Hotels in Zia

Zia: Mountain Village Above the Kos Coastline

Zia sits at 400 metres on the slopes of Mount Dikeos, roughly 12 km southwest of Kos Town. The village is one of the best-preserved traditional settlements on the island, with stone-paved lanes, whitewashed chapels, and terraced gardens overlooking the Aegean. Visitors arrive primarily for the sunset, which draws crowds to the hilltop tavernas each evening between May and October.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in Zia is small-scale — guesthouses and agritourism rooms rather than large resorts. Travelers who base themselves here gain direct access to hiking trails on Mount Dikeos and a quieter atmosphere compared to the beach resorts at Kardamena or Tigaki, both under 20 km away. Day-trippers from Kos Town arrive by local bus or taxi, typically in the late afternoon.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Buses from Kos Town run several times daily; the journey takes roughly 30 minutes.
• Timing: Arrive before 17:00 in summer to secure a table with an unobstructed westward view.
• Footwear: Cobbled streets require flat, closed shoes — sandals are uncomfortable on the steeper sections.
• Hiking: The trail to the Christos summit (846 m) starts at the village edge and takes approximately 2.5 hours return.