Kos International Airport "Hippocrates" Kos Island: Hippocrates Airport awaits guests Kos Airport schedule
Tourists come to Kos mainly for a quiet, contemplative holiday, since there is plenty to see. There are many attractions - natural and historical - on this Greek island. There are two ways to get to Kos - by ferry or by plane. And only in the second way, up to 1.5 million passengers arrive on the island of Kos annually.
Kos International Airport (code - KGS) is located near the village of Antimahia, 27 km southwest of the city of the same name and 5 km southeast of the popular resort of Mastichari. Height above sea level - 216 m. Another name is Hippocrates Airport. The choice of name is obvious: as you know, Kos is the birthplace of the famous ancient healer.
A little history of the airport
The airport on the island of Kos opened in April 1964. Initially, it specialized only in domestic flights. Since October 1980, after the reconstruction of the runway, the length of which was increased to 2400 m, the airport was able to accept international flights. The second terminal was built in 1997.
According to tourists, Kos airport resembles an average Russian one
According to tourists, Kos airport resembles an average Russian one. The only difference is that at the height of the season there can be a number of people on its territory at the same time, almost comparable to the population of a provincial town.
Perhaps, if not for the crisis, 2 airport terminals - old and new - would have been expanded. But while the management company’s plans for reconstruction and redevelopment remain mostly on paper, passengers have to be content with 3,000 sq. m. m of total area.
During the season, there are often queues at check-in counters, customs checkpoints and baggage claim points. Meanwhile, Kos airport is the 6th largest airport in Greece in terms of passenger traffic.
Flights to Kos
It is best to search for air tickets to the island through metasearch engines, so as not to overpay and waste time on connecting routes.
One of the popular options is the Aviasales metasearch engine, which compares offers from more than 700 airlines, offering up-to-date information on the availability of seats on flights, connections and the ability to customize a flexible filter to suit your needs.
Grekoblog has already written in more detail about this search method in articles and.
Scheme and scoreboard
Even the most discerning traveler probably won’t need a map of the airport: it’s hard to get lost in 2 small terminals. Kos is already quite popular among Russian-speaking travelers, so it’s quite possible to communicate in Russian with the staff.
In addition, both the diagram of Kos Airport, which is easy to find on the territory of the terminals, and the signs in English and Greek are generously provided with familiar pictograms.
But you can find out the schedule of departures and arrivals of flights to the airport of Kos Island on our page - the board works online:
Kos Airport on the map:
Buses to the city and resorts
Buses from Kos airport to the capital of the island and to some other localities go from a stop at the terminal. The first departs at 7.55, the last at 19.50 (at 16.15 in low season). In total, 10-11 flights are operated throughout the day on weekdays and 7 on Sundays.
Buses to the capital of the island go through the resort of Mastichari, the journey takes about 45 minutes
It is worth noting that all buses to the capital of Kos go through the resort of Mastichari. The fare is €3.20 (2018). Travel time is about 45 minutes. Buses stop in the city on the embankment near the fortress of the Knights of St. John and at the bus station.
At the stop, which is located in a round square near the airport, you can change to a bus to the city from other parts of Kos. From the bus station in Kos (Cleopatra St., 7) routes depart to all more or less significant settlements on the island: Mastichari, Kardamena, Pili, Marmari, etc.
The first flights depart at 7.30-9.00, the last - at 21.00-23.00. Traffic interval is 1-2 hours. Cost is up to €5 (2018).
Taxi from Kos airport
Buses are buses, but there are often situations when it makes more sense to take a taxi: not all hotels are located along bus routes, and traveling by public transport with a bunch of suitcases on your shoulders is not a pleasant pleasure.
A taxi ride to the capital of the island, Kos, will cost about €35, and since the airport is located almost in the center of the island, a trip to any other resort will not cost much more. Baggage is usually paid separately.
During the high season on the island, there may be problems with available taxis from Kos airport, and a checkered car will either have to be ordered by phone (for a fee) or booked in advance.
The disadvantages of booking with the first operator you come across are obvious. Firstly, both ordering and booking may require at least a superficial knowledge of, if not Greek, then at least English.
Not all hotels on Kos are located along bus routes
Secondly, if the flight is late or there is a delay during passport and customs control, the taxi driver will require an additional fee for the waiting time.
You can solve your car problem profitably by contacting an online taxi ordering service in Greece. Moreover, recently its interface is available in Russian.
The main convenience of the service is that with its help you can independently calculate the fare in advance, and in the fact that the cost of the booking will be fixed regardless of the time the plane is late or the delay in the terminal.
Knowledge of the language is also not required to search for a reserved car: the driver, as a rule, waits for passengers with a sign with their names at the exit from the baggage claim area, but detailed instructions in this regard are sent immediately after the booking is confirmed by email.
Other useful features of the service are the ability to pre-order a car to suit your individual needs, be it large luggage or pre-installed child seats. Grekoblog wrote in more detail about this useful service in the article.
Another taxi service
Not long ago, another fairly serious online taxi ordering service in Greece appeared on the RuNet - KiwiTaxi, which specializes more in delivering cars to/from the airport. And, although KiwiTaxi is younger than its predecessor, the service has already gained popularity among travelers.
It is difficult to say which of these two Internet services is better, each has its own pros and cons, but we all know that when there is a choice and it is possible to compare tariffs, preference is given to the carrier whose cost is more favorable.
Although, we must pay tribute to the younger “brother” - its design is more modern, the version is convenient and understandable for every user, and, importantly, there is Russian-language technical support. If you want to see for yourself, go to the service using this link.
Car rental at the airport
The Kos airport does not provide car rental services, but international and local companies vie with each other to offer their services as soon as tourists pass through the customs control zone.
Choosing the best option, especially during the high season, is not easy on the spot: both the prices and the selection of available cars leave much to be desired, because starting in May, the demand for the local vehicle fleet begins to go off scale, remaining in the “red zone” until mid-September.
And this, in turn, allows car rental companies to raise prices to very immodest levels.
The demand for car rental on Kos during the high season is off the charts
Another trick that Greek car rentals often resort to is not to tell the tourist all the booking conditions at once. For example, inform about the limited permissible mileage or some nuances of car insurance.
The Greek island of Kos is loved by tourists for its unique nature, abundance of ancient monuments and variety of beaches. In the homeland of Hippocrates, conditions have been created for active, family, secluded and excursion recreation. Every year Kos welcomes more than 2 million tourists, most of whom arrive here through the international airport. Kos airport IATA code: KGS.
Flights to Kos Island
History of the airport
The airport is located near the village of Antimachia, 23 km from the capital Kos and 5 km from Mastichari. It bears the name of a famous native of the island - the famous physician Hippocrates - and is called "Hippocrates". The air harbor appeared on Kos in 1964 and at first specialized only in flights within Greece.
By 1973, passenger traffic had increased and it was necessary to reconstruct the runway by lengthening it. In 1980, a new terminal appeared at Kos airport, and at the same time Hippocrates began accepting international flights. And in the late 90s, a second terminal was built - exclusively for arriving passengers. Now the passenger flow of Hippocrates is more than 2.5 million people a year.
Online scoreboard of Kos airport
Kos Airport has direct air connections with most EU countries, Israel, Serbia and Russia (charters from Samara, Moscow, Belgorod, St. Petersburg). Kos can be reached from other regions of Greece: Thessaloniki, Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes, Astypalaia, Leros. Air Berlin, Aegean Airlines, Astra Airlines, Finnair, Ryanair have tickets to Kos.
Infrastructure of Hippocrates Airport
Hippocrates Airport cannot be called either large or overly compact. It has two terminals, and during high season passengers have to wait in queues. At the airport there is a cafe, restaurant and small eateries, Duty Free with a wide selection of Greek goods, souvenirs and perfumes, a medical room, representative offices of local travel agencies and parking for 200 cars and 40 buses.
There are no hotels near the airport, but the nearest hotels are located 4 km away. You can stay at Helona Resort () with a private beach and views of small islands. The hotel has several bars and many services for the comfort of tourists. Small Village () is another good option near the airport. It offers a free shuttle to the beach and fully equipped apartments.
How to get to/from Kos airport
Travel time from the airport to the resorts is: Mastichari, Kardamena - 20 minutes, Kos town - 40 minutes, Marmari - 45 minutes, Tigaki - 60 minutes.
The cheapest option for traveling between Kos town and the airport is by bus. The stop is located on the road, not far from the terminal exit. From here buses go not only to the capital of the island, but also to Mastichari, Kefalos and Kardamena. Ticket price starts from 2 euros. It is worth noting that on weekends and holidays the traffic interval increases to 3 hours.
To get to the towns of Zia, Pili and Tigaki, you will first have to get to the bus station or the Kos embankment (two main stops). After which you need to transfer to the bus to the selected point. Ticket price: 2.10-4.80 euros.
Taxi service offices operate near the passenger terminal. The cost of a trip to the center of Kos will be 25-30 euros. It is also possible to order a transfer. The minimum cost is 50 euros. For ordering mini-buses for 8-12 people - 80-95 euros. During high season, it is better to prefer online booking. It makes it possible to find out the cost of the trip in advance.
There are rental offices near the airport: Hertz, Avis, Europcar. Here you can rent a car, motorcycle or scooter. The price of renting a car starts from 34 euros.
- identification document specified in the order,
- birth certificate when flying with children,
- printed itinerary receipt (optional).
What can you take on a plane?
Carry-on luggage is the items you will take with you into the cabin. The weight limit for hand luggage can vary from 5 to 10 kg, and its size most often should not exceed the sum of three dimensions (length, width and height) from 115 to 203 cm (depending on the airline). A handbag is not considered hand luggage and is carried freely.
The bag you take with you on the plane should not contain knives, scissors, medicines, aerosols, or cosmetics. Alcohol from duty free stores can only be transported in sealed bags.
How to pay for luggage at the airport
If the weight of luggage exceeds the standards established by the airline (most often 20-23 kg), you need to pay for each kilogram of excess. In addition, many Russian and foreign airlines, as well as low-cost airlines, have tariffs that do not include free baggage allowance and must be paid separately as an additional service.
In this case, luggage must be checked in at the airport at a separate Drop-off check-in counter. If you are unable to print your boarding pass, you can obtain one at the airline's regular check-in counter, and check-in and check-in your luggage there.
Where to find out the arrival time if you are a greeter
You can find out the plane's arrival time on the airport's online board. The Tutu.ru website has an online display of the main Russian and foreign airports.
You can find out the exit number (gate) on the arrivals board at the airport. This number is located next to the incoming flight information.
What to do if your flight is canceled
If a flight is canceled more than 24 hours before departure, passengers will be transferred to similar airline flights. The carrier bears the costs; the service is free for the passenger. If you are not satisfied with any of the options offered by the airline, most airlines can issue an “involuntary return.” Once confirmed by the airline, the money will be returned to your account. Sometimes this can take several weeks.
How to check in at the airport
Online check-in is available on most airline websites. Most often it opens 23 hours before the start of the flight. You can go through it no later than 1 hour before the plane departs.
To check in at the airport you will need:
The island of Kos is part of the Dodecanese archipelago, better known as the Southern Sporades. It is located in the Aegean Sea in Greece, but only 4 kilometers away are the resorts of Bodrum, Türkiye. Every year thousands of tourists flock to this amazing island - Kos. Hippocrates Airport is the only air harbor of this paradise.
Description
The air gate is located 26 kilometers from the administrative center of the island, which is also called Kos. The airport is relatively large and consists of two terminals. Every day, this “gate of heaven” receives planes from the mainland. Charter flights, in turn, have a wide range of destinations. The airport operates at increased speed during the hot summer months. During the hot tourist season, it becomes the sixth largest city in terms of passenger turnover throughout Greece.
Story
Hippocrates Airport was built in 1964. At this time, the total length of the runways did not exceed 1,200 meters. It was then that this small airport gave impetus to the development of the tourism industry in this territory. As Kos became wildly popular, ten years later the total length of the stripes was doubled. By the end of the 1980s, the island's air harbor was already overloaded. This gave impetus to the transformation and expansion of the complex. The new terminal, built in the 90s of the last century, now only accepts tourists. While the old one sends them home from the island of Kos. The airport has started a new life!
Services
The services provided at the Hippocrates building may seem meager compared to other similar European airports. You will not find business or conference rooms here. But there is a police station with friendly staff, as well as a medical center. In stores that offer duty-free goods, you can buy alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and perfumes. Here you can find many restaurants, cafes and bars that serve this airport. Kos Island is not a place where you can change money. It is better to undergo this procedure in Athens.
How to get to Kos island
The airport mainly accepts only domestic and charter flights. Residents of Russia mainly get to the island through Athens. A connecting flight usually takes about 12 hours. The cost of one-way tickets varies, starting from 7,000 rubles. The main airlines serving this route are Eigen and Air Berlin. You may have to choose a combination of them to get to a given airport.
