Regardless of where you go on holiday, you will have plenty of ways to get around once you arrive. Sometimes the best way to see more of somewhere is to hire a car. But it hardly gives you a good way to see everything because you have to have your eyes on the road all the time.

You have a real advantage in Kos though because they have a couple of tourist trains that run on the roads. You can hop on and off these in various places so you get a nice opportunity not only to see more of Kos, you can also get off at the main destinations and attractions the island has to offer.

You should be aware that you have two trains to choose from when you get there, and if you are staying in or near Kos Town you will see the first one pretty soon. It is green in colour and will be ideal for seeing the vast majority of sights in the town. The alternative train is blue in colour, and it offers one major benefit – the chance to go out to Asklepieion to see one of the most famous sights on the island.

The routes taken by the two trains are not very long, but they do provide a good way to see more of the island. Of course you can also explore on foot but a journey on the tourist trains is well worth doing. It is as much a part of Kos as the surroundings and famous ancient sites are, so you will probably be tempted to have a go while you are there.

The trains are easy enough to get on and off and you will also appreciate some shelter from the sun. While they are all quite open all the carriages do have a roof on them, so you can take advantage of relaxing while you enjoy the sightseeing journey they take you on.

You may not initially have thought much about enjoying a land train ride in Kos. But as you can see, it would be crazy not to have a go.

Sometimes all we want during the winter months is to go somewhere that is still sunny. The UK is far from sunny during most of the winter, so it might be good to consider some sunnier options that are slightly further afield.

For example Kos can be a good bet for the winter months. It is true that the weather during the winter is wetter than it would be during the summer, but it doesn’t put Kos off limits by any stretch. If you head out to Kos during February or March for example, you are getting towards the time when it has far less in the way of rain anyway.

It can also be more relaxing to visit earlier in the year, before the usual brisk summer gets underway. A short week long break could be just what you need, and you can explore all the usual popular places on Kos that tourists tend to go for. Kos Town has to be one of the most famous, but of course there are many other places you can head for as well.

The beaches may be one of the highlights in Kos but if you are going there during the winter season you may not be as keen to spend all day every day on the sands. Instead you can take advantage of seeing some of the island’s famous sights. It dates back to times when Hippocrates was making big strides ahead in medicine, and so you can expect many ancient sights to be worth a look. Don’t miss Asklepion or the many ancient ruins that are dotted all over the island.

Another advantage you might be able to enjoy is the freedom to explore the island on foot or by bicycle. There are many lovely routes that will take you into and out of villages and other locations, and you can certainly get plenty of fresh air and relaxation this way.

In fact you may enjoy a winter holiday in Kos rather more than you would enjoy a summer one. It all depends on what you are looking for.

It doesn’t really matter where you go to on holiday: if you are having a beach holiday there will come a time when you want to explore the area you have chosen to base yourself in. This means looking forward to a spot of shopping as well as simply wandering around looking for what Kos has to offer.

Most towns and villages in Kos have a nice selection of stores you can look in. Many people make the mistake of heading to the small shops inside whatever hotel they happen to be staying in first. Make sure you don’t do this – by all means have a look but don’t buy anything until you have unearthed the smallest and best quirky stores that are dotted all over the island. You may have to venture into some of the more ‘off the beaten track’ type areas to find the best kept secrets of Kos, but it is well worth putting in the extra effort.

One of the most commonly visited areas of Kos is perhaps unsurprisingly the Old Town. You will find some shops here but they mostly cater to those who are looking for a genuine designer label. If you want to find the more unusual shops – what many would call the ‘one off’ shops for obvious reasons – you need to look a little further into various areas that have lots of side streets to explore. This is where you will find the various locally made items that make perfect souvenirs to take home with you.

If you are going to visit Kos Town the best bit is arguably the indoor market. This is where all the local goods and produce are sold, and if you are staying in self catering accommodation you will doubtless find lots of reasons to explore the market to find some great tastes and foods to cook with. In fact the more you are into your cooking the more likely you are to enjoy this part of Kos. But wherever you go, you will love the eclectic and varied range of shops that are waiting to greet you.

Yes it might seem a strange question to pose on a blog that is primarily focused with the island of Kos. But in actual fact it isn’t impossible to take a trip across to Turkey while you are holidaying in Kos. If you look at where Kos is on a map you’ll see it sits directly beneath the bottom end of Turkey. This has opened up the possibility of taking a trip to Bodrum – the most popular spot to visit in Turkey for those staying in Kos – if you are up for a different day out.

Kos is a vibrant and lively island so you might wonder why you would want to leave it behind. But we’re only talking about a day long excursion here, and not a mammoth trip that will take you away from the island for a day. It also has a double barrelled benefit to share with you. You can enjoy exploring Turkey, which is a good thing to do if you want to see it for the first time, and you can also get a superb view of Kos as you leave it on a boat and return again at the end of the day.

You might think going from country to country will take a while, but in fact the slowest method of getting there is via a boat and it takes just an hour to do. The other option (if you are in a hurry) is the so called Flying Dolphin. It’s not exactly what it sounds like; instead it is a much faster type of boat, rather like a hover craft, that is assured to get you over to Turkey in an unbelievable twenty minutes.

If you like the idea of taking some photos of both Kos and Turkey during the trip then the boat may give you the time you need to do so. Otherwise go for speed and enjoy the amazing Flying Dolphin instead.

It’s clear that if you want to go on a day trip away from Kos, Turkey is the best place to head for.

Kos is famous for being a lively island. It doesn’t just offer clubbing and great nights out though; it can actually be a respite from your daily life at home as well. There are quiet spots you can stay in and plenty of delightful types of accommodation to think about booking as well.

When it comes to your Kos accommodation, it’s worth thinking about the kind of holiday you want to have before you book anything. For instance if a group of you are planning on having a fun holiday with beach trips during the day and clubbing at night, you might find it cost effective to book into a villa. If you can get one close to the beaches and the nightclubs you’ll be sitting pretty.

Of course a villa can also be ideal for families. It gives you enough space to spread out and relax, spending time indoors as well as outdoors. We all have those afternoons when we want to be out of the sun and just relaxing inside with a book for instance. Wouldn’t you love to stay in a villa in that kind of situation?

Elsewhere you can try out apartments if you are on a budget. Self catering is best in this instance as you can just pay for whatever food you want when you get there. Apartments near the beach are a cost effective and desirable spot, but do remember you’ll very likely pay more for being right on the beach. Depending on how often you want to be there, it could be worth paying that extra bit.

As you can see, location is just as important as the type of accommodation you want in Kos. If the last thing you want to do is join in the clubbing, you won’t want to book into an apartment right next door. There are quieter spots to be found as well in Kos, so watch out for them and then narrow down your accommodation.

All you have to remember is that the right accommodation will be available at the right price on Kos – you just have to be prepared to look for it.

One of the key things about organising a holiday to Kos is deciding whereabouts on the island you are going to stay. Kardamena is a popular choice for many people, partly because it has a lot to offer in many respects.

You’ll find Kardamena along the southern coast of the island, and its nice seaside position gives it a lovely look and feel that many tourists will appreciate. For starters you must realise that it is a key destination for all those who go to Kos for the nightlife. It is still worth seeing if you would rather seek out a family holiday, but you may wish to visit outside of the usual clubbing season for more in the way of peace and quiet.

But if you think that Kardamena is all about clubs and bars and little else, you would be mistaken. There is plenty to do if you want to get out and about and stay active during the daylight hours. Kardamena has a diving centre and of course, since it is on the coast, you can go into the water and explore what’s beneath the surface. Snorkelling, swimming and diving are all popular sports for lots of visitors.

You won’t go hungry in Kardamena either. There are plenty of restaurants of all types in the area, offering food that is inherently Greek in nature. They also offer all kinds of foods that will appeal to the very British among us, who like a taste of home while we are away!

Of course we shouldn’t forget the beach in Kardamena either. It is a beauty in itself, and many tourists will be heading here on a daily basis to enjoy the relaxation it offers. The lovely sands are very appealing and it is a long beach too so you shouldn’t have much trouble staking out a spot of your own.

Kos does offer a wide range of great resorts to head for. But Kardamena has a lot to offer and its closeness to the airport makes it another good bet as one of the top spots on Kos.

Most people who go to Kos for their holidays will want a nice beach to relax on each day. The island is well suited for this purpose as it has plenty of stunning beaches to try out.

One of them is known as Magic Beach, and the name certainly gives it a charm that makes it an attractive place to visit. But while the name may attract you, it has plenty more to offer that will keep you there.

For starters you will have a full three kilometres of beach to stretch out on, so space shouldn’t be a problem. This is just short of two miles so you can see for a long way on this particular beach.

The beach is on the south western part of Kos, so it is better suited to those who have no desire to visit Kos Town during their stay on the island. If you want a quieter and more relaxing stay this could be just the town for you.

The beach is also quite deep, and since the sand here is fine and pleasant you will have the full length and breadth of the beach to enjoy. Of course you will also be able to venture into the sea for a swim, and you can try out snorkelling and other water sports as well if you wish.

Magic Beach won’t quite have the magic that everyone looks for in a beach, but it certainly has a lot to offer to many people. If the idea of an overcrowded beach puts you off visiting many of the beaches on Kos, this one may just be what you are looking for. There is also a nudist beach nearby so this might give you another reason for visiting Magic Beach and the facilities available there.

As you can see, when you are planning a trip to Kos it might be worthwhile to think about your preferred type of beach before you book anything. Discovering your favourite kind of beach could influence where you make your holiday booking for – and Magic Beach could be the answer.