Tilos - Kos
Ferry to Dodecanese Islands
Tilos - Kos
Ferry to Dodecanese Islands
Fares for the Tilos to Kos crossing usually range somewhere between $17* and $74*. Most travellers pay around $37* for a Tilos Kos ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $17*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $36* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $228*.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked August 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Tilos Kos route generally kick off from Tilos at around 09:55, and the last departure of the day is usually around 21:30.
You certainly can — with a short crossing and sailings running daily, Tilos to Kos is an easy day trip. Taking a vehicle, where possible, gives you the freedom to explore a bit further once you land.
Yes, Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways & SAOS Ferries carries vehicles on the Tilos to Kos route. Check our Deal Finder for up-to-date car ferry pricing on this crossing.
Whether a caravan or campervan is welcome on board the Tilos to Kos ferry comes down to the ship and operator running the sailing. Pop your travel details into our Deal Finder, and we'll check the operators on this route for you.
Bicycles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Tilos and Kos.
Yes, Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways & SAOS Ferries carries foot passengers between Tilos and Kos.
Pet owners are in luck — Blue Star Ferries & Dodekanisos Seaways allows pets on board between Tilos and Kos. .
Fares reflect searches from the last 30 days, exclude service fees, and were last checked August 26.
Before you bring a pet on board, it helps to have the following sorted:
It depends on which operator you're sailing with — some ferries keep pets in your vehicle for the whole trip, while others have dedicated pet areas, kennels, or even pet-friendly cabins. Our Deal Finder lays out the options so you can pick the crossing that works for your pet.
There's a bit to know before travelling with a guide or assistance dog. Let our customer service team know in advance, or mention it to the ferry operator when you book, so everything's arranged ahead of time.
Carry any certification or documentation your dog needs, since you could be asked to show it at boarding or partway through the crossing.
Rules for guide dogs and assistance dogs can differ from general pet policy, even on sailings where pets aren't otherwise allowed. Reach out to our customer service team to check what applies to your sailing, or visit our Special Assistance Help page for more detail.
Whether the Tilos to Kos route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Tilos to Kos crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Tilos to Kos on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Tilos to Kos ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
More routes than anyone else.
Compare fares, times & routes in one place.
Change plans easily with flexi tickets.
Book e-tickets & manage trips in-app.
Live ship tracking & real-time updates.
Top-rated customer support when you need it.
| Tilos - Kos Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $36 | |
| Average Price with Car | $228 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $58 | |
| Tilos - Kos Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Dodecanese Islands |
| Destination | Dodecanese Islands |
| No. of Operators | 3 |
| Operators | Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways & SAOS Ferries |
| Average Price | $37 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 1 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 3 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h 30 m |
| First Ferry | 09:55 |
| Last Ferry | 21:30 |
| Distance | 26 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 August 2026.
The Greek island of Tilos is one of the Dodecanese group of islands in the Aegean Sea and is located halfway between the island of Kos and the island of Rhodes. The island's landscape is characterised by mountains, hills and plains where visitors can see around 400 varieties of herbs and flowers growing. The island also has a number of species of rare birds nesting there including Nightingales, Goldfinches, Bonelli's Eagle, Hawks, Herons and Bee-eaters, to name just a few. The whole island is a vast ecological park and is protected by international treaties.
The island's main town and port is Livadia where visitors will find the remains of a castle, deserted stone houses, Byzantine churches and paved streets. Although Livadia is the largest town, the island's capital is actually Megalo Chorio which is about 2 km from Livadia. A popular attraction on the island is the beautiful abandoned 15th century monastery of Agios Panteleimon which has some interesting icons. Also worth visiting is the Castle of the Knights which is where the Knight of St. John were based during the 15th century.
Ferries from the island's port depart to Piraeus, Rhodes and to other islands in the Dodecanese.
Kos is a Greek island that lies in the eastern Aegean Sea and is situated to the south of the island of Kalymnos and to the north of the island of Nisyros. The island, which is only around 3 miles off the Turkish coast and sits in the Keramiko Gulf, or the Kos Gulf, is the third largest of the Dodecanese islands. Kos is a well known and popular holiday destination where visitors go to enjoy the island's beaches. Kos was also one of the first Greek islands to recognise the benefits of tourism to its economy and as a result many hotels were built along the island's long and sandy coastline in the east and south. Cycling is a popular activity on Kos as the island's terrain is quite flat and because there are many bicycle hire outlets throughout the island along with some dedicated cycle paths between some of the larger hotels.
There are daily services between Kos and Piraeus along with services between Kos and the rest of the Dodecanese, the islands of the north eastern Aegean and Turkey. The trip by conventional ferry can take up to 13 hours, depending on the intermediate stopovers, and the trip with a high speed boat can take between 5 and 8 hours.
