Kefalos between coast and history

Kefalos combines a coastal settlement with a traditional village on the hill. There are also sandy beaches, a striking coastal landscape and historic sites whose history dates back to antiquity. When choosing a holiday rental, you can decide whether you would rather focus on Kamari and the harbour or on the village setting, with its hill, narrow lanes and closely spaced houses.

Kamari and the village on the hill

Kefalos consists of two parts: Kamari is the coastal settlement and includes the port of Kefalos; the other part is the traditional village on the hill. There, narrow lanes and closely spaced houses in island architecture define the village setting. The two sides of the destination offer different experiences: Kamari is associated with the coast, while the village is characterised by its elevated location and traditional buildings.

Sandy beaches and getting your bearings along the coast

Easily accessible sandy beaches lie close together in the Gulf of Kefalos. Kamari is a very large, sunny sandy beach. Agios Stefanos Beach is considered possibly the island’s most popular, picturesque and most photographed beach. This makes it possible to include different coastal locations in your travel plans without reducing them to a single beach experience.

The locations of other beaches can also help you get your bearings: Kochilari is on the north side of Kefalos, about 37 kilometres from Kos Town. Agios Theologos Beach is approximately seven kilometres west of Kefalos. Camel Beach is a few kilometres before the Gulf of Kefalos.

Cave, basilicas and castle

Aspri Petra Cave is located on the summit of Mount Zini, 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, around 3000 BC. The site adds an archaeological perspective on very early traces of settlement to the coastal landscape.

In 1932, Italian archaeologist Luciano Laurenzi discovered the ruins of a complex of two early Christian basilicas, each with three naves, by the sea in Kamari Bay. The well-preserved basilicas of Agios Stefanos date from 469 and 554 AD. They are located in Kefalos, in Kamari Bay, 42 kilometres from Kos Town, and can also be reached on foot from Kamari’s sandy beach. The walk connects a stay on the coast with a specific historic site.

Another stop for history enthusiasts is Kefalos Castle. It dates back to the Byzantine period. The Knights of St John built it on the foundations of a fortification from the 13th century (1271). The cave, basilicas and castle thus represent different historical periods to consider when planning excursions alongside the beaches.

Kos as a wider destination

Beyond Kefalos, Kos offers further opportunities for an active holiday. At 846 metres, Dikeos is the highest mountain on Kos; a well-maintained and marked hiking trail starts in Zia. The island also has cycling routes for all ability levels: the routes described range from completely flat to mountainous and mixed, as well as unpaved and steep. The municipal tourism portal presents ten cycling routes on Kos in total.

Kos also offers culinary discoveries. At apiaries open to visitors, guests can taste honey and learn about the production process firsthand. Another local product is Krasotyri of Kos: this PGI-protected white cheese is made from sheep’s or goat’s milk and matured in grape pomace for at least one month.

Discover more destinations: Kos, Marmari, Kardamaina, Asfendiou, Antimachia, Pali, Nikia, Mandraki.

Go to the main travel overview: Kos.