DISTANT PLACES
Travel tips by Bremen sehenswert far from the Hanseatic City of Bremen
Kos - The Greek Dodecanese Island
A Travel Guide
Marmari
The beach between Marmari and Mastichari
With the rise of mass tourism on Kos in the early 1980s, two settlements - Marmari and Tigaki - were built up along the north coast, situated about four kilometers apart. From the island's only main road, two nearly straight roads branch off, ending at the beach.
Are you looking for water sports with a sail or a kite? The conditions on the north coast are excellent, featuring numerous reserved beach sections and well-equipped bases
The beach is also the reason why the local tourist infrastructure was established here. Turning left, you can walk along the beach almost all the way to Mastichari and its ferry port; turning right takes you past Tigaki toward the city of Kos. While the coastline changes along the way and varies in beauty, the sheer length of the north coast is perfect for those who enjoy a long stroll along the shore in addition to a relaxing day of sunbathing. In our opinion, Marmari is the ideal holiday destination, as this stretch of beach is arguably the most beautiful part of the area.
A small scene on the beach of Marmari: Cuttlebone
Shell hunters will have little luck here, as there are almost no shells to be found. Similarly, there aren't many "pretty stones" - which wouldn't make for very good luggage anyway. What you can find frequently, however, is cuttlebone. This calcareous material is highly sought after by bird owners. Each piece found represents a dead cuttlefish; they serve as the animal’s natural buoyancy organ, without which the creature cannot survive.
Vehicle rentals (two and four wheels) along the main road
The main road is lined with restaurants, hotels, and offices where you can book excursions across the island or to neighboring islands (such as Nisyros or Kalymnos). There are also rental agencies offering nearly anything with wheels - mostly at very reasonable rates. Consequently, many vacationers explore the relatively small island on open-air motor buggies, quads, scooters, rental cars, and bicycles. In two local supermarkets, you can find almost everything from groceries to those items that didn't fit in your suitcase or were simply forgotten on your list.
Well-maintained hotel facilities in Marmari
While the majority of hotels are not in the "luxury" class, even the three-star houses are well-managed and clean. They offer high standards of amenities in both indoor and outdoor areas, as well as a solid culinary selection. Despite the presence of mass tourism, the locals have managed to keep their island from being marred by monstrous "bed castles," which preserves a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere across the entire landscape, even in these primary tourist hubs.
A small "burst of color": a blooming sea slug at a hotel complex
Nevertheless, it is simply a fact that the tourist spots are well-frequented during the high season— - in other words: it gets crowded. There is enough space between locations to "clear out" if the crowds become too much for you. Our recommendation for this is a tour through the mountain villages (preferably by bike), see below. However, everyone is different, and Marmari offers something special for everyone.
Main beach with rental loungers and umbrellas; drinks and snacks served just behind
After a day well-spent - hopefully in accordance with your own desires - a lovely way to transition from day to evening is to watch the sunset over the island of Kalymnos directly from the beach. Others may book an organized tour to the mountain village of Zia or ride there individually. You can certainly do that, but it looks just as good from the beach in Marmari.
Sunset over Kalymmos viewed from Marmari beach; no camera can truly capture the atmosphere
For those who prefer to spend their time away from the water, opportunities for activity can be found on the connecting road between Marmari and Tigaki, where you can hop on a horse (several providers are available here) or get onto a go-kart. A greater physical challenge is a bike tour through the mountain villages via Pyli to Lagoudi, and onward through Zia to Evangelistria or the abandoned village of Paleo Pyli (Old Pyli). By doing so, you will experience much more of your surroundings than you would while traveling by motor. However, for a trip into Kos Town, it is indeed more practical to take the bus, which runs directly from several stops in Marmari.
Every beginning is hard: Participants at a surf school
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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.
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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."
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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.
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