Daily Kos Tours from Turkey
The island of Hippocrates, half an hour by ferry from Bodrum: a Knights’ castle at the harbour, the healing sanctuary of the Asklepieion, Roman houses and long sandy beaches. Send us your dates and we will plan your day on Kos.
Tours on Kos
We are preparing our day tours on Kos. Send us your dates and the number of guests, and we will plan your day on the island with the ferry from Bodrum and a guide if you wish.
Kos in pictures
Kos Town and its castle, the Asklepieion, Roman Kos, the village of Zia and the bays of Kefalos.
Photo credits
Wikimedia Commons: Arne Müseler (CC BY-SA 3.0 de), Asurnipal (CC BY-SA 4.0), Rodw (CC BY-SA 4.0), JD554 (CC BY-SA 3.0), JD554 (CC BY-SA 3.0), Ввласенко (CC BY-SA 4.0), Robert Ahner (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ввласенко (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ввласенко (CC BY-SA 3.0), Asurnipal (CC BY-SA 4.0), Asurnipal (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ferry from Turkey to Kos
Bodrum → Kos · Turgutreis → Kos · Didim → Kos
Ferries to Kos leave from Bodrum all year and from Turgutreis in season. In high summer there are also sailings from Didim. The crossing from Bodrum takes about 30 minutes. Sailing days and times change by season, so tell us your dates and we will confirm the crossing for your trip.
Why visit Kos?
Kos, also known in Turkish as İstanköy, is the third largest of the Dodecanese islands and the closest Greek island to Bodrum. It is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who was born here around 460 BC. The island is green and flat in the north, with long sandy beaches, and mountainous in the centre, where Mount Dikaios rises above the villages.
Kos Town is easy to explore on foot. Ancient ruins lie in the middle of the modern streets, the Knights of St John built a castle at the harbour, and the Italians, who ruled the island from 1912 to 1943, left wide avenues and public buildings. A day trip from Bodrum gives you time for the town and one or two sights outside it.
What to see in Kos
Most sights are in or near Kos Town, a short walk from the ferry. Zia, Antimachia and Kefalos are 15 to 40 km away and need a car or a tour.
Neratzia Castle
The fortress of the Knights of St John guards the entrance to the harbour. It was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, partly with stones from the ancient city, and a stone bridge over the old moat leads to its gate.
Tree of Hippocrates
An old plane tree in Platanos Square, next to the castle. Tradition says Hippocrates taught his students in its shade. The tree you see today is several hundred years old, and it still has its own fountain and railings.
Asklepieion
The great healing sanctuary of Asclepius, about 4 km from town, built on three terraces after the death of Hippocrates. Temples, baths and stairways climb the hill, with wide views over the sea to the Turkish coast.
Ancient Agora
A large excavated area in the centre of town, with columns, the remains of a Hellenistic stoa and the sanctuary of Aphrodite. It is open, free to walk around and shaded by palm trees.
Western excavations and the Odeon
Across town, a Roman street with mosaics, the columns of a gymnasium and a small restored Roman theatre, the Odeon, where concerts are still held.
Casa Romana
A restored Roman mansion from the 3rd century AD, built around three courtyards. You can see its mosaics, wall paintings and pools as they were in a rich family home.
Zia
A mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikaios, with stone lanes, small shops and tavernas. People come here for the sunset over the north coast of the island.
Antimachia Castle
A second Knights’ castle in the middle of the island, near the airport. Its long walls enclose two small chapels and give views of both coasts.
Kefalos and Kastri
In the south-west of Kos, Kefalos Bay has a long beach, the ruins of the early Christian basilica of Agios Stefanos and the islet of Kastri with the white chapel of St Nicholas.
Therma hot springs
At the south-east end of the island, natural hot water runs from the rocks into the sea, so you can bathe in warm water on the beach. It is about 12 km from Kos Town.
Arriving on Kos by ferry from Turkey
Ferries from Bodrum arrive at the harbour of Kos Town, right below Neratzia Castle, after a crossing of about 30 minutes. There are also sailings from Turgutreis in season, and in high summer from Didim, which take longer. Sailing days and times change with the season, and in winter there are fewer boats.
Bring your passport. Greece is in the Schengen area, so check whether you need a visa before you travel. If you come for the day, tell us your ferry times and we will plan what you can see in the hours you have on the island.
Where to stay in Kos
Choose your area by the holiday you want. Here are some well-known hotels in each area. Prices are on request: send us your dates and we will check availability.
Kos Town
Stay near the harbour, the castle and the ancient sites, with restaurants and the ferry to Bodrum on your doorstep.
- Kos Aktis Art Hotel · price on request
- Lango Design Hotel & Spa · price on request
- Albergo Gelsomino · price on request
Psalidi and Agios Fokas
Resort hotels along the coast road east of Kos Town, a few kilometres from the centre and on the way to Therma.
- Grecotel Kos Imperial · price on request
- Michelangelo Resort and Spa · price on request
Kefalos
A long sandy bay in the quiet south-west of the island, with views of the islet of Kastri.
- Ikos Aria · price on request
North coast
Tigaki, Marmari and Mastichari have long, shallow sandy beaches, good for families.
- Neptune Hotels Resort · price on request
Where is Kos?
Kos is one of the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Kos Town faces the Bodrum peninsula across a strait only a few kilometres wide.
Kos questions and answers
How do I get to Kos from Turkey?
Ferries to Kos leave from Bodrum all year and from Turgutreis in season. In high summer there are also sailings from Didim. The crossing from Bodrum takes about 30 minutes and arrives in Kos Town.
Can I visit Kos on a day trip from Bodrum?
Yes. Kos is the easiest Greek island to visit for the day from Turkey. With a morning ferry and an evening return you have time for Kos Town, the Asklepieion and one more sight. Send us your dates and we will check the ferry times.
Do I need a visa to visit Kos?
Greece is in the Schengen area. Depending on your nationality you may need a Schengen visa. Bring your passport, because the crossing is an international border.
Do you offer tours on Kos?
Yes, on request. Send us your dates and the number of guests, and we will prepare a day tour on Kos with transport and a guide if you wish.
What is the Turkish name of Kos?
In Turkish, Kos is known as İstanköy. Ferry companies in Bodrum use both names.
Plan your Kos trip
Send us your dates and the number of guests. We will check the ferries and reply with your full plan.