If you don’t rent a car on Kos, your day might look like this: Early in the morning, you board an air-conditioned bus to see the island’s tourist highlights in record time. Once you arrive, you’ll compete with other tourists for the best photo spot. Doesn’t sound like a relaxing holiday, does it?
»If you want to explore as much of the island as possible individually and at your own pace, a rental car on Kos is worthwhile!«
Even on vacation, if you don’t feel like taking organized bus tours, we have the most important tips for getting around Kos by scooter, quad, or rental car. You will also find all the information you need about public buses, taxis, and bicycles on Kos.
#1 Kos Car Rental Recommendation
If you want to explore Kos Island individually – the secluded beaches, rustic villages, and authentic tavernas – you should have a way to get around. We have worked with Costas Car Rental for years. Kostas and his wife, Tanya, run a local family business, and we know and appreciate them very much.
Their Kos rental cars are in good shape, and the service is friendly and uncomplicated — exactly what you want on your holiday on Kos! The many positive Google reviews speak for themselves! Whether you’re looking for a compact speedster or a spacious family car, you’re guaranteed to find it here. If you’re traveling with young children, child seats are available, of course.
Want to know how much a rental car from Costas Car Rental will cost for your vacation on Kos? Fill out the Kos Car Rental form to request a free quote, and Tanya and Kostas will make you a great offer.
Car hire on Kos from Costas Car Rental
It is especially worthwhile to book a rental car in Kos from home, especially in the high season. When we don’t travel with our own car, we always use Costas Car Rental on Kos. We have been very satisfied with the quality and service of this Kos car rental company for years.
💡 Kos car rental voucher: Get 5% off the current rental prices at Costas Car Rental when you book through Greece Moments for a rental period of at least three days. This offer is valid for all vehicle categories and includes basic insurance (fully comprehensive with an excess) but not extras. You can also book directly through costascars.com with the discount code “Greece Moments.”
Prices for vehicles at local Kos car rental companies, such as Costas Car Rental, start at €35 per day for a small car with comprehensive insurance with excess in the low season. These prices are cheaper than those of international car rental providers on Kos.
The two friendly owners, Tanya and Kostas, will deliver your rental car directly to your desired location on Kos, such as the airport or your hotel. At the end of your holiday on Kos, you can leave the rental car at your hotel or park it at the airport, and Tanya and Kostas will pick it up.
In addition, all vehicles are in very neat, modern condition, and the entire process is relaxed and problem-free. Payment for the rental car takes place on site on Kos. The longer you rent a vehicle, the cheaper the daily rental price becomes. The rental price always includes full coverage insurance, with or without a deductible.
→ The Kos car rental reviews of other holidaymakers with Costas Car Rental speak for themselves:
#2 Explore Kos Island by Rental Car
We recommend booking a rental car from a local car rental company on Kos to support the local businesses. Having a rental car from the start of your vacation means you won’t need to worry about hotel transfers and can travel at your own pace.
In every major Kos holiday resort you will find at least one rental company for cars, ATV, bicycles and beach buggys. Having your own car not only saves you a lot of money on the bus tours described above, but also allows you to reach remote places. And don’t worry, the road traffic on Kos is limited, only in midsummer it is a bit more turbulent.
The selection of rental cars on Kos is wide and both the quality and prices can vary greatly depending on the season and model. Take advantage of the favorable car rental conditions of our partner on Kos and save 5% with the coupon code “Greece Moments”. Here you can directly book a rental car for Kos:
The roads on the island of Kos are well developed and also outside Kos town in a moderate condition. Except for small side roads to remote villages and bays, almost all traffic routes on Kos are paved. The island measures only 43 km from west to east. So you can circumnavigate the island in just one day with a Kos rental car.
Unless you buy an all-terrain vehicle, we advise against driving on gravel roads. Many remote places on Kos are usually very deserted and mobile phone reception is not reliable everywhere. Having a breakdown there can be nerve-wracking and adventurous.
Many rental companies on Kos usually exclude driving on unpaved roads from their contracts. This means that in the event of a breakdown or accident, no insurance cover applies if you are driving on gravel roads. Taking the rental car from Kos to another island by ferry may also be contractually excluded.
→ By ferry to Kos? This article will provide you with all the information you need: Ferries in Greece
There are gas stations available on Kos, especially along the island highway. Just before Kos Town, you can refuel your rental vehicle every 2 km. However, gasoline prices on the island are quite high, ranging from €1.90 to €2.10 per liter of Super (95 unleaded).
Especially in the high season, rental cars on Kos are quickly booked up at the local car rental companies. Then it’s worth taking a look at the portal Discover Cars*, where you can look for available offers and have the possibility to book Kos rental cars: View all offers*
#3 Getting around Kos by quad, buggy or scooter
For couples, the best way to travel is by quad bike (ATV). Quads have automatic transmission and are perfect for off-roading. We personally feel safer riding a quad on Kos than riding a scooter. It’s best to rent your vehicle for several days to get a cheaper daily price.
We generally recommend quads over 150cc (cc) for Kos, otherwise you will only climb every mountain at walking speed. For quads under 150cc, the limit is just under 50km/h, with the larger models you are a little faster with a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
Since there have also been serious accidents with quads on Kos in the past, we appeal to a defensive and careful driving style. The steering of ATVs is very stiff and curves should be taken with increased caution, as if the speed is too high, the quad can break out in the curve and, in the worst case, roll over.
By the way, your normal class B driver’s license is sufficient for a quad. The quality of the vehicles is simple but roadworthy. It is best to always test whether the brakes, lights, gears and tires are in order when you pick them up. If you want to stand out while on vacation, you can even rent a beach buggy on Kos!
- Quad price per day: Ø €30 – €60 (depending on season, rental period and model)
- Buggy price per day: Ø from 80 € (depending on season, rental period and model)
Scooter instead of rental car on Kos
For experienced drivers, renting a scooter on Kos is the most cost-effective way to explore the island. Scooters usually have automatic transmission and can be used on all paved roads.
For journeys over bumpy roads, e.g. to secluded Kos beaches like the Kavo Paradiso, we would rather not recommend a scooter. In strong winds it can be dangerous on the two-wheelers, then it’s better to take a day at the beach.
As with the quad, helmets are also compulsory for scooters. Riding without a helmet can be expensive (up to €350 fine). Helmets are included free of charge when renting a vehicle. We always take a thin headscarf under the helmet with us, then the hair stays fresh longer. 😉
You can drive scooters up to 50cc with a regular car driver’s license. However, a motorcycle license is required for larger models.
- Scooter price per day: Ø €15 – €30 (depending on season, rental period and model)
Providers for Quad & Scooter on Kos
We have personally tested and found these quad and scooter providers on Kos to be good:
- Ideal Rentals (Kos Town, Psalidi)
- Peter’s Rent a Motorbike (Kardamena)
- Rent a moto & car Stamatis & Maria (Kefalos)
🗺️ 10 road trip routes with maps
🏖️ Beautiful beaches & swimming spots
🏛️ All top sights & attractions
🤫 Unpublished insider tips
🍽️ Accommodation, tavernas & cafés
#3 Discover the island of Kos by bus
The Buses from KTEL Kos take you from Kos Town to all major towns on the island as well as to the beautiful beaches in the southwest of Kos at a particularly low cost. But the distances on Kos should not be underestimated, from Kos Town to Kefalos at the other end of the island it takes more than an hour by bus.
→ We will tell you what else there is in the capital of Kos in this article: Kos Town
Tickets for the Kos buses can be purchased directly on the buses. It is not possible to bring bicycles. During the off-season, the buses run on time and at regular intervals. In the summer, however, there can be delays, and the buses are usually overcrowded.
The Central bus station of Kos for intercity buses is located south of the city centre on Cleopatra Street. There are connections from Kos Town to the airport, to Zia, Tigaki, Marmari, Pyli, Mastichari, Antimachia, Kardamena and Kefalos.
→ Current Kos bus timetables for the overland journeys you can find here: KTEL Kos
The Kos city bus stop and a ticket office are located next to the Albergo Gelsomino Hotel in Akti Miaouli Square on the waterfront. The lines connect Kos Town with the neighboring villages of the east coast and commute between the capital and Lambi, Platani, the Asklepieion, Psalidi, Agios Fokas and the Embros Thermal Baths.
Public transport is not sufficient and flexible enough for a complete exploration of the island. If you don’t want to rent a Kos car, there is also a wide range of organized Kos Bus Tours in small groups. More information is available from our partner GetYourGuide*:
#4 Kos Taxi and Private Transfer
If your hotel does not offer a transfer or shuttle service, the Taxis at Kos Airport are a good alternative. Personally, we can only report positive experiences with taxi rides on Kos so far. It is best to ask the driver for the route price before departure, because the taximeter usually remains switched off.
Taxis are lined up in front of the airport’s entrance hall. The price table for journeys from the airport is posted at the yellow taxi rank. In the high season, it is worthwhile to reserve a taxi in advance or have it organized through the hotel, as the drivers are usually fully booked.
→ More information about the Taxi Providers on Kos: Kostaxi Transfer Services
- Taxi costs airport to Kardamena: Ø approx. 25 €
- Taxi costs airport to Kos Town: Ø approx. 45 €
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🏛️ Must-see highlights & ancient sites
🗺️ Worthwhile spots & insider tips
🚘 Practical info like rentals & parking
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#5 Cycling on Kos
If you really want to work out, then grab an e-bike or mountain bike and off you go to enjoy the beautiful landscape. In the season, many holidaymakers get on their bikes, so Kos is known as the bicycle island of Greece. On windy days, however, cycling is not much fun. Then it’s worth taking a Rental car.
The center of the island is especially suitable for well-trained cyclists, as the foothills of the Dikeos Mountains provide decent mountain stages. Therefore, a functioning mountain or e-bike is a must.
→ Our recommendation for e-bike and Bike rental on Kos:
- Ideal Rentals, Kos Town
- Eco Rentals, Kos Town
- Nikos Bikes, Tigaki
On the other hand, the areas around Kos Town, Lambi, Psalidi, and the northern part of the island are particularly flat and ideal for leisurely cycling tours. There are well-developed bike paths around Kos Town. In other areas, you can either ride on the roads or on unpaved hiking trails.
→ More articles and useful Travel tips for the island of Kos can be found here:
- Kos Holidays – 11 Important information
- Kos Island – Digital travel guide
- Kos Excursions
- Best Hotels Kos
- Kos Island with children
- Our highlights on Kos
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