Your stay — Golden Star
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The Property — Golden Star
The Golden Star is a dependable 3-star on Kos’s central beach strip, with a tidy pool and a bar that serves frappé from 8am. Rooms are basic but clean, with sea-facing balconies if you book a front-side room. It suits couples or solo travellers who want a simple beach base without frills, and don’t mind older furniture. Standing in the lobby you’ll smell sun cream and hear Greek pop radio from the kitchen.
Chronicles of Kos
Kos Town’s history stretches back to the 4th century BC, when Hippocrates taught here. The Knights of St John rebuilt the harbour fort in the 15th century, and a devastating 1933 earthquake levelled much of the old town, which was then reconstructed in a rationalist Italian colonial style. Today the city mixes ancient ruins like the Asklepieion with lively waterfront tavernas and a working fishing harbour. Its identity is firmly tourist-oriented but retains a lived-in Greek island character, especially away from the main seafront.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kos guide →Best months
May and September – sea is warm enough to swim, temperatures 25-30°C, and flights/accommodation cost about 30% less than July. June is also excellent with long daylight.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak. Kos town fills with package tourists and charter flights; hotel prices double compared to May. The Hippocratic Festival (mid-July to August) draws cultural crowds with theatre and music.
Budget shoulder season
Late April and October – daily highs 20-24°C, far fewer tourists, property discounts up to 50%. October can have rain, but sea is still swimmable.
Weather & packing
The meltemi wind picks up in July, bringing sudden afternoon gusts. Pack a light windproof jacket or pashmina for evening harbour walks.
Live City Briefing — Kos
- The main Kos harbour promenade remains partially dug up for ongoing pedestrianisation works until September 2026, so expect dust and detours near the castle.
- New direct flights from Manchester and Birmingham started May 2026, adding extra seats in peak summer.
- Kos Airport is under runway resurfacing until September, so expect up to 30-minute departure delays.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Golden Star, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These rooms get more sunlight and less foot traffic noise from the lobby and reception.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid street-facing rooms on the ground or 1st floor. Kos's main road runs along the address, and noise from scooters, delivery trucks, and late-night foot traffic is constant until midnight.
Best views
Upper-floor rooms (2nd/3rd) looking over the inner courtyard or side streets offer a view of Kos's low-rise rooftops and the distant sea glint. Street-facing rooms see a busy one-way road with cafes and shops.
Quietest floors
2nd and 3rd floors — well above street level and away from ground-floor public areas. The 3rd floor is the quietest due to limited overhead noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise is the main issue: scooter and moped traffic from the main road, plus delivery vans early morning (6–7am). The hotel's ground-floor bar can be audible until 11pm on weekends. No significant air-conditioning unit noise reported.
Insider tips
1. Ask at check-in for a top-floor courtyard room — they're allocated first-come, first-served and are quieter. 2. If you're a light sleeper, pack earplugs; the street-facing rooms are unavoidable on the lower floors if the hotel is full.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Golden Star
Free Wi-Fi (5 Mbps download) throughout hotel; no login – uses room number. Paid premium upgrade at reception: €5/day for 20 Mbps.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only zones.
Digital access to PressReader offered free via hotel app; no daily print papers. Building is a 1960s beachfront concrete structure with rooftop terrace.
Check-in 14:00–23:00, early bag-drop at reception from 10:00; check-out 11:00, late check-out until 14:00 for €20 (subject to availability).
Free in locked room behind reception after check-out; no fee mentioned.
No step-free main entrance (two steps at front door), no dedicated wheelchair rooms; lift is standard size – most rooms have narrow bathroom doorframes.
No on-site parking. Closest public car park is 'Parking Kos' on Eleftheriou Venizelou, 400 m away, €8/night. EV charging: two Type-2 terminals at car park, €0.35/kWh.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €0.50 per person per night (paid on arrival, children under 12 exempt)
Deposit & card hold: Full pre-payment required at booking via credit card; on check-in a €100 incidental hold placed on card for damages.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Άγιος Παύλος (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Αγία Κυριακή (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Caravia Beach Theatre — 2.5 km · ~32 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
ATMs in Kos Town give the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport or central square — they add fees and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; contactless works almost everywhere; American Express is rarely taken.
Rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated but not expected. Tipping taxi drivers is not standard; leave a euro or two for hotel cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard freddo cappuccino or Nescafe frappe costs around €3-3.50 in any cafe; avoid the main square for pricier options.
A pita gyros from a takeaway shop runs €3-3.50; a sit-down meal at a taverna for a main is around €8-10.
A main course in a mid-range taverna costs €9-12; a meze-style dinner with wine for two can be €25-30.
Gyros and souvlaki pitas from takeaway joints along the main streets and harbour front are the standard cheap eats. Look for places with a busy grill.
Budget supermarket chains include Lidl and AB Vassilopoulos; also smaller local markets. Inland you'll find smaller mini-markets.
The main shopping street in Kos Town (around the port) has chain retailers like H&M and Zara, plus local boutiques. The market area near Eleftherias Square is cheaper for souvenirs and linen.
Local buses from Kos Town to major beaches cost €1.80-2.50 per ride (pay on board, cash). From Kos Airport, the KTEL bus to town is €2.50 – the cheapest option; a taxi is about €25.
Eat at tavernas a street or two back from the waterfront – same quality, lower prices. Buy water and snacks from supermarkets, not tourist shops. Use bus passes if staying over a week (available at the KTEL station).
Good to know — Kos
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
KosFor all emergencies dial 112. Tourist police in Kos Town: +30 22420 24444. Coastguard: 108 or +30 22420 27333. For non-urgent medical advice, call 115 (Kos Health Centre). Emergency numbers work from any landline or mobile in Greece.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Kos, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Golden Star
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Kos Town bus station (Megalou Alexandrou) → Sunrise Apartments, Psalidi
💡 Flag the bus down anywhere on the coast road. Tell the driver 'Sunrise' or 'Psalidi' – they know the stop. Cash only, exact change preferred.
Kos Airport bus stop (outside arrivals) → Kos Town central bus station
💡 From the town bus station, walk 15 mins east along the coast road to Psalidi, or take another local bus (line 1) towards Lambi – driver will drop you near the apartments.
Kos International Airport (KGS) → Sunrise Apartments, Psalidi area
💡 Agree on the fare before getting in. Official taxis have a yellow sign on the roof and a meter; if no meter runs, negotiate hard.
Kos Port (ferry dock, Kos Town) → Sunrise Apartments, Psalidi
💡 If arriving by ferry, skip the scrum at the port taxi rank and walk 100m inland to Eleftheriou Venizelou street – easier to flag one there. Tip: locals often hire drivers by the half-day for island tours; ask your hotel front desk for recommendations.
About Kos
Wikipedia ↗
Kos or Cos (; Greek: Κως [kos]) is a Greek island, part of the Dodecanese island chain in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese, after Rhodes and Karpathos; it has a population of 37,089 (2021 census), making it the second most populous of the Dodecanese afte...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Golden Star?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These rooms get more sunlight and less foot traffic noise from the lobby and reception.
Which rooms should I avoid at Golden Star?
Avoid street-facing rooms on the ground or 1st floor. Kos's main road runs along the address, and noise from scooters, delivery trucks, and late-night foot traffic is constant until midnight.
Is Golden Star noisy?
Street noise is the main issue: scooter and moped traffic from the main road, plus delivery vans early morning (6–7am). The hotel's ground-floor bar can be audible until 11pm on weekends. No significant air-conditioning unit noise reported.
Which rooms have the best views at Golden Star?
Upper-floor rooms (2nd/3rd) looking over the inner courtyard or side streets offer a view of Kos's low-rise rooftops and the distant sea glint. Street-facing rooms see a busy one-way road with cafes and shops.
What are insider tips for staying at Golden Star?
1. Ask at check-in for a top-floor courtyard room — they're allocated first-come, first-served and are quieter. 2. If you're a light sleeper, pack earplugs; the street-facing rooms are unavoidable on the lower floors if the hotel is full.
What time is check-in at Golden Star?
Check-in at Golden Star is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Golden Star have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi (5 Mbps download) throughout hotel; no login – uses room number. Paid premium upgrade at reception: €5/day for 20 Mbps.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Golden Star?
€0.50 per person per night (paid on arrival, children under 12 exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Golden Star?
A pita gyros from a takeaway shop runs €3-3.50; a sit-down meal at a taverna for a main is around €8-10.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Golden Star?
Local buses from Kos Town to major beaches cost €1.80-2.50 per ride (pay on board, cash). From Kos Airport, the KTEL bus to town is €2.50 – the cheapest option; a taxi is about €25.
When is the best time to visit Kos?
May and September – sea is warm enough to swim, temperatures 25-30°C, and flights/accommodation cost about 30% less than July. June is also excellent with long daylight.
Top Attractions in Kos
💡 Don't bother with the overpriced tourist shops around it. Instead, grab a coffee from the nearby café on Plateia Platanou and sit on the steps watching the locals walk by.
💡 The castle grounds are free to enter but the interior isn't. Go at sunset for the best light, and climb the short ramp just inside the main gate for a panoramic photo without the ticket.
💡 Visit early morning before the heat and crowds. The shaded paths near the plane trees give you clear views of the mosaic floors without paying for the adjacent museum.
💡 If you're here the first Sunday, arrive just before 10:00 when it opens — it's small and fills up fast. The garden courtyard has nice shade and a few benches. Otherwise, the museum is not worth the full price unless you're very keen.
💡 Take the local bus from Kos Town central station (€1.80, runs every 30 mins) to Marmari village, then walk 15 mins north. Bring your own food and water — the tavernas are 10 mins inland.