After a long and exhausting season of work, my boyfriend and I visited the Greek island of Kos for a much needed break. This was my very first time to Greece and I can definitely say the landscapes, people, food and crystalline sea captured my heart.
Our vacation started as soon as we landed on the charming island and picked up our rental car. We opted to stay in Kos Town – the perfect spot from which to visit the island. The capital is situated in a verdant district on the northeast side of the island, at the back of an open bay. Around the port one can still see the ruins of the ancient city and eat fresh fish at any time of the day.
Kos is full of truly wonderful beaches. Generally those on the north coast (Tigaki, Marmari, Mastichari) are a bit windy, while the ones on the south coast are sandy and sheltered from winds. Normally people reach the beaches late in the day, and as I am a morning person I was able to enjoy almost every beach completely to myself while indulging in a Freddo Cappuccino.
While in Kos I also decided to make a last minute trip to Turkey by hopping the ferry to Bodrum. Here I had the opportunity to visit a mosque, wander the market, and try a variety of typical Turkish food. Among my favorite foods were Simit, a circular bread with sesame seeds, and Borek, a pastry with spinach and cheese.
People in restaurants and shops were beyond welcoming and made me feel right at home in the city. This was my first time in Turkey and while it was a short and intense stay, it was a visually and culturally emotional country that I can’t wait to return to.
Helpful Hints
- Interested in renting a car to explore the island? Try Avance.
- While in Kos a visit to the beaches is a must. I recommend Paradise Beach, Tigaki, Marmari, and Limnioas.
- Kos offers a fantastic selection of traditional Greek food and fresh fish. My favorite restaurants were Mesogios and Sifis.
- Speaking of Greek food, don’t leave the island without being sure to try moussaka, pita gyros, souvlaki fish, and fresh fish dorado.
- For those wanting to make the day trip to Bodrum, the ferry leaves from the port of Kos everyday at 9:30a and is back at 5:00p. The fare is 20 euros, includes taxes, and takes about 45 minutes each way.
