Kos is one of the best known and most popular of the Greek islands, offering visitors a good mix of sightseeing and sandy beaches.

When to go

During June, July, August and September it will be very hot in Kos and the resorts will be very busy during the peak season, UK school summer holidays. In the spring or autumn the temperatures will still be about 20C or perhaps slightly less and the beaches and towns will be much quieter.

How to get there

Most people travelling to Kos will book a package holiday, flight and hotel combined, however it is still possible to book a cheap flight. Kos is about three hours flight time from London and slightly longer from other UK airports. One should be able to book a return flight in the off season for a little over £150 going up to around £250 during the peak season.

What to do

If you just want to lie on a beach all day, read a good book and sip you cocktail then Kos will not disappoint you. The island's coastline is dotted with beaches and resorts of varying size, facilities and charm. However there is a great deal more to do on your trip to Kos than just sit on the beach.

For a start there is Kos Town itself, which is full of cafes and bars shaded by enormous plane trees and looking out onto pleasant squares where you can sit and watch the world go by. There is a large 15th century castle and many Greek and Roman remains that you can explore. If you like to shop there is everything from stylish boutiques to tourist markets selling comedy lighters and straw hats.

If you venture inland there are a host of small villages with old churches and castles that appear untouched by the development Kos has undergone in the last few decades and allow you to see the Greek way of life. Don't miss the beautiful windmill at Andimakia.

Kos' favourite son Hippocrates is remembered at Asklepion with a vast sanatorium built in 450BC the remains of which still stand and are worth exploring.

If you avoid the British tourist restaurants and look around off the beaten track you will be able to sample some wonderful genuine Greek food in small family run restaurants - look out for where the locals are eating.

It may be transformed almost beyond all recognition, from a quaint Greek island into a concrete tourist resort, but there is still plenty of the original island left if you are prepared to look for it.

After you have found and booked your flight to Kos make sure you have a look for a cheap hotel in Kos, there is a great range for all budgets.