EXPLORE PARADISE KOS
Source: Unique Destination Magazine
Kos Island is an island full of contrasts that seems to be hidden paradise with its beautiful coastline and its hinterland with its traditional old cafés. Every summer, visitors from all over the world, are keen to discover Kos’ numerous, impressive and clean beaches. It is no coincidence that Kos is another island with a heavenly named beach: the famous “Paradise Beach”: Sandy, full of verdant hills with cedar trees it gives you the feeling of an oasis and marks the island of Kos with excellence.
Many chose to approach the small island opposite Kamari, for either exploration or isolation and tranquillity. Over here, you may dive from the rocks or pay a visit to St. Stephen’s cute chapel. 7km southwest of Kefalos, the beach of Aghios Theologos, named after the deserted chapel of Agios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologist), a saint the locals celebrate with a big feast on August 29, right at the end of the core tourist season. With its small quite bays and covering cliffs, the beach is perfectly chosen by those wishing to renew their energy after an exhausting night out!
In Kos, with its cosmopolitan aura and splendid beaches, one can still discover corners that represent the soul of the island through tradition. In the central square of the city of Kos, a cafeteria-patisserie proves that a blast from the past can still be charming: “Ariston” has been, for decades now, serving Greek coffee and traditional delicacies: cheese pies with honey, “bugatsa” (cream pie) with sugar, cinnamon or honey, “galaktoboureko” (milk pie), “Copenhagen: sweets and local baklava with almonds. If you take a stroll out of the city, you may be led to the deserted village of Haichoutes. In between old stone houses and silent streets, close to the church of Agios Dimitrios, a small café-museum welcomes guests in its pretty cool courtyard.
Above the Kamari beach, on a hill lies the village of Kefalos. This is a place where life for residents flows calmly. Here, traditional cafes are filled with endless discussions! In one of these, perhaps the most typical, is “Kafeneion N. Triantafyllou”. Over there, a traditional sweet accompanied with a neat coffee may be enough to balance your mind,
On the northern side of Mount Dikaios, in the village Lagoudi Zia with the breath-taking views, there is yet another small treasure of tradition that has survived away from the city and the tourist development. The “Ftohi Kaliva” (poor hut) café offers its passers-by coffee or ouzo with meze while preserving the local culture. It offers a relaxing environment, where people chat, or enjoy a game of backgammon.
The tour for fans of tradition should be completed at the famous 100-year old “Casino Café” in Asomatos, a place which, thanks to its recent renovation, has re-emerged as one of the island’s hot points.
13 km from the city centre, Kos hides the ultimate secret! At the location of Therma, there are natural, thermal springs amid stunning cliffs and slopes. Its hot springs reach temperatures of up to 50◦C yet, as they mix with the cool sea waters, a wonderful environment for wellness and relaxation is naturally created.