos during the Roman period.

Set beside the sea near Kefalos, the Agios Stefanos site preserves the remains of two early Christian basilicas dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Visitors can see surviving mosaics, columns and foundations with Kastri islet just offshore.

Antimachia Castle reflects Kos’s medieval past, with fortified walls rising above the island’s central countryside. Visitors can explore the remains of the stronghold and its historic churches while taking in wide views across the surrounding landscape.

Kos has a strong food culture built around local cheese, honey, olive oil and seasonal cooking. Visitors can try island specialities such as krasotyro, thyme honey and handmade pasta in tavernas and village restaurants, where traditional recipes remain part of everyday life.

Wine has been part of Kos’s identity since antiquity, and the island still produces its own labels today. Visitors can experience this tradition through local wineries, vineyard visits and tastings, while Koan wine remains closely connected with the island’s food and agricultural heritage.

Traditional villages such as Zia, Pyli and Antimachia offer a quieter look at everyday Kos beyond the coast. Visitors can wander through narrow streets, small squares and family-run businesses, where local food, crafts and community traditions give the island a more personal feel.

Music and dance remain part of village celebrations and community gatherings across Kos, particularly during religious festivals and summer events. Visitors may encounter traditional Greek and Dodecanese performances accompanied by live music, shared food and dancing that continues well into the evening.

Thyme honey is one of Kos’s best-known local products, with beekeeping remaining part of the island’s rural traditions. Visitors can learn more through local producers and seasonal celebrations, including Antimachia’s Honey Festival, where honey and related products take centre stage.

Kos Town has one of the island’s most varied evening scenes, with cocktail bars, cafés and late-night venues around the harbour and central streets. Visitors can start with dinner by the waterfront before moving on to livelier spots later in the evening.

Kardamena is one of Kos’s liveliest resort areas, with bars, music venues and late-night entertainment concentrated around the centre and waterfront. Visitors looking for a busier evening will find a younger, more energetic atmosphere here during the main summer season.

Tigaki and Marmari offer a more relaxed alternative to Kos Town and Kardamena. Visitors can spend the evening in beachfront bars, tavernas and low-key venues, with the atmosphere generally centred on drinks, dinner and time by the coast.

Mastichari keeps evenings simple, with harbourfront tavernas, cafés and bars facing the sea. Visitors can enjoy a slower night around the waterfront, combining dinner or drinks with views across the harbour and boats returning from nearby islands.

Live music and Greek-themed evenings are common in tavernas, hotels and summer venues across Kos. Visitors may find traditional music, dancing and shared dining combined into one evening, offering a more local alternative to the island’s late-night bars.

Many coastal areas across Kos make the most of their waterfront setting after sunset. Visitors can settle into beach bars and terraces for drinks or dinner, with quieter resorts offering a more laid-back evening than the island’s main nightlife centres.

Hippocratia is Kos’s main cultural festival, with concerts, theatre, exhibitions, dance, sport and family events held across the island. Visitors can also see the ceremonial re-enactment of the Hippocratic Oath at the Asklepieion, linking the programme with Kos’s medical heritage.

Antimachia celebrates Kos’s thyme honey with an annual festival held towards the end of August. Visitors can sample honey, loukoumades and other local products while enjoying music and traditional activities in a village closely connected with the island’s beekeeping heritage.

Religious feast days bring communities together across Kos, often combining church services with food, music and traditional dancing. Visitors may come across celebrations in village squares and churchyards, where local customs remain an important part of the island’s social calendar.

During summer, concerts, theatre productions and dance performances appear across Kos Town and other parts of the island as part of wider cultural programming. Visitors can enjoy evening performances in public spaces, historic settings and open-air venues throughout the season.

Villages across Kos host seasonal celebrations centred on local food, music and dancing. Visitors can experience a more community-led side of the island at these gatherings, where regional customs, shared meals and live performances are often the focus.