Getting to and from Kos Airport
Kos Airport is at the narrow waist of the island, which changes the usual logic: the capital is the far destination, 30–35 minutes north-east, while the resorts of Kardamena on the south coast and Mastichari on the north are ten minutes away in opposite directions. Kefalos and the beaches of the south-west are 20–25 minutes, Tigaki and Marmari on the north coast about the same.
Package holidays, which are most of Kos’s traffic, come with a coach transfer. Independent travellers have the KTEL bus to Kos Town and the main resorts, the taxi rank, or a pre-booked transfer, which is the sensible choice for a family landing on a Saturday afternoon.
Taxi from Kos Airport
The rank is outside arrivals, with fares to every resort on a board set by the Kos taxi association; the night tariff applies after midnight. Radio taxi: +30 22420 23333. Kos has a modest taxi fleet for its summer traffic, and on Saturday changeover afternoons the rank can empty for half an hour at a time, so anyone going further than Kardamena or Mastichari should consider pre-booking.
| Destination | Fare | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kos Town / port | €40 | 30–35 min |
| Kardamena | €15 | 10 min |
| Mastichari (Kalymnos ferry) | €15 | 10 min |
| Kefalos / Kamari | €30 | 20–25 min |
| Marmari | €30 | 20 min |
| Tigaki | €30 | 20–25 min |
| Psalidi | €45 | 35–40 min |
KTEL buses to Kos Town and the resorts
KTEL Kos runs the airport bus to Kos Town roughly every 1–2 hours, timed to the flights, 40–50 minutes for €3.60 paid to the driver, stopping at Zipari and the north-coast turn-offs on the way; in season there are also a few daily runs towards Kardamena, Mastichari and Kefalos. The stop is on the road outside the terminal and the timetable is posted there. It is inexpensive and reliable, but the gaps between buses are long and there is no evening service to speak of.
- Fare: €3.60 to Kos Town, paid on board
- Terminus: Kos Town KTEL station, near the harbour
- Check the posted timetable: gaps of two hours are normal
Transfers, coaches and the Kalymnos ferry
Coach transfers meet every package flight and fill the forecourt on Saturdays; independent travellers can pre-book a private transfer for the price of the taxi board, with the driver waiting inside arrivals. For Kalymnos, take a taxi ten minutes to Mastichari, where the small ferries cross in 40 minutes several times a day in summer; the connection is one of the easiest island hops in the Dodecanese.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Kos Airport from Kos Town?
About 24 km; the airport is in the middle of the island at Antimachia. A taxi takes 30–35 minutes and costs about €40; the KTEL bus takes 40–50 minutes for €3.60.
How much is a taxi from Kos Airport to Kardamena?
About €15 by day for the ten-minute drive; Mastichari is the same, Kefalos about €30. Fares are posted at the rank and rise after midnight.
Is there a bus from Kos Airport to Kos Town?
Yes, the KTEL Kos airport bus, roughly every 1–2 hours, timed to the flights, €3.60 to the driver, about 40–50 minutes to the KTEL station near the harbour. Gaps of two hours are normal and there is little evening service.
How do I get from Kos Airport to Kalymnos?
Take a taxi ten minutes to Mastichari (about €15) and the ferry from there, which crosses in about 40 minutes several times a day in summer. It is much quicker than going via Kos Town.
How do I get from Kos Airport to Kefalos?
A taxi costs about €30 and takes 20–25 minutes; a pre-booked transfer is similar. In season a few KTEL buses a day run that way; check the timetable at the stop.
See also
Prices and timetables are indicative and change seasonally. Confirm before you travel.