Rhodes or Kos? – Blog

The time has come to your journey to Greece and as quickly as you notice you’ve fallen in love with the Dodecanese islands, you end up caught in a giant dilemma: Rhodes or Kos? It’s certainly tough to make up your thoughts.

The reality is that though each islands don’t lie very far other than each other, the panorama is completely completely different and every one in all them has various things to supply. 

With their gorgeous seashores, fascinating historical past, pretty villages, strong nightlife and wonderful vacationer amenities, the islands undoubtedly have one factor in widespread: they’re among the many greatest locations to go to in Greece. 

Beneath, we offer all of the fundamentals about each islands that will help you resolve which one is essentially the most appropriate for you.

Preserve studying to search out out!

Rhodes vs Kos: what do they seem like?

The island of Rhodes is likely one of the most lovely gems within the Dodecanese island group! Regardless of its distant location, it is likely one of the most visited islands in Greece because of its spectacular surroundings. As one of many nation’s greatest islands, it has a various panorama that mixes superb seashores, conventional mountainous villages, verdant areas and extra! Due to its medieval castles and Venetian monuments which can be very well-preserved, Rhodes has a fascinating medieval ambiance and is sometimes called the “Island of the Knights“. 

Kos is taken into account by many the subsequent most lovely Dodecanese island to go to! Kos combines a well-developed tourism infrastructure at fashionable seashore resorts with a calming ambiance, attractive seashores and charming villages to go to. The island’s nightlife scene is flourishing, whereas there are quite a few historic websites throughout the countryside for guests who take pleasure in touring round and exploring. Moreover, it has a vigorous capital city which is the middle of motion. 

Equally to Rhodes, the island’s distant location shouldn’t be an issue, because it may be reached each by ferry and by airplane.

Issues to see & do 

It doesn’t matter what your preferences are, in Rhodes and Kos you will see quite a few issues to do. On each islands, there are great areas value visiting, together with however not restricted to well-known landmarks, picturesque villages and vigorous cities. On the native eating places, you should have the chance to attempt the gastronomic gems of the Dodecanese, whereas as quickly because the evening falls, you’ll get to expertise the native nightlife at some superb bars and nightclubs. Quite a lot of organized actions, together with excursions, cruises, sports activities, workshops and excursions are additionally supplied at each locations. 

Sights

Rhodes and Kos have wealthy cultural and historic backgrounds, in addition to quite a few well-preserved monuments, historic buildings and archeological websites value visiting to search out out extra concerning the previous of the islands.

Rhodes is known for its Venetian castles and different historic buildings from varied historic intervals which can be distinctive in Greece, together with the Palace of Grand Master, the Great Hammam and Monolithos Castle. You will see essential historical archaeological websites such because the Acropolis of Lindos and several other spectacular monasteries or church buildings, in addition to a couple of museums. Rhodes can be an incredible vacation spot for nature lovers, because it gives many parks and forests which can be well-liked for climbing.

In Kos, you will see many important historic websites that date again to Historic Greece, equivalent to Asklepieion, the Ancient Gymnasium and the Ancient Agora. Additionally, you will uncover Venetian castles, Roman monuments and Ottoman mosques.

Villages

Though each Rhodes and Kos have touristically-developed cities and villages, the each supply many conventional settlements value visiting so as to see a extra genuine aspect, away from mass tourism.

In Rhodes, you’ll uncover many picturesque villages with a peaceable ambiance, most of which may be discovered on the mountains and stay comparatively untouched by tourism. The prettiest ones embrace Archangelos, Afandou and Kritinia. Additionally, you will discover a couple of seaside cities and villages, equivalent to Lindos, which is taken into account a giant pole of attraction. 

Click on here to find extra villages in Rhodes

However, there are much less villages in Kos and the vast majority of them are situated both proper by the ocean or inside a brief distance from the seashore. Most of those seafront settlements have became massive vacationer resorts, together with Kardamena and Kefalos. Mountainous villages like Zia and Pyli additionally supply many vacationer amenities, however on the identical time they protect their conventional essence. 

Discover extra details about the villages.

Nightlife

Rhodes is known for its nightlife and extra particularly, the capital city and the world of  Faliraki, with golf equipment and bars that stay open all evening and appeal to quite a few devoted party-goers. As well as, Lindos and different seafront locations are identified to be nightlife hotspots. 

Kos additionally boasts an intense nightlife, with the island’s capital city being the middle of the partying scene. You will see many fashionable bars and golf equipment for all tastes that begin getting vigorous in the course of the night and don’t decelerate till the early morning hours. 

Gastronomy

Rhodes and Kos share many similarities with regards to their delicacies. On each islands, you’ll uncover many eating places and taverns the place you’ll be able to attempt every island’s native delicacies, in addition to Mediterranean staples and even worldwide delicacies.

So far as gastronomy is worried, the center of Rhodes beats within the island’s capital City. You’ll definitely discover quite a few famend eating places throughout the island, however the City typically gives a greater diversity, from worldwide eating places with influences from the japanese delicacies, to upscale eating places and cozy taverns.

Discover the delicacies at the very best native restaurants of Rhodes.

Kos additionally has an interesting gastronomic scene, starting from all-time-classic Greek dishes, to lesser identified conventional recipes distinctive to the island. Similar to in Rhodes, in case you are in search of selection, the essential city is the place you must head to, both for wonderful eating or for a conventional meal. Observe that in Kos, you’ll not discover many worldwide eating places.

Discover the best restaurants in Kos.

Day excursions

Though there are many issues to see on the island you go to, occurring a visit to a different place is a chance that may’t be missed! 

From Kos, day tours to Nisyros and day tours to Kalymnos and Pserimos, are the most well-liked on the island. Additionally a day journey to Bodrum in Turkey is a superb alternative to go to the neighboring nation.  

From Rhodes a day tour to Simi island is likely one of the greatest issues to do on the island. Additionally day tour to Marmaris in Turkey in addition to a go to to the close by Halki island may be very well-liked. Lastly, Sailing tours across the island’s shoreline are additionally fairly widespread. 

Seashores

Equally to many different islands of the Aegean Sea, each Rhodes and Kos stand out for his or her superb seashores, with crystal clear turquoise waters and a charming seafront panorama!

In Rhodes, you’ll uncover all forms of seashores, from charming coves with small pebbles and crystalline waters to kilometers-long seashores, coated with silky sand. The preferred seashores of Rhodes include well-organized amenities, equivalent to solar umbrellas and sunbeds to lease, seashore bars and water sport amenities. Amongst them, uncover Lindos, Ladiko, Faliraki and more beaches in Rhodes !

On the identical time, a number of seashores across the island are solely partly organized, permitting you to flee mass tourism and revel in a calming day on the seashore. Marmari, Paradisi and Fournou are just a few to call!

Kos additionally gives quite a few sand and shingle seashores that can definitely steal your coronary heart! The island guarantees a plethora of choices, from well-organized seashores with water sport facilities and sunbeds to lease that get tremendous vigorous, to peaceable coves with no different amenities in addition to a couple of units of sunbeds, turquoise waters and an unspoiled pure panorama.

Seashores equivalent to Paradise or the City’s seashore are your go-to choices if you happen to respect the comfort of vacationer amenities. Kefalos, Stefanos and Psalidi are well-liked amongst watersport fans, whereas Agios Fokas, Lagades and Polemi will present you a calmer aspect of the island.

Uncover the very best beaches in Kos!

Sea sports activities

Each islands are well-known for his or her sea sports activities actions. There quite a few kite browsing and wind browsing faculties. 

In Rhodes you may get kitesurfing programs in Theologos beach and in Kremasti beach. If you’re extra eager with windsurfing, then you will see a college on Ixia beach and Theologos beach too.  

In Kos you’ll be able to practise kitesurfing in addition to wind browsing in Psalidi beach. 

Lodging

Each islands obtain 1000’s of tourists each summer season, leading to a well-developed native business of tourism. You’ll not have a problem discovering the kind of lodging that fits you, since a plethora of choices can be found in each Rhodes and Kos. The one factor to bear in mind is that in case you are planning to go to one of many two islands in the course of the peak season, you’ll have to e book your lodging not less than a couple of months prematurely, since many accommodations attain full capability. Lodging options in Rhodes choices may be divided into two essential classes: massive resorts and boutique accommodations. Boutique accommodations are an ideal choice for central lodging, as they’re normally situated within the City or different well-liked areas. However, the vast majority of all-inclusive accommodations may be discovered inside a brief distance from the seashore, in much less picturesque areas which have grown to be well-liked vacationer resorts.

Relying on the placement, the amenities and the type of the lodge, pricing varies. There are as many luxurious suites and villas as price range accommodations, household rooms and studios. Many accommodations present swimming swimming pools, eating places and bars on website. These are appropriate for guests who don’t plan to journey round rather a lot.

>Our favourite boutique accommodations in Rhodes are: F Charm, Melenos Art Boutique and Efchi 1904. As for all-inclusive resorts we advocate: Princess Andriana resort and spa and Aquagrand exclusive deluxe resort

As for Kos, this island can be well-known for its all-inclusive accommodations and resorts. Particularly in seafront areas, you will see giant constructing complexes of accommodations that present an entire lodging expertise, by providing swimming swimming pools, eating places, leisure amenities and extra, meters away from the golden sand! 

There are varied sorts of accommodation facilities in Kos to select from relying in your price range and wishes, together with however not restricted to budget-friendly studios and residences, luxurious suites, snug household rooms, spacious villas and classy bungalows. 

Attributable to their measurement, most accommodations in Kos are situated exterior the island’s villages or cities, though a number of choices for central lodging do exist.

>Our suggestions for accommodations are: Mitsis Blue Domes, Grecotel Imperial and Aqua Blue Boutique hotel

Transportation & automotive leases

Getting there

Each Rhodes and Kos have worldwide airports, which suggests that you would be able to attain your vacation spot straight from Athens and different European cities. Seasonal flights may additionally be out there in the course of the summer season. On common, a flight from Athens to Rhodes takes from 1h to 1h 15m. For Kos, journey time from Athens is 50-60 minutes.

Rhodes and Kos will also be reached by ferry, though a journey from Athens can last as long as 10-15 hours, relying on the ferry firm and the kind of the vessel. Each islands are related by ferry to one another and to different islands of the Aegean Sea, together with the Dodecanese, the Cyclades and Crete.

Observe that the port of Rhodes is situated within the island’s capital city and so is the port of Kos.

Typically, each Rhodes and Kos are thought-about distant locations and there are not any important variations by way of approachability.

Touring across the island

Essentially the most handy method of getting round in Rhodes and Kos is with a car rental. Each islands have many distant locations value visiting that may solely be reached with a personal car. Renting a automotive, bike or ATV will will let you have flexibility and the liberty to get wherever you would like.

Nonetheless, guests who can’t lease a automotive will be capable to journey round pretty simply because of the public buses. Each islands have a well-developed and dependable system of public transportation, with common buses that join cities, villages and seashores to at least one one other. 

Kos has two forms of buses: city buses that solely function regionally within the capital city and Ok.T.E.L. buses, for long-distance routes within the countryside. For transportation in Kos, an ideal various is biking. The island is the truth is very bike-friendly, particularly the City.

In Rhodes, the central bus station is situated in the principle city. From there, you’ll be able to journey on to many different areas throughout the island.

Different issues to contemplate

A pair extra issues ought to be taken into consideration when selecting a vacation spot, together with how a lot time you’ve got. The perfect length to your journey to Kos could be 4 days. Rhodes is a much bigger island with extra locations to go to, so 5 days could be excellent. 

Nonetheless, each islands are value visiting for simply 3 days or much less.

One other factor to bear in mind is the type of trip you’re in search of. Though each islands have quite a few touristy areas, Rhodes is usually extra crowded and its nightlife is extra intense. 

Kos, however, has a extra stress-free ambiance and it’s barely extra well-liked amongst honeymooners and {couples} of all ages. 

For household trip, each islands supply family-friendly accommodations and protected seashores, though chances are you’ll discover that there are extra choices in Rhodes.