Kos

Again, words are not enough to describe Kos island! We find it in the Dodecanese Archipelago in the far west of Greece, just five nautical miles from the gates of Asia Minor, Turkey.

Often mistreated and considered one of the second-class islands of Greece, in reality if you manage to look with the right eyes it is exactly the opposite, from many points of view it is much more beautiful and above all more true than many others. Obviously you need to know where and what to look at, it certainly cannot be denied that Kos is a highly touristic island suitable especially for families with children and that during the summer period it is overrun by travelers from all over the world, but if you think about it well the fact of being so requested will also have its reason.

One is certainly the economic factor, even if in recent years it has been conforming a little to its other sisters, it remains in fact one of the least expensive in Greece where, however, the quality-service ratio still remains high.

Don't expect white houses with blue windows, these are the Cyclades, Kos has the soul of true Greece, the one found in the Peloponnese rather than on the mainland made of simple but genuine things with the addition of a fairytale sea.

Mythology of Kos

Mythologically speaking, the island of Kos is famous for having hosted one of the greatest Greek heroes, the semi-God Hercules who, at the hands of the envious and hostile Hera (wife of Zeus who never accepted Hercules as an illegitimate son conceived by a husband's betrayal) caused him to be shipwrecked after a violent storm on the island while returning from the war in Troy. Another established historical fact is that the island of Kos was the favorite refuge of the Giants defeated in the war against the Olympian Gods. Polybotes, one of the giants particularly hated by the God Poseidon, took refuge in Kos and when the God discovered him he decided to split it into two parts by throwing a piece at the giant, burying him. This part of the island is today known as the volcanic island of Nisyros.

60 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide, it offers its visitors 120 kilometers of coastline with beaches of all sizes and coves where you can stop and wait for the sun to go down. Of volcanic origin, Kos has everything from a territorial point of view. A small mountain range with its highest peak Mount Dikeo which hides enchanting villages and where it is possible to take walks through fairy woods to reach the top from which the view extends over the entire island and the neighboring emerged lands, crevasses and canyons formed by the violent earthquakes of previous eras, flat and fertile areas where vegetables and fruit are grown, modern towns with all the comforts where, however, the typical Greek simplicity is still strongly present, traditions and customs carried forward over time that have merged with nearby Asian influences, archaeological sites unique in the world where the weight of the past can be felt in every corner like a sort of open-air museum. This is what Kos is!

A holiday in Kos is chosen to enjoy a fantastic sea, kilometers of beaches, fun for all ages but also to stay in contact with a lush nature, at times drastically wild and at times more gentle. There are many facilities for accommodation from simple rooms for rent to apartments, rather than small or large hotels and finally immense resorts where you can pamper yourself and take advantage of any service. It's impossible to get bored in Kos, between the things to see and the things to do a week will pass by in a flash. For excursions, see the following site: www.infotourskos.com

Plan your stay and go around the island, perhaps starting from the northern part with its natural spas in the Psalidi area and then continuing with its lively capital Kos Town full of shops for the perfect souvenir, super-equipped beaches, all the historical part such as the ancient plane tree of Hippocrates, the Agora, the Roman House, the Odeon, the Temple of Dionysus or the interesting Archaeological Museum. Stop in one of its delicious typical taverns where you can taste the delicacies of Greek and local cuisine or have a feast of fish (in Averof Street you are spoiled for choice, we recommend Nik The Fisherman or Votzalakia) and even choose a gourmet restaurant in the center like the Petrino. In the evening you will have a wide choice of places to hang out late or for a colorful cocktail to watch the comings and goings of people who pass through it every day.

About four kilometers south of the capital is the important site of the Asklepius, the sanctuary dedicated to the God Asklepius, the God of Medicine and so you know that Kos was the birthplace of Hippocrates, considered the father of scientific medicine, son of Heraclides also a doctor who claimed to be a direct descendant of the God (good blood doesn't lie...)

After less than ten kilometers (in Kos there is only one large road that connects the whole island, the Main Road) you arrive at the village of Tigaki, a charming town on the sea. Five kilometers of soft white sand washed by a magnificent turquoise blue sea for a sunny day. Nearby is the Alikes salt lake where pink flamingos stop in winter since Kos is one of the main migratory routes. A cheerful little village where you can find everything and offers many excursions such as a beautiful horse ride at sunset.

Followed by the picturesque village of Mastichari which in recent years is becoming a bit like the Beverly Hills of Kos where kitesurfing and windsurfing lovers love to gather given its position which exposes it more to the winds. A former fishing village where you come to eat excellent fresh fish and from which you leave to reach the opposite island of Kalymnos. Mastichari also boasts kilometers of beach with very white sand and a sea which in contrast with the colors recalls exotic destinations.

Going down towards the center of the island on the western side we find Kardamena, the second largest town. A few years ago it was the homeland of English people, especially young people who confused night with day, while now it has become the area where families prefer to come given the wealth of large and highly organized resorts as well as kilometers of immaculate beach. The nightlife is always there, quieter and less noisy but which still offers many opportunities for fun. From Kardamena we embark to reach the beautiful Nisyros, a volcanic island still active in the abyss where it is possible to visit the caldera and enjoy the beauty of its villages as well as enchanting beaches.

The southern part of Kos is the area of Kefalos (means brain in Greek). The area where the most particular coves and the most popular beaches are located. From Kos Town to Kefalos it's about sixty kilometers and you can get there in about an hour. Here you will go crazy choosing which beach to put your towel on, there are so many and all with their own beauty that it will be difficult to decide. If you want the more noble ones then choose Paradise beach, Magic Beach or Kamel Beach, if you are naturist Exotic Beach is the one for you, if you want something quieter then go to Voulcania Beach rather than Lagada Beach and if in the end you desire the ultimate, venture up to Cavo Paradiso, never a more apt name, but be careful, to reach it there is a tortuous and demanding road to take but the final prize will be largely proportional, indeed more so.

A rich and beautiful island waiting to be discovered, perhaps by entrusting yourself to those who know it well and experience it first hand, don't be prejudiced and don't listen to those who say it isn't like that, they probably just didn't know how to see it with the right look.