Sailing holidays in Kos

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A sailing holiday in Kos starts at Kos Marina, next to Kos Town on the north-east tip of the island. 90+ boats sail from Kos: 60+ sailing yachts and 20+ catamarans. A week on a sailing yacht with 3-5 cabins costs €1,800-4,350 in May and October and €2,950-6,350 in July and August; obligatory extras come on top. Boat numbers, prices and booking months in this guide come from the boats listed on Yacht4Less (2027 prices, checked October 2026).

Planning more of Greece? See our guide to sailing holidays in Greece.

Kos sailing at a glance

Kos is one of Greece's Dodecanese islands, just off the coast of Turkey.

Why charter from Kos?

Kos suits advanced sailors and crews who enjoy strong winds and long passages: 14-day charters, mile-building trips, or a week that also takes in Turkey's Aegean coast (see our boat rentals in Turkey). Besides Kos and Rhodes, you can sail to Symi, Nisyros and its volcano, and Tilos; north of Kos are small fishing villages, quiet harbours and some lesser-known Greek islands. Less experienced crews can take the easier week described with the routes below.

When is the best time to sail in Kos?

Kos, in Greece’s Dodecanese, has an Aegean sailing season from April to October. July and August are sunny and hot (average highs about 31°C), with the Meltemi blowing from the north-west. In 2026, 96% of booked charter days from Kos fell between May and October, and September was the busiest month. From November to March, fewer than 2% of charter days were booked.

Air and rain: monthly averages for Kos, 1991-2020 (Climatestotravel). Sea: monthly average. Share of bookings: booked charter days of the Kos boats listed on Yacht4Less in 2026, all booking channels.

The Meltemi blows from the west-north-west to north-west, usually Force 4-6 (about 11-27 knots, from a moderate breeze to a strong breeze): lively sailing from midday until late afternoon. In July and August it can reach Force 7, a near gale of 28-33 knots, with stronger gusts between the islands: exciting for crews who are confident in strong wind. Less experienced crews may prefer to avoid those peak Meltemi days.

Many sailors prefer June and September. In June it is warm (upper 20s°C) and the Meltemi is steady but not at full force. In September the sea is still about 24°C (after 25°C in August), the days are a little cooler, the Meltemi still blows and the island is quieter than in August. May and October are mild (around 22-26°C), with gentler breezes and the odd shower, and moorings at Kos Marina and in small harbours are easier to find.

On a summer afternoon the Meltemi fills in from the north-west and the sea gets lively. Sailing east, it is behind you: the 37 NM run from Nisyros to Symi takes about 7½ hours at 5 knots.

How much does a yacht charter in Kos cost?

Prices are per week for the whole boat, not per person, and depend on the season, the type of boat and the number of cabins.

2027 bareboat prices on Yacht4Less, checked October 2026. Each range leaves out the cheapest quarter and the most expensive quarter of the listed weekly prices. "Sleeps" counts the berths in the cabins. Boat sizes with fewer than 10 bareboat boats in Kos are left out.

On top of the boat price come obligatory extras, such as a standard charter pack or a security deposit waiver: €300-750 for a week. They are not hidden: the boat page lists them as "Obligatory", and checkout shows them before you pay.

A skipper costs about €215 a day, and on most boats you also pay for the skipper's food. Browse bareboat charters in Kos or catamarans in Kos.

Example: a 3-cabin sailing yacht for a week in July. The boat costs about €2,950-3,950. Obligatory extras add €300-750. A skipper for the 7 days adds about €1,505, plus the skipper's food. Without a skipper, the week comes to about €3,300-4,700. With a skipper, it is about €4,800-6,200 plus food. The refundable security deposit, usually €600-3,500, is not included.

Where do Kos charters start?

Fly in and out of Kos International Airport; you should find Saturday easyJet flights from the UK. We can organise and book your airport transfers in advance, and the drive from the airport to the marina takes about 30 minutes.

Most boats start from Kos Marina, one mile south-east of the old harbour in Kos Town (entrance 36° 53' N 27° 18' E). It has 265 berths with mooring lines, showers, a supermarket with fresh fruit and vegetables, car parking and laundry. Boats have 2-6 cabins and sleep 4-12 people in the cabins. Another 70+ boats are based in Rhodes, 60 NM by sea to the south-east: see our Rhodes sailing guide.

Do I need a sailing licence to rent a boat in Kos?

Yes, for a bareboat charter the skipper needs a valid sailing licence. Greek law accepts a licence from your own country, or a certificate from a club or sailing school abroad: commonly an ICC or a national qualification such as RYA Day Skipper or ASA 104. A certificate from outside the EU that is not in Greek or English needs a translation into one of them. The licence must cover sailing in coastal waters: a powerboat-only licence is not accepted for a sailing yacht.

Charter companies also ask for a co-skipper, with a lesser qualification or a signed declaration of sailing experience. Charter companies in Kos check both. Greece usually expects one of the two to know basic VHF radio use, so a short-range radio certificate is recommended, though the port authority does not always ask for it.

No licence? Book a skippered charter (the skipper's fee is in the cost section above). Local skippers know the island-hopping routes to Nisyros, Kalymnos and Symi. For a trip to Turkey's nearby coast, your licence must satisfy both Greek and Turkish authorities; an ICC or equivalent is generally fine. Not sure your certificate is accepted? Ask us before you book.

Bareboat, skippered or crewed in Kos?

From Kos you can charter bareboat, skippered or fully crewed. On bareboat charters, which suit experienced sailors, you are the skipper: each morning you check the wind and choose where to go. Head north to the sacred island of Patmos or south toward Rhodes, with a swim stop at Kalymnos or Leros on the way. Browse bareboat boats in Kos.

On skippered charters, a skilled captain handles the navigation and the Aegean winds. You swim, read on deck and go ashore to ancient ruins, fishing villages and beaches on the nearby islands; on a gusty Meltemi day the skipper sails and you relax. Most boats in Kos list a skipper as an extra; add one when you book.

On a fully crewed yacht, the crew sails the boat and runs life on board, and you are their guest: wake up at anchor, swim before breakfast, and choose with the captain which island comes next. Fully crewed yachts are rare in Kos, so ask us if you are looking for one.

Recommended Kos sailing itineraries

Sailing around the Dodecanese, you can expect average sailing distances of 25 NM a day. Both routes below are longer, so they suit experienced crews: about 38 NM a day on the 7-day route, with legs of 21 to 59 NM, and about 28 NM a day on the 14-day route. On the 7-day route the wind is from the side or behind you on the way south; the days back north (Karpathos to Tilos and Tilos to Kos) are close to the wind or against it. The tables show each day's distance, its hours at 5 knots, and where the afternoon wind comes from; open the notes for what to see each day.

7-day Kos sailing itinerary

Hint for beginners: skip Karpathos. Sail from Chalki straight to Tilos (19 NM) and spend the free day on Tilos, where the harbour at Livadia is well sheltered and the walking trails fill a day ashore. The days are then 19 to 37 NM, with Nisyros to Symi the only one over 31 NM. New to sailing? Read The Ultimate First-Time Sailing Guide: Tips for New Sailors.

Day-by-day notes: 7-day route

Day 1: Kos Marina (Check-in)
Step aboard in Kos Marina, on one of the liveliest islands of the Dodecanese. After check-in, walk to the historic town centre: ancient ruins, the medieval castle and the harbour promenade. End the first evening with dinner by the harbour.

Day 2: Kos to Pali, Nisyros (21 NM)
Nisyros is an island made by a volcano. Anchor in the port of Pali and visit the active crater or the hilltop village of Nikia, then have dinner ashore in Pali.

Day 3: Nisyros to Symi (37 NM)
Symi is known for its neoclassical houses. Swim at Ayia Marina, then moor in Gialos or nearby for dinner on the waterfront.

Day 4: Symi to Emborio, Chalki (31 NM)
Chalki is a quiet island with colourful harbour houses. Dock in Emborio and have a slow evening at a harbour taverna.

Day 5: Chalki to Pigadia, Karpathos (47 NM)
Karpathos is one of the most traditional islands of the Dodecanese, and the way there is the first long day: about 9½ hours, with the wind from the side. Anchor in Pigadia, the main port, and have dinner by the harbour. With time to spare, visit the inland villages, hiking paths or beaches.

Day 6: Karpathos to Livadia, Tilos (59 NM)
It is the longest day of the route, about 12 hours close to the wind, so start at first light. Tilos has its own wind turbine, solar park and battery, built as an EU test project in 2018 to cover most of the island's electricity. Anchor near Livadia and end the day with a swim; walk up to Megalo Chorio and the ancient ruins above it if you still have the energy.

Day 7: Tilos to Kos (31 NM)
Nisyros is on your way, and the 6 hours home are into the afternoon wind: leave in the morning, before the wind builds. Spend the last evening ashore, with one more Greek dinner or shopping for local products, and disembark the next morning.

14-day Kos sailing itinerary

Day-by-day notes: 14-day route

Day 1: Kos to Kalymnos (16 NM)
Check-in is at 17:00 and the sail takes about 3 hours, so after the boat handover you arrive around sunset in summer and after dark in spring and autumn. You can also sleep on board in Kos Marina and set off early. Kalymnos is the historic sponge-diving island. Anchor in Pothia, with its lively waterfront, neoclassical mansions, steep cliffs and colourful villages.

Day 2: Kalymnos to Agathonisi (36 NM)
Agathonisi, known locally as Gaidaros, is a remote island, and the 7 hours there are into the afternoon wind, so set off early. Moor in Agios Georgios, its only harbour: an evening for swimming, silence and a night under the stars.

Day 3: Agathonisi to Pythagoreio, Samos (17 NM)
Samos is a green, mountainous island known for its wine. Anchor in Pythagoreio and visit the UNESCO-listed Heraion, then have dinner by the old harbour.

Day 4: Samos to Fournoi (28 NM)
Fournoi is a small archipelago with some of the Aegean's most secluded anchorages and wild beaches. Pick a cove, swim off the boat and spend a slow day far from the tourist trail.

Day 5: Fournoi to Patmos (22 NM)
Patmos, the sacred island, is home to the Cave of the Apocalypse and the 11th-century Monastery of Saint John. Dock in Skala and walk up to the Chora for the sunset.

Day 6: Patmos to Leros (20 NM)
Leros has Italian-era architecture. Choose Lakki's Art Deco marina, or anchor in Agia Marina for a more traditional feel and dinner on the quay.

Day 7: Leros to Pali, Nisyros (40 NM)
Nisyros is the volcanic island with a lunar-like caldera and whitewashed villages on its rim. Anchor in Pali and take a taxi to the crater floor.

Day 8: Nisyros to Emborio, Chalki (34 NM)
Chalki has neoclassical harbour houses. Dock in Emborio and watch the harbour go quiet as the evening breeze drops.

Day 9: Chalki to Lindos (44 NM)
Round the south of Rhodes to its east coast, about 9 hours with the wind on the side and behind, and anchor below the acropolis of Lindos. Visit the site and swim in Saint Paul's Bay.

Day 10: Lindos to Mandraki, Rhodes Town (24 NM)
Rhodes Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dock at Mandraki and walk into the medieval Old Town, through the Knights' Quarter and the markets.

Day 11: Mandraki, Rhodes Town to Symi (24 NM)
Symi's harbour is pastel-coloured. Anchor in Gialos and take in the harbour with a glass of local wine.

Day 12: Symi to Tilos (32 NM)
Bones of dwarf elephants were found in the Charkadio cave, about 2 km south of Megalo Chorio. Today Tilos is a walking island with quiet beaches. Relax in Livadia with a swim, or walk to the abandoned village of Mikro Chorio.

Day 13: Tilos to Kos (31 NM)
It is the last sail of the trip, into the afternoon wind, so leave Tilos in the morning.

Day 14: Kos
A free day on Kos. Take a taxi to the Asklepion ruins, then end the trip with a farewell dinner in the marina district. Check-out is at 09:00 the next morning.

Hours: at an average of 5 knots. Afternoon wind: the summer Meltemi compared with the day's course.

NM: the shortest sea route between the harbours, rounded to whole nautical miles. With wind and tacking you will sail more.

Rules for sailing around Kos

Kos follows the same Greek rules as Rhodes. Keep the boat's papers on board: the port authorities in Kos Town, Kalymnos or Leros may check them, and the coast guard (Limeniko) can check lifejackets and flares, though rarely on charter yachts. At Kos Marina you follow the berthing instructions and pay harbour fees. In small municipal harbours such as Kalymnos or Symi, someone from the harbour office usually collects a few euros and gives you a receipt; keep the boat's registration at hand.

Off Kos Town, do not anchor in the approach to the ferry harbour, and watch for the shallow reef east of the entrance, marked on charts.

Bodrum in Turkey is only about a dozen nautical miles away. To sail there, clear out of Greece (usually at Kos port) and into Turkey (Bodrum customs): passports are stamped and dues paid, such as the Turkish transit log^{Turkish Ministry}. Before you book, ask your Yacht4Less charter consultant whether the boat may leave Greece. On the way back, clear out of Turkey and back into Greece at Kos. Without clearance, stay out of Turkish waters and do not anchor off the Turkish mainland; cruising along the south of Kos or around Pserimos is fine.

Anchoring is allowed in most bays unless signs say otherwise. Some islets are protected bird sanctuaries, for example parts of Nisyros and the islet of Gyali: follow the local signs. Avoid Posidonia seagrass, for conservation and because the holding is poor. When the coast guard issues a Meltemi warning, it may recommend boats stay in port; this is usually not mandatory, but follow it. Kos's marinas and harbours give safe shelter, while open anchorages can get uncomfortable.

Culture and food on Kos

Moor in Kos Town and history starts at the end of the pontoon. Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine”. In myth the island takes its name from a daughter of Merops, a king of Kos. A short walk from the marina or the old harbour takes you through the ruins of the Ancient Agora, a Greco-Roman marketplace, to the Castle of the Knights (Nerantzia castle), which has guarded the harbour since the Knights of St John built it in the 14th century. A short ride inland, the Asklepion, an ancient healing temple, sits on a hill with wide views. In the evening, Kos Town has both tavernas with traditional music and beach bars with international DJs.

In Kos Town, see Eleftheria Square and the Hippocrates tree, where the great doctor is said to have taught his students. The tree standing today is about 500 years old and is said to descend from the original.

A day's sail takes you somewhere different. On Nisyros you walk on the floor of an active crater, a taxi ride up from the harbour of Pali, then stroll through Mandraki town with its white houses and pebble mosaics. On Kalymnos, the sponge divers' island, you can visit the sponge workshops and nautical museums. Symi has neoclassical mansions and a ship-building past. In summer, a village panigiri (festival) brings music, syrtos dancing and a shared feast.

Food here mixes Aegean Greek and Asia Minor influences. Start the day on deck with local fruit and yoghurt; at lunch, anchor in a quiet bay for a Greek salad and ouzo.

In the evening, order the island's own dishes in a harbour taverna: krasotyri, the “wine cheese” aged in red wine sediment (posa), with a rosy rind; katiki, a creamy local goat cheese with thyme; pitaridia, lasagna-like pasta sheets cooked in broth; and mouchtenia, a salad of pickled caper leaves and shoots that goes well with grilled fish. In Kefalos the octopus is grilled by the sea; on Symi, try the tiny fried shrimp; on Kalymnos, mermizeli (a barley rusk salad) and goat stew. Kos has made wine since antiquity: drink local reds from grapes such as Mavrothiliko, or visit an inland winery. Finish with xerotigana (honey fritters) or baklava. For one evening, go up to the mountain village of Zia, where the tavernas look out over the sunset and serve lamb kleftiko and katimeria pancakes with honey.

Similar Greek Islands to discover

• Sailing holidays in Corfu
• Sailing holidays in Lefkas
• Sailing holidays in Saronic Islands around Athens
• Sailing holidays in Rhodes
• Sailing holidays in Sporades

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