Kos holidays - travel guide - activities & sights

The sea breezes make Kos an ideal destination for windsurfers, and you can also waterski or paraglide at most beaches. At Kefalos there's also a good catamaran sailing school.

There are plenty of thrills and spills to be found at Lido, which is the largest water park in the Dodecanese and Aegean region.

Lambi boasts a long stretch of sandy beach with a fine selection of watersports. Tingaki, Marmari and Mastihari are renowned as family-friendly beaches due to their long stretches of sand, shallow waters and plentiful activities. Everyone visits Paradise Beach at least once during their holiday. It boasts fine golden sand and superb watersports, and in the part of it known as Bubble Beach warm water creates bubbles that come up from the sea bed. The effect is just like having a jacuzzi in the sea! At Therma, at the furthest point of Psalidi, you'll find a black volcanic sandy beach as well as hot sulphur thermal springs that are known for their healing properties.

This romantic village clings to the upper slopes of Mount Dikaios at the heart of the island and makes for a lovely, leisurely trip out. Along with its collection of stone-built houses with a photogenic fountain-decorated square and duck pond, it has a number of attractions including the ruins of a tomb of the ancient hero Harmylos and the water spring named after him. Nearby in the village of Old Pyli are the remains of a crumbling Byzantine fortress and church, still decorated with 14th century frescoes and a beautiful marble altar standing on four pillars. The views from here are staggering: on a clear day, you can see over the seas to the islands of Kalymnos and Pserimos.

The Greek islands are made for boat trips, and Kos is no exception. One of the most relaxing excursions is to the neighbouring islands of Kalymnos and Pserimos, where you can explore a charming harbour town and then spend the afternoon chilling on a beautiful beach. In the morning you'll arrive at Pothia, Kalymnos' capital: a delightful, pastel-washed harbour town where the island's sponge-diving industry is still the main focus of activity. Here, you can relax in a waterside taverna, go souvenir hunting in the quaint shops and visit a sponge-diving museum or the town's hilltop monastery. Next, your boat heads to tiny Pserimos, a stunning islet where a cluster of tavernas line a superb golden beach.

Kamari beach, just below the mountain village of Kefalos, is idyllically beautiful thanks to its white sand and aquamarine waters. The beach overlooks a picturesque, tiny islet called Kastri, which is topped with an old monastery - you'll probably recognise the view as it's used repeatedly on brochures and postcards. Make time while you're here to stroll around Kefalos village itself: once the island's capital before it was flattened by an earthquake, it's a quaintly pretty whitewashed place which still retains much original atmosphere and charm. Other sights in the area include the remains of an early Christian church, scenically located right opposite Kastri island.