Psalidi Holidays

Psalidi is a small, modern resort on the east coast of Kos. It’s so close to the capital, Kos Town, that it could almost be classed as a suburb. Even with some of the island’s most exclusive hotels lined up along its unspoilt seafront, it’s still a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it place, making it ideal to really recharge your batteries.

Psalidi has a V-shaped stretch of sand and pebble that’s got rubber-stamped family credentials. With a gently shelving beach, even the smallest children will feel safe paddling in the shallow Aegean Sea. Bigger children will enjoy the portfolio of watersports that ticks off windsurfing and kite-surfing. With the Turkish mainland in the distance, it’s really picturesque. And a 20-minute walk away is Therma Beach, where you can simmer in the hot springs that bubble up from the earth.

Running parallel to the beach is Psalidi’s easy-going promenade where you’ll find no shortage of restaurants serving wholesome Greek fare and friendly bars, too. It also fits in a family bakery, a couple of gift shops and a supermarket selling holiday essentials. Plus, you’ve got a scuba diving school and a mountain bike shop that organises trips into the island’s rugged interior for more adventurous types.

A 25-minute walk along the promenade is Kos Town. The island’s capital packs in plenty of historical sights like the 14th-century Neratzia Castle by the harbour front, and the famous plane tree of Hippocrates where the father of Western medicine used to give lectures under its leafy boughs. And if you like to party, you’ll find back-to-back bars and clubs along Bar Street that are always good fun.