Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Kos?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Kos?
Many visitors spend two to five days in Kos during their trip. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because your journey calls for making the most of every moment. The island offers the chance to explore the underwater world, lounge on the beach, spend time at the museums, and dine out at amazing restaurants.
Kos is a small Greek island that is in the Dodecanese island chain. It is only four kilometers from Turkey and is filled with beautiful landscapes and world class archaeological sites. People visit the island to explore its ancient ruins, relax on the beautiful sandy beaches, and enjoy the active party scene. At the heart of the island is Kos Town, but you'll find several nearby resort areas as well, many of which are connected by local buses.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Kos? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Kos?
One week provides more than enough time to explore the entirety of Kos at your own pace to explore the underwater world, lounge on the beach, spend time at the museums, and dine out at amazing restaurants. Then, use your hotel as a base to take some day trips or get out on the water, as this island offers plenty of options
How to spend a week in Kos
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Kos is world-class, and is one of the main reasons why so many visitors come here. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. There are countless snorkeling sports around the island where you can immerse yourself in the undersea world. Popular snorkeling areas include Camel Beach and Limnionas Beach. Make sure you understand the water conditions before heading into the water.
The delicious food of Kos is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this island's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. The cuisine relies heavily on locally harvested ingredients with many dishes featuring cheese, seafood, vegetables, olive oil, and potatoes. The dishes are influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisines and common dishes include moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki. Popular seafood options are prawns, squid, lobster and octopus. A great way to enjoy a sampling of local dishes is to visit an ouzeri, which is a Greek taverna that serves mezza style meals with small dishes that you can share.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Kos Local Tasting - Wine, Oil & Honey ($137)
Kos is a very walkable city. With only a day in the island, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. It's small size means it's possible to explore parts of the island on foot or bicycle. There are some beautiful walks on the island, but some areas will require a car or bus.
The beautiful beaches await you in Kos, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy with various shades of color. There are touristy beaches with plenty of amenities as well as less frequented beaches that offer a quieter and more remote atmosphere. Some of the most visited beaches on the island include Agios Stefanos, Kardamena, Kefalos and Lambi while some of the more peaceful areas are Cavo Paradiso and Helona Beach.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Full-Day 3 Island Cruise Tour in Kos Island ($37)
- Dory's Glass Bottom Boat Adventure in Pserimos and Pserimos Beach ($30)
- Full Day 3-Island Boat Cruise from Port of Kos ($33)
Kos is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. With it's beautiful coves and ancient ruins, this small island packs a lot of activity into a small space.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Dory's Glass Bottom Boat Adventure in Pserimos and Pserimos Beach ($30)
- Full Day 3-Island Boat Cruise from Port of Kos ($33)
- Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands with optional pickup ($33)
Public transit in Kos is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the island quite easily. Buses connect many of the tourist destinations including beaches, cultural sights, are resort areas.
Kos is known for it's world-class museums and famous landmarks, so make sure you spend at least a day exploring at one or more of the most appealing. The small island is packed with archaeological sites and interesting history. Famous places worth visiting include the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient Agora, Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, and so many more!
A few tour suggestions include:
- Kos Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour ($7)
This island is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. For such a small island you'll find a huge party scene during the peak summer months. There are almost nightly parties, beach raves, and late night clubs throughout the summer months. The bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around a couple of streets in the center of Kos Town, but Kardamena is also a lively party area. It's popular with British tourists who head here for the all-night clubs.
Perhaps the most famous place in Kos is Asklepieion Archeological Site, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Known for it's hiking, Kos sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. This is a great walking island with a number of easy walks or hikes that take you along the coastline or through interesting landscapes.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Kos.
Shopping in Kos is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There are a number of traditional items that you can pick up while you're in town. Fun souvenirs include jewelry, leather items, and perfumes.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
After you've explored most of Kos, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- From Kos: Independent Day Trip to Bodrum ($33)
- Independent Day trip to Bodrum, Kos ($52)
- Day trip to Nisyros Island, Volcano and Nikia Village ($33)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Kos.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Kos?
With two weeks, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Kos has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind around the island or use your hotel as a base for further exploration. You can relax while enjoying scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, and the famous sights and museums at your own pace. We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.
Kos, Greece
How to spend 2 weeks in Kos
If you have more than 2 weeks in Kos, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the island has to offer.
Because Kos offers so many famous sights, landmarks, and museums, you should dedicate at least another day to see the places you haven't seen yet. You can spend multiple days browsing through the island's amazing museums, and some of them are worth a second visit, too.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
With plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints around Kos, you'll need another day to experience the gorgeous hiking trails that you haven't seen yet. Either head out in a different direction, or pick up where you left off before.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Kos.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Kos. Plenty of amazing options are available.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Another day scuba diving or snorkeling is entirely warranted here due to the amazing under-sea life, clear waters, and amazing atmosphere. Visiting different areas of the surrounding waters can provide for unique dive experiences not found elsewhere.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Kos.
Another fun day at the beach awaits, so spend more time relaxing and swimming. After all, a beach vacation usually calls for plenty of time to have fun on the sand and in the waves.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Because Kos offers so many famous sights, landmarks, and museums, you should dedicate at least another day to see the places you haven't seen yet. You can spend multiple days browsing through the island's amazing museums, and some of them are worth a second visit, too.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Kos.
With plenty of hiking trails and viewpoints around Kos, you'll need another day to experience the gorgeous hiking trails that you haven't seen yet. Either head out in a different direction, or pick up where you left off before.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Kos, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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