Endless beaches to choose from and crystal clear waters define Kos.
The long, sandy, and always crowded beaches are among the assets that Kos boasts.
Marmari, Mastihari, Psalidi, Tigaki and Kardamena are some of the most popular options. There are large hotels (mainly all-inclusive), beach bars, and fish tavernas, and you can do all kinds of water sports.
Inside the town of Kos
You can sunbathe, swim and have fun in the city at Akti Zouroudi, Mylos and Nautiko Omilo. They all have sunbeds and beach bars that play music. The Navy Club and Mylos beaches have fine sand and all the infrastructure.
Another option is the beach of Nomikos-Barbagianni, also organised, where water sports are offered.
Near the town
Lambi (Nea Alikarnassos)
It is located in the northwest, a breath away from the city. It is a large, organised beach with sand and shallow waters surrounded by hotels, tavernas, and beach bars.
Due to the winds that often blow in the area, it offers many options for water sports, especially windsurfing.
Marmari
A large and organised beach near Tigaki has white sand and tamarisk trees. It offers many food, entertainment, accommodation, and water sports options. It is a favourite of windsurfers.
Tigaki
It is located in the north, overlooking the islet of Pserimos. It is surrounded by dense vegetation and has been awarded the "Blue Flag" several times. Very large, with fine white sand and turquoise waters, it is one of the best and most well-organised on the island.
Beach bars, umbrellas, loungers, lifeguards, restaurants, and large hotels surround it. You will find water sports centres along its entire length, as well as rental bicycles and much more. Families love it, too.
Psalidi
To the east, a large, very well-organised beach has been awarded a "Blue Flag." It has sand and pebbles and is filled by the guests of the big hotels nearby. It is a favourite place for surfers, and there are diving centres.
Agios Fokas
With dark but also light-coloured sand and pebbles in the east. It is organised along its entire length, with many beach bars - that's why it is preferred by young groups who also come here in the evenings to have fun. Water sports are offered.
Other beaches
Mastihari
This white sandy beach with turquoise waters has become a well-known tourist resort in Kos. It is organised in places with fish taverns and beach bars, the Lido waterpark, and a pier from which small boats leave for Kalymnos. It is ideal for kites and windsurfing.
Agios Theologos
The most distant of the western beaches of Kos is where it is worth staying late to admire the sunset.
Kardamena
A beach of several kilometres with white sand. It is organised in most of its parts, but there are also free parts shaded by trees.
The fishing village located next to it has developed into a tourist destination, which tourists from England have preferred in recent years. It has taverns, cafes, and hotels, and from its little port, ships leave for Nisyros.
Kohilari
An organised, sandy beach with easy access, it is open to the north winds, which raises waves, making it ideal for wind and kite surfing.
Kamari (Kefalos)
Large, cosmopolitan, and full of people, it is one of the most famous beaches in Kos. It is sandy, with crystal clear waters, fully organised, and has beach bars and restaurants along it.
It offers all kinds of water sports and is surrounded by large and small hotels. It is easy to access. With boats, you can go to the island of Kastri. The settlement of Kefalos, on top of the hill, is worth a visit.
*On the road to Kefalos, where the land narrows, and the sea is visible from the left but also from the right of the road (in the so-called "Lavi"), there are several beautiful, organised and crowded beaches.
Agios Stefanos
It is the most beautiful of all the above and organised of course. There, you will not only bathe but also see important sights.
A few metres from the water are the ruins of two early Christian basilicas (5th or 6th century), opposite the Kefalos islet and the Agios Nikolaos chapel, where you can also swim.
Therma
There, one can try the unique experience of a warm swim in the sea. On the beach, there is a hot spring with water that is 42-45 degrees Celsius. In the summer months, it overflows, and the thermal water pours into the sea.
Apart from being very pleasant and relaxing, swimming there is said to benefit rheumatic, arthritic and other ailments. The water comes under the sea from the volcano of Nisyros and is sulphurous.
Vali Vaimaki is a columnist for Travel. Translated by Paul Antonopoulos.
READ MORE: Domata, the secluded 2-in-1 beach of Crete.