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Paradisiacal Kos may be, but the Aegean is full of these vibes – these are the most beautiful villages in the Greek Islands.
Psalidi
Moody palms and inviting loungers at Psalidi / Image: Alamy
Just five minutes drive from Kos town itself is pretty and well organised Psalidi beach. With its manicured expanses of sand and pebbles, neat rows of loungers and decking, plus a smattering of seaside tavernas a short walk away from the water, it’s the ideal location to base yourself for the day. Active youngsters are well catered for with plenty of watersports options available too.
Camel
It's impossible to get the hump on these sleepy sands / Image: 123rf
This secluded spot 6km from Kefalos takes its name from the animal-like shape of the rock formation behind it. Its white sands and craggy backdrop give it an appealing desert island feel, while the calm, clear and bracingly cool waters make for wonderful snorkelling. It’s usually quieter than the other beaches in the region.
Kamari
Kamari beach is an antidote to the bustle of nearby Kefalos / Image: Alamy
You’ll find this small and attractive shingle beach 2km east of Kos town. The waters are crystal clear and the mountainside backdrop makes for an atmospheric sunbathing spot. It’s not at all touristy, thanks to the noisier attractions of nearby Kefalos and Agios Stefanos up the coast, but there’s a small shop and a couple of tavernas serving sparklingly fresh fish if you want to make a day of it.
Limnionas
Swimmers are protected from the waves by a natural tidal wall / Image: 123rf
This breathtaking beach in the north of the island feels almost tropical, with its sprawling greenery and deep turquoise waters. Although it can get breezey at this end of Kos, the abundant rocks form a kind of natural harbour-slash-tidal pool, meaning the water is enviably calm and wonderful for snorkelling, swimming or bobbing around in. There’s one restaurant.
Marmari Limnaria
It may look tranquil, but this breezy beach is great for windsurfing / Image: 123rf
Four kilometres from the attractive village of Pyli is this long, well-equipped beach. There are plenty of loungers and umbrellas and the sand is pleasingly soft underfoot. This is a blowy corner of the island, and the winds during the summer make Marmari Limnaria a strong choice if you’re keen to try your hand at windsurfing – you can rent equipment and book lessons on the beach.
Mastichari
The sun beams down on Mastichari / Image: 123rf
This pristine white sand beach 3km northwest of the busy town of Antimachia is popular, but well organised with plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas and kept in excellent condition. To escape the blazing heat in the middle of the day, head for the shade cast by the trees surrounding it. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and hotels around the bay, as well as a ferry service to Kalymnos island.
Agios Stefanos
Agios Stefanos is a sandy Kos staple / Image: 123rf
Just northeast of Kefalos, this popular sand-and-pebble beach offers dramatic views of Kastri, an isle with a teeny, vivid chapel in the middle of the sea, and the ruins of excavated temples. The beach itself is pleasantly shade and the waters are shallow enough to paddle, with lots of attractive flowers and greenery to the rear.
Paradise
The clue's in the name... / Image: Getty Images
Situated on Kos’s southwest coast, this is probably Kos’s most famous beach, and more than lives up to its name. Its fine white sand and crystal clear, beautifully calm waters are a perennial draw, and the sunset views from the tavernas lining the beach have to be seen to be believed. The waters are shallow for some distance – interestingly, if you swim a little way out you might feel bubbles coming up from the sea floor, caused by volcanic activity on nearby Nisyros.
Tigaki
Just a smidge of Tigaki's 10km sands / Image: 123rf
To the north of Kos, looking towards Kalymnos, Tigaki’s white sands stretch for an astonishing 10km around the coast. There are plenty of shops, tavernas and places to stay nearby, making it a brilliant base for a family holiday – with plenty of watersports on offer and varying scenery to admire, nobody’s going to get bored.