Overview
Kos is a town in Greece.
Its population is roughly 19,000.
It lies in the northern hemisphere, in Europe.
The nearest airport is Kos International Airport "Ippokratis" (KGS), about 21 km away.
Key facts
| Country | Greece |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,244 |
| Timezone | Europe/Athens |
| Nearest airport | Kos International Airport "Ippokratis" (KGS), 21 km |
| Currency | EUR |
Where Kos is
Kos sits in Greece, in the northern part of Europe.
Rhodes lies about 98 km to the south-east, Samos lies about 100 km to the north and Bodrum lies about 20 km to the north-east.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by air. Kos International Airport "Ippokratis" (KGS) is the closest airport, about 21 km from Kos.
Alternative gateways include Kalymnos Airport (JKL, 32 km); Milas Bodrum International Airport (BJV, 52 km).
Use the Find flights link to search live fares for your dates.
Find flights to Kos →arrives KGS (20.6 km away)
Getting around
It is small enough to walk end to end; a car or taxi helps for anything beyond the centre.
Best time to visit
The climate here is broadly temperate (northern hemisphere): four clear seasons, with warm summers and cool-to-cold winters.
For most visitors the shoulder seasons — roughly April to June and September to October — offer warm-enough weather without the peak-summer crowds, while high summer (June to August) is busiest.
Reasons to visit
A few reasons Kos is worth your time: a handy base for the surrounding area, with several places within day-trip reach; straightforward access by air through KGS.
Day trips & nearby
Kos works well as a base. Within about 99 km you can reach Rhodes (98 km to the south-east); Samos (100 km to the north); Bodrum (20 km to the north-east); Turgutreis (14 km to the north); Milas (64 km to the north-east).
Good to know
The currency is the EUR (Euro).
The main language spoken is Greek.
Clocks run on Europe/Athens time.
Traffic drives on the right.
How long to stay
Plan on 3–5 days here; that suits most visitors on a first trip.
Journeys through here
Where to stay in Kos
Hotels are booked on Booking.com (a third party, off this page). You book and pay them directly — Head Your Way is not the seller.
Getting around Kos
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Common questions
- What is the nearest airport to Kos?
- Kos International Airport "Ippokratis" (KGS) is the closest airport, about 21 km away.
- When is the best time to visit Kos?
- Late spring to early autumn is usually the most reliable window.
- What is near Kos?
- Rhodes is one of the closest places, about 98 km away, with others within day-trip range.
- Which country is Kos in?
- Kos is in Greece.
On the map
Keep exploring
More places in Greece
Similar destinations
Plan the wider trip
Sources & method
- GeoNames — population · retrieved 2026-09-18
- OurAirports (derived) — nearestAirports · retrieved 2026-09-18
- Imagery — Wikimedia Commons
Data compiled 2026-09-18 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.