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Kos
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Kos combines ancient healing traditions, sandy beaches and lively harbour life, with cycling, island cuisine and Greek history around every corner in the Dodecanese.

Island Capital and Ancient Heritage

Kos Town is the principal settlement of Kos, a fertile Dodecanese island in the south-eastern Aegean, where broad cycle paths, palm-lined avenues and a busy waterfront frame layers of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and modern history. The city grew around an ancient centre whose remains can still be read in the Ancient Agora, the Roman Odeon and Casa Romana, while the medieval Castle of Neratzia guards the harbour entrance. Kos is also closely associated with Hippocrates, the celebrated physician traditionally linked with the island, and the plane tree known as the Tree of Hippocrates remains one of the city’s most recognisable symbols.
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Streets, Squares and Seafront

The centre is compact enough to explore on foot, although bicycles are an important part of local life and provide an easy way to reach quieter beaches and archaeological sites. Eleftherias Square brings together cafés, public buildings and the Archaeological Museum, while narrow lanes around Nafklirou Street become animated with restaurants and evening bars. Along the harbour, excursion boats, fishing vessels and ferries share the water with promenades lined by palms and tamarisk. Beyond the centre, the Asklepieion stands on wooded slopes outside the city, offering a powerful connection to the island’s medical heritage and wide views towards the Aegean coast.

History in a Mediterranean Setting

Kos combines the rhythm of a working island town with the openness of a holiday destination. Markets sell local honey, wine, herbs and handmade goods; tavernas serve seafood and Dodecanese specialities; and the surrounding landscape shifts from beaches and salt marshes to vineyards, olive groves and mountain villages. Earthquakes have repeatedly reshaped the city, leaving ancient ruins beside neoclassical and Italian-period buildings, but the result is not a museum-piece town: Kos remains a practical port, a cycling city and a lively base for exploring one of Greece’s historically layered islands.

When is the best time to visit Kos?

Best: May–June, October · 26–31°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January17100
February17100
March1880
April2160
May (best)2630
June (best)3120
July3420
August3320
September3040
October (best)2770
November23100
December18110

Getting to and around Kos

How to get there

Kos is served by Kos International Airport, also known as Hippocrates Airport, near Antimachia in the centre of the island, with seasonal international flights and domestic links through Athens; the airport is outside Kos Town and requires onward road transport. Ferries arrive at Kos Town’s main harbour from Piraeus and other Dodecanese islands, with additional seasonal and regional connections depending on the timetable. The port also handles services to nearby islands and the Turkish coast. Long-distance buses and taxis connect the airport with Kos Town, while road access links the capital with villages and resorts across the island. Travel schedules vary substantially by season, so connections should be checked before departure.

Transportation

Kos Town is compact, and the historic centre, harbour, markets and principal archaeological sites can largely be explored on foot. Cycling is especially practical on the relatively flat coastal routes, with dedicated cycle paths on parts of the waterfront and roads towards nearby beaches, although traffic requires care beyond the centre. Local KTEL buses connect Kos Town with the airport, villages and resort areas, while taxis provide direct transport when services are less frequent or luggage is involved. Car and scooter hire are widely used for the wider island, but visitors should check licence, insurance and helmet requirements and remain cautious on rural roads. Boat trips depart from the harbour rather than forming part of the city’s everyday public transport.

Best attractions in Kos

Kos Town’s principal attractions form a compact historical circuit around the harbour and centre. The Castle of Neratzia, built and enlarged by the Knights of Saint John, rises beside the port, while the nearby Ancient Agora reveals streets, columns, shrines and remnants of a city repeatedly rebuilt after earthquakes. Casa Romana offers a glimpse of Roman domestic life through its mosaics and reconstructed rooms, and the Roman Odeon adds a theatrical dimension to the archaeological landscape. At Eleftherias Square, the Archaeological Museum presents finds from across the island, including sculpture and mosaic work. The Tree of Hippocrates provides a symbolic link with Kos’s medical heritage, although the present tree is not the original ancient tree traditionally associated with the physician. Beyond the centre, the Asklepieion occupies a wooded hillside and combines sanctuary architecture with expansive views towards the coast.

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Best landmarks in Kos

The Castle of Neratzia is Kos Town’s defining medieval landmark, a large fortified complex beside the harbour whose walls incorporate earlier architectural fragments and reflect the strategic importance of the island. Nearby, the Tree of Hippocrates stands as a powerful symbol of the medical tradition associated with Kos, even though the current plane tree is much younger than the ancient figure traditionally linked to it. Eleftherias Square is framed by civic buildings from the Italian administration, while the Defterdar Mosque and Gazi Hasan Pasha Mosque preserve the visible legacy of Ottoman Kos. Casa Romana represents the wealth of the Roman city through its mosaics and formal rooms, and the Roman Odeon illustrates the public institutions of antiquity. Together these landmarks show how earthquake, empire, religion and modern planning have shaped the capital’s appearance.

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Explore Kos on the map

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Neighbourhoods in Kos

Best restaurants in Kos

Kos’s food culture reflects Dodecanese traditions, fertile island agriculture and the surrounding Aegean. Tavernas in Kos Town serve grilled fish, octopus, prawns and simple salads alongside classics such as moussaka, stuffed vegetables and slow-cooked lamb, while local cooks also prepare pitaridia, hand-cut pasta traditionally served with meat or broth. Island cheeses, honey, olives, herbs and wine appear in both home-style dishes and contemporary menus, and sweet treats such as baklava and loukoumades are common after meals. The harbour and lanes around Nafklirou Street contain many visitor-oriented restaurants, whereas quieter neighbourhood tavernas offer a more unhurried setting. Cafés and bakeries are useful for Greek coffee, pastries and a light breakfast, while village food festivals and seasonal produce provide a wider view of Kos beyond the central dining streets.

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Best bars in Kos

Evenings in Kos Town centre on the harbour promenade, the lanes around Nafklirou Street and the area commonly known as Bar Street, where bars stay active during the main summer season. The atmosphere ranges from outdoor cafés and relaxed wine or cocktail venues to louder music bars and late-night clubs, with the busiest nights shaped by the seasonal visitor population. Along the waterfront, views across the port suit a slower evening, while the central entertainment streets are more concentrated and energetic. Live music and Greek songs appear in some tavernas, and cultural performances may take place at local venues or during seasonal events. Outside summer, nightlife becomes considerably quieter, with residents’ cafés, harbour restaurants and low-key bars providing the principal evening activity rather than an extensive club scene.

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Best nightclubs in Kos

Evenings in Kos Town centre on the harbour promenade, the lanes around Nafklirou Street and the area commonly known as Bar Street, where bars stay active during the main summer season. The atmosphere ranges from outdoor cafés and relaxed wine or cocktail venues to louder music bars and late-night clubs, with the busiest nights shaped by the seasonal visitor population. Along the waterfront, views across the port suit a slower evening, while the central entertainment streets are more concentrated and energetic. Live music and Greek songs appear in some tavernas, and cultural performances may take place at local venues or during seasonal events. Outside summer, nightlife becomes considerably quieter, with residents’ cafés, harbour restaurants and low-key bars providing the principal evening activity rather than an extensive club scene.

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Best shops in Kos

Shopping in Kos Town is concentrated around the harbour, Eleftherias Square, Hippocrates Street and the lanes leading towards Nafklirou Street. Small shops sell honey, olive oil, herbs, local wine, soaps, ceramics and packaged island foods, while jewellers and leather retailers cater to the established holiday trade. Market-style stalls and souvenir shops offer sandals, woven goods, painted ceramics and reproductions of ancient motifs, though quality and provenance vary, so locally made products are worth seeking out. Bakeries and delicatessens provide practical edible gifts, particularly regional sweets and preserved foods. For a less commercial experience, explore the central market streets earlier in the day and look for island cheeses, thyme honey and wines from Kos producers. The town has modern convenience shopping, but its most distinctive retail character comes from food, craft and small independent businesses.

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Kos essentials

Currency and Payment
Greece uses the euro, with the international currency code EUR. Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted in hotels, larger shops, supermarkets and many restaurants in Kos Town, but smaller tavernas, kiosks, taxis, market stalls and remote villages may still prefer cash or have payment minimums. ATMs are available in the capital and other sizeable settlements, although fees and exchange rates can vary according to the card issuer and machine operator. International visitors should choose whether to be charged in euros or their home currency carefully at terminals and ATMs, as dynamic currency conversion can result in an unfavourable rate. Keeping modest euro notes is useful for buses, small purchases and tips.
Safety
Kos is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary precautions remain appropriate in busy harbour areas, nightlife streets, buses and crowded archaeological sites. Keep phones, wallets and passports secure, particularly when cycling or travelling with luggage, and use marked crossings where traffic is heavy. Summer heat can create a greater practical risk than urban crime, so carry water, use sun protection and avoid strenuous walks at the hottest part of the day. Cyclists should use lights after dark and remain alert around scooters, cars and pedestrians. On beaches and boat excursions, follow local safety notices and weather advice, while swimmers should be aware that wind and currents can change conditions.
Emergency Situations
The European emergency number 112 connects callers in Greece with urgent police, fire and medical assistance; operators can handle calls in several languages. Police can also be reached on 100, the Fire Service on 199 and the National Emergency Aid Centre ambulance service on 166. Give the exact location, explain the nature of the emergency and follow the operator’s instructions, using a nearby landmark if street details are unclear. For non-urgent medical needs, pharmacies and local health services can advise on treatment, while travel insurance information and identification should be kept accessible. In summer, heat exhaustion, dehydration and accidents on roads or boats are practical concerns requiring prompt attention.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully when entering Orthodox churches and monasteries, covering shoulders and knees where requested, and avoid treating religious services as sightseeing performances. Ask before photographing people, especially in villages or during ceremonies, and do not climb on archaeological structures or remove stones and artefacts. Greek meals are often relaxed and may arrive in stages, while tipping is discretionary rather than a fixed obligation; rounding up or leaving a modest amount for good service is customary. Keep voices low in museums and sacred places, dispose of rubbish responsibly and observe local signs on beaches and archaeological sites. When driving or riding a scooter, carry the correct documents and obey helmet and road-safety rules.
Local Tips
Kos Town is easiest to understand by linking the harbour, Neratzia Castle, the Tree of Hippocrates, the ancient remains and Eleftherias Square into one walk, then returning through the market lanes. The Asklepieion is outside the centre and merits separate time, particularly for its setting and historical importance. Early morning is usually the most comfortable period for exposed ruins, while the waterfront and Nafklirou Street become more sociable later in the day. A bicycle is useful within the town and along flat coastal sections, but a bus, taxi or car is more practical for distant villages and beaches. Local produce such as honey, wine, herbs and cheeses makes more distinctive shopping than generic souvenirs.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloΓεια σας[Ya sas]
GoodbyeΑντίο[Adio]
YesΝαι[Ne]
NoΌχι[Ohi]
Please/You're welcomeΠαρακαλώ[Parakalo]
Thank youΕυχαριστώ[Efharisto]
Excuse me/SorryΣυγγνώμη[Signomi]
How are you?Τι κάνεις;[Ti kanis?]
Fine. And you?Καλά. Εσύ;[Kala. Esi?]
Do you speak English?Μιλάς Αγγλικά;[Milas Agglika?]
I don't understandΔεν καταλαβαίνω[Den katalaveno]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseΘα ήθελα να δω το μενού, παρακαλώ[Tha ithela na do to menu, parakalo]
I don't eat meatΔεν τρώω κρέας[Den troo kreas]
Cheers!Υγεία![Yia]
I would like to pay, pleaseΘα ήθελα να πληρώσω, παρακαλώ[Tha ithela na plirosso, parakalo]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Βοήθεια![Voithia!]
Go away!Φύγε![Fige!]
Call the Police!Καλέστε την Αστυνομία![Kaleste tin Astynomia!]
Call a doctor!Καλέστε ένα γιατρό![Kaleste ena giatro!]
I'm lostΈχω χαθεί[Eho hathi]
I'm illΕίμαι άρρωστος[Ime arrostos]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Θα ήθελα να αγοράσω...[Tha ithela na agoraso...]
I'm just lookingΑπλά κοιτάω[Apla kitao]
How much is it?Πόσο κοστίζει;[Poso kostizi?]
That's too expensiveΑυτό είναι πολύ ακριβό[Afto ine poli akribo]
Can you lower the price?Μπορείτε να χαμηλώσετε την τιμή;[Borite na hamilosete tin timi?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Τι ώρα είναι;[Ti ora ine?]
It's one o'clockΕίναι μία η ώρα[Ine mia i ora]
Half past (10)Μισή (δέκα)[Misi (deka)]
MorningΠρωί[Proi]
AfternoonΑπόγευμα[Apoyevma]
EveningΒράδυ[Vradi]
YesterdayΧθες[Hthes]
TodayΣήμερα[Simera]
TomorrowΑύριο[Avrio]
1Ένα[Ena]
2Δύο[Dyo]
3Τρία[Tria]
4Τέσσερα[Tessera]
5Πέντε[Pente]
6Έξι[Exi]
7Εφτά[Efta]
8Οχτώ[Ochto]
9Εννιά[Ennia]
10Δέκα[Deka]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Πού είναι ένα/το...;[Pou ine ena/to...?]
What's the address?Ποια είναι η διεύθυνση;[Pia ine i diefthinsi?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε (στο χάρτη);[Borite na mou dixete (sto charti)?]
When's the next (bus)?Πότε είναι το επόμενο (λεωφορείο);[Pote ine to epomeno (leoforeio)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ένα εισιτήριο (για....)[Ena isitirio (gia....)]

History of Kos

Early Settlement and the Dorian City

Kos has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and archaeological evidence records Minoan and Mycenaean connections before the island became associated with the Dorian Greeks. In the fifth century BC, the ancient city of Kos was reorganised near the site of modern Kos Town, benefiting from its protected harbour and position on Aegean sea routes. The city participated in the wider political and cultural world of the Greek islands, while local prosperity rested on agriculture, seafaring and trade. The Hippocratic medical tradition also emerged within this broader classical setting, although later accounts often blend the historical physician Hippocrates with the wider medical school and cult of Asclepius that flourished on the island.

The Hellenistic and Roman City

After the rise of the Hellenistic kingdoms, Kos developed into an important centre of commerce, education and healing. Earthquakes in 469 and 411 BC damaged the city, prompting rebuilding and urban reorganisation; a major earthquake in 366 BC encouraged the development of the planned settlement whose remains survive around the Ancient Agora. Under Roman rule, Kos retained local institutions while becoming part of the empire’s eastern Mediterranean network. Wealthy residents built houses decorated with mosaics and frescoes, and civic life produced structures such as the Roman Odeon. The Asklepieion, located outside the present city, continued as a sanctuary and medical centre connected to the worship of Asclepius.

Byzantine Rule and Medieval Fortification

Following the division of the Roman world, Kos became part of the Byzantine Empire and its fortunes were shaped by changing maritime security, earthquakes and raids. Christian communities replaced many earlier religious institutions, while the island remained linked to the networks of the eastern Aegean. In the late medieval period, control passed among regional powers before the Knights of Saint John established authority in Kos in the early fifteenth century. They constructed and expanded the Castle of Neratzia beside the harbour, incorporating earlier architectural material and creating the fortified landmark that still defines the waterfront. The castle belonged to a wider defensive system protecting Rhodes and the order’s Aegean territories.

Ottoman Kos and Local Continuity

The Ottoman conquest of Kos in 1523 brought the island into the Ottoman Empire, where it remained until the twentieth century. Mosques, fountains and other buildings added new layers to the urban landscape, including the Defterdar Mosque and the Gazi Hasan Pasha Mosque, while Greek Orthodox, Muslim and other communities contributed to the island’s social life. Agriculture, small-scale commerce and maritime exchange continued to sustain the settlement. The Ottoman period is visible not only in surviving monuments but also in the city’s mixed architectural vocabulary, gardens and street pattern. The old harbour remained central to movement and trade even as political control changed around it.

Italian Administration and Urban Reconstruction

Italy occupied the Dodecanese in 1912 and formally administered the islands after the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. In Kos, Italian authorities introduced new public buildings, roads and planning schemes, leaving a distinct architectural imprint around Eleftherias Square and the central avenues. A devastating earthquake in 1933 destroyed or damaged much of the existing town, including historic buildings, and prompted extensive reconstruction under Italian direction. Archaeological excavations carried out during the same period exposed ancient structures and helped shape the modern relationship between Kos Town and its classical past. The period therefore left both built heritage and a redesigned urban centre.

War, Union with Greece and Tourism

During the Second World War, Kos was occupied by Italy and then Germany, and the island experienced military disruption before liberation in 1945. The Dodecanese were transferred to Greece in 1947, bringing Kos into the modern Greek state. Post-war development gradually connected the city more closely to international tourism, especially from the late twentieth century, while agriculture, fishing and shipping remained part of local life. The earthquake of 2017 damaged buildings and monuments, including parts of the Castle of Neratzia and the Tree of Hippocrates, prompting conservation work and renewed attention to the city’s vulnerable archaeological heritage. Contemporary Kos consequently combines a working island capital with an internationally visited historical landscape.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Kos, Greece

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Imagine stepping into the sun-soaked paradise of Kos, Greece, with a personal guide right in your pocket. Evendo is here to make your dream vacation a reality. From the ancient ruins of the Asklepion to the vibrant nightlife of Kardamena, Evendo covers all the must-see attractions and hidden gems. Whether you're wandering through the historic streets of Kos Town, marveling at the Castle of the Knights, or dining at the waterfront restaurants in Mastichari, Evendo offers detailed information, images, local tips, and maps to enhance your experience.

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