Kos, Greece

During our 2025 summer holiday, we decided to make a short escape from Bodrum to Kos. Without overplanning, we chose a one-night stay, aiming for a quick but enjoyable island experience—and it turned out exactly as we imagined.

Kos Island is located in the Aegean Sea and is one of the closest Greek islands to Turkey. It is also known as Istanköy in Turkish. Reaching Kos from Bodrum is incredibly easy, with a ferry ride of only 20–25 minutes, which makes it a perfect destination for a short getaway.

Accommodation: A Warm Family-Run Hotel

We had booked our hotel in advance through Booking. Luckily, we ended up staying at a Turkish-run hotel in Kos.Our choice was Marie Hotel, a true family-run place. The breakfasts were especially memorable—prepared lovingly by the hotel owner, Aunt Gülşen, herself. It truly felt like home.

First Day in Kos: Exploring the Town Center

We didn’t plan much for Kos. Our idea was simple: cross from Bodrum, stay one night, and return—and that’s exactly what we did.

After settling into our hotel, we headed out to explore Kos town center. The center isn’t very large, which makes it easy to explore on foot. A walk along the seaside, followed by strolling through the small streets filled with shops and cafés, is more than enough to enjoy the area.

A small tip for the evening:Restaurant reservations are a must! Especially during the summer season, it can be difficult to find a table without one. Even though we were just two people, we barely managed to find a place.

A Pleasant Surprise Before Departure: The Tourist Train 🚂

While waiting for our return ferry the next day, we came across the tourist train by chance and decided to hop on—and we’re so glad we did 🙂Thanks to the train, we were able to see many places that we wouldn’t have reached on foot in such a short time. If you ever visit Kos, this is something you should definitely do.