Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese after Rhodes and Karpathos. It lies between Nisyros and Kalymnos, close to Asia Minor. A perfect place for holidays, Kos is the greenest and most fertile island of the Dodecanese and the second in tourism after Rhodes. Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine. It is oblong in shape, flat for the most part and it has 2 low mountains (Dikaio and Sympatro) along the southern coast. Kos has much to offer visitors – mountain villages, excellent tourist infrastructure, greenery and beautiful beaches. You can travel around by bicycle, a popular means of travel in Kos. The town and capital of Kos is located northeast of the island. It’s not big but it has wide streets, green and palm trees along the roads. With many archaeological sites in and around the town, Kos is the ideal place for walking or cycling. The harbor is very picturesque and there are many boats that organize day trips. For those wishing to stay in the town there are many beaches east and west of Kos, offering even water sports.
The island has many villages famous for their beauty as asfendiou (14 km from the city), Kardamena (next to the sea) and Pili village in the foothills of Dikaio Mountain. From Pili, the road leads to Palio Pili which has remnants of an old castle and the villages of Marmari and mastichari. At the southwestern tip of Kos lies Kefalos, a village with a wonderful sandy beach and many restaurants. Kefalos is built on a hilltop and has white house and great beaches. The tourist beach of Kefalos lies 43 km southwest of the capital and is preferred by wind-surfing lovers. The remains of the old city, Astypalia, the ancient capital of the island built in 412 BC, are located in the area known as “palaces”. Another village is Zia located on the lush hills of Dikaio, with running water and a magnificent view of Kos and other nearby islands. South of Zia lies Tigaki, one of the most beautiful and popular beaches. The village of Antimachia is located in the center of the island just 1 km from the airport. Kardamena is 25 km from the town of Kos and is a very popular summer resort. However, the most popular beach in Kos is the beach Parrantais a big, beautiful sandy beach with sun loungers and watersports. It is a good place for families with children. The beach of Agios Stefanos is a well-organized sandy beach, 38 km west of Kos.
Elia beach is a secluded beach with scattered rocks. Ammos is a long, sandy beach, 5 km north of Kos. Kamares is a long and sandy beach too, 42 km southeast of Kos. The beach at Psalidi is full of pebbles and it is located 5 miles south of Kos town. If you want to find a quiet beach it is best to look around the west side. In the town of Kos and especially at the port you will find numerous bars and clubs next to each other, especially at the famous street of bars starting from the taxi station and spread to the north side of the ancient city. The music is very loud and if you sit at a bar you can often hear the music of the adjacent bar. This area attracts mainly young people from Western Europe. Because this is such a popular tourist destination, you can find all kinds of markets and shops in the city of Kos. Among the things you can buy are Jewelry, replicas of ancient art, paintings, ceramics, leather belts, sandals, clothing, textiles, embroideries, photographs, local wine, honey and accessories for the beach.
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