Things to Do in Kos

An enormous, ancient plane tree in the main square of Kos Town. Legend says Hippocrates taught his students under it. The trunk is over 10 metres wide and supported by scaffolding. A plaque and stone well mark the spot.

🕐 Always open

💡 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.

A 15th-century Knights of St John fortress at the harbour entrance. Walk the outer walls and grassy grounds for free; towers and inner rooms require a museum ticket (€8), but the perimeter gives excellent views over the harbour and Turkish coast.

🕐 Grounds open 24/7; interior 08:00–20:00, closed Mondays

💡 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.

Large open-air archaeological site right in the town centre. Ruins of a Roman forum, baths, and mosaics. Most of the site is visible from the surrounding streets, but you can walk freely through the main area without a ticket.

🕐 Always open

💡 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.

Small museum housing statues, pottery, and mosaics from ancient Kos, including a fine marble head of Hippocrates. Normally €6 entry, but free on the first Sunday of each month and on 5 June (World Environment Day).

🕐 10:00–17:00, closed Tuesdays; free days only

💡 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.

A long, sandy beach about 8 km west of Kos Town. It's free, uncrowded, and has shallow water. One of the cheaper places to hire a sunbed (€5 a day). No lifeguards, so swim at your own risk.

🕐 Always open

💡 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.