Kos Island beaches will be one of your main holiday highlights because the island has been blessed with a multitude of beautiful swimming spots. Generally, the beaches of the north coast are often windy and lined with shingle. The ones at the south coast are sandy and sheltered from winds in the summer.
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Agios Stefanos Beach
- Name: Agios Stefanos (Άγιος Στέφανος)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: Good: there is a road all the way to the beach and you can park nearby.
- Amenities: Hotels within walking distance
- Water Sports: Windsurfing
- Snorkeling: Snorkeling around the Palaiokastro islet is good.
- Notes: The beaches in front of Club Med and to the west of the basilica are very nice. Agios Stefanos is sandy and not too crowded, although it definitely feels like it’s part of the club. The beach to the west of the ancient ruins is also very nice and the Kastri islet in the middle make it very picturesque. Access to the ancient ruins is free, so don’t neglect to wander about the place.
Agios Theologos
- Name: Agios Theologos (or Ag. Theologos) beach (Άγιος Θεολόγος)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/3
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 2/3
- Beach Berm: Sand, Rock
- Access: Good: Paved road all the way to the beach. Ample parking.
- Amenities: Restaurant on the beach
- Notes: Ag. Theologos is another out-of-the-way beach that offers nice scenery and beautiful sunsets. Being on the east end of the island, it often gets a bit too windy and rough. You will find a really nice restaurant on the hill to have dinner overlooking the sunset.
Exotic Beach
- Name: Exotic beach
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
- Beach Berm: Sand. The beach slopes a bit too abruptly for those not comfortable swimming.
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: Good: The road will take you right to the beach. Walk toward the left.
- Amenities: Parasols and sun beds for hire
- Notes: Exotic Beach is a “naturist” beach that attracts mostly an older crowd. Beyond it, to the east, there is a long stretch of sand that has remained undeveloped where one you can find some quiet space. It is lined by soft sand, and it’s backed by very large sand dunes. If naturalism is not in your plans the nearby “Magic” beach is a good choice to swim (to your right as you walk to the beach).
Kamari Beach
- Name: beach (Ελληνικα)
- Location: , Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 2/5
- Beach Berm: Shingle and sand
- Seafloor: Shingle and sand
- Access: Paved road will bring you all the way to the beach
- Amenities: You can walk to town, and there are restaurants/cafes right on the beach. You may also rent a parasol.
- Water Sports: Kamari beach is very popular with windsurfers. There is a part of the beach where swimming is not allowed so windsurfers can enter and exit the water.
- Notes: Kamari beach is the patch of sand and shingle in Kamari town. It is popular by windsurfers and lined throughout by restaurants, and cafeterias.
Kardamaina Beach
- Name: Kardamaina beach, also known as Kardamena (Καρδάμαινα)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: You may drive to the beach through a rural paved road. Parking can be an issue.
- Amenities: Hotels and town within walking distance. There are many restaurants and parasols for hire on the beaches of Kardamaina.
- Water Sports:
- Snorkeling:
Notes: Kardamena is the most “touristy” part of Kos. There are several popular beaches of good quality, albeit too crowded, to swim at. The narrow part of sand to the west of the town is too close to the main road but more quiet, as the beach gets more crowded near the town.
Kefalos Beach
- Name: Kefalos beach (Κέφαλος)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
- Overall Rating: 3/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Sand and shingle
- Seafloor: Sand and shingle
- Access: A paved road will take your near the beach
- Amenities: You can walk to town, restaurants, and cafes from the beach. It’s organized with sun beds and parasols for hire.
- Water Sports: Kefalos beach is known for windsurfing. There is a part of the beach to the west where swimming is not allowed so windsurfers can enjoy the water without having to maneuver around bathers.
Kos Town Beaches
The “beaches” along Vasileos Georgiou road (south of the port) are not very appealing.
Maybe years ago they were adequate, but today all the sand has been eroded away. What you will find there are man-made, narrow patches of sand, too close to traffic, that are sustained with sandbags.
A little further south along the same road, after the marina, there is another sandy spot that might not be a bad place to swim if you are stuck in Kos town without a vehicle.
The beach alongside the northern end of Kos town is much better. The sand is soft and the water is clean, so if you are in the city (and you are not bothered by the party crowds) this might be a good beach to swim at (Map)
However, it gets very crowded and it is framed by the most touristy, and least appealing part of town.
Lambi beach is a bit farther north, at the outskirts of Kos town. It’s backed by sand dunes and a bicycle road.
Limnionas Beach
- Name: Limionas beach (Λιμνιόνας)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 1/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: A good paved road will bring you to the beach, and you will find plenty of parking nearby.
- Amenities: There are parasols for hire, and a restaurant nearby
- Notes: There are actually two beaches framing the man-made port of Limnionas. One beach is too windy while the the other one (protected) a bit too murky. Neither beach seemed very appealing. Limnionas beach is a bit out of the way and Ag. Stephanos or Paradise Beach might be a better choice if you are in this part of Kos island.
Magic Beach
- Name: Magic beach
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 5/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
Magic Beach is one of the best in Greece, so it has its own page. Click here to find out more about Magic Beach in Kos
Marmari Beach
- Name: Marmari beach (Μαρμάρι)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 3/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 1/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: Good access to the beach via a paved road that runs parallel to it.
- Amenities: Marmari beach is organized with parasols for hire. Hotels, shops, and restaurants are within walking distance.
- Water Sports: Wind and kite surfing are very popular on this windy beach.
- Notes: Marmari beach is a long sandy beach, backed by sand dunes, in front of an long line of hotels that have segmented it into areas of chairs and umbrellas for their patrons. The beach is so large though that there is ample space for independent swimmers to find a quiet spot. When we visited the sea was too rough to swim, and there was a black bar of seaweed that covered the surf near the shore. Signs on the beach explained that the seaweed is part of the natural habitat, so it is a permanent feature of the beach. Seaweed is not dangerous for humans, it’s just not very pleasant when you swim in it.
Paradise Beach
- Name: Paradise beach
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: A paved road will bring your near the beach where you will find parking.
- Amenities: There are plenty of parasols for hire, as well as restaurants and cafe/bars right on the beach.
- Water Sports: You can hire leisure boats (paddle boats, etc) on the beach.
- Snorkeling: Snorkeling is good at the west end of the beach, near the rocks.
- Notes: Paradise Beach is the last beach in the long stretch of sand that includes several other superb beaches (Magic, Exotic, Psilos Gremos, etc), and it’s maybe the best of the group. It is lined with fine, golden sand, clean water and a sandy sea bed that slopes gently and remains shallow for a while. Nice rocky area at the western end is great for snorkeling. It does get a bit too crowded with parasols and people, and it has a restaurant, and a variety of water sports. The only reason this beach did not receive our highest rating (5/5) is because it does get a bit too crowded in the summer.
Psilos Gremos Beach
- Name: Psilos Gremos beach (Ψιλός Γκρεμός)
- Location: Kod island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 4/5
- Beach Berm: Sand and shingle
- Seafloor: Sand and shingle
- Access: The road to the beach is very steep, but not too difficult if you are used to driving around Greece. This is another superb beach at the southern end of Kos.
Thermes
- Name: Thermes (Θέρμες – Θρερμά Λουτρά)
- Also Known as: Therma, or Therma Loytra
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 4/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 5/5
- Beach Berm: Shingle and rocks
- Seafloor: Shingle and rocks
- Access: The main road will bring your close, and a steep dirt road will take you close to the hot springs.
- Amenities: You will find a restaurant on the beach, and few parasols for hire.
- Notes: The hot springs is on our list of places to go when in Kos. The beach itself is not much to write about, but the little hot-tub enclosed by the rocks is very pleasant even when it is very crowded.Drive down a rough gravel road and park near the hot springs. The signs at the food kiosk at the top of the hill make it seem like you must park there, and to walk down to the beach (for obvious reasons).But there is enough parking below, near the beach. The road down is a bit precarious, but at least you will not have to climb the steep dirt road back to the top on foot when you leave.Our rating here reflect the joy of the hot water inside the circle of rocks. The so-called “beaches” to the east and west are not worth the trouble to get there.
Tingaki Beach
- Name: Tigaki beach (Τινγκάκι)
- Location: Kos island, Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 3/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 3/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: A good, paved road will ring you close to the beach
- Amenities: You will find plenty of parasols for hire at Tigaki
- Notes: Tingaki is a nice beach near the town of the same name, on the northern coast of Kos, about twenty minutes drive from the town. It is a long sandy beach and it has busy spots and other parts where it’s not very crowded.
Zipari Beach
Zipari beach at the north coast of Kos island, Greece. - Name: Zipari beach (Ζιπάρι)
- Location: , Greece
Click here to see it on the map and to get directions - Overall Rating: 2/5
- Joy Index (What the Water Felt Like): 1/5
- Beach Berm: Sand
- Seafloor: Sand
- Access: A paved road runs parallel to the beach. Parking on the road is plentiful.
- Amenities: You can walk to hotels and restaurants across the road, and you will find plenty of parasols for hire.
- Notes: On a calm day Zipari beach is probably very nice. But during our visit, the sea was so rough and windy, swimming was not very enjoyable. All the waves agitated a great deal of seaweed that saturated the surf.