DISTANT PLACES
Travel tips by Bremen sehenswert far from the Hanseatic City of Bremen
Kos - The Greek Dodecanese Island
A Travel Guide
Information and Tips
Seen in Zia
Information
Official website for Kos: https://kos.gr/kos-island
Greece in general: www.visitgreece.gr, www.youtube.com/user/visitgreecegr
Language
Generally, however, it is no problem to communicate in English, whether at a hotel, restaurant, while shopping, or on the bus. In the rare instances where even English doesn't work, "hands and feet" (gestures) are still available for communication.
Seen in the Casa Romana in Kos Town
Transport and Mobility
The bus network on Kos is well-developed and functions without problems. The buses are punctual, and if demand is very high, additional buses are provided. Tip: If possible, you should take the bus to visit the main town of the island.
However, on Kos, not all buses are the same. On the regional routes to and from the town of Kos, the buses are operated by KTEL Kos (https://ktel-kos.gr/en/). You can find timetables and ticket prices on their website. Unfortunately, getting from A to B on some routes can be somewhat cumbersome, as you often have to take one line to the ZOB (Central Bus Station) in Kos first to transfer there. If you board during the route, you pay later on the bus; at the ZOB, you pay directly before or upon boarding.
In the town of Kos, buses are operated by the company DEAS. Tickets can be purchased at information kiosks, such as the one at the bus stop opposite the Palazzo di Giustizia.
Rental cars, especially small cars, are available in many places at good prices. Generally, the vehicles are well-maintained and in good technical condition. Usually, you can book a rental car through your hotel’s reception without much effort or extra cost. Tip: The cars are usually insured with full coverage, but sometimes the underbody, wheels, and side mirrors are excluded; therefore, it is recommended to take out additional insurance for a few euros. If the rental company does not offer this automatically, you should ask for it.
Lots of fresh air during the ride
In sunny weather, a buggy can have its own appeal when choosing a rental vehicle. However, due to its open construction, keep in mind that small debris or insects could fly into the face of the passengers; therefore, glasses might be a good idea.
Cycling on the main island roads is not much fun because many trucks and coaches are also traveling there. Cycling on paved side roads, by contrast, is much more relaxing. If you are only traveling along the coast, a bike with an internal gear hub is sufficient. However, if you want to head into the interior of the island - for example, on a tour through the mountain villages - you should rent one with a derailleur (chain) and perhaps even an e-motor. Tip: Be sure to check beforehand that all parts are secure, the tires have enough air, and the brakes work well; during a fast descent, you can easily hit speeds of over 50 km/h in the mountains without braking.
View of the landscape on the north coast from the mountains between the villages
Money
You should definitely carry some cash with you because the nearest ATM is often further away than one would like, and not every ATM accepts every card. You need cash for bus rides. In contrast, card payments are no problem in the majority of shops, restaurants, and naturally in hotels.
Health
As in many other countries in the South, the same applies to Kos: it is better not to drink tap water but instead buy bottled water at the supermarket. Unfortunately, there is no deposit system, so all bottles end up as waste.
One can admire beach thistles for being able to thrive on barren ground. Anyone who steps on them barefoot will have to pull the thorns out of their skin first
A small "emergency pharmacy" with bandages, painkillers, tweezers, wound ointment, cold spray, and something for insect bites is always handy to have on vacation; otherwise, supplies in the tourist areas on the island are quite easy to find.
The same applies to absolutely essential sunscreen, which should not be used with a low SPF. Especially directly at the beach, the intensity of solar radiation is particularly high due to reflection off the water.
Travel Weather
The season on Kos runs from early May until the end of October. Except for rain showers during the autumn and spring months, it rarely rains during the main travel season; it is usually warm and dry. Winds blowing frequently from the north and northwest provide cooling even during the summer months, when temperatures often exceed 30°C. From May, the sea reaches swimming temperatures and remains warm enough well into late autumn.
Unripe almonds
Time
Greece uses Eastern European Time all year round; you must therefore set your watch forward by one hour.
Phone and Internet
Thanks to agreements regarding roaming fees, EU citizens can use their own smartphones on Kos with almost no restrictions or exorbitant extra costs. Free Wi-Fi is often available in hotels and restaurants. However, in the town of Kos, you can quickly enter the range of Turkish mobile masts with high transmission power. During this time, a switch to a Turkish provider can happen unnoticed, and you may end up paying much higher rates for data. To prevent this, put your device into airplane mode or manually select your home network while visiting the town.
Paid too many roaming fees to Turkish providers without noticing? Don't waste any energy on feelings of resentment ...
Excusions
Usually, tour operators offer organized excursions, which can be booked through the local guide at the hotel, such as trips to Nisyros and Kalymnos or an island tour. Often, these prices are slightly higher than those of local providers in roadside agencies offering similar or identical packages. You shouldn't hesitate to check out those locations as well. Our experience with them has been consistently positive.
View over part of the port of Kalymnos
Food & Drink
As expected, the supply situation on the island leaves almost no desires unfulfilled. In addition to supermarkets, you can sometimes buy agricultural products directly from producers at their roadside stands. And many hotel kitchens offer - in addition to dishes tailored to guest tastes - many local specialties prepared with ingredients like eggplant or okra.
Wine is grown in many places on Kos
Wine is grown in many places on Kos, for example, in Asfendiou (www.hatziemmanouil.gr). Some wineries also offer the opportunity to taste and purchase wine.
For those who prefer beer over wine, Greek beer is recommended.
And what about the locals? They enjoy drinking a Café Frappé
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Read more about Kos: The table of contents
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Site on Rhodes
A journey through the historic Old Town of Rhodes
Relics from various eras - ranging from antiquity to the period of Italian occupation - can be found almost everywhere on the island. Many have left their mark; in some places, they must be sought out, while in others, they appear in clustered, fascinating density and variety. Yet, nowhere else on the island are these traces as prominent as they are in the city of Rhodes. It is not for nothing that the historic Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.
read more about Rhodes Old Town ...
Symi
An excursion to the Greek Dodecanese island off the Turkish coast
A visit to this sparsely populated rocky island of about 60 square kilometers, with its namesake picturesque harbor town, is part of the standard tour itinerary offered in many locations on the Greek island of Rhodes. From the main island, it takes ships approximately two hours to reach the port of the small island located 23 kilometers north of Rhodes off the Turkish coast, which has belonged to Greece since 1947. As more of the Greek coast recedes into the distance to the port side, the ship draws closer to the Turkish shore; this part of the southern Aegean essentially connects Europe and Western Asia.
read more about Symi ...
The "Green" Island of Corfu
From the sights of the capital, Kerkyra, to the Corfu Trail
The Greeks call not only the city but the island itself Kerkyra. According to legend, it was named after the nymph Gorgyra (also known as Kerkyra), who was brought to the island by the sea god Poseidon. A legend, indeed. In fact, the name appears in a modified form, "Korkyra," on written records as early as 1200 BC. The current name, Corfu, dates back to the Byzantine era. Once an independent island and later the first Roman province of modern Greece, it became part of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 395 AD. On a rocky promontory jutting into the sea, the Byzantines built a fortress in the early 6th century and named the city emerging from this core "Koryfo."
read more about Kerkyra ...
Zakynthos
An island defined by the Caretta caretta
When searching for images of the 406 km² island online, one primarily encounters a very common recurring motif that has been captured from a similar angle by various photographers over the years: Navagio Bay on the northwestern coast. It's all junk, right? Well, that is a matter of perspective, and there are plenty of those during the season, whether they have a camera or not. The fact remains, however, that the rusting wreck of the motor vessel "Panagiotis" has become a landmark for Zakynthos.
read more about Zakynthos ...
