A day on Kos, end to end
You wake in the morning, rent a bicycle and ride the dedicated cycle paths, wander the harbour, pause under the plane tree of Hippocrates, carry on to the mythical Asklepieion and end the day in the thermal springs. Kos, the second-largest island in the Dodecanese, home to around thirty-five thousand permanent residents, is an island of harmonious contrasts: touristic yet traditional, cosmopolitan yet quietly reserved, scattered with countless antiquities and sandy beaches. With a coastline of more than one hundred kilometres, the hard part is choosing which beach.
Known as the island of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, Kos rewards visitors with diving and cycling, drives through mountain villages, winery tours, archaeological sites and some genuinely memorable food.
An island, all year round
Long known for the legendary bars and nightlife of decades past, Kos is steadily growing into a richer, year-round destination.
A taste of the island
Much of that shift comes from a renewed pride — among residents, hoteliers and producers alike — in what the island itself makes. Wine, honey, olive oil, meat, fruit, herbs and vegetables keep the old recipes alive and enrich the table for thousands of visitors. The local «ntomataki» — a cherry-tomato spoon sweet — is better than ever, and more travellers than ever pack a jar for the journey home.
Kos Island
Ways to explore the island
Sandy bays, ancient stones and easy days — start with one of these guides.
