Kos Beaches
The beautiful Kos island can be found in the Dodecanese Archipelago just five nautical miles from Turkey. Practically the gateway to the East and thanks to its proximity, contaminated in many aspects ranging from cuisine, traditions and sometimes even language.
Kos is the island where we have chosen to live, it has everything, nothing is missing, many beaches just think that the coast covers 120 kilometers, the hilly and mountainous part where you can take beautiful walks while admiring breathtaking views, a huge variety of taverns offering many different cuisines, shops, bars in short, all possible comforts. It is definitely very touristy but there is room for everyone.
Like all the Dodecanese Island, it offers its visitors an enormous number of beaches even if in reality Kos is not exactly large in size but fortunately almost all of its perimeter is suitable for bathing, giving so many coasts where all visitors can distribute themselves without risking being one above the other. Obviously the most famous and well-known beaches are always crowded during the summer season, but if you want a bit of tranquility it is absolutely not a difficult undertaking.
Below is a trace of the possibilities you will have during your holiday in Kos:
The North-East part of Kos is called Psalidi which in Greek means scissor and offers really beautiful liis if you decide to stay in or around Kos Town and don't want to drive 50 minutes to reach the coves to the south.
Ammos Beach
We find Ammos Beach just after all the big resorts in the north-east part. We can consider it one of the most recent and in fact it has a very different imprint from the others, it is much fresher, younger and more modern. A coast of light sand mixed with pebbles bathed by a crystalline and blue sea with depths that descend quite quickly. Sunbeds, gazebo umbrellas and a beautiful beach bar offering Greek cuisine with a modern twist, quick snacks and excellent drinks including exotic cocktails. It is much loved especially by young people as during the summer it turns into an open-air disco with international and local DJ sets that enliven the evening until late. During full moon nights, don't miss the full moon party.
Agios Fokaas Beach
Agios Fokas beach is located after Ammos beach and is in our opinion one of the most beautiful. Quiet and immersed in a wonderful naturalistic context, with this garden of succulents where there are ten-year-old aloes, all taken care of with the utmost attention. The beach has small stones mixed with sand, clear and clean waters with shallow water for the first five metres. Don't be frightened if many small fish arrive as soon as you enter the water, they are the masters and you have to live with it but don't worry they don't give any trouble. Here the sea is almost always flat thanks to its position. There are sunbeds and umbrellas where you can relax with a background of chill out music, they are not paid but the drink is mandatory. You can fill your stomach with many quick dishes such as succulent hamburgers or mixed cold cuts with local cheeses accompanied by dehydrated or fresh fruit, the classic Greek souvlaki and find many drinks from non-alcoholic to alcoholic. Right in front of the Turkish coast that seems so close to almost touch it. If you are lucky you will also be able to see the dolphins who love this stretch of sea so much that they swim free and happy very close to the beach.
Therma Beach
Therma beach is one of the major attractions of the Kos island, on the other hand it is not easy to find a completely free open-air SPA. It is practically the last place to reach north of Kos then nothing. A small pebble beach with this natural pool which is actually created above all by locals who during the winter are lucky enough to be able to enjoy the warm waters and who, armed with a shovel available for everyone, dig their own dimple where they can immerse themselves and benefit from the waters thermal baths, making it then before the summer a large pool where everyone can draw grace. As you surely know, Kos is a volcanic island therefore in the bowels of the earth the eruptive activity is still active which sends mineral-rich waters to the surface which are good for the skin and the respiratory tract. Going to the spa is a pampering, you go from a temperature around 40-50 degrees and then dive into the sea with cold waters and this too is therapeutic especially for blood circulation. And yet if you dig not very deep you can also extract clay for a purifying bath, your epidermis will thank you endlessly. Therma beach is not equipped, everything is free but this year (2022) they have made it possible to do beauty treatments for a fee but you are completely free to do it yourself. To reach it you need to have your own transport or with the bus. Our advice is to leave the car anyway, especially in the parking lot above where there is also a small bar for something to eat or drink and walk down because the road is truly a nightmare. She too is magical and romantic on full moon nights.
The northwest part is called Lambi and we can say that it represents the coast of Kos Town. Here too you will be spoiled for choice, we point out the best ones according to our tastes but it is only a personal thing, there are many and all valid with different characteristics.
Tarzan Beach
The name says it all! Tarzan beach I can't tell you how long it's been there for 20 years that I hang out on Kos and it was already there. Ivraim the undisputed star and her whole family will welcome you in this corner made of sand mixed with a few pebbles with a clean sea and iridescent shades of blue. It is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas but let's face it if you want silence and tranquility forget it, here there is full throttle music and an afternoon show included when Ivraim perpetually dressed as Tarzan entertains guests with a very amusing curtain. It's a gay friendly beach but nothing so transgressive, lots of families especially Dutch love to spend their days there because it's really fun and all the staff really know how to deal with everyone indiscriminately. Tarzan Beach also has an excellent restaurant where you can find fresh fish (both for lunch and dinner), or light or quick dishes. Usually on Monday (depending on the year, the day may change), the Watermelon Party is organized where you can have fun until midnight with fireworks attached at the end. Impossible not to find it, just head from the port towards the famous via Averof (where all the fish restaurants on the beach are located) and follow the signs.
Nisi Beach
Even the Nisi beach has sprung up recently, it won't even be five years, it has practically taken the place between two other beaches (keep in mind that in Kos Town the beaches are really one after the other). An elegant and modern place with comfortable sunbeds and straw umbrellas where you can recharge your mobile phone and leave your personal items in your box on the umbrella. Here too sand mixed with stones, a seabed that descends after about five meters and calm and clean waters. Behind the beach bar where you can find delicious Greek dishes rather than intercontinental and fresh drinks.
Ali' Baba' Beach
Here we are with another of our favourites. Ali' Baba' beach is just after the practically neighboring Nisi Beach. We like it so much because it is quiet, with a truly excellent service. Sand mixed with stones on the shore but soft light gravel among the umbrellas, super comfortable sunbeds, soft music in the background and where they make the best burgers. It is not paid but you have to make at least one obligatory drink but for this it takes very little, staying all day under the declining Greek sun makes you very thirsty. You can directly consume your meal blissfully lying under an umbrella (actually almost all the beaches of the capital offer this service) or take a seat in the beach bar behind you under one of the wonderful patios.
Mylos Beach Bar
Another magical place especially at sunset. The Mylos Beach Bar is one of the most sought-after and sought-after beaches in the entire capital, so much so that this year in order to stay there it was necessary to book the day before to find a place ... Everything revolves around an ancient mill of (Mylos in Greek means mill) where the owner has created a suggestive environment with this large space surrounded by plants and flowers of a thousand colors, accessories made with wood recovered from evil and then skilfully shaped by local artists, all accompanied by an excellent but not on the contrary, it disturbs and reconciles tranquility and relaxation. The sandy beach mixed with small stones towards the shore and only sand among the parasols, extends for about seven hundred meters with about ten rows. The right side is furnished with very comfortable mattresses that will transport you into the arms of Morpheus in no time at all, the left side instead has straw umbrellas and deck chairs which are also comfortable but less sophisticated. For something to eat or drink there is no problem, the kitchen is excellent and also a wood-burning oven for an exquisite pizza. Do not miss the sunset, perhaps with a nice aperitif based on excellent cocktails (mojto forever) and some appetizers (the sublime grilled vegetables with balsamic vinegar). Sunbeds cost €10 per day (2022). Reaching it is not difficult, just head towards Lambi and follow the signs.
Continuing in a northwesterly direction, you come to the Tigaki village, five kilometers of soft, white sand with a turquoise sea. The only drawback of Tigaki is the wind, unfortunately when the Meltemi makes itself felt, this area is exposed and waves are created in the sea but if you like big waves this is the place for you. Also in this case one lido after another with relative beach bars behind where you can find food and drink. Some stretches, however, are completely free and you can put your towel where you prefer, perhaps under one of the tamarisk trees that grow spontaneously on the shore, providential during the hot afternoon hours. We want to point out to you especially in Tigaki the Happy Flamingo beach right at the bottom almost near the Salt Lake that we recommend you to see. Happy Flamingo Beach has soft light sand, equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas for €10 a day (2022), bathrooms, showers and games for the little ones. A service to eat or drink something directly on the beach is also served.
The Mastichari village, about 13 kilometers from Tigaki, an area that has been booming in recent years, is also absolutely worth it. A former village of simple fishermen which today has become a highly sought-after seaside resort with almost five kilometers of beach made of soft white sand bathed by a spectacular sea. The seabed is mainly sandy and descends slowly. As for the Tigaki village, the position exposes it to the winds so that you can find some very famous spots among kite surfing and windsurfing lovers. A coast with one lido after another and behind it beach bars or taverns where you can enjoy an aperitif or after dinner. In this case, our favorite is the Palatiano above all for its sunbeds which are a real pleasure where you can indulge in epic sleep. Don't miss to taste his delicious burgers made with ash bread. Here in Mastichari you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets of Kos, the sky at dusk is tinged with warm colors to be admired and fixed well in the memory. And finally, a nice fish-based dinner at Perikles where, if you're lucky, you'll also find sea urchins.
We then move on to the southern part of Kos, undoubtedly the most beautiful from a naturalistic point of view but the rest is also remarkable. On the east side you will meet the Kardamena village, the second largest on the island (the first is the capital Kos Town). A fun tourist resort where you can find many accommodation options, taverns, bars and many beaches. Here we love to go to Helona beach which is actually partly occupied by the resort of the same name but there is also a free stretch with a coast of soft white sand with a transparent and crystalline sea with a sandy bottom that slopes gently perfect for families with children. The only precaution will be to bring the necessary if you decide to spend the whole day there as there are no kiosks to eat or drink and not even trees to shelter from the sun. Another lido is Malibu' beach, always very entertaining with a sandy beach, fantastic sea and a beach bar which also has a fresh water swimming pool as well as a well-stocked bar where you can indulge yourself with cocktails or even for a simple soft drink or cold beer.
Coming down instead we find the Kefalos area the most popular for the beaches. Needless to say, one coast after another, all beautiful and with different services and characteristics.
Exotic Beach
Exotic Beach is one of the most loved beaches by naturists. We find it to the south in the Kefalos area just before the more famous Magic Beach. A coast of sand mixed with a few stones, a clear and transparent sea with colors that go from light blue to sparkling blue. Sunbeds and umbrellas for a fee, for something to eat or drink you have to reach the Magic which is less than meters away.
Magic Beach
One of the most beautiful where relaxation and tranquility are the masters (obviously not in the high season where everyone comes). An expanse of fine and coarse sand with crystal clear waters and a blue and turquoise sea. The seabed drops after about three meters and in some places it has large slabs of rock so if you have delicate feet, wear rock shoes. Sunbeds with straw umbrellas and screens behind them, a comfortable shower and high up on the promontory a typical Greek tavern with a breathtaking view over the entire beautiful Kamari bay. The vegetation around the Magic Beach is made up of rolling dunes and typical Mediterranean scrub, a real paradise.
Lagada Beach
Lagada beach is also beautiful and suitable for anyone, especially families with children. A coast of coarse sand mixed with pebbles on the shore towards the seabed, a calm and transparent sea. It is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas (actually there are not many, maximum 3 rows) and this year 2022 they cost from €8 to €10 per day. Going up a picturesque staircase made of pallets embedded in the earth painted with the classic white and blue colors of Greece, there is a Kantina (for those who don't know yet, cellars are nothing more than simple caravans used as kiosks) where a smiling Dimitri and a artistic Rena (she paints everything, stones, wood, etc.) waiting for you for a cold beer or something to eat like a tasty fruit salad.
Paradise Beach
Going further south on the west side you will find one of the most famous beaches of Kos, the Paradise Beach. The name really suits it, it is a beautiful and long beach of fine sand where many visitors meet every day. It is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas while for eating or drinking there are two taverns which offer shade with a wonderful view of the sea and where you can choose whether to have a whole lunch or some quick snacks to appease your stomach. Paradise Beach is very suitable for families with children due to its gently sloping seabed where the little ones can have fun until they drop while the adults relax under the parasol. You can find a wide selection of water games such as nice inflatables in the sea for the little ones or dedicate yourself to some fun water sports such as the jet sky or the banana rather than with a simple pedal boat, in short, the choice is yours! In a stretch of Paradise Beach, in the middle of the sea, you will find a sign with the writing Bubble Beach, it is a particular section of the beach where again due to the fact that Kos is volcanic, right here the underground channels have relief valves which they are nothing more than puffs of steam that create pleasant bubbles.
Camel Beach
Camel Beach is one of our top ten best beaches on Kos. Wild and wedged in a small but beautiful bay which actually gives rise to 3 beaches, one large, the main one and the other two, one smaller than the other. Camel Beach has a coast of sand mixed with a few stones, clean sea and waters that are a bit chilly even if honestly the whole area of Kefalos has the coldest sea compared to other areas of the island. All around rocks where snorkelers can have fun so don't forget fins, mask and snorkel. The seabed drops quite slowly but is mostly made of stones of different sizes so if not you are experienced fakirs, it would be better to bring some rock shoes if you really have difficulty entering. It is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas while for something to eat above the promontory there is a delicious typical tavern that offers very fresh fish dishes. If, on the other hand, you are lazy and don't want to travel the road to reach the restaurant, there is always service on the beach for quick snacks and something cool to drink.
Agios Santo Stefanos Beach
Agios Santo Stefanos beach is a real jewel of the Kos island. A fantastic bay that forms a kind of natural swimming pool with a coast of soft golden sand bathed in a calm, clean and blue sea. The seabed goes down really very slowly you have to go several meters before starting to have water up to your waist so perfect for families with even very young children. It owes its particularity to a magical islet that magically appears right in the middle of the sea where there is a typical orthodox church with a blue dome and white walls where the locals love to get married. It won't be difficult to see boats decked out with radiant brides reaching the church for one of the best days of a life. Around the Kastri islet this is its name there is a beautiful popular legend; it is said that reaching it by swimming and ringing the bell three times, if you make a wish there is a high probability that it will come true. We don't know if it's actually like this but we like to think it's the truth, a touch of illusion never hurts! The beach on the right has beautiful archaeological finds dating back to the early Christian era and a temple dedicated to the God Apollo. Once it was much larger but in 2020 they renovated the old Club Mediterranee giving life to a very luxurious resort that appropriated a large slice of the beach leaving little room for mere mortals. We advise you to go there early in the morning if you want to enjoy the day lying down comfortably. To eat or drink something you will either have to think about it yourself bringing everything you need or move towards the bay of Kamari (you can also do it on foot from the shore) where there are several taverns or small bars.
Tripiti Beach
Then moving from the Kamari bay towards Agios Theologos the southernmost part of the Kos island where it actually ends, is Tripiti beach. A little difficult to reach, let's say it is one of the furthest if you are staying in the north or in the centre, but certainly one of the most pristine and still almost in its natural state. A bay made of sand and pebbles with rock formations that divide the coast into various sections including one where the water is very shallow and ideal for very young children. It is equipped with a few sunbeds and umbrellas while the "caretaker" takes care of something to drink if we can call him that, a man who takes care of the area by keeping it as clean as possible who always has water and drinks with his providential cooler for visitors. To eat instead you will have to bring your own essentials or move with a vehicle to Agios Theologos where there is a very nice tavern right on the sea and on the scenic beach. In Tripiti you will also find on the road a sort of small improvised zoo with cute little animals to get to know and pet.
Cavo Paradiso
And now we come to the highlight of the island, the fantastic Cavo Paradiso beach. Never guessed the name again, you will really feel like you are out of this world especially if you are lucky enough to go there at the beginning or end of the season when Kos begins to empty of tourists. Let's start by saying that getting there is really a bit difficult, the road is all unpaved where on one side there is a sheer drop that makes you sweat especially if you cross two cars, you need to be expert drivers and have a great cool head. You can opt to do it on foot leaving the car in the church parking lot before the indication and the road that leads to Cavo Paradiso, we are talking about a good half hour unfortunately all under the sun. The ideal would be to leave the car in Kefalos and rent a small quad or a scooter (at least a 125). But let's come to the queen of beaches, a coastline of about a kilometer of soft and fine golden sand, clean and sparkling blue waters which, with the foam of the almost always present small waves, paint an idyllic scenario. Behind high clear cliffs with fossil residues that make us understand how far the sea once reached. In front of you the Divine Aegean which shows itself in all its beauty and omnipotence. It is equipped with a few sunbeds and umbrellas so those who arrive first can enjoy the comforts and a small kantina where a pirate serves drinks and quick snacks. From above you can enjoy a postcard view! A real shame to miss it.
Limnionas Beach
Limnionas beach is always located in Kefalos (in Greek it means brain) always in the south but on the west side. In reality there are two small coasts, one wild with rich vegetation and rocks that surround it where snorkelers can have a lot of fun, the other instead equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas. Unless you come here on the weekend, the favorite time of the locals where they gather en masse in Dantesque bbqs or during the height of the summer season, Limnionas beach is perfect for a quiet and relaxed day at the beach. The only flaw of this beautiful beach are the algae which, coming from the open sea, sometimes settle on the seabed making it muddy and slippery. A lovely tavern where you can always find super fresh fish and delicacies of classic Greek cuisine all to be tasted with a fantastic view towards the sea.
Kohilari Beach
Kohilari beach called Kochilari reeds we find it to the southwest in a beautiful gulf. The very long coast is made of soft white sand with a blue and clean sea unfortunately often moved by the meltemi because of its potion. Kochilari beach is the mecca for kitesurfing enthusiasts, so much so that there is one of the best schools and one of the most coveted spots for lovers of this sport. All around gentle dunes to be discovered with luxuriant Mediterranean scrub vegetation still intact as it is entirely state property and therefore protected. For those who don't like sports, the western part is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas and since the seabed is sandy and descends slowly, it is excellent for families with children, always if Eolo is forgiving. There are no food and drink kiosks so remember to bring all your essentials.
Volcania Beach
Volcania beach is on the south on the west side. Like all the beaches in this part of the Kos island they are often blown by the winds coming from the north making them very wild but also difficult for bathing. A long stretch of fine white sand, sometimes dark given its origins, with a turquoise blue sea up to deep blue where waves with white crests color the landscape. Around rolling dunes where typical Mediterranean vegetation grows. It is equipped with a few sunbeds and straw umbrellas, all completely free. There are no places for drinks or food so bring all you need. It owes its name to the small craters that can be observed throughout the area and going inland you can also smell the smell of sulfur, a legacy of the volcanic activities of the past.