Cheap holiday Kos

When is the best time to go?

May, June and September to October are ideal: 24 to 29 degrees, a warm sea and far fewer crowds than in peak season. In June it is already full summer while hotels still sit below peak prices. July and August are hot (regularly above 32 degrees), though the meltemi wind keeps the north coast just pleasant. The sea is warmest in August and September, around 25 degrees. Direct flights from the Netherlands run from late April to the end of October.

The best places in Kos

• Kos Town A lively harbour town with the Neratzia knights' castle, Roman excavations right in the centre and a palm-lined boulevard full of terraces. Flat and full of bike paths: almost everyone gets around by bicycle here. Insider: on Tuesdays the castle, the Ancient Agora and the Odeon are closed, so plan your town day for another day of the week.
• Tigaki & Marmari Wide, shallow sandy beaches 11 to 15 kilometres from town, ideal with children. At the Alikes salt lake between them you can spot flamingos from November to April.
• Mastichari A fishing village on the north coast with budget-friendly tavernas on the beach and small boats to the neighbouring island of Kalymnos.
• Kardamena The island's liveliest resort, with a long beach promenade and plenty of nightlife. Excursion boats leave from here for the volcano of Nisyros.
• Kefalos & the southwest The most beautiful bays of Kos: Paradise Beach, Camel Beach and Agios Stefanos beach, with the islet of Kastri just offshore that you can swim out to.

Top 5 things to do in Kos

• Asklepieion The most famous healing sanctuary of antiquity, built on three terraces against a hillside with views all the way to the Turkish coast. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, worked here. Entry €15 (2026); half an hour by bike from Kos Town.
• Embros Therma A natural hot spring that flows into the sea: in the boulder-ringed pool, hot spring water mixes with seawater to around 40 degrees. Free, 12 kilometres southeast of town and most beautiful around sunset.
• Neratzia Castle and the Plane Tree of Hippocrates The Knights Hospitaller fort guards the harbour of Kos Town; next to it stands the plane tree under which Hippocrates is said to have taught. The castle is free to visit (Wednesday to Monday until 3:30pm).
• Sunset in Zia A mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikeos with the whole island and the sea at your feet. Come in the late afternoon and stay for dinner in a taverna with a view.
• Cycling the north coast Kos is the flattest and most bike-friendly island in Greece: from Kos Town you ride quiet paths to Tigaki or along the coast to Lambi. Rental bikes cost €5 to 10 per day.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

From Eindhoven you fly direct to Kos (KGS) in about 3 hours 20 with Transavia and TUI fly; from Schiphol, Corendon and TUI fly also operate direct flights. The airport sits near Antimachia in the middle of the island, 24 kilometres from Kos Town. KTEL buses run from the airport to Kos Town, Mastichari, Kardamena and Kefalos; rides cost €1.90 to 5 and you pay the driver. In Kos Town the blue DEAS city bus serves Lambi and the Embros Therma, among others. A rental car costs from about €30 per day, a bike €5 to 10.

What does a trip to Kos cost?

A room or studio costs from €25, mid-range hotels €60 to 100 per night. Food is affordable: a gyros €4, a taverna meal €12 to 16. Budget from €400 per person for a week including a direct flight, which makes Kos one of the cheapest Greek islands. Tip: in June you get summer weather for near low-season prices.