Who does not want a peaceful and relaxing weekend? Greece's most famous tourist place is absolutely the capital, Athens. However, did you know that Greece consists of 6,000 islands, and each of them has rich cultures in terms of food, history, nature, and music?
Kos island is the third largest island in the Dodecanese group, located in the Aegean region.
How to access Kos？
🚢 Many ferries are running from neighbouring islands such as Rhodes, Patmos, Leros, and Kalymnos, which take around 1 hour from each port. If you are traveling directly from Athens, you can take from the Piraeus port, but it takes around 11 hours.
As the country borders with Turkey are very close, getting the ferry from Bodrum port can be an option, just like I did in April for a weekend trip. The frequency of service is few in the non-tourist season from October to April, but from around May to September, most ferry companies start operating 4 to 5 ships every day. When I visited at the end of April, when there was the Easter Festival, which was also a sign of starting the tourist season by providing more ferry services and opening restaurants and markets on the island.
Make sure to book round-trip tickets online before you reach the port, and be there one hour before the departure time with your passport. Getting the Customs Stamp on my passport and crodding the security at the port was a new fun experience!
✈ Alternatively, some flights are also served from Athens and several airports in Greece, and arrive at the Hippocrates airport in Kos on the southeast side of the island. From Athens, it takes around 30-40 minutes.
When is the best season?
🏖 June to September
It is definitely the highest tourist season of the year. People come from all over the world, some of them choose a short stay for only one or two days, and some of them spend weeks, staying in hotels with private beach and swimming pool, or short-stay apartments can also be an option.
⛄ November to March
After the peak season, if you seek to escape to the island in peace and quiet, it may be fine to visit. However, what you really have to be aware of is winter in Kos; many restaurants and hotels are closed, so make sure to search carefully for which places are available to stay and eat.
🍂 October, April, and May
Personally, I would highly recommend visiting from the middle of April till the end of May, just before the peak tourist season begins. I visited in the middle of April, as mentioned above, and I didn't have any difficulties finding open restaurants and cafes, except on Sunday. The water temperature is too cold to swim, but a few brave souls were already enjoying the crystal-clear water in the Aegean Sea. You can still relax on the beach sitting on the allied chairs, which I suppose are rented in summertime, but take advantage of non non-tourist season, they are all free to use!
Where to Visit?
✒️ More to find, visit the official websites of Kos
Asclepieion in Kos: It is a ruined ancient medical school, hospital, and healing temple, built after the 4th BC. The father of the Greek physician Hippocrates, who is well known as one of the most outstanding doctors in that era, also received an education there.
This market is a symbol of the center of Kos Island. The fascinating, beautiful building was designed and built by architects Florestano Di Fausto and Rodolfo Petracco in 1934. I enjoyed shopping there for hours for a variety of olive oil, honey, dried fruits, spices, and soaps, and they are all served in small packages, so the sizes are perfectly suitable for souvenirs. As same as other local shops and restaurants, this market closes every Sunday. Please do not miss out on complete shopping by Saturday!
This beach is the closest beach to the main Kos port, just 10-minute walk away, and boasts crystal clear water, soft sand, and pebbles. When I visited in early April, the beach was peaceful with only a few swimmers, while most people were lounging on the free chairs under the parasols. It's likely that these chairs are charged for rental during the peak summer season. Nearby, you will find seafood restaurants, cafes, and ice cream shops, making it a perfect spot to spend the entire day.
Catholic Church of the Holy Cross - Agnus Dei: Also known as Holy Cross, named Agnus Dei today. The original building was constructed in the 1920s, yet it was destroyed due to the earthquake in 1933. You will discover a majestic architecture tucked away in the forest after walking through 100 meters of a greenery path.
Right next to the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross, you will find the huge open-air theater from the Roman era in the 2nd century. This Odeon was first discovered and excavated by the Italian archaeologist a hundred years ago, and in the late 1990s, a second fades of restoration work had continued for nearly 5 years. It now opens for free throughout the year.
