Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
Behind it lies Alykes, a shallow salt lake that fills in winter and draws birds, including flamingos in spring. That combination, a resort beach and a wetland behind it, is unusual and worth an hour of anyone’s time.
The beach
Pale sand, gently shelving water, and a strip of hotels, tavernas and rental shops along the road behind. It is fully organised in season, with loungers, umbrellas and watersports, and long enough that walking away from the centre thins the crowd noticeably.
The wind is the variable. This coast catches the summer meltemi, which is why the boards are here; it also means blown sand and chop on the strongest afternoons. Mornings are usually calmer.
The salt lake
Alykes sits a few minutes inland behind the beach, and it is a seasonal wetland: full and busy with birds in the cooler months, dry and salt-crusted in high summer. Flamingos are the headline sighting in spring, though nothing about wildlife is guaranteed on any given day.
Walk or cycle the track around it early in the morning. Kos is flat enough that a bicycle is genuinely useful here, which our things to do in Kos page treats as the island’s organising fact.
Who it suits
Good for: families with small children, beginners on a board, cyclists, and anyone who wants a straightforward organised beach close to town.
Less good for: anyone wanting deep water off the sand, a quiet cove, or shelter on a windy day.
Getting there
Tigaki is a short drive or bus ride west of Kos Town, and it is a comfortable cycle on the flat coastal route. It is also a base in its own right, which where to stay in Kos covers.
Last checked August 2026. Seasonal facilities and bus routes change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Is Tigaki beach good for children?
Yes. The water is shallow a long way out and the beach is sandy and fully organised in season.
Are there flamingos at Tigaki?
The Alykes salt lake behind the beach attracts birds including flamingos, most reliably in spring. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Is Tigaki windy?
It catches the summer meltemi, which suits windsurfers and can mean chop and blown sand on the strongest afternoons.
How far is Tigaki from Kos Town?
A short drive or bus ride west along the north coast, and an easy cycle on flat roads.
Is Tigaki a good base on Kos?
It works for families who want a beach-first stay with facilities, while Kos Town suits people who want the sights and the evening.
Next
Read best beaches in Kos, things to do in Kos, or where to stay in Kos.