Ancient ruins and beautiful beaches
Kos offers holidaymakers an exciting blend of historical delights, stunning beaches and standout scenery. Nestled in the south east Aegean Sea, a short hop from Turkey, you will find yourself surrounded by an impressive choice of beaches from secret coves and hidden bays, to beach bar backed golden strips, all edged by sparkling blue waters perfect for families, couples and groups of friends. Inland, the lush, green interiors provide plenty for adventurers with hiking and cycling trails, and if you climb Mount Dikeos you will be rewarded with the best views over the island.
Quieter Lambi offers a more authentic experience of Kos with its traditional tavernas and golden sandy beaches. Kos Town serves up a slice of history with a 15th Century Castle alongside a plethora of Roman ruins and architectural delights and can easily be visited. An array of alfresco restaurants and tavernas feature traditional Greek cuisine alongside international favourites and the freshly caught catch of the day.
Kos is an island of old and new where you can step back in time at the ruins of the healing temple of Asklepion, or explore timeworn windmills, sugar-cube buildings and soak up the sun on the stunning beach of Kefalos. Whitewashed hamlets are dotted throughout the hills and valleys sprinkled with wild flowers, pine forests and castles. The mountain village of Zia in central Kos is well worth a visit to experience authentic rural Kos, in addition to panoramic views of the island.
If you fancy a day trip the Turkish town of Bodrum is, accessible via a short ferry ride from Kardemena. Its smart waterfront restaurants and bars and inspiring Ottoman castle are perfect for explorers. Wherever you stay, you can rest assured that your deluxe accommodation has received the Sovereign stamp of approval, having been hand-picked by our Personal Travel Planners.
For fantastic views over Kos, I'd recommend a visit to the village of Zia, up in the mountains in the centre of the island.
Every one of our hotels is handpicked and personally visited by our team
Flight time from the UK to Kos is around 3 hours 45 minutes.
If you're planning a trip to Kos (KGS) from the UK, the following airports have direct flights:
Belfast International (BFS), Birmingham (BHX), Bristol (BRS), Cardiff (CWL), East Midlands (EMA), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds Bradford (LBA), Liverpool (LPL), London Gatwick (LGW), London Luton (LTN), London Stansted (STN), Manchester (MAN) and Newcastle (NCL).
Kos has a long holiday season, with pool-perfect temperatures kicking in from around May and staying put well into October. Rain is a rarity, so expect (and dress for) long hours of sunshine. July and August are the hottest months, where temperatures stick firm in the low 30s.
Currently visas are not required for UK citizens travelling to Greece.
In Greece, a service charge will be included in the bill at restaurants and bars. Much like the UK, an additional tip is not required, although is appreciated for particularly good service. It is common to round off the amount when paying cash, particularly with wait staff and taxi drivers.
The official language of Greece is Greek. English is widely spoken, too, so getting by is easy.