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Kos Airport (KGS) is not in Kos Town. It sits in the middle of the island next to the village of Antimachia, about 23 km from the town and its harbour. KTEL buses leave from a stop just outside the terminal for Kos Town, Mastichari, Kardamena and Kefalos, and taxis wait in front of arrivals. For late landings, Sundays or a family with luggage, a taxi, a pre-booked transfer or a hire car is the simpler choice.
Short answer
- Bus to Kos Town: KTEL Kos, €4 one way (as of October 2026), ticket from the driver. The timetable valid from 28 September 2026 has eight departures from the airport Monday to Saturday, the last at 22:30, and three on Sundays, the last at 16:00.
- Other buses: KTEL also runs from the airport to Mastichari (€2.50), Kardamena (€2.50) and Kefalos (€3.20), as of October 2026.
- Taxi: the rank is in front of arrivals. We found no official fixed fare list, so ask the price before you set off.
- Car hire: Avance, Avis Budget, Enterprise and Hertz Thrifty have desks in arrivals, according to the airport.
- Straight to a ferry: Mastichari, about 7 km away, is the port for the short hop to Kalymnos. Boats to Bodrum, Rhodes and most other islands leave from Kos Town harbour.
- Open all night: the airport lists its operating hours as 24 hours a day, but buses do not run through the night.
Flights to Kos
Compare airline fares in one search on Booking.com Flights. Check the baggage allowance and connection times before you book.
The airport at a glance
Kos Airport is officially named “Ippokratis” after Hippocrates and is operated by Fraport Greece. Its postal address is in Antimachia. According to Greeka, distances from the airport are roughly:
| From Kos Airport to | Distance (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Antimachia village | 1 km |
| Kardamena | 6 km |
| Mastichari (port for Kalymnos) | 7 km |
| Kos Town | 23 km |
| Kos Town harbour | 23.5 km |
Tigaki and Marmari, the family beach resorts on the north coast, lie between the airport and Kos Town, and Kefalos is at the south-western end of the island. Our Kos travel guide describes the resorts, and where to stay in Kos compares the areas.
Most UK flights are seasonal. As of October 2026, easyJet’s route page lists Kos from Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick and Manchester. Our flights guide covers the airlines and seasons.
KTEL airport buses
The public buses on Kos are run by KTEL Kos. The airport says the stop is about 50 m from the terminal building and that you buy your ticket from the driver. Greeka adds that buses do not stop at every stop unless you tell the driver in advance, so say where you want to get off.
KTEL publishes a separate timetable for each airport route on its website and warns that the airport schedule can change often. The times below come from the timetables marked “valid from 28/09/2026”, which carry no end date. Check ktel-kos.gr for the version in force on your travel date, especially in winter.
Airport – Kos Town
| Airport to Kos Town | Kos Town to airport | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 08:00, 10:00, 11:40, 14:20, 15:30, 17:40, 18:30, 22:30 | 08:20, 09:00, 10:00, 10:45, 13:00, 14:30, 16:30, 18:45, 21:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00, 11:40, 16:00 | 10:00, 13:00, 17:00 |
- Fare (as of October 2026): €4 one way.
- In Kos Town: the KTEL bus station is at Kleopatras 7, behind the old town. From there you can walk to the harbour or change to the city buses for Lambi and Psalidi.
- Journey time: KTEL does not publish one. Allow for stops on the way.
Airport – Mastichari, Kardamena and Kefalos
These routes are shorter and cheaper. Fares as of October 2026, with the number of departures in each timetable:
| Route | Fare | Monday to Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport – Mastichari | €2.50 | about 8 to 9 each way | 3 each way |
| Airport – Kardamena | €2.50 | 6 to 7 each way | 3 each way |
| Airport – Kefalos | €3.20 | 4 each way | 3 each way |
The Kardamena and Kefalos timetables do not label each block of times with its direction, and the Mastichari timetable lists the same airport departure times as the Kos Town one. Rather than rely on our reading of the PDFs, check the times with KTEL or the driver before you plan a tight connection. Resorts such as Tigaki and Marmari are on other KTEL routes; ask the driver or KTEL whether a bus from the airport stops there.
Who the bus suits
The bus is cheap and works well for one or two people with light luggage arriving during the day. It is less practical after a late flight, on a Sunday afternoon or evening, or if your hotel is far from a bus stop.
Taxi
According to the airport, the taxi rank is in front of the arrivals hall. Neither the airport nor the Kos municipality publishes a fixed fare list, and we did not find an official one, so we cannot give reliable prices. Ask the driver for the fare to your hotel before you set off, or check that the meter is running.
A taxi is the obvious choice if you land after the last bus or on a Sunday evening. Kos Town taxis also work from the seafront road Akti Kountouriotou, which is useful for the return trip to the airport.
Private transfers
A pre-booked transfer means a driver waits for you with your name, whatever time you land, and the price is fixed in advance. That suits families, late arrivals and anyone heading to Kefalos or a resort hotel away from the bus routes.
Kos: Private Transfer Services
One-way private car or minivan between Kos Airport and your hotel for up to three people; the driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign.
Check price & availabilityKos Hotels to Kos Airport Private One–Way Transfer
Hotel pickup and a private ride to the airport for your departure, with vehicle size matched to your group; handy for early flights when the first bus is too late.
Check price & availabilityFor a couple staying in Kos Town and landing during the day, the €4 bus is far cheaper than any private car.
Car hire
The airport lists four rental companies with desks in arrivals: Avance, Avis Budget, Enterprise and Hertz Thrifty. Greeka notes that you can also arrange collection from the airport car park. Book ahead in summer and give your flight number.
A car makes most sense if you stay in Kefalos, want to see Zia, Antimachia and the south-west, or plan to use the Mastichari ferry with your own wheels. If you want to take the car on a ferry to another island, check first that the rental agreement allows it; see taking a car to the Greek islands.
Car hire: Kos Airport (KGS)
DiscoverCars compares offers from several rental companies in one search. Check the pick-up point, deposit and insurance terms before you book.
Comparing the options
| Option | Kos Town | Mastichari / Kardamena | Kefalos | Late night or Sunday evening | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTEL bus | direct, €4 | direct, €2.50 | direct, €3.20 | last bus 22:30 Mon–Sat, 16:00 Sun | lowest |
| Taxi | yes | yes | yes | rank in front of arrivals | ask before you go |
| Private transfer | yes | yes | yes | yes, if pre-booked | fixed in advance |
| Hire car | yes | yes | yes | book ahead | depends on days |
Fares as of October 2026.
From the airport straight to a ferry
Kalymnos from Mastichari
Mastichari is the closest port to the airport. Small ferries cross from there to Pothia on Kalymnos in about 25 to 45 minutes, and Ferryhopper’s data show daily sailings all year. If you land and want to go straight to Kalymnos, the KTEL bus or a short taxi ride to Mastichari saves the trip into Kos Town. Times and fares are on our Kos to Kalymnos ferry page.
Nisyros from Kardamena
From May to October, excursion boats leave Kardamena, about 6 km from the airport, for Nisyros. The year-round ferries sail from Kos Town. See Kos to Nisyros ferry.
Kos Town harbour: Bodrum, Rhodes, Leros and more
The main harbour is in Kos Town, about 23.5 km from the airport. Take the KTEL bus to Kos Town, a taxi or a transfer. From there:
- Bodrum (Turkey): Tilos Travel lists Kos departures at 09:30, 11:30, 16:45 and 18:35 until 24 October 2026, then 09:30 and 17:00 from 25 October to 1 November. Read Kos to Bodrum ferry for tickets and entry rules, or Kos to Bodrum day trip for a day out.
- Rhodes: Kos to Rhodes ferry.
- Leros: Kos to Leros ferry.
- Island-hopping: the ferry route planner and island-hopping from Turkey help you plan several legs.
If your flight lands in the evening, it is usually more relaxed to sleep in Kos Town and take the ferry the next morning. Two hotels on the harbour front:
- Ferry port: On the harbour (Irodotou street)
- Best for: budget / one-night stays
A cheap Kos Town night before an early boat, right on the harbour; breakfast costs extra.
Astron Hotel
Kos Town3★
- Ferry port: On the harbour front (Akti Kountouriotou)
- Best for: budget / families
If your transfer ends in Kos Town: a harbour-front hotel that is open all year.
Flying into Bodrum instead
Some travellers fly to Milas-Bodrum and take the boat to Kos. See Bodrum to Kos ferry for that route.
Passport control and EES on arrival
Flights from the UK and other non-Schengen countries land at the EU’s external border, so you go through passport control at Kos Airport. The European Commission says the Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Non-EU short-stay visitors, including UK citizens, are registered with passport data, fingerprints and a facial image. GOV.UK says Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect fingerprints and photos from UK travellers under EES; follow the officers’ instructions. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered, and children under 12 give no fingerprints. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip after the change. Details, including ETIAS, are in our EES and ETIAS guide.
Greece puts its clocks back on 25 October 2026. After that date Turkey is one hour ahead of Kos, which matters if you are connecting to a Bodrum ferry.
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FAQ
How do I get from Kos Airport to Kos Town?
By KTEL bus (€4 as of October 2026, pay the driver), taxi, pre-booked transfer or hire car. The bus stop is about 50 m from the terminal.
What time is the last bus from Kos Airport?
In the timetable valid from 28 September 2026, the last bus to Kos Town leaves the airport at 22:30 Monday to Saturday and at 16:00 on Sundays. KTEL says the airport schedule changes often, so check ktel-kos.gr.
How much is a taxi from Kos Airport?
We found no official fixed fare list. Ask the driver for the price before you leave, or check that the meter is on.
Can I go from Kos Airport straight to Kalymnos?
Yes. Mastichari, about 7 km from the airport, has daily ferries to Kalymnos, and KTEL runs buses from the airport to Mastichari.
Is there a bus from Kos Airport to Kardamena or Kefalos?
Yes. As of October 2026 KTEL lists €2.50 to Kardamena and €3.20 to Kefalos, with fewer departures on Sundays.
Do I need my passport at Kos Airport?
Coming from outside the Schengen area, yes. Non-EU visitors are registered in EES with fingerprints and a photo; EU citizens are not.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Fraport Greece: Kos Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport: airport information and operating hours (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport: public bus (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport: taxi (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport: car rental (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport: location (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos: official site (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos: airport routes (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos: Kos – Airport timetable from 28 Sep 2026 (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos: Airport – Kardamena timetable (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos: Airport – Kefalos timetable (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos: Mastichari – Airport timetable (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Municipality: Getting around (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka: Kos Airport (accessed Oct 2026)
- easyJet: Flights to Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Kos to Kalymnos and Mastichari to Kalymnos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel: 2025–2026 Aegean islands sailing plan (accessed Oct 2026)
- European Commission: Entry/Exit System (accessed Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Greece travel advice, entry requirements (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times: clocks go back on 25 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kos Private Transfer Services (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kos Hotels to Kos Airport Private One–Way Transfer (accessed Oct 2026)
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