Kos, beyond the beaches: 6 authentic island experiences

Hiking for everyone

Forests of pine, cypress and cedar, plains dotted with wildflowers, and steep slopes that pb down to beauteous sandy beaches marque Kos an land well worth exploring connected foot, particularly successful spring. Its archaeological wealth, abandoned villages, picturesque chapels, wetlands and views of adjacent islands marque hiking present adjacent much rewarding.

Czech Andrea Simunkova and her Cretan hubby Manolis Kouklakis signifier quality excursions each Sunday until May, when the vigor begins to intensify. Routes scope from the summit of Mount Dikeos (864 m) to the lush landscapes of Asfendiou and the scenic Kefalos area, with views of the iconic islet of Kastri and its charming chapel of Aghios Nikolaos. Open to each levels, these hikes connection 1 of the champion ways to observe Kos earlier the summertime crowds arrive.

Monuments from antithetic eras

Kos tin beryllium seen, successful its entirety, arsenic an open-air archaeological park, location to an awesome mosaic of monuments spanning aggregate eras. It is mostly thanks to these archaeological treasures that the land developed arsenic a tourist destination. As Kos-born writer and psychiatrist Kostas Kogiopoulos writes, “Governor Mario Lago, successful the precocious 1920s, believed that the islands’ past and earthy quality could pull visitors, and helium launched a programme to beforehand them and physique hotels.”

Within this context, successful 1927 designer Rodolfo Petracco designed the island’s archetypal fundamentally modern hotel, the Albergo Gelsomino, astatine the junction of Hippokratous and Vasileos Georgiou II streets. Its architecture combines eclectic influences with Gothic and Venetian elements, reflecting the spirit of the era.

In summation to the landmarks from the Italian period, beryllium sure to visit the Archaeological Museum and the Asclepieion, the island’s astir celebrated archaeological site, where Hippocrates erstwhile taught. Also noteworthy are Roman monuments such arsenic the Casa Romana, the Roman Odeon and the Baths, arsenic well arsenic the Knights’ castles of Neratzia and Antimachia, the Defterdar Mosque and the Ottoman baths.

[Angelos Giotopoulos]

With Erika’s horses

Sunset rides – or, for the fortunate, excursions under the afloat satellite – pony rides for children, and adjacent bareback swims successful the oversea for experienced riders: horseback riding offers 1 of the astir distinctive ways to acquisition the agelong stretch of white soil that runs from Tigaki to Marmari, earlier it fills with sunbeds and umbrellas successful the summertime months.

Greek-Australian Erika Mastorou, who specializes successful therapeutic horseback riding, has created a thoughtfully designed workplace with thirty-five horses of various breeds. Her workplace offers tailored experiences for some beginners and seasoned riders. Open year-round, it besides gives visitors the accidental to brushwood different animals up close, including llamas, deer, peacocks and rabbits.

[Angelos Giotopoulos]

The secrets of aloe

The sheep astatine the Drosos household workplace – astatine the foothills of Dikeos, the highest upland connected Kos – look to bash overmuch of the work. Grazing freely crossed 10 hectares of aloe, they are the farm’s earthy “caretakers,” maintaining the cultivation of this medicinal plant, agelong valued for its beneficial properties – from healing wounds to soothing digestive issues and arthritis.

At the Pandrosia workplace successful the Amaniou area, adjacent the village of Pyli, visitors tin watch the sheep astatine work, works and harvest integrated aloe, taste caller gel straight from the plant, and make their ain indispensable oil. A walk done the botanical plot – filled with lavender, thyme, oregano and savory – is arsenic rewarding, arsenic are the hands-on activities offered successful the farm’s “mud field.”

A unique wine tourism experience

Thirty antithetic Greek grape varieties are cultivated according to the principles of “ecological engineering” successful the vineyards of the Triantafyllopoulos family, who played a cardinal relation successful securing Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for Kos wine successful 2007.

Their winery is successful the Miniera country of Asfendiou, whose vineyards supplied galore Mediterranean ports successful antiquity. It offers distinctive wine tourism experiences with views of Kalymnos and Pserimos. Guided visits take guests done each stage of production, from vinification and aging to bottling and tasting. The family’s postulation of much than 200 paintings by Greek artists and its archive of tools and machinery that trace the island’s winemaking past are besides of interest.

The locals’ favourite spots

In spring, there’s nary request to publication a table astatine the island’s best-loved eateries. It’s besides the cleanable clip to conscionable the radical of Kos, earlier the gait of the tourist play picks up.

In the town center, astatine the country of Artemisias and Thessalou streets, O Ali (Tel. (+30) 22420.218.60) – tally by Ali, his namesake grandson and his sons, Hasan and Ahmet –continues the culinary tradition of the Hatzisouleiman family, who opened the Asklipios taverna successful Platani (Kermetes) successful 1986. The paper is known for its kebabs, acem pilaf, stuffed vine leaves and savory pies. 

The town is besides location to some of Kos’s champion food tavernas, unfastened year-round. Nikolas o Psaras (4 Antimachou, Tel. (+30) 22420.230.98) offers a wide variety of shellfish and caller food sourced from Kalymnos fishermen, and Votsalakia (10 G. Averof, Tel. (+30) 22420.265.55) is known for its grilled shrimp, calamari and homemade fried potatoes.

For a repast with a view, Oromedon (Tel. (+30) 22420.699.83) successful Zia – the highest inhabited village connected the land – serves traditional Dodecanese dishes prepared successful a wood-fired oven, including stuffed goat, pork with chickpeas and bulgur, and a variety of vegetable pies.

Another standout is Arap’s taverna (Tel. (+30) 22420.284.42), successful the country known arsenic “Turkish quarter” successful the village of Platani. Here, the paper draws connected Anatolian influences, featuring cumin-spiced soutzoukakia, yogurt-based vegetable dishes and the distinctive çökertme kebab.

This nonfiction archetypal appeared successful Greece Is (www.greece-is.com), a Kathimerini publishing initiative.