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The Greek island of Kos (Κως) is a popular tourist destination in the Aegean Sea, just across from the Turkish resort town of Bodrum. Many tourists make day trips to and from Bodrum.
Getting There
The main population and cultural center is Kos Town, which is on the eastern side of the island. The main port on the island is also located there, with ferry service to and from Bodrum along with nearby islands, Athens, and Thessaloniki. I arrived on a fast ferry from Bodrum for the day in about 20 minutes. Prices may vary depending on the season, so search around.
The international airport is located on the western half of the island, 27 kilometers from Kos Town. Most international flights are seasonal, with year-round domestic flights to Athens and Thessaloniki.
What to See
The main attractions in Kos are the important ancient Greek ruins and the island’s beaches and villages. Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, who was trained at the Asclepeion. There’s also a Crusader castle along with structures remaining from nearly 400 years of Ottoman occupation. A small Turkish community continues to live on the island to the west of Kos Town.
Tourist Train
Kos Town is very walkable, but it can get extremely hot. Visitors have the option of taking a tourist train to see the main sites. Each train runs about every half hour and costs €10 (as of August 2024). It operates daily except Mondays and there are two routes.
The green train leaves from in front of Town Hall and winds through the town giving an explanation of everything along the way. The tour lasts about 20 minutes. The blue train leaves from the small bus terminal near the castle and takes you all the way to the Asclepeion, located about 4 kilometers outside of town.
The blue train is a decent way to get to the Asclepeion if you don’t have a bike or car. The green train, however, is a tourist trap. It’s definitely a waste of time and money, unless traveling with small children.
Eating
I had my lunch at one of the many touristy restaurants on Nafklirou, running alongside the ancient Agora. I ordered a souvlaki plate. The food (at least the one restaurant where I ate) wasn’t nearly as good as I am used to in Greece, but the service was friendly. It turns out that the owner knows several of the people I know in Chicago, and we ended up having a nice chat during my meal.
Beach
If you’re pressed for time on a day trip and absolutely have to get into the water, there’s a small beach next to the bus terminal. It looked ok. If you do have a couple hours to kill, head to Agios Fokas, about 20 minutes away by bus.
Conclusion
Since I only visited Kos on a day trip, I didn’t have a chance to experience anything on the island other than Kos Town. The town didn’t give me a complete picture of the rest of the island. Other than the fantastic historic sites, the overall feel compared to other towns on Greek islands I’ve visited was very touristy and wasn’t authentic at all.
I hope to return to Kos one day and see the rest of the island. I’m sure the villages will be quite different than Kos Town and I’ll be able to spend time on some more of the beautiful beaches the island has to offer. This will probably change my mind about the lack of authenticity.
