Bodrum and Kos in 5 Days: Itinerary, Ferry and Costs

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The simplest way to combine Bodrum and Kos in one holiday is two days in Bodrum, then the half-hour boat from the Castle Port beside Bodrum Castle to Kos Town, and three days on the island. EU citizens need no visa for Kos. Other nationalities should check their entry rules, and Turkish passport holders need the Greek visa on arrival, a Schengen visa or a residence permit from a Schengen country. Times and prices on this page were checked on 21 October 2026.

Short answer

• The plan: Days 1 and 2 in Bodrum (castle, Mausoleum, the peninsula or a boat day), day 3 the morning boat to Kos, day 4 around the island (Tigaki, Zia or Kefalos), day 5 the Asklepieion and an afternoon boat back.
• Which port: Tilos Travel’s Kos boat, the Sea Star Kos, leaves from the Castle Port (Kale Limanı) next to Bodrum Castle. Other boats use Bodrum Cruise Port or Turgutreis. Your ticket shows the port.
• Ferry times: Tilos Travel’s 2026 timetable has boats from Bodrum at 08:30, 10:30, 15:45 and 17:45 until 24 October, and at 09:15 and 17:30 from 25 October to 1 November. For the winter, Ertürk’s timetable (checked 24 October 2026) lists morning boats from Bodrum and afternoon boats from Kos every day in November, then on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in December and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from January to April 2027 (checked 11 November 2026).
• Documents: EU citizens need no visa for Kos and can travel with a passport or national ID card. British and other non-EU visitors go through the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) on Kos. Turkish passport holders, see passports and visas.
• Cost: About €91 per person for the ferry, sights and buses, plus any Bodrum port fee, without hotels or food (our calculation, October 2026).
• Car: Most Bodrum–Kos boats carry foot passengers only; according to Ertürk (email, 25 October 2026), the Turkish Sea Lines agency’s ferry accepts vehicles (ask Turkish Sea Lines about days and fares). Otherwise rent a car on Kos or use the KTEL buses.
• Boat trip from Kos: The “3 islands” cruise to Kalymnos, Plati and Pserimos is fine with an EU passport or ID card, a Schengen visa or a Schengen residence permit, but not on the Greek visa on arrival.

The plan at a glance

Choosing your days: The Mausoleum in Bodrum is closed on Mondays. Casa Romana and the Roman Odeon on Kos are closed on Tuesdays, and the bus to Zia does not run on Sundays. A plan that starts on a Wednesday and ends on a Sunday (Bodrum on Wednesday and Thursday, Kos from Friday to Sunday) avoids all three. In December 2026 Ertürk lists sailings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from January only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. In January start on a Thursday, cross on Saturday, come back on Monday, and go to Tigaki instead of Zia on the Sunday.

Ferry: which port and which sailing

Bodrum town has two departure points that are not next to each other: the Castle Port (Kale Limanı) beside Bodrum Castle, and Bodrum Cruise Port, which its operator, Global Ports Holding, puts 1.5 km from the city centre. Tilos Travel’s ticket page says its Kos sailings leave from the Castle Port. Ertürk, which sells tickets for several boats on this route, lists departures from the Castle Port, the Cruise Port and the marina at Turgutreis. For maps of both town ports, see our Bodrum ferry port guide.

Tilos Travel 2026 timetable (Castle Port – Kos)

Last winter (5 November 2025 to 28 March 2026) the boat left Bodrum at 09:15 and Kos at 16:00 every day, with extra sailings on Tuesdays and Sundays. Don’t assume the same pattern for this winter; ask the operator.

Boats listed by Ertürk (checked 24 October 2026)

We searched Ertürk’s timetable with several different date ranges on 24 October 2026 and got the same sailings each time. The November and December pattern matches what it showed on 21 October; it now runs to 28 April 2027.

This winter pattern suits the plan: a morning boat out on day 3 and an afternoon boat back on day 5. We add 2027 timetables as operators publish them on our 2027 ferry timetables page.

Fares: Ferryscanner (page updated 20 October 2026) lists Dentur Avrasya, Makri Travel and Lafasi MC on Bodrum–Kos, with crossings of about 30 minutes and one-way fares of €24.94 to €30. feribotseferleri.com.tr (updated 6 September 2026) gives about €48 for a return on a different day. Neither Tilos Travel nor Ertürk shows fares on its own website. You can compare Bodrum–Kos times and fares on Ferryscanner.

At the port: Tilos Travel asks you to check in at its office an hour before departure and to be on board 15 minutes before. The order is check-in, security scan, Turkish exit passport control and boarding; Greek passport control is on Kos. Tilos Travel’s ticket rules also ask for a passport valid for at least six months, so if you plan to travel on an ID card, ask first.

Time difference: Greece puts its clocks back on 25 October 2026 and is then one hour behind Turkey until 28 March 2027. Neither timetable says whether the Kos times are Greek or Turkish time. Ask when you book, and check which time zone your phone is showing.

If you are staying at the western end of the peninsula, the boats from Turgutreis D-Marin may suit you better; see our Turgutreis ferry port guide. All operators on the route are in our Bodrum to Kos ferry guide.

Passports, ID cards and visas

• EU and EEA citizens: Kos is in the Schengen area, so you need no visa and can travel with a passport or national ID card. For Turkey, Türkiye’s foreign ministry lists 21 countries whose citizens may enter with an ID card, including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Austrian, Irish, Czech, Croatian and Nordic citizens need a passport for Turkey.
• UK citizens: According to GOV.UK, you can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180 days, with a passport valid for at least 150 days after you arrive. For Kos, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you enter the Schengen area and be valid for at least 3 months after you leave it. GOV.UK says EES checks can take each passenger extra time, and that the Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers.
• Other nationalities: Check whether you are visa-exempt in Turkey and in the Schengen area. If you entered Turkey on a single-entry e-visa, leaving for Kos uses it up, so you need a new visa to come back to Bodrum.
• Turkish passport holders: Without a Schengen visa or a residence permit from a Schengen country, you need the Greek visa on arrival: up to 7 days, single entry, valid on Kos only. Tilos Travel charges €80 for adults and €20 for under-18s, wants the documents at its Bodrum office at least 10 days before travel, and accepts visa passengers only on morning sailings (its page names 08:30 and 10:45; from 25 October the only morning boat is at 09:15, so ask in writing whether visa passengers can take it). Details in our visa on arrival guide. If you live in Germany or another Schengen country with a residence permit, you don’t need it; see Greek islands with a German residence permit.

Day 1: Bodrum, the castle and the Mausoleum

Milas-Bodrum Airport is 36 km from Bodrum town, according to TAV Airports. Havaş buses and Muttaş line 48-24 go to Bodrum, but neither stops at the harbour. Taxis and pre-booked transfers take you to the door; see Bodrum airport transfers.

Flights

Flights to Bodrum

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⏱ 50 minutes – 1 hourGetYourGuide

Bodrum Airport( BJV):Private Transfer from Bodrum Airport

Private one-way transfer from BJV to central Bodrum with meet and greet at the exit; the listing includes water, Wi-Fi and a baby seat.

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Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology: The Knights of St John built the castle at the start of the 15th century. It now holds finds from ancient shipwrecks. The Culture Ministry’s turkishmuseums.com page (checked 21 October 2026) gives winter hours, from 1 October to 1 June, of 08:30–17:30 with the ticket office closing at 17:00, and summer hours of 08:30–22:00. Entry costs €20 for foreign visitors aged 8 and over; adult Turkish citizens pay 200 TL.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: The tomb of Maussollos was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today you see the foundations and a small exhibition, a short walk from the castle. It is open 08:30–17:30 and closed on Mondays; in winter the ticket office closes at 17:15. Foreign adults pay €3, adult Turkish citizens 200 TL.

Late afternoon: Walk or take a taxi up to the ancient theatre on Göktepe hill, about 750 m from the castle according to Go Türkiye, for the view over the bay.

Sleep close to the castle. On day 3 you can then walk to the morning boat with your bags.

Money and phone: Bodrum uses the Turkish lira, Kos the euro. Cards are widely accepted, but carry some lira for taxis and small purchases. EU SIM cards work at home prices in Greece but not in Turkey, so a data eSIM can save roaming charges in Bodrum. More in our money and mobile data guide.

Day 2: The peninsula or a boat day

Option A, the peninsula: Muttaş minibuses leave Bodrum Merkez Garaj for Gümbet, Bitez, Turgutreis, Yalıkavak and Gümüşlük. Line 2-48 to Bitez runs from 07:30 (07:35 at weekends) until 23:15, roughly every 15 to 30 minutes (Muttaş, updated 9 October 2026). Bitez, about 7 km from town, is a calmer bay with a seafront path. Gümüşlük, at the western end of the peninsula (line 2-45), sits on the remains of ancient Myndos; foundations of old buildings show in the knee-deep water towards Rabbit Island.

Option B, a boat day to Orak Island: Day boats from Bodrum stop for swims at Orak Island and nearby bays, and you don’t cross a border. At the end of October, check that the seasonal boats are still running.

⏱ 6.5 hoursGetYourGuide

Full-Day Orak Island Boat Trip from Bodrum

Leaves Bodrum harbour at 11:00, with a swim stop at Orak Island and lunch on board; no hotel transfer. A sea day on the Turkish side before you cross to Kos.

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Leaving a car in Bodrum: Most Kos boats take no vehicles (according to Ertürk, email, 25 October 2026, the Turkish Sea Lines agency’s ferry does; see our Bodrum to Kos ferry guide). Turyol, one of the operators on the route, told us by email (17 October 2026) that parking at Bodrum Cruise Port is free in winter (November to April) and paid in summer. We could not find long-stay parking terms in an official source, so ask your hotel or the ferry company.

Day 3: Ferry to Kos and Kos Town

These times follow Tilos Travel’s summer timetable, valid until 24 October 2026. From 25 October to 1 November its morning boat leaves at 09:15; in November Ertürk lists boats at 09:00 or 09:15.

The boat docks in Kos Town harbour next to Neratzia Castle, and the old town is a 5 to 10 minute walk. The municipality’s page on the castle contradicts itself: one section says it is closed for renovation, another that it is partly open. You can see it from outside and from the bridge on Phoinikon Street either way.

According to the Municipality of Kos (checked 21 October 2026), the Ancient Agora is free, with last entry at 19:30. The Roman Odeon is free, open 08:30–15:30 and closed on Tuesdays. Casa Romana, a Roman villa with mosaic floors, is open 08:00–19:30, closed on Tuesdays, and costs €10. The Greek Ministry of Culture sells a €15 combined ticket, valid for three days, for the Archaeological Museum, the Asklepieion and Casa Romana. Buy it here if you plan to see the Asklepieion on day 5. The restored Defterdar Mosque on Eleftherias Square was inaugurated in June 2026, according to the Vakouf of Kos.

Day 4: Around the island

Kos Town has plenty of bike rental shops, and the municipality counts more than 10 miles (about 16 km) of bike lanes along the coast. For places further out you need a KTEL bus, a hire car or a taxi. KTEL Kos timetables valid from 28 September 2026:

You buy tickets on the bus. The direction headings in the PDF timetables are hard to read, so confirm times at the KTEL terminal (7 Kleopatras Street) or on ktel-kos.gr, and check for a new timetable in winter.

Zia at sunset: The mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikeos is known for its sunsets. The timetable shows no bus back after 15:00, so for the sunset rent a car, book a taxi or take a tour with hotel pickup.

⏱ 3 hoursGetYourGuide

Kos: Zia Village Sunset Tour with Hotel Pickup

Hotel pickup, a visit to Zia timed for the sunset and the ride back. It stays on Kos, so it also works on the visa on arrival. The listing is unclear on whether a guide and food are included, and says the tour is often unavailable, so check your date.

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Therma: About 12–13 km south-east of town, hot spring water runs into the sea and forms a pool ringed with stones. The path down to the beach is steep and rocky, which matters with small children.

The municipality says there are rental offices for cars, motorbikes and bicycles all over the island:

Car hire

Car hire: Kos

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Optional: Kalymnos, Plati and Pserimos by boat

In season, “3 islands” boats leave Kos Town harbour every morning for Kalymnos, the uninhabited islet of Plati and Pserimos, boarding around 09:30 to 10:00 and returning around 17:00. With an EU passport or ID card, a valid Schengen visa or a Schengen residence permit, you can swap day 4 for this trip. On the Greek visa on arrival you cannot: it is valid on Kos only, and the boats land on Kalymnos and Pserimos. One local operator lists the trip from May to October, so check your dates early or late in the season.

⏱ 7.5 hoursGetYourGuide

From the Port of Kos: Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands

A wooden boat from Kos harbour with about an hour in Vathy on Kalymnos, then swim stops at Plati and Pserimos; towels, lunch and hotel transfer listed as included.

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⏱ 7.5 hoursGetYourGuide

Kos Pirate Cruise: 3 Islands, Swimming Stops & Lunch

Big wooden pirate boat with a stop in Pothia on Kalymnos, swims at Pserimos and Plati and a souvlaki lunch; suits families who do not mind music on board.

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Stops, lunch and the cheaper ferry to Kalymnos from Mastichari are covered in our Kos 3 islands boat trip guide.

Day 5: Asklepieion and the boat back

The Asklepieion, the ancient healing sanctuary linked with Hippocrates, lies about 3.4 km south-west of Kos Town according to the municipality. It is an easy bike ride, and the municipality lists Platani among the destinations of the town buses. The two official sources differ on hours and price. The municipality gives 08:00–20:00, last entry 19:30, and €15. The Ministry of Culture gives €8, with hours of 08:00–18:00 until 31 October and 08:30–15:30 from 1 November, closed on Tuesdays in winter. With the combined ticket you pay nothing extra.

In the afternoon, collect your bags and walk to the harbour. Tilos Travel’s boats leave Kos at 16:45 and 18:35 until 24 October and at 17:00 from 25 October to 1 November. In November Ertürk lists boats back between 15:30 and 16:30, and in December at 15:30 or 16:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Be at the port at least an hour before departure, as passport control and the EES queue take longer on busy days.

Variant: 3 days in Bodrum, 2 on Kos

If you want more time in Bodrum, spend day 3 in Yalıkavak or Turgutreis. On Kos, do Kos Town on day 4 and the Asklepieion on the morning of day 5, and leave out Tigaki, Zia and Kefalos. If you stay in Turgutreis, a boat from Turgutreis D-Marin may be easier. On the visa on arrival, you have to travel with the operator and on the sailing you applied for.

Where to stay

In Bodrum, stay within walking distance of the castle; on Kos, near the harbour. For more choice by area, see where to stay in Bodrum and where to stay in Kos.

Bodrum

Kos Town

Costs (October 2026)

Per person, without accommodation and food.

Ferry totals depend on the operator and on whether the port fee is included, so check the final price before you pay. For a budget with flights and hotels, use our trip cost calculator. The departure fee rules are explained in our Turkey departure fee guide.

Trip toolkit

Before you go

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FAQ

Which port does the Bodrum to Kos ferry leave from?

Tilos Travel’s Kos boats leave from the Castle Port next to Bodrum Castle. Ertürk also lists boats from Bodrum Cruise Port and from Turgutreis. Your ticket shows the port.

Do I need a visa for Kos?

Not as an EU citizen: a passport or national ID card is enough. British and other visa-exempt travellers need a passport and go through EES checks. Turkish passport holders need the visa on arrival, a Schengen visa or a residence permit from a Schengen country.

Can I take my car to Kos?

According to Ertürk (email, 25 October 2026), yes, on the Turkish Sea Lines agency’s ferry; the other boats between Bodrum and Kos carry foot passengers only. Ask Turkish Sea Lines about days and fares. Otherwise rent a car on Kos or use the KTEL buses; see taking a car to the Greek islands.

Does this plan work in November or December?

Yes, with fewer boats. Ertürk’s timetable (checked 24 October 2026) lists a morning boat from Bodrum and an afternoon boat from Kos every day in November, in December sailings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and from January to April 2027 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (Bodrum 09:15, Kos mostly 16:30; checked 11 November 2026). Tilos Travel had not published its winter 2026–27 timetable on 21 October. From 1 November the Asklepieion keeps shorter hours, according to the Ministry of Culture.

Is Bodrum one hour ahead of Kos?

From 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027, yes. Outside that period both have the same clock time.

Why three nights on Kos rather than a day trip?

A day trip covers Kos Town and the Asklepieion. Zia, Tigaki, Therma and Kefalos need at least one night on the island. For the day-trip version, see Kos day trip from Bodrum.

Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.

Sources

• Tilos Travel – Aegean islands sailing plan (Bodrum–Kos) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Tilos Travel – Bodrum–Kos ferry tickets, departure port and check-in (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Tilos Travel – Kos visa on arrival (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Ertürk – Bodrum–Kos timetable (accessed 21 and 24 Oct 2026)
• Ertürk – Visa on arrival conditions (accessed Oct 2026)
• Ferryscanner – Bodrum to Kos (updated 20 October 2026) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• feribotseferleri.com.tr – Bodrum–Kos fares, port fee and sailings (updated 6 September 2026) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Global Ports Holding – Bodrum Cruise Port (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Turyol – email reply to Coast to Island on parking at Bodrum Cruise Port (17 October 2026)
• TAV Airports – Milas-Bodrum Airport brochure (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
• Muttaş – Bodrum lines (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Muttaş – Line 48-24 Bodrum city centre – Milas/Bodrum Airport (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Muttaş – Line 2-48 Bitez – Bodrum (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• turkishmuseums.com – Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• turkishmuseums.com – Bodrum Mausoleum (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Go Türkiye – Bodrum Ancient Theatre (accessed Oct 2026)
• Gümüşlük Festival – Gümüşlük (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Pegasus – Guide to Bodrum’s beaches (accessed Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Ancient Agora (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Roman Odeon (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Casa Romana (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Asclepieion (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Castle of the Knights (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Getting around (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Cycling in Kos (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Municipality of Kos – Therma beach (accessed Oct 2026)
• Greek Ministry of Culture – Asklepieion of Kos, hours and combined ticket (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Vakouf of Kos – Defterdar Mosque posts (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• KTEL Kos – Timetables (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• KTEL Kos – Tigaki timetable from 28 September 2026 (PDF) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• KTEL Kos – Zia timetable from 28 September 2026 (PDF) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• KTEL Kos – Kefalos timetable from 28 September 2026 (PDF) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• Greeka – Zia village (accessed Oct 2026)
• Discover Greece – 12 best beaches on Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
• Greek City Times – Greece puts its clocks back on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
• GOV.UK – Turkey entry requirements (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• GOV.UK – Greece entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
• Republic of Türkiye MFA – Countries whose citizens may enter with national ID cards (accessed Oct 2026)
• Republic of Türkiye MFA – Visa information for foreigners (accessed Oct 2026)
• Auswärtiges Amt – Schengen entry with a residence permit or D visa (German) (accessed Oct 2026)
• Greek MFA – EES takes full effect on 10 April 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
• European Commission – Roaming (accessed Oct 2026)
• GİB announcement: 2026 departure fee 1,250 TL (TÜRMOB e-library, Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide – Bodrum: Roundtrip Ferry to Kos with Hotel Pickup (Bodrum port tax note) (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide – Bodrum Airport (BJV) private transfer (accessed Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide – Full-Day Orak Island Boat Trip from Bodrum (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide – Kos: Zia Village Sunset Tour with Hotel Pickup (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide – From the Port of Kos: Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
• GetYourGuide – Kos Pirate Cruise: 3 Islands, Swimming Stops & Lunch (accessed Oct 2026)
• Ertürk Lines, email, 25 October 2026