Kos 3-Island Boat Trip: Which Boat Should You Choose?
Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Almost every day cruise from Kos follows the same route: a morning in Kos Town harbour, a day among the small islands to the north, swimming stops and lunch on board. The islands are the same, so the choice comes down to the boat, the atmosphere and the price. Here are eight of them side by side.
What every trip has in common
The classic route takes in Pserimos, Kalymnos and Plati. Pserimos is a small, quiet island with a sandy beach and, according to operators, fewer than 100 residents. On Kalymnos the stop is usually the town of Vathy, where the sponge-diving tradition is the local story. Plati is a tiny uninhabited islet, used mainly as a place to anchor and swim.
Most of the day is spent on the water. One operator describes roughly an hour at the first island, so do not expect to explore any of them in depth. If you want that, a different trip makes more sense: see Nisyros from Kos or the Bodrum day trip.
Eight trips compared
| Trip | Price per person | Rating | Reviews | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands from the Port of Kos | €30 | 4.7 | 6,271 | 7.5 hours |
| Kos Pirate Cruise: 3 Islands, Swimming & Lunch | €27 | 4.6 | 3,261 | 7.5 hours |
| Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise with optional transfer | €28 | 4.4 | 1,366 | 7.5 hours |
| 3-Islands Boat Trip with BBQ on a Pirate Boat | €24.30 | 4.4 | 653 | 7 hours |
| 3-Island Cruise with Lunch, Swimming and Audio Guide | €25 | 4.7 | 538 | 7.5 hours |
| Full day cruise in the newest luxury vessel | €30 | 4.6 | 529 | 7 hours |
| Kos Pearl: Premium Cruise with BBQ & Swimming Stops | €27 | 4.5 | 483 | 7 hours |
| 3-Island Cruise with Lunch and Hotel Transfer | €46.50 | 4.6 | 385 | 8.5 hours |
Among these eight, the lowest price is €24.30 and the highest rating, 4.7, is shared by two trips. The prices are what GetYourGuide shows as a starting price per person and can move with date and group size.
How to choose
If you want the safe default, the full-day cruise from the port of Kos is the most-reviewed trip of the eight by a wide margin, with 6,271 reviews at 4.7. The listing mentions lunch on board and cocktails prepared by the crew. That volume of reviews is a better signal than any single enthusiastic one.
If you are travelling with children, the pirate boats are the obvious choice, and the cheaper of the two is the BBQ version at €24.30. The pirate cruise with 3,261 reviews describes itself as an adventure “for all ages”. We go through what that means in practice in Kos pirate boat with kids.
If you like a commentary, the trip with an audio guide has the same 4.7 rating as the market leader, on 538 reviews. The listing mentions a search for dolphins, which is a possibility, not something to count on.
If you do not want to find your own way to the harbour, the trip with hotel transfer costs €46.50, which is about €16.50 more than the full-day cruise at €30. Whether that is worth it depends on where you stay. The Kalymnos and Pserimos cruise also has an optional transfer, but covers two islands rather than three.
If you want something less like a party, the Kos Pearl and the “newest luxury vessel” trip describe themselves as a premium and a brand-new vessel. Neither listing gives a capacity. Check the booking page.
What the listings do not tell you
The short descriptions leave out the things that decide whether the day is good:
- Departure time and meeting point. The listings say only “from Kos” or “from the port of Kos”; the exact quay and time are on the booking page. If your hotel is far from the harbour, the way there is part of the day.
- Drinks. The descriptions mention cocktails or “drinks” only on some trips. Whether water, soft drinks or wine are included is on the booking page.
- Shade and toilets. Open decks in August mean strong sun, and a boat with no seating in the shade is a long day. Look for it in the description or in recent reviews.
- The wind. In summer the Aegean can be breezy. Operators can change the route or cancel in rough weather, so read the cancellation terms before you pay.
- Time ashore. The listings give no times ashore; one operator mentions roughly an hour at the first island, so expect a swimming day, not a sightseeing one.
For seasickness, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before you travel. What helps without medication is to sit mid-boat and watch the horizon.
Our pick
For most people, the full-day cruise from the port of Kos is the one to start with: the best-known option, a 4.7 rating, and a price in the middle. Take the audio-guide cruise if you want more commentary, and a pirate boat if the day is mostly for the children. Browse everything on the boat trips page.
