Car hire at Kos Airport
Kos is the cycling island of the Dodecanese: flat along the north coast, with bike lanes in and around Kos Town, and short distances everywhere. A car is not the default here the way it is on Crete or Rhodes. It earns its keep for the south-west (Kefalos, Agios Stefanos, Paradise beach), the mountain village of Zia and the Mastichari ferry, and for anyone staying in Kardamena who wants to see the rest of the island.
The desks are in the terminal and the cars are on lots a short walk away. Local firms are many and deliver to hotels too, which suits the common pattern of renting for two or three days mid-holiday.
Rental companies at Kos Airport
Desks are staffed for the summer arrivals; late charters after midnight should confirm the pick-up hour with local firms, some of which prefer to deliver the next morning to your hotel.
- Avis / Budget
- Hertz
- Sixt
- Europcar
- Enterprise / Alamo / National
- Kos companies with terminal desks or hotel delivery
Booking tips
- Consider a few days rather than the whole stay; bikes and the KTEL cover the north coast well
- Scooters and quads are popular but the accident rate is high; a small car is safer for the Zia road
- Taking the car to Kalymnos on the Mastichari ferry is possible with the company’s permission; ask
- A credit card in the driver’s name is needed for the deposit
- Licences issued outside the EU/EEA need an international driving permit
Driving from the airport
The airport road meets the island’s main road at Antimachia. Turn north-east for Zipari, Tigaki, Marmari and Kos Town (30 minutes on a good road), south for Kardamena, or west for Mastichari and, further on, Kefalos and the south-west beaches. Kos Town’s harbour front is pedestrianised in the evenings; park by the castle or the marina and walk.
Frequently asked questions
Which car rental companies are at Kos Airport?
Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar and Enterprise have desks in the terminal, alongside Kos companies that also deliver to hotels. The cars are on lots beside the terminal.
Do I need a car on Kos?
Not for the whole stay. The north coast and Kos Town are flat and cycle-friendly and the KTEL covers the main resorts. Rent for two or three days to see Kefalos, Zia and the south-west beaches, or for the Kalymnos ferry.
See also
Prices and timetables are indicative and change seasonally. Confirm before you travel.