Kefalos consists of two parts: the coastal settlement of Kamari, with the port of Kefalos, and the traditional village on the hill. When choosing a hotel in Kefalos, it is worth distinguishing between these two settings: Kamari is all about the coast and port, while the village above is defined by narrow lanes and closely packed houses in island architecture. This gives you a specific question to start with: would you mainly like to explore the coastal setting of Kamari or the traditional hilltop village?

Basilicas and historical traces

In 1932, Italian archaeologist Luciano Laurenzi discovered the ruins of a complex of two early Christian basilicas with three levels by the sea in Kamari Bay. The well-preserved Basilicas of Agios Stefanos date from 469 and 554 AD. They are in Kamari Bay, 42 kilometres from Kos Town, and can also be reached on foot from Kamari’s sandy beach. This means you can consider the beach and early Christian architecture as two separate points in the same area.

Kefalos Castle also dates from Byzantine times. The Knights of St John built it on the foundations of a fortification dating from 1271. Aspri Petra Cave offers another glimpse into the past: it is on the summit of Mount Zini in Kefalos, 257 metres above sea level, in the southwest of the island. Finds from the cave are attributed to the Neolithic period and the beginning of the Bronze Age, approximately around 3000 BC. In contrast to the Basilicas of Agios Stefanos, Aspri Petra therefore points to prehistoric periods; the two historical sites are located in the cave on Mount Zini and in Kamari Bay, respectively.

Sandy beaches and getting your bearings around Kefalos

Easily accessible sandy beaches lie close together in the Gulf of Kefalos. Kamari in Kefalos is a very large, sunny sandy beach. Agios Stefanos Beach is considered perhaps the most popular, picturesque and most photographed beach on the island. Kochilari is on the northern side of Kefalos, about 37 kilometres from Kos Town. Agios Theologos Beach is also nearby, around seven kilometres west of Kefalos. This makes it easy to distinguish the coastal spots by their locations: Kochilari is north of the village, while Agios Theologos is to the west.

What Kos offers beyond Kefalos

If you plan to explore more of Kos beyond Kefalos, the island also has apiaries that you can visit: there, you can taste honey and learn about the production process firsthand. One local food product is Krasotyri from Kos, a white cheese made from sheep’s or goat’s milk with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. It is matured in grape pomace for at least one month.

Kos has ten cycling routes for all ability levels, including completely flat, mountainous, mixed, unpaved and steep routes. Hiking offers a different focus: at 846 metres, Dikeos is the highest mountain on Kos, and a well-maintained, marked trail begins in Zia.

Bus services cover Kos as a whole, too: local KTEL buses run from every settlement on Kos, with numerous regular services to Kos Town. Check the timetable before planning a journey.

Discover more destinations: Pali, Marmari, Antimachia, Mandrákion, Kardámaina, Tigkaki, Kos, Mastichari.

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