A popular Greek Dodecanese island

Kos is a large Greek island in the centre of the Dodecanese Island chain, close to the Turkish coastline. One of the traditional favourites with British package tour operators, Kos has firmly established itself as a sun, sea and sand holiday destination. The coastline of Kos is blessed with miles of superb sandy beaches, around which lots of resorts have sprung up to serve the needs of the millions of visitors that enjoy holidays in Kos every year. A relatively flat island compared with many of the Greek islands, Kos has a good mixture of culture and nightlife, and while some of the most interesting archaeological sites in the Dodecanese can be found on Kos, party animals are well catered for in the bars and nightclubs of Kos town. Quieter coastal resorts along the island’s south coast attract families and couples looking for a relaxing beach holiday in Greece.

Why Go?
Kos is exactly what you could hope for from a family beach holiday destination. Kos doesn’t have the most historic sites, nor is it necessarily the most beautiful of the Greek islands, but it does have bundles of charm and superb resorts that are perfect for families and party seekers.

When to Go?
The holiday season on the popular Greek island of Kos runs from April to October, when temperatures are typically warm and dry between 20 and 30 degrees, peaking in July and August. If you can avoid the school holidays you will find prices are cheaper and the resorts feel much less crowded.

How to get there?
Flights to Kos are available with charter and low cost airlines. Thomas Cook operates flights to Kos from Birmingham, Glasgow International, East Midlands, Bristol and Newcastle, while rival Thomson has Kos flights from Birmingham, Doncaster Sheffield, Cardiff, Newcastle, Manchester and London Gatwick. The low cost airlines operating flights to Kos are Jet2 from Manchester and Easyjet from London Gatwick.

Must see
One of the main ancient sites to visit in Kos is the Asclepeion, the ruins of a temple and healing centre, which in ancient times was also the location of the medical school where the ‘Father of medicine’ Hippocrates was trained. The other main historically significant site on Kos is Neratzia Castle or the Castle of the Knights, built between the late 14th and early 16th century. The bustling streets of Kos Town are a great place to go for some shopping and café culture, with lots of bars and nightclubs nestled among the mediaeval and modern architecture.