The island of Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates. At least, this is what the locals and the myths of Ancient Greece, familiar to us from childhood, say. From above, the island reminded me of a sand castle surrounded by the sea. He blinked and beckoned with lights. And I already imagined how I would go around it on a bicycle. And in one day. But more on that later.

Colors and facts of Kos

The island of Kos is part of the so-called Dodecanese archipelago, which has 17 miniature Greek islands. With a coastline just 112 km away, the island has something to surprise you. Flamingos come here even in winter. And in summer, the island is buried in greenery and glitters with olives. Residents of Kos boldly call themselves Greeks and are very proud that after 400 years of Turkish and then Italian "patronage" they have finally returned to their roots. The industry is not developed here at all, but olives and tourists provide locals with work almost all year round.

The capital of the same name to the island is truly a city of contrasts. A kind of mixture of Italian courtyards with oriental bazaars. A city within a village. A ten-minute walk from the port, with its stately fortress and the din of restaurants, will take you to the outskirts, where goats, sheep and cows graze peacefully. Other resorts of the island: Kefalos, Mastichari, Marmari, Psalidi, Agios Fokas are more created for a calm, beach holiday.

A short video about Kos

How to get there

There are two main ways to get to Kos: by plane or by ferry. It is faster and more convenient by plane, and by ferry you can sail with your car. But you will not get to the island by bus or train.

By plane

Kos is lucky. With an area of ​​290 km², it even acquired an international airport. Charter flights from Russia, Ukraine and the CIS countries fly here from May to October 1-2 times a week. To buy a charter, you will need to contact a travel agency. From Moscow (Vnukovo) fly 3.5 hours, from St. Petersburg (Pulkovo) - 3 hours 17 minutes. There are no direct (non-charter) flights from Moscow or St. Petersburg. If you book on your own, you will have to change trains in Athens. The flight to Kos from Athens will take 1 hour. The best time to fly is in April / May or October. During these months, you can fly from Moscow (DME) to Kos (KGS) with a transfer in Athens for 9,000 rubles, from St. Petersburg (LED) - for 14,000 rubles. (Aegean Airlines). In the middle of the season, the prices for flights to Kos from both capitals increase by one and a half times. Transfers in Dusseldorf, Munich, Athens, Thessaloniki cannot be avoided at all during the low season - from October to April. You can find air tickets on search engine sites, for example,.

A little about Kos airport. Airport "Hippocrates" is located in the center of the island, about 1 km from the town of Antimachia. It has only two small terminals, signs in English and Greek are accompanied by international signs, some of the staff even know Russian. It's hard to get lost. There are queues here in the summer - check your time. There is Duty Free at the airport, but prices are higher there than in city shops.

I will tell you about how it is more convenient to get from the airport to the city of Kos or resorts in the section on urban transport.

By ferry

You can fly to Athens, get to the port of Piraeus and take a ferry to Kos. This method takes longer, but in winter or when charter flights are expensive, it can help out. In addition, the ferries are comfortable and you will admire the views to your heart's content. The most convenient way to get from Athens Airport (ATH) to Piraeus Port is by bus X96. The trip takes 90 minutes and costs 5 euros. By metro you can get there in 1 hour 20 minutes and 8 euros. The ferry from Piraeus to Kos will sail for about 12 hours (with a stop at). The most economical ticket for one will cost about 40 euros. The schedule can be viewed

There is also a ferry service between the Greek islands. For example, you can take a ferry in Rhodes and sail to Kos. It will take about 4 hours. However, ferries may not run every day - check in advance. All ferries dock at the Port of Kos.

To moor to about. Kos on your own yacht can be used, which is a 10-minute walk from the port.

If Kosmarina is crowded, you can use the Old Port or the ports at Kardamena and Kefalos-Bay.

Prompt:

Kos - time is now

Difference in hours:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Yekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season. When is the best time to go

The season on the island of Kos lasts from April to October. The main flow of tourists is in the summer months. In July-August, prices for flights and accommodation are significantly more expensive. Thanks to the more famous neighboring islands, you will not feel the crowds on Kos even in summer. In winter, mainly European retirees come here for decorous walks along the sea. Many hotels / shops / restaurants close altogether.

You can get acquainted with the prices for tours to the island of Kos in the travelask section.

Kos in summer

Summer on the Spit is hot. The air temperature can rise up to + 45C. The weather is calm. If you are a sightseeing hunter, you shouldn't go in the summer. In the heat, climbing the ruins or just walking are dubious pleasures. But fans of a beach holiday will love to plunge into the coolness of the Aegean Sea after sunbathing.

The sea is pleasant, it doesn't look like a warm soup at all, because does not heat up more than + 25C. There are fragrant fruits on Kos all year round. Given the heat, I advise you to lean on watermelons and peaches for lunch.

Kos in autumn

September and early October are truly velvety here. Water + 20C, air + 25C. This time seems to be created for walks, excursions, cycling trips. It's nice to spend the first part of the day on the beach, get a light tan, and then go in search of adventure. Local almonds appear in the shops. This is in addition to the peaches that don't go missing from the shelves.

But there is also bad news. Rains may start from mid-October. Rain on the Spit is akin to a flood. The whole sky is covered with black clouds, thunder rumbles, and the rain pours on the unfortunate tourists for two or three days in a row. The streets can only be walked in knee-high rubber boots. In addition, it gets colder. Tourists can only sit in bars and amicably complain about their fate. However, bars may close due to bad weather. Umbrellas are sold on every corner here, but the quality is so-so. Better grab it from home. But after the rains, the island looks happy, and the sun warms so warmly that tourists forgive everything and continue to have fun until the end of October. November is no longer the season.

Kos in spring

The island blooms in the spring. No wonder it is called the garden of the Aegean Sea. Everything that it can has been blooming since February. Even cacti. And almonds and bougainvillea bloom especially exotic for the Russian eye.

For spring secluded walks around the island, you can fly in March-April. Air temperature + 18C, water + 17C. In addition, the first nectarines and cherries ripen. But in May the number of tourists increases. Obviously, in connection with the May holidays in Russia. Like autumn, late spring is considered the velvet season in the Mediterranean. You can sunbathe beautifully and explore the entire island.

Kos in winter

In winter, you can fly to Kos with only one purpose. Live as a hermit. Look at the sea in a storm, listen to the wind. Chill and warm yourself with almond liqueur in a nearby cafe.

The weather is cloudy from December to February. The temperature is about + 10C. We did not see snow here in winter, but it rains in abundance. Of course, the extinct resort has its own charm, but the arrival in the spring will delight you with completely different colors.

Kos - monthly weather

Prompt:

Kos - monthly weather

Conditional areas. Descriptions and features

Tourists choose the area of ​​the island depending on the type of vacation. Most of them settle directly in the capital, the city of Kos, or in the nearest villages. I usually look for hotels on Booking - by, you can check if there is a better price. If you prefer to rent a private apartment, walk around.

Kos Town

The beaches are well equipped and clean. In the evening, you can walk to the city without spending money on a taxi. By the way, there is an interesting system with beaches in the city of Kos. They don't belong to hotels, but to bars. Bartenders stand at the entrance to the beach and invite vacationers to their place. The sun loungers are free, but the client always orders something: beer, ice cream, juice. However, you can make friends with the bartender: they are not averse to chatting. Then you, as a friend, can use the sunbed without ordering anything.

Kamari and Kefalos

The Kamari resort near the town of Kefalos is also suitable for those wishing to look at Ancient Greece and lie on the beach. It is located 43 km west of Kos. In Kefalos, it is worth visiting the ruined castle and the ancient basilica. Active travelers will also find a way to put their energies to use. Kitesurfing and windsurfing equipment can be rented on the beaches of Kamari and nearby Kollihari. An hour of renting one set of equipment costs about 25-30 euros, it is more profitable to rent equipment for a day - pay about 70 euros.

Kardamena

Food. What to try

On Kos, it is believed that Greek, not Italian cuisine rules the world. It is useless to persuade - I tried, do not mess with. Nod, smack your lips, and become the favorite guest of every cafe.

Well, there are a lot of snacks. But the most unusual thing seemed to me the cheese fried in olive oil. It is called saganaki. They bring a briquette 10 by 10 cm, golden, salty and very greasy. But you will never forget this taste.

The local olives are neither green nor black. They are oblong, irregular in shape and some kind of light purple or brown. Depends on lighting. I just admire them, because I don't eat. A plate of snacks usually costs 4-7 euros.

Greek salad. The kitchen cannot be described without it. The correct Greek salad is eaten with a fork and spoon. Just like a paste. Apparently, a spoon to scoop oil with tomato juice and vinegar, which flow from vegetables to the bottom of the plate. The salad portions are large. If you are not very hungry, you can get by with them. It costs 5-8 euros, depending on the level of the establishment.

The fish dishes are simple, juicy and relatively expensive, despite the fact that the sea is close by. But for some reason, octopuses have a rubbery taste. Hot fish will cost 9-15 euros.

The local goulash won me over. It is prepared like this: pieces of beef are stewed in a pot with feta and potatoes. Brought hot. It smells of spices and comfort. You should definitely try it. It costs about 10 euros.

Wine. Be patient until you return to Russia. Decent red wines in local shops are expensive - from 10 euros (in Moscow stores you can buy a similar wine for 6 euros). In local restaurants, the prices for wine are not at all approached. I tried homemade wine in several establishments - very weak.

I would recommend The Fish House Taverna at 25th Martiou St, Kos Harbor (see map). The place in the center is colorful, white with blue accents. Located on a hill, and a terrace was made on the stairs. Sitting on the terrace is more pleasant, only there are often photographed. Unsurprisingly, this is the most beautiful corner in the city. The food is delicious, we even got a Russian waitress. I managed to talk about life in exile. Hot + salad cost about 15 euros.

And if you go down the stairs and turn left, then you can go to the most popular pub on Kos. At least among the locals. The beach bartender assured me that they make the best cocktails in all of Kos. I don't remember what it was called, but there are large tables in the air, and inside the room is small, with mirrors. There are a lot of people, although this is by no means a cheap place - all cocktails from 7 €. But take a look, see where the locals are resting.

Security. What to watch out for

Kos is pretty calm. Serious crimes are unheard of, sensational. Only petty thefts should be feared. Keep track of your bags, wallets, phones. It is better to take the minimum amount of money to the beach, and keep expensive jewelry, money, passport in a safe. If your room does not have a safe, put everything in your suitcase and zip it all up. It's even better if you get a suitcase lock in advance.

Outside Kos, there is a lot of talk about Syrian refugees. In vain - they are completely harmless here. We set up a small camp in the port and live in tents. A police squad is constantly on duty around the refugees, so they speak in a whisper. You really feel sorry for them, and you should rather be afraid of pickpockets.

Things to do

Top 3 non-tourist activities in Kos

Go to visit the Metropolitan by bike

Of course, you won't be able to go around the entire island by bike. I shouldn't have hoped. But try to at least move outside your resort. If you move away from the port of the city of Kos at a decent distance (about 4 km) and go up the hills, you can stumble upon the house of the local metropolitan (admission is free). And there are cages with parrots, and a pebbled floor, and silence.

Get to know the fauna in the vicinity of the resorts

Tours and attractions are rewarding activities. But they are very well planned. But if you just go for a walk, then you can make an unexpected acquaintance. For example, with a turtle. My new friend got stuck in the fence and couldn't get out for so long that she even bent the shell.

Taste Kos

What does Kos taste like? It will be great if you can answer this question upon arrival. Therefore, while on the island, try everything. The Greeks are very hospitable people, in every shop they smeared me with creams, fed me with honey, butter, nuts. At the restaurant, when they found out that I did not drink strong drinks, they said that I hadn’t tasted crayfish. And then they brought a glass. Raki, the local grape vodka, tart and bitter, burned my throat, and the Greeks smacked their lips happily. And they did not include it in the account.

How to get around the region

The most convenient way to get around Kos is by buses or a rented car. You can also ride a bike, but you won't go around the island in a day, and there are a lot of hills here - you will have to sweat. There are many excursion buses on the island, but this method of travel is more expensive and attaches to the group.

Taxi. What features are there

Taxis on Kos are usually located at special stands and have "TAXI" checkers. The cars are new, with air conditioning, but they are quite expensive to drive. For example, a trip from the airport to the center of Kos town will cost about 35-40 euros. Prices are fixed, pre-set for each resort. Bargaining is not very appropriate. Booking information can be viewed

Public transport

It is convenient to get around the city of Kos and the immediate vicinity by city buses. Tickets can be bought at special booths at bus stops. There they will also advise you on which bus to get to the desired place. The ticket costs 1.6 euros. To travel to the thermal baths or other resorts on the island, take the suburban buses. Long distance trips can cost € 7-8. Tickets for commuter buses are bought directly from the driver. All buses leave from the Central Bus Station (Kleopatras 7) and stop at the Neratzia Fortress.

The bus ride from the airport to Kos town will cost 3.20 euros. Stop near the exit from the terminal. You can get there in 45 minutes. The route passes through the Mastichari resort. Buses from the airport run from 7.55 to 19.50 (or until 16.15 from November to April).

Transport rental

You can rent a bike at your hotel or in the city. Rental offices usually have a large car park that can be seen from afar. This pleasure costs about 4 euros per day. Documents and age are not important, no contracts will have to be drawn up and signed. It is supposed to return the bike by a certain hour to the place where you took it. You pay in advance. Be sure to check that the bike is on the move and ask for a lock for it. The castle is usually included in the rental price.

You can rent a car at the airport and at any of the resorts. If you are planning to pick up your car at the airport, then it is better to book in advance so as not to waste time comparing prices. Look for the "Rental Car" signs in town. The cost of renting a car per day starts from 40 euros. You can pick up and book a car in advance. To complete the contract, you must have a driving license, a passport with a visa and about 200 euros on a card. Requirements for the age and experience of the driver: age from 21 years and driving experience from 1 year. It's great if you know English - you can study the lease. There are no problems with parking on the island, but they are paid. In the centers of resorts and near attractions, parking costs from 1.50 euros per hour. Gasoline 95 costs about 1.50-2 euros per liter.

Kos is part of the Dodecanese archipelago, which is better known as the Southern Sporades. It is located in the Aegean Sea in Greece, but the resorts of Bodrum, Turkey are only 4 kilometers away. Every year thousands of tourists flock to this amazing island - Kos. Airport "Hippocrates" is the only air harbor of this paradise.

Description

The air gate is located 26 kilometers from the administrative center of the island, which is also called Kos. The airport is relatively large and consists of two terminals. Every day, these "heavenly gates" receive aircraft from the mainland of the country. Charter flights, in turn, have a wide range of destinations. The airport operates in an increased mode during the hot summer months. In the hot tourist season, in terms of passenger turnover, it becomes the sixth in the whole of Greece.

History

The Hippocrates Airport was built in 1964. At this time, the total length of the runways did not exceed 1,200 meters. It was then that this small airport gave impetus to the development of the tourism industry in this area. As Kos became wildly popular, ten years later, the total length of the stripes was doubled. By the end of the 1980s, the island's air harbor was already congested. This gave impetus to the transformation and expansion of the complex. The new terminal, built in the 90s of the last century, now only receives tourists. Whereas the old one sends them home from the island of Kos. The airport has started a new life!

Services

The services provided in the Hippocrates Building may seem sparse in comparison to other similar European airports. You will not find business or conference rooms here. But there is a police station with friendly staff, as well as a medical center. Duty-free shops sell alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and perfumes. Here you can find many restaurants, cafes and bars that serve this airport. Kos is not the place to change money. It is better to undergo this procedure in Athens.

How to get to Kos

The airport mainly accepts only domestic and charter flights. Residents of Russia mainly travel to the island via Athens. A connecting flight usually takes about 12 hours. The cost of one-way tickets varies from 7,000 rubles. The main airlines serving this route are Aigen and Air Berlin. You may have to choose a combination of them to get to a given airport.

What to do if your flight is canceled

If the flight is canceled more than 24 hours before departure, then passengers are transferred to similar flights of the airline. The costs are borne by the carrier, the service is free for the passenger. If none of the options offered by the airline suits you, most airlines can issue a "forced return". After confirmation by the airline, the money will be returned to your account. It can sometimes take several weeks.

How to check in at the airport

Online check-in is available on the websites of most airlines. Most often it opens 23 hours before the start of the flight. You can pass it no later than 1 hour before the departure of the plane.

To check in at the airport you will need:

• the identity card specified in the order,
• birth certificate when flying with children,
• printed itinerary receipt (optional).

• What you can take with you on the plane

  Carry-on baggage is items that you take with you on board the aircraft. The allowance for the weight of hand luggage can vary from 5 to 10 kg, and its size most often should not exceed the sum of three dimensions (length, width and height) from 115 to 203 cm (depending on the airline). Ladies' bag is not carry-on baggage and can be carried freely.

  The bag that you take with you on the plane should not contain knives, scissors, medicines, aerosols, or cosmetics. Alcohol from duty free shops can only be carried in sealed bags.

  How to pay for baggage at the airport

  If the weight of baggage exceeds the norms established by the airline (most often - 20-23 kg), you need to pay for each kilogram of excess weight. In addition, many Russian and foreign airlines, as well as low-cost airlines, have tariffs that do not include free baggage allowance and must be paid separately as an additional service.

  In this case, baggage must be checked in at the airport at a separate Drop-off check-in counter. If you are unable to print your boarding pass, you can get it at the airline's regular check-in counter, and check in and drop off your baggage there.

  Where to find out the time of arrival if you are a greeter

  You can find out the time of arrival of the aircraft on the airport's online scoreboard. The Tutu.ru website has an online scoreboard of the main Russian and foreign airports.

  You can find out the number of the exit (gate) on the arrival board at the airport. This number is located next to the inbound flight information.

Tourists come to Kos mainly for a calm contemplative vacation, since there is something to see. There are many attractions - natural and historical - on this Greek island. There are two ways to get to Kos - by ferry or by plane. And only in the second way, up to 1.5 million passengers arrive on the island of Kos every year.

Kos International Airport (code - KGS) is located near the village of Antimachia, 27 km southwest of the city of the same name and 5 km southeast of the popular resort of Mastihari. Height above sea level - 216 m. Another name is Hippocrates airport. The choice of the name is obvious: as you know, Kos is the birthplace of the famous ancient healer.

A bit of airport history

The airport on the island of Kos opened in April 1964. Initially, it specialized only in domestic flights. Since October 1980, after the reconstruction of the runway, the length of which was increased to 2400 m, the airport was able to receive international flights. The second terminal was built in 1997.

According to tourists, Kos airport resembles a medium-sized Russian

According to tourists, the Kos airport resembles a medium-sized Russian one. The only difference is that at the height of the season there can be a number of people on its territory at the same time, almost comparable to the population of a provincial town.

Perhaps, if not for the crisis, 2 airport terminals - old and new - would have been expanded. But while the plans of the management company for reconstruction and redevelopment remain mostly on paper, passengers have to be content with 3000 sq. m total area.

During the season, there are frequent queues at the check-in counters, customs checkpoints and baggage collection points. Meanwhile, the airport of the island of Kos is the 6th largest passenger turnover in Greece.

Flights to Kos

It is best to look for flights to the island through metasearch engines so as not to overpay and not waste time on connecting routes.

One of the popular options is the Aviasales metasearch, which compares offers from more than 700 airlines, offering up-to-date information on flight availability, connections and the ability to customize a flexible filter to suit your needs.

Grekoblog has already written about this search method in more detail in articles and.

Scheme and scoreboard

Even the most discerning traveler will hardly need a map of the airport: it is difficult to get lost in 2 small terminals. Kos is already quite popular among Russian-speaking travelers, so it is quite possible to communicate in Russian with the staff.

In addition, the map of Kos airport, which is easy to find on the territory of the terminals, and signs in English and Greek are generously supplied with familiar pictograms.

But the schedule of departure and arrival of flights to the airport of the island of Kos can be found on our page - the scoreboard works online:

Kos airport on the map:

Buses to the city and resorts

Buses from Kos airport to the island's capital and to some other localities go from a stop at the terminal. The first departs at 7.55, the last at 19.50 (at 16.15 in low season). In total, 10-11 flights are carried out during the day on weekdays and 7 on Sundays.

Buses to the capital of the island go through the Mastichari resort, the journey takes about 45 minutes

It is worth noting that all buses to the capital of Kos follow through the Mastichari resort. The fare is € 3.20 (2018). Travel time is about 45 minutes. Buses stop in the city on the embankment near the fortress of the Knights of St. John and at the bus station.

At the stop, which is located in a round square near the airport, you can change to a bus to the city, coming from other parts of Kos. From the bus station in Kos (Cleopatra st., 7) there are routes to all more or less significant settlements on the island: Mastichari, Kardamena, Pili, Marmari, etc.

The first flights depart at 7.30-9.00, the last - at 21.00-23.00. The interval of movement is 1-2 hours. The cost is up to € 5 (2018).

Kos airport taxi

Buses by buses, but there are often situations when it makes more sense to take a taxi: not all hotels are located along regular routes, and moving by public transport, having a bunch of suitcases on your shoulders, is not a pleasant pleasure.

To the capital of the island - the city of Kos - a taxi ride will cost about € 35, and since the airport is located almost in the center of the island, it will not be much more expensive to travel to any other resort. Baggage is usually paid separately.

In the high season on the island, there may be problems with free taxis from Kos airport, and you will have to either order a "checkered" car by phone (for a fee), or book in advance.

The disadvantages of booking with the first operator you come across are obvious. Firstly, both ordering and booking may require at least a superficial knowledge of, if not Greek, then at least English.

Not all hotels on Kos are located along the bus routes

Secondly, in the event of a delay in the flight or a delay in the passage of passport and customs control, the taxi driver will require an additional fee for the waiting time.

You can profitably solve the problem with the car by contacting the online taxi ordering service in Greece. Moreover, since recently its interface is available in Russian as well.

The main convenience of the service is both in the fact that it can be used to independently calculate the tariff in advance, and in the fact that the cost of booking will be fixed, regardless of the time the plane is late or the delay in the terminal.

Knowledge of the language is not required to search for a booked car either: the driver usually expects passengers with a sign with their names at the exit from the baggage claim area, but detailed instructions on this matter come immediately after booking confirmation by email.

Other useful properties of the service are the ability to pre-order a car for your individual needs, be it large luggage or pre-installed child seats. Grekoblog wrote in more detail about this useful service in the article.

Another taxi service

Not so long ago, another rather serious service for ordering a taxi in Greece online, KiwiTaxi, appeared on Runet, more specialized in the delivery of cars to / from the airport. And although KiwiTaxi is younger than its predecessor, the service has already gained popularity among travelers.

It is difficult to say which of these two Internet services is better, each has its own pros and cons, but we all know when there is a choice and tariffs can be compared, the preference is given to the carrier whose cost is more profitable.

Although, we must pay tribute to the younger "brother" - its design is more modern, the version is convenient and understandable for every user, and, importantly, there is Russian-language technical support. If you want to see for yourself - go to the service at this link.

Car rental at the airport

Kos airport does not provide car rental services, but international and local companies are vying with each other to offer their services, as soon as tourists pass the customs control zone.

It is not easy to choose the best option, especially in the high season, on the spot: both prices and the choice of available cars leave much to be desired, because from May the demand for the local car fleet starts to go off scale, staying in the "red zone" until mid-September.

And this, in turn, allows car rental companies to raise prices to very immodest levels.

The demand for car rental on Kos is off the charts at the height of the season

Another trick that Greek car rentals often resort to is not to voice all the booking conditions to the tourist at once. For example, to report the limited allowable mileage or some of the nuances of auto insurance.