Travel Kos Guide

Kos is the second largest island of Greece's Dodecanese Islands (Rhodes being the largest) and is also the closest to Turkey at only 3 miles from the Turkish city of Bodrum. At 27 miles long and about 5 miles wide, Kos is a long skinny island rich with beautiful coastline. Like most of the populated Greek islands, Kos has a long and rich history involving Romans, Turks, Egyptians and Venetians.

Kos's most important archaeological sites are those of the Roman baths, gymnasium stadium and the Temple of Dionysos. A less ancient, though arguably equally fascinating site is that of the Castle of the Knights, constructed in the 15th Century. Kos was an important spot for Christians during the crusades due to its proximity to the Muslim world and much of its history is based around the crusade battles held there. Kos is still believed to mark the boundary between the Christian and Islamic world.

The beautiful harbor at Kos City is a popular place to park a yacht. The harbor is filled with sights and sounds both day and night as revelers party on boats just off the coast, and in bars, restaurants and clubs located on the harbor itself. Of course, there are locals here too, and small fishing boats make up the majority of the sea traffic. The island of Kos is inhabited by nearly 180,000 people, many of them still living the traditional lives of Greek fishermen.

For those who desire a quieter Kos vacation, the town of Kefalos is filled with the traditional and picturesque white washed-blue roofed houses with flank cliff-side roads. This slightly inland town on the western end of the island is still home to several beach-side resorts, though it is less popular with the college-aged crowd and was, just a few years ago, a simple fishing village.

Kos town itself is a lively city and is home to possibly hundreds of hotels and villas. In the middle of summer, the city is filled with young European tourists on break from school and work and the nightclubs and parties are going non-stop. In the winter, life continues in Kos, but at a much slower pace. Of course, if at any time you tire of Kos, there are many Greek islands nearby, each with their unique charm and beauty and easily accessibly by ferry as a day or weekend trip.

Kos has long been loved by Greeks and the rest of the world, and the tradition continues. Like the many peoples and civilizations before you, you are sure to fall in love with Kos upon your entrance to its magnificent harbor; you may never want to leave.