Kos - Dodecanese (Greece)

Kos Island  is a popular, touristy, Greek island in the southeastern Aegean Sea. It lies in the middle of the Dodecanese and is surrounded by the islands of Kalymnos, Pserimos and Nisyros. Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese after the islands Rhodes and Karpathos. Compared to other Greek islands, it is relatively flat with only a few mountains. It is a fertile island with plenty of water. It has a wonderful climate – winters are mild and summers are not too hot.

The island is 295 km² (183 mi²) in area and has a 112 kilometer (70 mi) coastline to explore. It is an elongated island with a length of about 45 kilometers (30 mi). The southeast coast is mainly mountainous. It is here that the highest peak on Kos, Dikeos Mountain, rises to 846 meters or almost 2,800 feet. Against the southern slopes of Dikeos and its pine forests, lies one of the most beautiful sites in Kos, the village of Zia.

Capital of the island is the town of the same name, Kos. The town of Kos is located in the northeast of the island, on a stunning bay. Via the great port on the bay, the island is connected to other ports in the Aegean and the Greek mainland. Kos town is a scenic town with many monuments to mark its rich history, a lovely harbor, a modern marina, and a mix of modern and traditional shops – something for everyone. In the city, large trees line the left and right of the road and flowers are everywhere. In Greece, Kos is known as the island of cyclists because of its excellent cycle paths.

Hippocrates, the philosopher and physician, is probably Kos’ most notable native son. His most valuable work, the "Hippocratic Oath," or an oath based on the Hippocratic Oath’s insistence of personal and professional ethics, is still taken by doctors throughout the world today. North of Kos town is an Asclepeion. Named after the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, an Asclepeion is an important healing shrine. This one in Kos dates from the fourth century BC. The ancient shrine included a medical center (even patient waiting rooms) and a school.

Kos is a green island, recognized internationally as an environmentally conscious location.  Swimmers enjoy its beautiful sandy beaches, many of which proudly fly the blue flag, representing the International Environmental Award for clean and safe beaches.

Beaches on Kos

Kos has many excellent beaches, both sandy and pebble filled. The most beautiful beaches are on the north coast of the island. These are the beaches of Marmari, Tigaki, Mastichari and Lambi in Kos town. East of Kos, in Psalidi, are mostly pebble beaches. Therma is a unique beach where hot water flows into the sea. On the south coast of the island are some excellent beaches such as Kardamena, Paradise, Kamila, Kamari, Golden, the long beach of Kefalos and Aghios Stefanos. On the west coast of Kos you’ll find the sandy beach of Aghios Theologos.

Stay on Kos

Kos is a tourist-perfect island with many hotels and apartments. Accommodations run the range from cheap hotels, to expensive, to luxury hotels and all-inclusive hotels. Combined, the hotels of Kos have a capacity of 70,000 guests. Most tourists arrive on Kos by plane at the Hippocrates airport. Each year this airport gets more than one million passengers. In addition, thousands of tourists come through the port of Kos, some during cruise ship stops.

The Economy of Kos

Kos has always had a rich environment. Until the seventies Kos was an agricultural island, the fertile soil was well known all the way back to antiquity. After the 1970s and the arrival of tourists, the economy of Kos transitioned to tourism. Since the economic crisis, however, many young people have returned to agricultural work again and agriculture became making it, again, an important asset in the economy of the island. Once again popular are wine, olive oil and honey production. There are three main wine producers on Kos, all near the center of the island. Wine tastings are popular with tourists.

Trips from Kos

Because of the fact Kos is centrally located in the Dodecanese, the island is convenient origination point for day trips to other islands and even to Turkey. From the port of Kos, daily day trips are offered to Kalymnos, Pserimos and Nisyros. There are even scheduled services that can take you to more distant islands such as Rhodes, Samos, Ikaria, Halki and Kastelorizo.

Festivities on Kos

The biggest festivals in Kos are the “Hippocratia” festivities lasting from July to September. During those months, everywhere on the island, but especially in Kos town, you’ll see colorful traditional dances, concerts, theater, exhibitions and other activities. Of course these festivities are in honor of Kos’ most famous native, Hippocrates. As a tribute, there are dramatic presentations of the Hippocratic oath taken by actors in the ancient Greek language.

Nisyros - Dodecanese (Greece)

Nisyros is a small volcanic island between Kos and Tilos. In ancient times it was known as Porphyris. Mythology claims that Nisyros was united with Leros, and when Poseidon was chasing the giant Polyvotis, he slit the two islands apart.

The capital and port of Nisyros is Mandraki, located in the northwest at the foot of a steep hill. Nisyros is 41 square kilometers (16 mi²) and the total length of the coastline is 28 kilometers (17 mi).

Mandraki, both the capital and port of Nisyros looks more like a large village than a small town. The white houses with flat roofs here are striking. The castle of Spiliani, formerly controlled by the Knights of Rhodes, is located above Mandraki on a high rock.

Sights and tips Nisyros

• The ethnological museum of Mandraki.
• Paleokastro, the ruins of the old town and Acropolis.
• A mountain village named Emporios, 8 kilometers (5 mi) southeast of Mandraki.
• Not far from Emporios is the monastery of Panagia Kira on the top of hill. The view from the top is magnificent.
• The volcano of Nisyros. Its crater is 260 meters (850 ft) wide and 30 meters (100 ft) deep.
• The seaside town Paloi, 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) east of Mandraki.
• The Monastery of Spiliani in Mandraki.
• The nearby island Giali.
• The village of Nikia, built at an altitude of 400 meters (1,300 ft), with a nice view to the volcano.

Events that are celebrated here are:
- On August 15 at the Monastery of Spiliani. (August 15: Assumption)
 

How to get to Nisyros?

Nisyros is connected with the ports of Piraeus (Athens), Astypalaia, Halki, Kalymnos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Naxos, Paros, Rhodes, Symi and Tilos. There is also a local connection to the port of Kardamena (Kos).

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Κω

 Δήμος Κω είναι δήμος της περιφέρειας Νοτίου Αιγαίου που περιλαμβάνει το νησί της Κω. Δημιουργήθηκε με το Πρόγραμμα Καλλικράτης από την συνένωση των προϋπαρχόντων δήμων του νησιού, των Δήμων Κω, Ηρακλειδών και Δικαίου. Η έκταση του Δήμου είναι 287,19 τ.χλμ και ο πληθυσμός του 37.089 κάτοικοι σύμφωνα με την απογραφή του 2021. Έδρα του δήμου ορίστηκε η Κως.

Η Κως είναι ελληνικό νησί του Αιγαίου. Έχει πληθυσμό 37.089 μόνιμους κατοίκους^[1] (απογραφή 2021) και είναι το τρίτο μεγαλύτερο νησί της Δωδεκανήσου σε έκταση μετά τη Ρόδο και την Κάρπαθο και το δεύτερο σε πληθυσμό μετά τη Ρόδο. Η επιφάνεια του νησιού είναι 295,3 τ.χλμ. με ακτογραμμή 112 χιλιομέτρων. Πρωτεύουσα του νησιού είναι η Κως, όπου είναι και το κυριότερο λιμάνι του νησιού. Απέχει από τον Πειραιά 200 ναυτικά μίλια.

Είναι πλούσιο σε ιστορικά μνημεία νησί και παρουσιάζει αξιόλογο αρχαιολογικό και τουριστικό ενδιαφέρον. Αποκαλείται επίσης και νησί του Ιπποκράτη, του πατέρα της ιατρικής, επειδή εκεί γεννήθηκε ο Ιπποκράτης. Η σημερινή Κως είναι ένα σύγχρονο τουριστικό νησί με πολλές δυνατότητες σε θέματα διαμονής, φαγητού, σπορ, εκδρομών, ψυχαγωγίας. Το πλέον αξιοσημείωτο στοιχείο που χαρακτηρίζει το νησί είναι οι ατελείωτοι ποδηλατόδρομοι, γι' αυτό και πολύ συχνά η Κως χαρακτηρίζεται ως το νησί του ποδηλάτου.

Ο Δήμος Νισύρου περιλαμβάνει το νησί της Νισύρου, καθώς και τις γύρω νησίδες.

Η Νίσυρος είναι νησί του νότιου Αιγαίου και ένα από τα Δωδεκάνησα. Ανήκει στην ομάδα των αρχαίων Νοτίων Σποράδων, και βρίσκεται βορειοδυτικά της Ρόδου, ανάμεσα στην Κω, την Τήλο και την Αστυπάλαια. Συγκεκριμένα, απέχει 8 μίλια ΒΔ. της Τήλου, και 10 μίλια νότια της Κω, στην οποία και υπάγεται διοικητικά, και 9 ναυτικά μίλια δυτικά από το ακρωτήρι Ντάτσα της Τουρκίας. Η Νίσυρος έχει έκταση περίπου 41 τετραγωνικά χιλιόμετρα και συνολικό μήκος ακτών περίπου 24 χιλιόμετρα.

Ο πληθυσμός της το 1950 αριθμούσε 2.516 κατοίκους. Κατά την τελευταία απογραφή (2021), ο πληθυσμός της ανερχόταν στους 1.048 κατοίκους.^[1] Πρωτεύουσα του νησιού είναι το Μανδράκι. Άλλα χωριά της Νισύρου είναι ο Εμπορειός, οι Πάλοι, τα Νικειά και τα Λουτρά.

Το νησί έχει ένα νηπιαγωγείο, ένα δημοτικό σχολείο και ένα γυμνάσιο με λυκειακές τάξεις.