OUR GUIDE
Kardamena: the beach, the village and getting here
Kardamena (also spelt Kardamaina), on the south coast of Kos, was once a fishing village. Today it has a sandy beach, a centre that comes alive on summer evenings and a harbour with boats to Nisyros.
Apartments
Beach
3 minutes on foot · 241 m
ON FOOT
ON THE ISLAND
- Kardamena Horse Riding Center3 minutes by car
- Aquatica Water park6 minutes by car
- Antimachia windmill10 minutes by car
- Kos Airport10 minutes by car
- Helona beach12 minutes by car
- Castle of Antimachia16 minutes by car
- Zia26 minutes by car
- Kefalos beaches30 minutes by car
- Kos Town40 minutes by car
- Nisyros by boat (May to October)about 50 minutes by boat
The beach
Kardamena beach is mostly sandy and the water is calm on most days, so it works well for families with children too.
Near the centre you’ll find sun loungers, umbrellas, beach bars and water sports. The further you walk, the quieter the shore becomes.
In a few places there are rocks and the water gets deep quickly, so water shoes are a good idea. In July and August the beach gets busy.
- Distance
- About 3 minutes on foot
- Shore
- Mostly sand, with a few rocky spots
- Sun loungers
- On part of the beach, mostly near the centre
The village, day and night
Kardamena has been a holiday resort since the 1960s, and from June to September its population roughly triples. In those months it is one of the liveliest places on the island, with bars, pubs and clubs in the centre, alongside family tavernas and cafés.
Our studios are in the centre and, as several of our guests write, close to everything yet away from the noise.
Looking for a taverna or a café? See our picks on the map, or just ask us.
- Tavernas, bars, cafés
- 3 to 5 minutes on foot
- Main square
- About 4 minutes on foot
- Quiet hours at Diamond Apartments
- 15:00 to 17:30 and 23:00 to 07:30
Getting here
Kos International Airport (Hippocrates) is a short drive or taxi ride away. There is also a taxi rank in the centre of Kardamena.
KTEL Kos buses connect Kardamena with the airport and Kos Town. You buy your ticket on the bus.
Timetables change with the seasons, so check the current one on the KTEL Kos website before you travel.
- Airport
- About 10 minutes by car
- KTEL bus stop
- About 4 minutes on foot
- Taxi rank
- About 3 minutes on foot
- Kos Town
- About 40 minutes by car
Boat to Nisyros
Boats to Nisyros, the island with the volcano, leave from Kardamena harbour. A day trip is enough to get to know it.
Timetables and fares change every season. Check them shortly before you travel, or ask us when you arrive.
- Departs from
- Kardamena harbour, 6 minutes on foot
- Crossing
- About 50 minutes
- Season
- May to October
A little further
Kardamena is built on the site of ancient Halasarna. At the edge of the village, the University of Athens has been excavating since 1985.
Helona beach, to the west, is sandy, organised and usually calm. For water slides there are two water parks: Aquatica, open from May to October, and Lido near Mastichari, open in summer.
In Antimachia you can see the traditional windmill, the only one on Kos that still grinds flour. Near the village stands Antimachia Castle, built by the Knights of St John, with views over the south coast.
For the sunset, drive up to Zia, a mountain village on the slopes of Mount Dikaios. Further away are the beaches of Kefalos, such as Agios Stefanos with the islet of Kastri, and Kos Town with its Castle of the Knights.
- Ancient Halasarna
- About 10 minutes on foot
- Helona beach
- About 4 km
- Aquatica
- 3.1 km, May to October
- Antimachia
- About 10 minutes by car
- Zia
- 25 to 30 minutes by car
- Kefalos beaches
- About 30 minutes by car
Practicalities
Shopping for the kitchenette is easy: supermarkets, ATMs and a pharmacy are all close by. Nearby you’ll also find a bank and doctors’ surgeries.
We don’t have private parking. You can park for free on the surrounding streets, wherever you find a space, or in the free public car park a little further down. The bus stop and the taxi rank are right by the Kritikos supermarket, one next to it and one opposite.
To explore the island, you’ll find car hire in the centre, such as Autopia and International, and scooter hire, such as Ilias Rentals and Peter’s Moto.
- Supermarkets
- Kritikos and Manos, about 3 minutes on foot
- ATM
- 3 minutes on foot
- Pharmacy
- 4 minutes on foot
- Post office
- 5 minutes on foot
- Parking
- Free on the street or in the public car park, 3 minutes on foot
- Car and scooter hire
- 5 to 10 minutes on foot
When to come
July and August are the hottest and driest months. For walks and day trips, choose May or October. In October the sea is still around 22 °C.
Most of the rain falls between November and March.
- For the beach
- June to mid September
- For day trips
- May and October
- Warmest sea
- August, about 24.5 °C
The sea, month by month
| Jan | 16.5 °C |
|---|---|
| Feb | 16 °C |
| Mar | 16 °C |
| Apr | 17 °C |
| May | 19 °C |
| Jun | 22 °C |
| Jul | 23.5 °C |
| Aug | 24.5 °C |
| Sep | 24 °C |
| Oct | 22 °C |
| Nov | 19.5 °C |
| Dec | 17.5 °C |
Frequently asked questions
It depends where you are. On summer evenings the centre is lively, with bars and clubs. Our studios are a few minutes on foot from the main square, and several guests write in their reviews that it is quiet here. Quiet hours at Diamond Apartments are 15:00 to 17:30 and 23:00 to 07:30.
Yes. The beach is mostly sandy and usually calm, and there are two water parks nearby. Children of all ages are welcome at Diamond Apartments, and we have a travel cot and a high chair.
About 10 minutes by car. You can get here by taxi or on the KTEL Kos bus, which stops about 4 minutes on foot from Diamond Apartments.
Not for the beach, the centre or the shops: they are all a few minutes away on foot. To explore the island, you’ll find car and scooter hire in the centre. We don’t have private parking, but parking on the surrounding streets is free and there is a public car park nearby.
By boat from Kardamena harbour, from May to October. The crossing takes about 50 minutes. Timetables change every season, so check them close to your dates.
From June to October the sea averages 22 °C or more. It is warmest in August, at around 24.5 °C.
There are tavernas, restaurants and cafés in the centre, a few minutes on foot. See our picks on the map, or just ask us: guests write that our tips for food and coffee were well worth following.
Stay three minutes from the beach
Four studios in the centre of Kardamena. Send us your dates and we’ll reply personally with availability and a price. No payment now.