Dotted with enchanting whitewashed villages, silvery olive groves, and ancient marble ruins, the Greek island of Kos is something of a paradise.
With its abundant sandy beaches and sparkling turquoise Aegean waters, it’s no surprise that Kos remains one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands’ most popular family destinations.
Here are some top tips to plan the perfect family holiday on this beautiful island:
Where
When it comes to holiday resorts, Kos has a bit of a split personality. On one hand, you’ve got bright and breezy towns like Kardamena, where the beach comes with a side-order of karaoke bars and nightclubs. On the other, you’ve got blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spots like Psalidi that are not much more than a handful of tavernas and a sliver of sand. Peaceful Marmari, rural Helona Beach, and the ancient town of Kelafos are all idyllic family-friendly resorts.
Why
The northern shores of Kos are spot-on for watersports, while the south coast boasts some of the best beaches in the region. Head out to sea for some windsurfing or relax on a sun-soaked boat trip – the local skippers are notoriously chatty. Visit the island’s most important historic site, Asklepieion (an ancient sanctuary built for Asclepius, the Greek God of healing), to soak in some incredible history and views of Kos Town. Or take a family drive up the scenic northern slopes of Mount Dikaio.
Get there
Fly to Kos Island International Airport from Dublin with an average flight time of 6 hours 35 minutes.
Stay
Atlantica Holiday Village Kos
Located in the laid-back resort of Marmari fifteen kilometres from Kos Town, this is the perfect spot for families looking to get away from it all. This hotel is a great all-rounder with fantastic activities including an Aerial Adventure course, archery and raft-building to keep kids of all ages occupied. It’s also straight across the road from the beach offering holidaymakers stunning coastal views. Guests enjoy access to three massive swimming pools and two great restaurants.
Atlantica Porto Bello Beach
Sitting right next to Helona Beach on the south-east of the island, this is another fantastic family resort. The hotel is packed-full of great facilities including SplashWorld Park with its hair-raising slides, head-spinning Space Hole, lazy river and a children’s splash zone. Just a couple of miles east is the lively holiday spot of Kardamena (there’s a free shuttle bus from the hotel), where you’ll find restaurants, shops and bars.
Blue Lagoon Resort
Set in a secluded bay in Kefalos overlooking the Aegean Sea, this stunning hotel boasts incredible sea views. Kefalos is a textbook Greek town with white-washed buildings and stunning ancient ruins. The rooms here are set out in a village style, adding to the traditional setting of the hotel. Watersports are all the rage on this part of the island, and family activities available at the resort include jet-skiing, sailing, paragliding and banana boating.
Eat
Whether you want to dine in a traditional ouzeri (a traditional tavern serving Greek liquor and mezedes, small finger foods), eat in an inviting fish taverna or go out for pizza, Chinese or Indian, there’s every type of restaurant you can think of in Kos Town and Kardamena. All across Kos, Greek specialities are dished up to hungry holidaymakers; try Krasotiri, cheese baked with red wine; and Ntolmadakia, mince and vegetables wrapped in vine leaves.
If seafood is more your thing, dine out on the cayenne pepper and paprika-spiced fish dish, Burdeta, or, for something really special, enjoy Astakos: soft, sweet lobster. Other must-tries for your family trip are pickled baby tomatoes, courgette flowers stuffed with rice and, for dessert, sticky honey pastries. Just mouth-watering.
If you’re staying in Kos Town, make sure you pay a visit to Lofaki Cafe Restaurant Theatre, just five minutes outside of the city – we promise it’ll be worth the trip. With breathtaking views of the open sea and the surrounding Greek islands, fantastic quality food and excellent service, it’s a must-visit when you’re in the area. It’s so popular that many couples even choose it for their wedding reception.
For the kids
Explore the two contrasting sides of Kos Town with its crumbling temples and mosaics and trendy bars and restaurants. The kids will love wandering around the Castle of the Knights of St John where you can still see the drawbridge, battlements and gun ports. Kos Town is also the perfect spot for some retail therapy – head into the old quarter to pick up olive oil soap (well-known for its deep-cleansing properties) and locally-produced honey.
For a day of activity, head to the Lido Waterpark, the biggest water park in Greece. It’s an absolutely massive place (about 75,000 square metres) with something for all the family to enjoy. You can hit six different types of waves in the 1,500 metre wave pool, go flying down the near-vertical Kamikaze slide, and plunge through the Black Hole. Not for the faint of heart.
If your family needs a break from the beach, head into the hills to the mountain village of Zia for the evening. Sitting high in pine-forested Mount Dikaios, it boasts gorgeous views of the island’s north coast and across the Aegean to Turkey. Make sure you make it there for sunset – it’s nothing short of spectacular.
Do you have a favourite family spot in Greece? Let us know in the Facebook comments or join the conversation on Twitter @HerFamilydotie
