An Unparalleled Historical Heritage.

Kos Town, the capital of Kos Island is located on its south east coast and hosts a unique blend of important Archeological monuments, buildings with Architecture from 4 different historical periods and a lot of shopping and entertainment opportunities. Kos Town is populated by more than 18.000 residents in a total of 34.396, according to the most resent population census.

History

The specific geographical region of Kos is inhabited continuously from the 3rd millennium B.C., since the pre-Hellenistic era. Its first residents were called “Kares” and were relocated to the coastline of Asia Minor, after the island was captured by the Dorian Greeks who installed the first Hellenistic civilization of the island. The first ancient town of Kos was founded in 366 B.C. and flourished during the Classical, the Hellenistic & the Roman period. It was considered a very important cultural, economical and trade center, developing strong links to the Greek cities of Asia Minor, Crete and Egypt.   

Geography

Kos Town is mainly built on the flat and fertile east coast of Kos Island, overlooking Asia Minor. It presents only minor elevation changes making it an ideal place for the use of a bicycle, as main transportation, easily accessing all the important areas of Kos Town. Almost the whole coast which surrounds Kos Town is full of sandy beaches with crystal clear water and most of them are well organized, offering sun beds and umbrellas. The South-East coast near Kos Town hosts more natural and quiet beaches, ideal for those who prefer a more private experience. The well known beach of “Therma” is located at the end of the South-East coast, close to Kos Town. It has a natural seaside thermal spring with the water temperature reaching 50^o Celsius, which is very popular among locals and tourists alike, due to its healing properties.

Architecture

One of the most interesting aspects of Kos Town is the architecture of its city center. Since the modern city is built on top of its ancient predecessor, archeological monuments, Roman & Ancient Greek, co-exist next to impressive neoclassical buildings, medieval structures and Ottoman temples. The multicultural past of Kos is present through its architectural characteristics. A long walk in the “Old Town” and the exploration of the small alleys of its city center, are highly recommended.  

Tourism & Infrastructure

Tourism is the cornerstone of the islands economy. According to the statistics of Kos International Airports more than 750.000 visitors arrive annually to the island, mainly from European and Asian countries. Tourists visit Kos to witness the Hippocratic heritage of the island, to admire its natural beauty and to relax with a plethora of entertainment and shopping opportunities.  

Since cycling is very popular due to the flat geography of Kos Town, the municipality of Kos has developed an extensive network of bicycle roads, providing safe and easy access to the harbor and the coastal road, which extends from the outskirts of Kos Town to the city center.  

Furthermore Kos Town has a modern Marina able to accommodate more than 300 boats and yachts, with all the necessary facilities to offer comfort and luxury to its guests.  

Throughout the island you can find, restaurants with Greek and International cuisine, modern and traditional cafes, bars and nightclubs. The market of Kos retains its old heritage and remains known for the huge variety in clothing and souvenirs.

Beautiful beaches, organized or not, sport facilities, water sports, cultural festivals and cultural events are some of the activities you can enjoy in the city.