The Main Attractions on Kos

If you want to combine beach life with sightseeing on vacation, Kos is the perfect place. On no other Greek island do beaches, sunny days, and sightseeing blend more seamlessly than on Kos.

This island has it all: Besides miles of sandy beaches and charming Greek villages, the island of Kos especially impresses with its long history and many ancient ruins and archaeological sites. Kos is known as the Island of Hippocrates. The famous physician, considered the father of modern medicine, was born on the island. Therefore, it's worth a mix of beach, city, and stories on your vacation.

The heart of the island is clearly the island's capital in the north of Kos. Kos Town is colorful and bustling and the cultural center. Here you will discover a wealth of Kos's history, but also the island's lifestyle: small shopping alleys with stores, cafés, and tavernas serving Greek specialties.

The island's highlights are a mix of city and stories: a walk along the harbor promenade and Neratzia Castle, visits to the Odeon amphitheater, the western excavations, or the Casa Romana, and hours of leisurely wandering through the old town.

Because Kos is known as the Island of Hippocrates, there's no way around a certain tree. Yes, you read that right: one of the most important sights of Kos is a tree-the Hippocrates Plane Tree in the center of Kos Town.

It's a more than 500-year-old oriental plane tree that almost all vacationers aim to visit. It was declared a natural monument in 1985 and is named after the famous Greek physician: Hippocrates, who is considered the most important medical practitioner of the ancient world and still today.

Also located near the island's capital is one of the most important excavation sites. Just outside Kos Town is the Asklepion, known in ancient times as the largest hospital in Greece. Today, you can visit the ruins of this historic healing center, which was built on a hillside across several terraces.

This exposed location also provides one of the best panoramas on Kos: From the highest terrace of the Asklepion, you have a stunning view of Kos Town!

Not only does the Aegean Sea matter on Kos, but there's also a lake that's a popular excursion destination: The Alikes Salt Lake near the popular village of Tigaki is one of the island's most beautiful natural sites. Where salt was still being extracted until the 1990s, there is now a salt lake that is home to numerous birds. If you're lucky, you might even spot flamingos here!

In the summer months, the lake is dried up and appears from a distance like a field of snow. Water is only present in the spring or fall. Most people combine visits to Alikes Salt Lake and Tigaki, first visiting the lake and then the village. Though touristy, a visit to one of the countless tavernas is well worth it.

Everything revolves around another body of water with an exciting background at the thermal springs of Embros. In a bay on the southern coast of Kos, sulfur-rich water flows into the sea, creating a unique bathing experience: The water temperature ranges between 50 and 80 degrees Celsius and collects in a small pool on the beach.

As seawater cools the hot healing water, a water temperature of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius is achieved. Bathing here is beneficial, as the healing properties of the Embros thermal springs are well-known beyond Greece's borders.

A highlight in every sense of the word is the mountain village of Zia, the highest village on the island. At an altitude of 300 meters, the spectacular view over the island takes center stage here. Especially at sunset, people flock to Zia to watch the natural spectacle from one of the tavernas.

If you have more time, you should combine Zia with a hike. The route towards Mount Dikeos is particularly worthwhile. You'll hike along a mountain path with a dream panorama, with Kos practically at your feet.

The Kefalos Peninsula in the west of the island of Kos is considered the quietest part of the island. Where the oldest traces of settlement on the island of Kos were found, today lies an incredibly beautiful area that's only lightly touched by tourism.

For example, at the coastal section by the small port of Kamari and the beach towns of Onia and Kampos. Most of the peninsula is mountainous, with few roads running through it-ideal conditions for cyclists, hikers, and nature enthusiasts.

What at first appears to be an average forest turns out to be a highlight for animal lovers: In the middle of Plaka Forest, many peacocks live! During a walk through the forest, you will encounter these birds and their colorful plumage repeatedly.

Good to know: There are numerous picnic tables throughout the forest, allowing for a complete hiking experience-just remember to pack your own picnic.

The most popular resorts in the north of the island are Mastichari, Marmari, and Tigaki. Here you'll find plenty of hotels and restaurants, with everything geared towards tourism. If that seems too crowded, don't be discouraged: Mastichari is particularly a highlight. The beach is about two kilometers long and stretches southwest from the town's harbor, meaning there are several sections.

The surroundings are a dream: on one side the turquoise water, on the other a lush dune landscape, and opposite the island of Kalymnos, which can be reached by ferry from Mastichari.

In general, Kos is famous for its postcard-perfect beaches. More than 65 percent of the coastline consists of small coves and long dream beaches. Added to that is the island's small size, which makes exploring multiple beaches in one day entirely feasible.

You can experience a variety of beaches: secluded and isolated beach sections like at Cavo Paradiso Beach, as well as the photogenic Instagram-worthy Agios Stefanos Beach, the surfer's beach Marmari Beach, or the city beach Lambi Beach.

Between Antimachia and Kardamena on the southern slopes of the Dikeos mountains stands a structure that every Kos visitor should see. The refuge castle, built by the Venetians in the 13th century, stands alone in a very rural setting. Goats graze around it, herbs grow wild-and amidst it all stands the sprawling crusader castle and its ruins.

A castle already existed here during Byzantine times; the current fortress was presumably built between 1337 and 1346. Inside the fortification is the small Agios Nikolaos church from the 16th century, which is worth seeing. Most buildings within the compound only have the foundations remaining. The hike to the castle is worthwhile just for the beautiful view of the bays.

Equally exciting is a trip to the castle ruins of Paleo Pyli in the municipality of Dikeos in the center of the island. The castle ruins are located above the village of Pyli, dating from the 11th century and today showing mostly ruins. But that doesn't matter.

In addition to the castle grounds, you can explore the intact underground tunnel system and visit two small 11th-century churches featuring splendid murals. The path up is uneven and rocky, but it's definitely worth it. Insider tip: After the visit, head to Pyli and have a drink at the Taverna Oria, famous for its outdoor restroom!

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