Marmari Holidays

Marmari sits very quietly on the northwest coast of the island of Kos. Its main waterfront street comes with a handful of welcoming shops, bars and restaurants, while the long sandy beach is the height of relaxation. As for getting out and about, you’re only 15 minutes away from the capital, Kos Town.

The beach at Marmari gets star treatment, with a daily cleaning and raking of the sand to keep it in pristine condition. It’s a long straight stretch spooling along for 2 kilometres, with an area of dunes at one end, and a good crop of parasols and sunloungers with lots of room to go round. The beach is quite flat, allowing the breeze to pick up a pace that makes it popular with windsurfers.

The island’s main hub, Kos Town, is a 15-minute drive from Marmari. It’s oozing with history, with a Medieval castle, Roman baths and a small amphitheatre that still puts on frequent performances. Hippocrates’ Plane Tree, in front of the castle, is an essential stop – it’s said to be the spot where the father of medicine taught his students. And for shopping and café culture there’s Eleftherias Square, where market stalls and quirky shops sit side by side with pavement cafés and bars.