Beautiful Kos is one of the few inhabited islands of the Dodecanese, the Greek island chain situated in the Aegean Sea just off the coast of Turkey. With its whitewashed houses, green olive groves and deep blue sea, Kos is the quintessential Greek isle and offers visitors such a taste of Greece that they find themselves going back for seconds and thirds.
Captivating Kos
Kos is the third largest of the Dodecanese, and, given that most of its 112km coastline consists of uninterrupted sandy beaches bordering the gorgeous Aegean Sea, it is the perfect destination for those looking for a week or two away from the corporate rat race. Nothing could be more relaxing than spending sun-drenched hours on the beach followed by sailing in a sparkling marina and perhaps strolling through an inviting olive, fig or almond grove.
Kos is also ideally situated to be the starting point for day trips to the nearby islands of Rhodes, once home to the Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and Patmos, with its mysterious Cave of the Apocalypse. Kos is also just 4km away from the city of Bodrum on the Turkish coast, and visits to the Bodrum Castle and its Museum of Underwater Archeology come highly recommended.
Popular Kos Resorts
Kos Town is the island's capital and offers visitors both culture and excitement. A day spent exploring Kos Town's Hippocratic Museum and its harbour's 14th century fortress can be followed by a night exploring the city's famous "barstreet" where sampling the wares of the many restaurants, cafes and taverns situated along its length is encouraged. The nearby resort of Kardamena is also known for its nightclubs and pubs and, for this reason, attracts mostly a younger set.
The old town of Kefalos is also home to a brand new seaside resort, and, when not lounging alongside the sparkling sea, visitors can explore the nearby Ayios Stefanos Basilica and the imposing Ayios Ioannis Monastery. Another option would be Lambi Beach, which is located close to Kos Town and which offers guests a seaside paradise of a beach that is over 1,000m long.
East of Kos Town lies the inviting upscale beach resort area of Psalidi, and its long main street, which is lined with apartments and hotels, stretches all the way from the gorgeous rocky beach at Therma to the Kos Marine. Tingaki must, however, be the most spectacular of all of the Kos beaches as its 10km long stretch of sparkling sea and sand is simply unsurpassed. Tingaki is also ideal for children as the Aegean's gentle surf is even gentler than usual around this area, thus creating a perfect watersports playground for the very young.
The Kos Experience
Kos is extremely tourist-friendly and visitors to the island will lack for nothing. Tourism is the island's main industry and no expense is spared when it comes to developing the island's tourist attractions.
No tour of the Mediterranean would be complete without a side-trip to captivating Kos.
