Kos port transfers are private car, minivan and taxi rides that meet ferry and cruise passengers at the harbour of Kos Town and drive them to the airport, a hotel in town or a resort such as Tigaki, Mastichari, Kardamena or Kefalos, or bring travellers back to their boat. Greece Tours lists the transfers that start in Greece.
This page covers where the driver meets you, each route, the boats from Mastichari and Kardamena, journey times, vehicles, booking, late ferries, the bus, taxi and hire car options and the tours that include the transfer, with links to the rest of Kos. The transfers below are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.
What are Kos port transfers?
Kos port transfers are private rides by car, minivan or taxi between a harbour on Kos and the airport or a hotel. The driver meets ferry and cruise passengers at the port, carries only their party and charges a fixed fare agreed at booking.
Kos port transfers run from door to door. The driver waits at the port as the ship docks, drives the party straight to the address on the booking and shares the vehicle with no other passengers, unlike a shared shuttle that makes up to 8 stops on its route. Operators cover the whole island, from Kos Town in the east to Kefalos in the west.
The fare includes taxes, fees and tolls, and one Kos operator holds a licence from the Greek National Tourism Organisation. Kos port transfers suit travellers who reach the island by sea with heavy luggage, small children or a flight to catch: operators fit child seats on request, and wheelchair users can book an adapted vehicle with a rear lift or ramp.
Where do Kos port transfers meet ferry and cruise passengers?
Kos port transfers meet ferry and cruise passengers at the main harbour of Kos Town and at the small ports of Mastichari and Kardamena. The driver tracks the ship in real time, then waits at the port holding a sign with the passenger’s name.
The main harbour sits in Kos Town, at the eastern end of the island. Its ferry quay lies north of Neratzia, the fortress that the Knights Hospitaller raised at the harbour entrance in 1315, while the smaller Mandraki harbour takes excursion boats. Ferries from Piraeus, Rhodes, Patmos and Leros dock here daily, and Kos port transfers start from the quay.
Two smaller harbours serve the other coasts. Mastichari, a fishing village and resort on the north-west side, has a port with regular boats to Kalymnos, and Kardamena, mid-way along the south coast, sends daily boats to Nisyros in summer. Kos port transfers collect passengers at both and drive them to the airport, to a hotel or across the island.
At each port, the meeting follows the airport meet-and-greet, with the driver at hand to help with the bags. One operator confirms each ride the day before, has the driver contact the passenger directly and marks its pickup spot at Kos port on a map, so Kos port transfers begin without a search along the quay.
Which Kos port transfers run to Kos Airport?
Kos port transfers to Kos Airport (KGS) leave the harbour of Kos Town and run 24 kilometres along the main road towards Kefalos to the terminal near Antimachia. Rides from the ports of Mastichari and Kardamena are shorter, since both sit close to the airport.
The airport carries the name of Hippocrates and is run by Fraport. It serves mainly charter airlines and peaks in summer, with flights chiefly from German and British carriers, so Kos port transfers to the terminal suit island hoppers who end their trip on Kos and fly home, as well as cruise passengers who leave their ship here.
Kos port transfers to the airport end at the terminal building, where the driver helps with the bags. In the other direction, the driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign and follows the flight in real time. Private one-way rides from hotels to the terminal run round the clock, and our page on Kos airport transfers covers them in full.
Which Kos port transfers run to hotels in Kos Town, Psalidi and Lambi?
Kos port transfers to hotels in Kos Town, Lambi and Psalidi are short rides that start at the quay and stay close to town. Lambi lies 1 kilometre from the harbour on the west side, and Psalidi sits on the road to Agios Fokas.
Kos Town is the island’s main port and the seat of its municipality, and more than 19,000 people, over half the island’s population, live in the town district. Hotels, restaurants and a bar street fill its whitewashed centre, so Kos port transfers here are brief rides that suit guests with heavy suitcases, pushchairs or small children. Our Kos Town page covers the town itself.
Lambi forms the western continuation of Kos Town, and Faros, with its own hotels and rooms to rent, extends that strip for another 3 kilometres. A seafront cycle path links the port with Faros, but Kos port transfers remain the easier option for guests who arrive with suitcases.
Psalidi lies close to Kos Town on the road towards Agios Fokas and Therma, and Agios Fokas itself sits 8 kilometres from town along the same road. One transfer firm lists Psalidi, Lambi and Agios Fokas among its drop-off points from the ferry port, and Kos port transfers stop at the hotel entrance anywhere on this stretch.
Which Kos port transfers run to Tigaki, Marmari and Mastichari?
Kos port transfers to Tigaki, Marmari and Mastichari leave Kos Town on the main road west towards Kefalos. Tigaki lies 1.5 kilometres off that road, Marmari sits 15 kilometres west of town, and Mastichari 22 kilometres west, near Antimachia and the airport.
Tigaki grew from a farming village and fishing port into a holiday resort, and its centre stands 150 metres from the sea. Kos port transfers turn off the main road for the final 1.5 kilometres and stop at the hotel door, which suits families bound for the shallow, sandy shore described on our Tigaki beach page.
Marmari’s beach runs on into the beach of Mastichari, and the village keeps a small harbour where little boats moor. Its shore suits kite surfing, so Kos port transfers to Marmari carry boards and kit for riders as well as families with their luggage.
Mastichari, a fishing village and resort of 479 residents, has been inhabited only since 1933, when an earthquake struck a nearby village and its people moved here. Boats to Kalymnos leave from its harbour, so Kos port transfers both meet arrivals there and bring departing guests from hotels across the island. See our page on Mastichari for the village.
Which Kos port transfers run to Kardamena and Kefalos?
Kos port transfers to Kardamena and Kefalos head south and west. Kardamena lies mid-way along the south coast, 7 kilometres from the airport, and Kefalos, the last town to the west, sits 43 kilometres from Kos Town at the end of the main road.
Kardamena, once a small fishing village, has drawn summer visitors since the 1960s, and its population of 2,132 triples between June and September. Bars, clubs and watersports attract young holidaymakers, chiefly from the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, so Kos port transfers here suit groups of friends who share one minivan and its luggage space. Our Kardamena page covers the resort.
Kefalos stands on a rocky height at the south-west end of the island, under the Papavasilis windmill. Below the old town, the resorts of Kamari, Kampos and Onia follow the curve of Kamari Bay for about 2 kilometres, and the name Kefalos covers them too, so Kos port transfers reach any hotel around the bay. Our Kefalos page covers the town and bay.
Which Kos port transfers serve cruise passengers?
Kos port transfers serve cruise passengers who begin or end a cruise on Kos and those with one day ashore. Cruise ships call at the same Kos Town port as the ferries, where the driver follows the ship’s arrival and waits as it docks.
Passengers who join or leave their ship on Kos book Kos port transfers between the quay and the airport, 24 kilometres away, or a hotel for the nights before and after the voyage. One transfer firm points arrivals who cruise into Kos port towards Psalidi, close to town on the road to Agios Fokas.
Passengers with one day in port can hire a driver by the hour rather than book a one-way ride. Operators call this a disposal service: the car and driver stay with the party until it returns to the ship, so Kos port transfers fit the hours that the cruise leaves free ashore.
Drivers on these runs speak English, and transfers to and from the port run at any hour. Kos port transfers for cruise passengers also run in reverse, from the airport or a hotel to the quay, for travellers who fly in to board their ship on Kos.
Which Kos port transfers connect with the boats from Mastichari and Kardamena?
Kos port transfers connect with two harbours outside Kos Town: Mastichari, where the main ferry to Kalymnos leaves around every two hours, and Kardamena, where daily boat trips in high season sail to Nisyros, the volcanic island between Kos and Tilos.
Boats from the port of Mastichari cross to Kalymnos, the island 12 km north of Kos, whose capital and main port is Pothia. Pserimos, a small island between the two, has sea links with both and a daily ferry from Pothia. Kos port transfers to Mastichari link hotels across the island with these sailings, and our Kalymnos day trip from Kos page covers the island.
Ferry tickets between Kardamena and Nisyros come with early or late departures and sell up to one hour before sailing. Nisyros has its main town and port at Mandraki. Book Kos port transfers to Kardamena to match the chosen sailing, and plan the island itself with our Nisyros day trip from Kos page.
How long do Kos port transfers take?
Kos port transfers are short drives on an island 42.1 km long: the run from the airport to the port of Mastichari takes about five minutes, and the drive from Kos Town to Kefalos, at the west end, takes about 40 minutes.
One Kos firm’s booking engine works out the fare from the distance, so the drop-off address sets both the time on the road and the cost of Kos port transfers; pick the base with our where to stay in Kos page. A Kos taxi firm’s route table puts Mastichari 5 km from the airport and Psalidi 7 km from Kos Town.
Kos port transfers to the main harbour for the 3-island boats run at the busiest hour for local traffic, so one Kos firm advises a pickup at least 30 to 40 minutes before departure. Set ferry pickups at Mastichari and Kardamena the same way, counting back from the sailing time.
Which vehicles do Kos port transfers use?
Kos port transfers use air-conditioned saloon cars for up to four passengers, vans for up to eight and minibuses for up to 19, and one licensed Kos company also runs full-size coaches with seats for up to 39 passengers.
An app-based taxi service sorts its Kos fleet into four classes: a Mercedes E or similar, a Mercedes GLA or BMW X1, a Mercedes V or Vito van, and a minibus for up to 12. Its Kos port drivers run Mercedes V 250 and Vito vans, the roomier class for larger groups on Kos port transfers.
A family-run Kos firm drives a Peugeot 308 saloon for four and a Ford Transit van for eight. A licensed Kos company adds Mercedes-Benz estate cars with room for buggies and sports gear, and treats one taxi booked for more than four people as an error, so Kos port transfers for five or more go by van or minibus.
How do you book Kos port transfers?
You book Kos port transfers online, in an app, on WhatsApp or by phone, giving the pickup point, drop-off point, date, time and number of passengers; local firms advise booking at least 24 hours ahead, especially during the peak season.
One licensed Kos company’s online form sorts passengers into adults from 13, children from 3 to 12 and infants up to 2, lists luggage by size and confirms Kos port transfers at once. A family-run firm confirms each request on WhatsApp, and an app-based service asks new users to register with a phone number and a verification code.
Payment terms differ by firm. The family-run firm takes cash or a card at the end of the ride, with no prepayment, while the app-based service charges the fare in advance. A third firm prices Kos port transfers per vehicle, not per person, and takes Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Apple Pay.
What happens to Kos port transfers when a ferry is late?
When a ferry is late, Kos port transfers shift the pickup to the real docking time: local firms follow each vessel’s arrival, one firm’s driver resets the pickup at no extra cost, and longer waits can be booked as extra hours.
An app-based taxi service monitors Kos ferry status without a break, and a family-run firm, which also adjusts pickups for delayed flights at no charge, follows every vessel into port. A third firm’s FAQ promises a driver whenever the passenger arrives, so Kos port transfers absorb the delay.
One Kos firm’s booking form adds from one to six waiting hours, a broker includes waiting time in its Kardamena prices, and a licensed Kos company keeps a 24-hour desk for schedule changes. With a fixed quote, no taxi meter runs while Kos port transfers wait at the quay.
Are Kos port transfers worth it compared with the KTEL bus, taxis and hire cars?
Kos port transfers are worth it when the fare and the pickup must be certain: the KTEL bus keeps to a timetable and street taxis run on a meter, while a pre-booked transfer fixes the fare in advance and waits for the boat.
KTEL Kos runs the public buses, with an airport line to Kos Town via Mastichari and general lines to Kefalos, Kardamena, Marmari, Zia, Antimachia, Tigaki and Pyli. Riders buy tickets on board, and one Easter notice stopped every service on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Kos port transfers run to the passenger’s own sailing time.
Street taxis work across Kos and charge by the meter, and shared shuttles run to a schedule and skip private addresses. Scooters, quad bikes and cars are for hire on roads that are largely asphalted and in good condition; see our Kos car rental page. Kos port transfers fix the fare before the boat docks, with no meter and no shared stops.
Which Kos tours from the port include the transfer?
Kos tours that include the transfer are the 3-island cruise to Platy, Kalymnos and Pserimos with lunch and hotel pickup, and the Zia village sunset tour with hotel pickup, while Kos port transfers cover the cruises that start at the port without pickup.
The 3-island cruise with lunch and hotel transfer lasts 8.5 hours on a wooden yacht and needs booking at least 10 hours ahead. The full-day cruise to three islands from the port of Kos lasts 7.5 hours with lunch on board, but its listing carries no pickup. Our Kos 3-island cruise page covers the route.
Kos port transfers fill that gap: one Kos firm runs hotel and villa pickups to the main port for the 3-island boats in an 8-seater van, and the driver waits at the dock for the ride back. The Kalymnos and Pserimos day cruise from Kos Town, at 7.5 hours, offers its own optional transfer.
The Zia village sunset tour with hotel pickup lasts 3 hours, with a walk through the lanes, a café stop and village restaurants, and needs booking at least 8 hours ahead. A shared return bus to Mount Zia also lasts 3 hours and watches the sun drop behind Kalymnos. Our Zia village page covers the highest village on Kos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much luggage fits in Kos port transfers?
Kos port transfers in a saloon car take three large cases of 20 kg or four standard cases of 15 kg under one licensed Kos company’s rules, and its minibuses allow one large case of 20 kg per person. A family-run firm fits six large suitcases in its van.
Do Kos port transfers provide child seats?
Yes. One Kos firm supplies infant, baby and booster seats free of charge for Kos port transfers and asks for the age and number of children at booking. An app-based taxi service fits certified seats for babies and children when asked, and a transfer broker counts child seats among the extras included in its prices.
Can you cancel Kos port transfers?
Yes. One licensed Kos company refunds the full fare, less bank charges and an administration fee, when Kos port transfers are cancelled up to 48 hours ahead, and half, less the same charges, after that. The Kardamena to Nisyros ferry tickets and the port cruises listed above carry free cancellation.
Can wheelchair users take Kos port transfers and the boats?
Yes, wheelchair users can book Kos port transfers in adapted taxis and stay in the chair for the whole ride. Three trips also carry a wheelchair-accessible label: the Kardamena to Nisyros ferry, the full-day 3-island cruise from the port of Kos and the return bus to Mount Zia.