Kos Aktis Art Hotel

Kos Aktis Art Hotel is the choice for travellers who want to stay inside Kos Town rather than at a beach resort. It stands on Vasileos Georgiou on the waterfront, so the sea is across the road and almost everything you came to see is within a short walk. The plane tree linked with Hippocrates is about three minutes away on foot, the Ancient Agora about five, the port about seven and the castle of the Knights about nine, which means you can see the town's headline sights without a taxi or a car. The property details give it a class of four, and guests rate it very highly, which is notable for a hotel in the centre of a busy port town. Rooms are arranged around the sea. The main types include double rooms with an ocean view, junior suites with a sea view and a sea-front collection room, all sleeping up to three people with a king bed or twin beds. Sizes are modest for the double rooms and more generous for the suites, so choose according to how much time you plan to spend in the room. Air conditioning is standard, as is free in-room WiFi, and a front-desk safe and luggage storage help when you arrive early or leave late for a ferry. There is a terrace, a garden and a coffee shop, and a free breakfast buffet is part of the stay.

The on-site restaurant, called H2O, serves international dishes through the day with views of the water, and the neighbourhood around the hotel is full of cafes, bakeries and bars. Bar Street is a short walk away, so evenings can be lively, and light sleepers should ask for a room on a quieter side or away from the street.

Cyclists will like that the hotel offers bike rentals, as Kos Town is flat and has dedicated lanes, and a limousine or town car service can be arranged for airport transfers. The airport is roughly a half-hour drive away.

The outdoor pool and sun loungers give you somewhere to cool off after a morning of sightseeing, but this is not a beach resort. Guests mention a deck on the shore with direct access to the sea for swimming, and the property details name nearby beaches, so you can swim without a long journey. A Green Key sustainability certification is mentioned, which will matter to travellers who care about environmental practice. Free parking on site is helpful for anyone renting a car for day trips.

Who is it for? Couples, history lovers, first-time visitors and anyone who wants to leave the car at the hotel and walk to dinner. It suits shoulder-season stays well, because the town stays open and active after the beach resorts quiet down, although you should check the hotel's operating dates. Families will find the suites useful, and the sea-view junior suite is the room to ask for if you want a balcony-style outlook.

The main trade-off is that you are in a town rather than on a long sandy beach, so if swimming is your priority, consider a resort at Lambi or on the north coast. For a base that combines convenience, character and good reviews, this is one of the best-placed options in Kos Town.