Kos weather
Kos is a popular holiday destination famous for its sandy beaches and Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers and mild rainy winters.
Summer is hot and dry with temperatures reaching 35°C in July and August. Winters are mild and wet, and the temperatures can drop to around 15°C in December- February period.
The months of July and August are the warmest months with an average daily maximum temperature of 35 °C. The summer months are particularly dry with an average total rainfall of just 2 mm.
Kos weather averages and climate
Average daily max (°C) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
15.4 | 15.5 | 18.1 | 21.4 | 26.6 | 32.1 | 35.1 | 34.9 | 30.7 | 26.0 | 21.0 | 17.0 | 24.5 |
Average relative humidity (%) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
67 | 67 | 61 | 61 | 59 | 52 | 50 | 53 | 57 | 62 | 67 | 70 | 60 |
Average rainfall (mm) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
120 | 111 | 60 | 44 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 55 | 96 | 163 | 684 |
Average daily sunshine (hrs) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
Average wind speed (mph) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
5.5 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 4.9 |
If you are a heat lover, the best time to enjoy the island is summer when the weather is guaranteed to be dry and hot with 12 hours of sunshine each day.
When is the best time to go to Kos?
Both spring and autumn are milder with the average temperatures at around 23 °C and some chances of rainfall.
Summer
Summer is the most popular time to visit the island as the weather is guaranteed to be hot, sunny and dry. The chances of rainfall are nearly nonexistent around this time of the year.
Its also the brightest time of the year with 12 hours of sunshine in July and 11 hours in June and August. The sea temperatures are also at their highest at this time of the year.
Winter
Winter is the coldest season on the island with temperatures falling as low as 15.4 °C in January. This is also the wettest time of the year with the maximum average rainfall at 120 mm.
If you are planning to visit Kos in the winter, you may need to wrap up and pack an umbrella. The sea temperatures are at 16 - 18 °C making it too cold for swimming for all but the most adventurous visitors.
Spring/Autumn
Spring and autumn may not be the best time of year to visit for sunbathing or swimming, but are perfect for taking part in outdoor activities.
The average temperatures in spring and autumn are between 18 °C to 26 °C and the average rainfall ranges from 18 mm in May to 96 mm in November. There is still plenty of sunshine as the island receives between 6 to 10 hours of clear skies each day.
Extremes
The island of Kos has relatively low chances of major storms or weather hazards. Thunderstorms are probably the most extreme weather conditions you experience on the island and usually only occur in autumn and winter.
Kos tourist information
The Greek island of Kos is a part of the Dodecanese islands in the Aegean Sea.
The island can be traced back to prehistoric times, about 3000 years BC. Gradually the island began to manufacture high quality silk and produce its own wine which gave Kos its wealth. Today the main industry in the area is tourism, as travellers are drawn to the beautiful beaches.
The centre of the island, also named Kos, is most attractive to tourists with its whitewash buildings, places to dine and a bustling nightlife. The second industry of Kos is farming and the production of grapes, olives and tomatoes as well as wheat.
Possibly the most famous person said to be from Kos is Hippocrates. He is known as the founder of Medical Science and was also an important philosopher of the time.
There are many cultural events and festivals to experience during a visit to Kos. The most important is the Hippokratia Festival where the Hippocratic Oath is read at the start of the festival and is then followed by concerts, exhibitions, workshops and dances.
Understandably water sports are particularly popular around the island with opportunities to try out various sports like water skiing, wind surfing and scuba diving.
During your stay be sure to visit the Archaeological Museum of Kos and discover the hundreds of artefacts that have been excavated over the years. Go into Kos Town and treat yourself to a spot of retail therapy or take a day trip to the volcanic island of Nisyros where you can walk right around the edge of the crater and experience the incredible heat.