Greece : Safety by CityKos is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Dodecanese.
It is located in the south-eastern part of the Aegean Sea.
If you’re going to Greece and you want to visit a more traditional island with a lot of tourists, a lot of ancient structures, the second biggest tourist attraction in Greece and the island of The Father of Western Medicine then Kos is for you.
You can also visit one of the world’s firsts western hospitals, and hire a guide at the gate.
Finally, you can take a boat trip to Patmos and the cave of Revelation and have a wonderful time.
Warnings & Dangers in Kos
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Kos is a very safe city to travel to. Tourists are unlikely to experience any crime or violence. The only concern is a petty crime on the streets, but if you apply the basic precaution measures, your trip should go smoothly.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Taxis and other means of transportation are, overall, very safe to use in Kos.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets, theft and bag snatching do exist, but it's not as common as you would expect. Pickpockets usually lurk around popular tourist attractions, but applying simple precaution measures should minimize this risk.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Other than the ever-present risk of drowning at sea, there are no other threats in Kos when it comes to natural disasters.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Kos is relatively safe when it comes to mugging or kidnapping. It rarely happens to tourists, but you should avoid dangerous areas.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Even though there haven't been any terrorist attacks in Kos's recent history, they shouldn't be ruled out.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Since Greece is a top tourist destination, it is no wonder that people will try to scam you in Kos, especially during summer when the number of tourists increases. Watch out for street vendors trying to rip you off and overcharge for their service, double-check the authenticity of everything you want to buy as well as the change you receive and negotiate everything in advance.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
It is very safe for women to travel to Kos. Just follow common sense and applying basic precaution measures (not walking around in the dark, in empty streets, not finding yourself alone with strange men) should ensure that your travel goes without any incidents.
So... How Safe Is Kos Really?
Kos is a very safe city to visit.
Since it’s so popular among foreigners, it is very welcoming towards its tourists and all the known risks and traps are unlikely to happen, and even more so to tourists, but they shouldn’t be ruled out due to the serious economic crisis Greece has been in in the recent years.
Pickpocketing and bag snatching is a serious issue in Greece, and – by extension Kos too, especially around tourist landmarks and in crowded places, so it would be best to either leave your money at your hotel or just carry it in a very safe place near your body so it couldn’t get snatched.
Never carry all your money in the same place.
Even though petty crime is common, violent crime is unlikely to happen.
The only thing that can happen is fights between intoxicated tourists on the streets and even that doesn’t happen more than it would in any other country.
You probably won’t encounter such events, but if you do – avoid any kinds of public gatherings connected to the politics, for your safety.
Apart from looking out for your belongings and staying vigilant for any pickpockets, you are unlikely to experience any crime in this gorgeous country.
How Does Kos Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Kos | 81 |
| Athens | 66 |
| Heraklion | 82 |
| Rhodes | 83 |
| Thessaloniki | 63 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
Useful Information
Visas
Visas for Greece are usually not required for any stays lasting less than 90 days, and EU residents can stay in the country for as long as they like. Your passport should be valid for at least six months past the date of your return from the country you are visiting. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Greek embassy for further information.
Currency
Euro is the official currency in Kos. You can exchange your money in exchange offices and banks all around the city, and use ATMs normally. There are, however, some restrictions when it comes to the amount of money you can withdraw per day. Greece is relatively cheap compared to other European tourist destinations, so you can count on spending between 60 and 80€ per day.
Weather
The weather in Kos is sunny and warm during summer, mild during autumn and spring and cold during winter. It has all four seasons of the year, although they are milder. The best time to visit is during summer, from May to September,
Airports
Kos International Airport "Hippocrates" is an airport serving the island of Kos. The airport is located near to Andimachia village.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Kos, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Kos Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 14 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 24 | 19 | 16 |
| Low °C | 7 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 9 |
| High °F | 57 | 57 | 61 | 68 | 75 | 84 | 90 | 90 | 82 | 75 | 66 | 61 |
| Low °F | 45 | 45 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 66 | 72 | 70 | 66 | 59 | 54 | 48 |
Greece - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Athens | 66 |
| Heraklion | 82 |
| Kos | 81 |
| Rhodes | 83 |
| Thessaloniki | 63 |
Lovely island
You do not have to worry about crime or anything like that here. It happens on such a rare occasion that not going to Kos because of it would be insane! What is wonderful about this area in Greece as well is the fact that there is no cat problem. If you go to other areas you will quickly find that you are surrounded in feline friends looking for food and not many of them are clean. Highly recommend Kos if you can afford it and want to avoid cat haven.
Everywhere else in Greece is nice!
Having never been to Kos myself, I can only speak on behalf of other trips to Greece. I have never had any issues aside from poor customer service a few times. I will be going to Kos in the near future and I am looking forward to it. I am shocked it isn’t rated higher honestly. It sounds lovely.
How safe is it go now to Kos ? We are going In mid of October.
We’ve enjoyed our stay
If you go the resort route you will be living the life, great service and excellent spa. If you venture outside the walls of the resort you will have no problem exploring the city by yourself. I trusted google maps to find everything I needed. You might find the odd local that speaks English and is in the mood for chat so boredom is out of the question. The only criminal offense I’ve seen was the price for some souvenirs haha.
We’re a family of six going to Kos in June 2022 my wife and I have been there twice before, and always enjoyed the friendly atmosphere there. The weather in June is lovely, not too hot, just right.
We have never encountered any issues there, but as anywhere else in the world it’s always best to take care. We are really looking forward to going this year after all the stress of covid.
Extremely welcoming and safe
As a single mother of 3 teenagers I felt very safe here. Lots to do. No hassle or scams, lovely and very kind locals. I didn’t feel fleeced like I have in some countries. The Greeks are lovely people. Hired a beach buggy and drove around, Zia is very beautiful