KOS

Kos is the third largest of the Greek islands and part of Dodecanese and is very well organised in terms of tourism infrastructure. The various picturesque villages as well as the magnificent sandy beaches, several of which have been awarded with the 'Blue Flag' for quality and cleanliness, make Kos the ideal holiday destination. The island has both fertile plains and mountainous highlands with a population of 30,947. It comprises three municipalities: Kos, the administrative center and largest town (pop. 17,890), Dikaio, and Irakleides.

History

• The island was originally colonised by the Carians.
   
• The Dorians invaded it in the 11th century BC, establishing a Dorian colony
   
• At the end of the 6th century Kos fell under Achaemenid domination, but rebelled after the Greek victory at Cape Mykale in 479.
   
• In the 5th century Kos joined the Delian League, and after the revolt of Rhodes served as the chief Athenian station in the south-eastern Aegean (411-407).
   
• In 366 BC, a democracy was instituted. After helping to weaken Athenian power, in the Social War (357-355 BC), it fell for a few years to the king Mausolus of Caria.
   
• In the Hellenistic age, Kos attained the zenith of its prosperity. Its alliance was valued by the kings of Egypt,who used it as an outpost for their navy to watch the Aegean
   
• During the first half of the 7th century Kos was governmentally part of Byzantine domination, maybe the Kivireoteon.
   
• After a short occupation of the island by the Venetians and the Genoans, Kos came under the control of the Ioannite knights in 1314.
   
• Two hundred years later the Knights faced the threat of a Turkish invasion and abandoned the island to the Ottoman Empire in 1523. The Ottomans ruled Kos for 400 years until it was transferred to Italy in 1912.
   
• On May 9th 1945, after the signing of the protocol of Simi, which was about the unconditional surrender of the Dodecanese to the Allies, the English took over full authority in Kos from the Germans.
   
• In May 31st 1947 the Greek Armed Forces took over the administration of the island from the English, after the Foreign Ministers of the Great Powers in Paris (27.06.1946)
   

Geography

The island is part of a chain of mountains from which it became separated after earthquakes and subsidence that occurred in ancient times. These mountains include Kalymnos and Kappari which are separated by an underwater chasm c. 70 m (40 fathoms deep), as well as the volcano of Nisyros and the surrounding islands.
The shores of Kos Island are washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. Its coastline is 112 km long and is caressed by long immaculate beaches, leading to its main industry being tourism. The main villages of Kos Island are Kardamena, Kefalos, Tingaki, Antimachia, Mastihari, Marmari and Pyli. Smaller ones are Zia, Zipari, Platani, Lagoudi and Asfendiou.

Museums

Archaeological Museum of Kos
The Folk Museum of Kefalos
The House of Antimachia

Places of Interest

Nerantzia Castle
Hippocrates plane tree
Asklepieion
Roman Odeon
White Stone Cave
Casa Romana
Ancient Theatre Ambavris
Baptistry of St. John Prodromou ''The 7 Steps''
Castle of Neratzia

Entertainment

Kos is one of the liveliest islands of the Dodecanese, offering a wide range in terms of entertainment. Most of the bars and nightclubs of Kos are concentrated in the capital, Kos Town. Bars are open until very late. In all tourist resorts of Kos like Mastihari, Kardamena, tigaki, Kefalos you will find many Greek restaurants and taverns, cafes, bars and clubs.

Festivals

Festival Hippocrateia. festival Hippocrateia takes place in the town of Kos in July - August. The festival includes a series of cultural events such as concerts, ancient Greek contemporary theatrical plays and various art exhibitions.
Alassarnia. The cultural events Alassarnia takes place in the village of Kardamena.
Honey Festival. In Antimahia, the Honey Festival is celebrated on the 24th of August, during which visitors can taste various delicacies made with local honey.
Excursions to neighboring islands are quite popular. There are numerous ways to travel to surrounding islands such as Agathonisi, Arki, Astipalea, Kalimnos, Karpathos and Turkey which is only 30 minutes away.

Shopping

The island of Kos has a wide range of shops selling all kinds of products. Jewelleries, tourist shops, leather products and fur shops and handmade and fine art products shops can be found in Kos Town as well as shops selling clothes, shoes and books.


Shopping hours

Tuesday / Thursday and Friday:  08.00 to 13.00 - 17.00 to 20.00.
Monday / Wednesday and Saturday: 08.00 to 14.00.
Supermarkets out of town are generally open all day until late, Tourist shops too are usually open till late.

In some picturesque villages of the island visitors will find small shops proposing fine handmade products such as weavings, ceramics and embroideries, as well as shops selling local specialities such as honey, sweets, herbs, spices and wine.

Weather in KOS

Kos has a warm Mediterranean climate with an all year average temperature of about 25°C. High summer months are hot and dry and rainfall is almost non-existent. Northern beaches can be windy.

Facts and figures

Kos
Prefecture: Dodecanese
Capital:   Kos (town)
Population: 30,947 (as of 2001)

Currency and Banking:  there are several ATM's or Cash machines. Euro exchange facilities are available at various locations on the island. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Banks exchange all major currencies in cash, travellers cheques or Euro cheques;

Passports

Passport required by all except:  EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Public Transportation

Buses provide transportation from Kos Town every 30mins to Psalidi and Agios Fokas, Mesaria and Platani. Latest schedules are posted at Kos Town harbor and the bus station.
There are many daily ferries from Rhodes and Crete.
Water taxis and excursion boats also operate from main ports to neighboring islands.

Airport

Kos island airport is in the centre of the island just south of Mastichari and 26km west of Kos Town

Driving

Roads in Kos are in quite a good condition between the resorts with the main road from Kos Town to the airport. Documentation: A national driving license is acceptable for EU nationals. EU nationals taking their own cars to Greece are advised to obtain a Green Card. The car registration documents must be carried at all times. Nationals of non-EU countries may need an International Driving Permit.
Traffic signs throughout Greece are generally in Greek and English, and Greece uses internationally recognized traffic control and stop signs.

Gastronomy

The gastronomical tradition of Kos consists of various interesting culinary dishes on the occasion of great religious feasts.
The most typical of them are:

• Pittaridia (lasagne boiled in stock).
• Katimeria (a rolled and fried cheese pie with "mizithra" cheese served with honey and cinnamon).
   
• Xysmata (a type of wheaten bread baked with grated "mizithra" cheese, spices and herbs).
   
• Afrena or Eftazyma (spiced breads whose yeast has been prepared from the froth of boiled chickpeas and bay leaves).
   
• Koussafi (boiled black raisins with various spices).

Beaches

Tagkaki Beach
Agios Theologos
Limnionas
Paradise Beach
Psalidi (Agios Fokas)
Therma (Hot Water)
Lampi

Sports

Swimming
Water sports
cycling
underwater diving
fishing
horse riding
sailing
windsurfing
paragliding

General information

• There is a fairly good cable network throughout the island operating by OTE.
   
• Internet is also available via dial up connections and ADSL.
   
• Mobile telephony (GSM 900/1800/3G) covers even the most remote part of the island.
   
• The General Hospital of Kos with other regional health centers, cover the medical needs of the region.
   
• The sun in Corfu is very intense, and the chances of getting sunburn are quite high even on the cloudiest of days.
   

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