Kos is a long way from Athens by sea and very close by air, and the choice between them is not really about time.
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The two options
The ferry from Piraeus is a Dodecanese line run, typically ten to twelve hours or more, usually sailing in the evening and arriving in the morning. Cabins are available and are worth taking; a deck seat for that long is a poor idea.
The line calls at a rotating set of islands on the way, which can include Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Nisyros, Symi and Rhodes depending on the sailing.
The flight takes about an hour. Kos has a busy airport with heavy charter traffic from northern Europe in summer, and domestic flights year-round.
Which to choose
Fly if Kos is the destination and your time is the constraint. Nearly everyone should.
Take the boat if you are island-hopping the Dodecanese anyway, or you want a cabin overnight instead of a hotel night, or you are bringing a car.
What is on Kos
The island is flat, long, green by Aegean standards, and unusually good for cycling, which is how a lot of people get around it.
- Kos town has a Hippocratic history and the Asklepion, the ancient healing sanctuary on a terraced hillside above it, plus a large castle at the harbour and Roman remains through the town.
- The beaches run down the southern coast and are long and sandy.
- Kefalos and the west end are quieter.
Onward
Kos is one of the best Dodecanese bases. Nisyros, with its walk-in volcanic caldera, is a straightforward day trip. Kalymnos is twenty minutes away, Pserimos sits in between, and Bodrum in Turkey is a short international crossing.
Last checked August 2026. Ferry and flight schedules change seasonally - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
How long is the ferry from Athens to Kos?
Usually ten to twelve hours or more from Piraeus, typically sailing overnight, depending on how many Dodecanese islands the service calls at.
Is there a flight from Athens to Kos?
Yes, about an hour, with year-round domestic services and heavy international charter traffic in summer.
Should you fly or take the ferry to Kos?
Fly unless you are island-hopping the Dodecanese, want an overnight cabin instead of a hotel, or are bringing a car.
What else is on the Kos ferry line?
Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Nisyros, Symi and Rhodes appear on the Dodecanese runs, varying by sailing.
What is there to do on Kos?
The Asklepion above Kos town, the harbour castle and Roman remains, long southern beaches, and easy cycling on flat terrain.
Next
Read Kos, Kalymnos, or Kos to Bodrum.