Kos is an island for long beach days, bike rides along the coast and evenings of Greek food close to the water. You can combine harbour life and historic sites in Kos Town with small resort towns where the beach takes up most of the day. To the west, you’ll find bays and more scattered settlements, which give a holiday a different pace.
Where to stay in Kos is mostly a question of how much you want within walking distance and how often you’re happy to use transport. Here are my recommendations for five good areas on Kos, with hotels to suit different preferences and budgets.
Contents
The Best Areas in Kos
- Kos Town - best area for first-time visitors and a holiday without a car
- Tigaki - best area for an easy beach holiday with the family
- Kardamena - best area for the beach, restaurants and lively evenings
- Mastichari - best area for a smaller harbour town and quiet evenings
- Kefalos & Kamari - best area for the beach and a slower pace in the west
Below, I’ll take you through the holiday areas and suggest hotels in several price ranges, so you can choose between town life, easy beach days and quieter surroundings.
1. Kos Town - best area for first-time visitors and a holiday without a car 🏛️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the island’s main town, with the harbour, shops and restaurants close by.
- 🚌 Transport: Walk or cycle locally; buses connect the town with other parts of the island.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 30 to 40 minutes by taxi or private transfer. The bus takes longer, depending on the departure and the stops.
- 💰 Price range: From simple town hotels to more expensive hotels by the water.
- 👮 Safety: Watch out for bikes and scooters, and choose a quieter side street if you want to avoid noise at night.
Kos Town is my first choice for a holiday without a car. You’ll have restaurants, shops and the harbour close to your hotel, and more to do between trips to the beach than in the smaller resort towns.
You can stroll around the harbour in Kos Town, find somewhere for lunch and call in at the town’s historic sites. The Greek tourist board’s introduction to Kos gives a good overview of the island’s history and cycling culture. The town itself is an easy base for both short and longer trips.
I’d choose an address within walking distance of the harbour if town life is what you’re coming for. Towards Lambi, you get more of a beach holiday, while larger hotels gradually take over along the south-east coast towards Psalidi. Both can work, but an address on a long hotel strip along the coast isn’t the same as staying centrally.
The downside of Kos Town is that the beach isn’t necessarily the one you’d travel furthest to see. If your main aim is to walk straight from your hotel onto a long sandy beach every morning, I’d also look at Tigaki. Kos Town wins on variety, the choice of restaurants and the freedom to head out without a plan.
It’s also where I’d start looking for a short holiday. You don’t have to spend a large part of your time getting into town, and it’s easier to fit both sightseeing and relaxation into a few days. Go for a hotel with a pool if you’d like to be able to spend a quiet hour back at base between outings.
So for a first trip, I’d put location ahead of a larger resort far out of town. If you’re after a combination of historic streets and beaches, you can also compare with my guide to where to stay in Rhodes. On Kos, the main town is a very practical place to start.
Places to Stay in Kos Town
Kos Aktis Art Hotel - sea views in the middle of town
Kos Aktis is my suggestion if you want to stay centrally and still have the sea close to your room. The hotel is right on the water and has balconies with sea views, as well as a restaurant and a terrace where the location really comes into its own.
I’d choose it for a couple who want to combine meals out in town with a comfortable hotel base. The bathroom is separated from the bedroom by glass, so take a good look at the layout in the photos if privacy matters a lot to you. The gym and spa that the hotel refers to are at another hotel nearby.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Beautiful rooms, views, location and staff.”
See photos and book Kos Aktis Art Hotel here.
Blue Lagoon City Hotel - town hotel with a pool and spa
Blue Lagoon City is my pick if you’d like to stay in Kos Town and still have proper pool time as part of your holiday. There’s an outdoor pool, a smaller pool for children and a spa area with a gym and an indoor pool.
The hotel is in town, not right on the beach. That’s exactly what makes it interesting if you want to go out for dinner in the evening and use the beach when you feel like it, without depending on it every day. I’d also consider it for a family who want town life around the hotel.
Deirdre writes on Booking.com: “Really good breakfast and a wide selection.”
See photos and book Blue Lagoon City Hotel here.
Catherine Hotel - simpler hotel close to the harbour
Catherine Hotel is a good budget-minded choice if a central location matters more than lots of hotel facilities. The rooms have air conditioning, a fridge and a private bathroom, and the harbour is very close by.
I’d book it for a short holiday or for a couple of days in Kos Town before travelling on. You can walk to places to eat and shops without making transport part of your evening. Some rooms have a balcony and others have large windows, so pick the specific room that gives you what you want.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location is fantastic.”
See photos and book Catherine Hotel here.
2. Tigaki - best area for an easy beach holiday with the family 🏖️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 11 km west of Kos Town; Tigaki has its own small centre by the beach.
- 🚌 Transport: Walk locally, and use the bus, a taxi or a hire car for trips further afield.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Roughly 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or private transfer.
- 💰 Price range: A wide choice of mid-range hotels, studios and pricier stays close to the beach.
- 👮 Safety: Keep an eye on the wind, the waves and local swimming conditions, especially when the children are in the water.
Tigaki is my top pick if you want the beach to be the mainstay of your holiday. On the north coast, you get a long beach and a small centre with restaurants and shops. You can go out in the evening without the holiday having to move at the same pace as in Kos Town.
I’d choose Tigaki above all for a family who want to repeat the same good holiday day: breakfast, beach, a break by the pool and dinner nearby. A hotel close to Tigaki Beach and the central restaurant street makes that rhythm easy. That’s more useful than having as many facilities as possible far from everything.
The beach is the main attraction, but you’re still close enough to Kos Town to head in for a day. That gives you a good balance if you’d like to stay by the sand and only use the town as a day out. I’d plan the journey back in advance if you want to stay in town for dinner.
The biggest difference between the hotels is often where they sit along the coast. Some are central, while others are a couple of kilometres out. Both are marketed as Tigaki, but a short walk to the restaurants and a daily taxi ride make for two different holidays. My hotel descriptions below distinguish between those locations.
The north coast can also get windy. That’s no reason to rule the area out, but I wouldn’t promise a family perfectly calm water every day. A good pool is therefore a real advantage if you’d like an alternative at the hotel when conditions on the beach don’t suit the children.
Choose Tigaki if you want a beach holiday with a small town around you. If you’re still comparing Greek islands for the family, you can also see my recommendations for the best areas in Crete. On Kos, Tigaki is a straightforward choice when short daily distances matter more than a packed schedule of excursions.
Places to Stay in Tigaki
More Meni Residence & Suites - modern decor close to the beach and town life
More Meni Residence is centrally located in Tigaki, around 150 metres from the beach, and has an outdoor pool and a restaurant. The rooms and suites have a balcony and a seating area, so it’s a good option if you’d like a little more space when you’re spending time at the hotel.
I’d go for it on a couple’s holiday where you want the location to make both the beach and dinner easy. You’re staying in the resort town itself, not at an isolated resort. That gives you more freedom to go out, while the pool makes it easy to take a break without going back to the beach.
Fabio highlights the service on Booking.com: “The service was really good.”
See photos and book More Meni Residence & Suites here.
Kos Palace - pool and sea views outside the centre of Tigaki
Kos Palace is on the coast, around 1.5 km from the centre of Tigaki. The hotel has a pool, a restaurant and a smaller pool for children, and the rooms have balconies. There’s also a bus stop in front of the hotel.
I’d choose it if you’d like a quieter spot along the coast and are happy with a little distance to most of the restaurants. It isn’t the same location as a hotel right on Tigaki’s main street. In return, you get a good combination of a pool holiday and the sea close by.
Emmanuel describes the room on Booking.com: “Spacious room with a fantastic view.”
See photos and book Kos Palace here.
Blue Nest Hotel - simple hotel with a pool in the eastern part of the area
Blue Nest is my simpler hotel pick near Tigaki. There’s a pool, a restaurant and green surroundings, and the nearest beach is around 120 metres away. The hotel is east of the centre of Tigaki itself, so I’d choose it with that location in mind.
It works best if you’d like a quiet base and perhaps a car for trips around the island. There are a few places to eat nearby, but don’t expect to step straight out onto Tigaki’s central restaurant street. The price and the pool can make that trade-off worth accepting.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Our room was clean and nice.”
See photos and book Blue Nest Hotel here.
3. Kardamena - best area for the beach, restaurants and lively evenings 🍹
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 30 km from Kos Town, on the south coast; the resort town has its own harbour and restaurant area.
- 🚌 Transport: Walk around town; take the bus, a taxi or a hire car to the rest of the island and to hotels further out along the coast.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Roughly 10 to 20 minutes by taxi or transfer, depending on where the hotel is.
- 💰 Price range: From smaller hotels and rooms to larger resorts and pricier suites.
- 👮 Safety: Pick somewhere a little away from the bars if you want an early night, and arrange your transport back if you’re staying at a hotel outside town.
Kardamena, on the south coast, combines a beach, restaurants and bars around the harbour. It’s a good choice for friends or couples who want more options in the evening than the hotel’s own restaurant.
I’d look for a hotel within walking distance of the centre if that’s the combination you want. Then you can use the beach during the day and find a table by the water in the evening. It’s a different holiday from one at a large resort further out, even though both addresses can be listed as Kardamena in a hotel search.
The town isn’t just for young people on a party holiday, either. The specific street and type of hotel matter more than the reputation a resort may have picked up over the years. If you’re travelling as a family, a spot a little away from the liveliest bars can work well, especially if there’s a pool and an easy route to the beach.
Along the coast outside town, there are hotels better suited to a holiday where you spend more of the day at the hotel. Here, I’d look at the distance to both the beach and the restaurants. A hotel three kilometres from the harbour can be a good choice for peace and quiet, but it isn’t an address I’d pick if I wanted to wander in and out of town on a whim all evening.
Kardamena has the advantage that the journey from the airport is fairly short. There’s also a public bus service, which you can look up on Kos Airport’s page about buses. Departures and waiting times need to fit your flight; a short drive doesn’t necessarily mean an equally quick trip by public transport.
I’d choose Kardamena over Tigaki if evenings with more bars and places to eat are an important part of your holiday. If you’d prefer a smaller harbour town with a slower pace, Mastichari is the next area I’d look at. Both have a beach, but they lend themselves to different kinds of evening.
Places to Stay in Kardamena
Cabana Blu Hotel & Suites - pricier hotel with a pool and the beach close by
Cabana Blu is my suggestion if you want a more comfortable hotel stay near Kardamena. There’s a pool, a gym, a restaurant and a beach area, and the rooms come with a balcony, a coffee machine and a fridge, among other things.
I’d recommend it to a couple who’d like to spend time at the hotel but still be in a resort area with some life around them. The different suites don’t necessarily have the same view or extras. So choose the specific category if a sea view is an important part of your reason for booking.
Tyler describes the suite on Booking.com: “Clean, spacious and decorated in calm, earthy colours.”
See photos and book Cabana Blu Hotel & Suites here.
Kalimera Mare - quieter base three kilometres from the resort town
Kalimera Mare is around three kilometres from Kardamena and very close to the coast. There’s a pool, a restaurant, a gym and gardens, so it’s a good alternative if you’d like to stay further from the town’s nightlife.
I’d pick it for a stay where you’re happy to spend some days at the hotel and where the trip into town is something you actively decide on. The rooms have balconies overlooking the garden or, in certain categories, the sea. The location matters more than the star rating when you compare it with hotels in Kardamena itself.
Louise writes on Booking.com: “The breakfast was fresh and varied.”
See photos and book Kalimera Mare here.
Kyma Rooms & Suites - rooms by the water for a relaxed couple’s holiday
Kyma Rooms & Suites is my pick if you’d prefer a smaller place to stay with the sea close by. The rooms have a private bathroom and air conditioning, and there’s a restaurant and a beach area by the hotel.
I’d consider it especially for a couple’s holiday where a good room and the waterside location matter more than a large resort complex. Compare the actual photos and room types if you want a particular view. You can use Kardamena for meals out and let the hotel be the quiet part of your day.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Comfortable bed and an excellent shower.”
See photos and book Kyma Rooms & Suites here.
4. Mastichari - best area for a smaller harbour town and quiet evenings ⚓
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 22 km west of Kos Town; Mastichari has a compact centre around the harbour.
- 🚌 Transport: Walk around town, take the ferry to Kalymnos, and use the bus, a taxi or a car for trips around Kos.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Roughly 10 to 20 minutes by taxi or transfer to hotels in and near the town.
- 💰 Price range: Simple rooms and studios in town, plus larger hotels along the coast outside it.
- 👮 Safety: Keep clear of the ferry traffic at the harbour, and check the wind and the waves before you get in the water.
Mastichari is my suggestion for a smaller resort town with a beach, a harbour and tavernas close together. I’d stay near the town and let the evenings be a walk down to the water and a meal, with no big plans.
The harbour gives the town a role beyond the beach holiday. Ferries sail to Kalymnos, and you can check the connections with ANEM Ferries. I’d plan an island trip around the current departures and the weather, not treat it as a fixed daily activity that always fits in.
Mastichari itself is small enough that the hotel’s location can quickly make the holiday very simple. If you stay near the harbour, you can walk to both places to eat and the beach. That’s especially nice for a short holiday, or if you’re combining a couple of days on Kos with a trip on to another island.
See hotels in Mastichari here.
On the other hand, the name Mastichari is also attached to hotels along a longer stretch of coast. A larger resort can be some distance from the tavernas you see in photos of the town. So I’d make a deliberate choice between a holiday in the harbour town itself and a holiday at a hotel outside it, where transport into the centre has to be part of the plan.
The coast can get windy, and conditions on the beach change. That can be an advantage for activities on the water, but not necessarily for the perfectly calm day of swimming you had in mind. If you’re travelling with small children, I’d make a pool a priority, or have a plan for days when the waves are bigger.
I’d choose Mastichari for its smaller scale and relaxed evenings. If smaller resort towns on a Greek island are what you’re mainly after, you can also read my guide to the best places to stay in Samos. On Kos, Mastichari is a good place to keep your holiday simple without giving up on excursions altogether.
Places to Stay in Mastichari
Kouros Palace Active Lifestyle Hotel - more facilities at a hotel outside town
Kouros Palace is my suggestion if you’d like more to do at the hotel. There’s a pool, a gym, tennis and mini golf, as well as a restaurant and gardens. It’s a different kind of stay from a small hotel by the harbour.
The hotel is outside Mastichari itself, a walk from the beach. I’d choose it if you want the on-site facilities to be part of the holiday and you’re happy to use transport into town. It isn’t my first choice for nightly strolls between the tavernas by the harbour.
Billiris describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Modern, clean and good facilities.”
See photos and book Kouros Palace Active Lifestyle Hotel here.
Sea Breeze Hotel - practical location by the beach and harbour
Sea Breeze is my suggestion if you want a central address in Mastichari. The hotel is close to both the beach and the harbour, and the rooms have a private bathroom and air conditioning. It’s a good base for walking out to dinner without transport. The hotel is adults-only, so it isn’t an option for families with children.
I’d consider it especially for a short holiday or a night before the ferry. The location is more harbour town than secluded resort, so choose it for the convenience and for being close to the small restaurants. If you want a particular balcony and view, you need to book that specific room category.
Kimiko highlights the location on Booking.com: “Right next to the harbour.”
See photos and book Sea Breeze Hotel here.
Cirillo Family Hotel-Christinas Studios - studios with a kitchenette and a short walk to the beach
Cirillo is a good option if you’d like a simple holiday base with a little freedom around mealtimes. The rooms have a kitchenette and a balcony, and the hotel has a garden, a bar and free parking. The beach is around a six-minute walk away.
It suits a couple or a family who’d prefer to eat out most of the time but like to make their own breakfast or a light snack. That gives you a different kind of flexibility from an ordinary hotel booking with every meal on site. The location works well for getting around Mastichari itself on foot.
Chrysoula writes on Booking.com: “Clean and quiet.”
See photos and book Cirillo Family Hotel-Christinas Studios here.
5. Kefalos & Kamari - best area for the beach and a slower pace in the west 🌅
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 40 km west of Kos Town. Kefalos sits up on the hill, while Kamari is down by the bay.
- 🚌 Transport: Walk locally by the beach; a car or taxi is handy for other bays and trips around the peninsula.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or private transfer to the area by the bay.
- 💰 Price range: Plenty of simple hotels and studios, plus pricier hotels by the beach.
- 👮 Safety: Be aware of hills, heat and dark stretches of road. Choose a safe walking route between your hotel and the beach.
Kefalos and Kamari are a good fit for a beach holiday in western Kos. It’s further to the main town, but the bay and the peninsula make a good base for a week with a quieter schedule.
The first thing to know is the difference between the names. Kefalos sits up on the hill, while Kamari and the other holiday addresses lie along the bay below. Many hotels use Kefalos as their place name even though they’re by the water. So I’d always look at the map before choosing by name alone.
Around Agios Stefanos Beach, you get the view across the bay and the little island that many people associate with western Kos. I’d stay by the coast if you want it to be easy to swim several times a day, and head up to Kefalos as a separate outing.
See hotels near Kefalos and Kamari here.
The area works fine without a car if you choose a central address by the beach and are happy with the nearest restaurants. If you want to get around to different bays and places on the peninsula, though, a car gives you more freedom. You don’t necessarily need one all week; a couple of days of excursions can be enough to add variety.
The downside is the distance to Kos Town. I wouldn’t choose Kefalos if you’d like to head in to the harbour and the town’s restaurants almost every evening. A single day trip is different from making the journey there and back a daily part of your holiday. Here, it makes more sense to keep your plans in the western part of the island.
Compare the difference in height between the hotel and the beach, too. A great view can mean a hot walk uphill on the way back. For families with small children, I’d prioritise the short, flat route. For a couple who’d like a pool and a view, an address a little way up the hillside can be a good compromise.
Places to Stay in Kefalos & Kamari
Royal Bay Suites - pool and beach close to your room
Royal Bay Suites is my first pick if you want to combine a comfortable hotel with an easy beach holiday by the bay. The hotel has a pool, a restaurant and rooms with balconies, where the view depends on the category you choose.
There’s also a playground, and some suites have a separate bedroom, which could appeal to a family. I’d choose it for the easy access to the water and the chance to switch between pool and beach during the day. You don’t need to stay up in Kefalos itself to make use of the area.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The rooms are huge, and the bed is very comfortable.”
See photos and book Royal Bay Suites here.
Hermes Hotel - simple hotel with a pool, a view and a hill to climb
Hermes is a good alternative if you’d like a pool and a balcony without choosing a large resort. The hotel has a garden, a bar and the option of breakfast, and it sits a little way up from the beach in the area near Kefalos.
I’d go for it if you’re happy to walk a little further and want the view to be part of your stay. For a family going back and forth to the beach several times a day, I’d compare the route carefully with a hotel right down by the bay. The pool, on the other hand, can make for a pleasant day at the hotel.
Benedetta highlights the pool on Booking.com: “A really lovely pool area.”
See photos and book Hermes Hotel here.
Anthoulis Studios - simple base with a kitchenette close to the beach
Anthoulis is my suggestion if you’d like to keep your budget down and be able to cook a little yourself. You get a studio with a kitchenette, a balcony and a private bathroom, and the beach is a short walk away.
I’d pick it for a holiday where your days are spent by the water or out on trips, and where you don’t need many facilities at the hotel. The fridge and the kitchenette make it easy to have cold drinks and breakfast ready. Free parking is also handy if you hire a car for a few days.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Close to the beach and daily cleaning.”
See photos and book Anthoulis Studios here.
Where should you avoid staying in Kos?
I wouldn’t choose a secluded hotel on Kos just because the photos of the pool look good. If you want to walk out to different restaurants every evening, there needs to be a town within genuine walking distance. A resort several kilometres from the centre can be a good choice, but only if you also want to spend a lot of time on site or have planned your transport.
Nor would I stay up in Kefalos and expect a flat walk to the beach, or choose Kos Town if the holiday is purely about a long sandy beach on your doorstep. Look at the actual route between your hotel, the beach and dinner. Those three distances usually matter more to your holiday than the hotel’s star rating.
Kos Town is my first choice for a first trip if you want restaurants, things to see and easy evenings without a car. I’d choose Tigaki for a classic beach holiday, especially when the family would like a manageable resort town and short daily distances. Those two areas are a good place to start if you don’t yet have a particular type of hotel in mind.
Kardamena suits you if you want livelier evenings and still want to stay close to the beach. Mastichari is the smaller alternative with a harbour and tavernas, while Kefalos and Kamari make most sense when you want western Kos and days by the bay to shape your holiday.
My most important decision would be between staying in a resort town and staying at a hotel along the coast outside one. Once you’ve settled that, the rest gets much easier. Choose a hotel where the walk to the beach and to dinner fits the daily routine you want on holiday, and use day trips to see the rest of the island.
If you’re still not sure whether Kos is the right island for your holiday, you can compare it with two other islands in the eastern Aegean. I’ve written guides to both the best areas in Rhodes and where to stay in Samos. If you’re passing through the capital on the same trip, you can also read about where to stay in Athens and find ideas for your days there in my guide to things to do in Athens.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
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• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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