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The island of Kos (290 sq km, 31,000 inhabitants) is located in the Aegean Sea, in the northern part of the Dodecanese archipelago. The island is located north of Nissyros and south of Kalymnos. The coast of Turkey is located a very short distance to the northeast, Kos is in fact enclosed between the Turkish peninsulas of Bodrum and Datça.
The capital of the island, the city of Kos is located along the northeastern coast right in front of the Turkish coast. Most of the ferries that connect Kos with the other islands of the Dodecanese and with the Turkish coast arrive here. The island’s airport is located in the center of the island near the village of Antimahia.
A GREEN ISLAND FOR GREEK STANDARDS
The island is mountainous and rich in greenery, for the Greek canons. There are in fact some fertile plains where vines, olive trees and fruit trees are grown. Pastoralism and fishing are also practiced on the island. The coasts are relatively straight with no significant indentations.
To the east near the southern coast is a narrow mountain range that reaches its maximum height with Mount Dikeos (843 meters), which dominates the central-southern coast. This mountain range becomes flat to the north and turns into a fertile agricultural plain.
Kos, which is supposed to be the place where Hippocrates was born, has interesting archaeological remains. The most important archaeological site on the island is that of Asclepeion which is located in the northern part of the island a short distance from the city of Kos.
The island is dotted with castles that recall its history as a border between the Christian West and the Muslim East. The main one is the castle of the Knights of the city of Kos (Neratzia Castle). At the center of the island is the imposing Andimachia castle. While further north are the ruins of the Palio Pyli castle.
Kos is known for its beautiful sandy beaches that stretch along the northern and southern coasts of the island and which have made Kos one of the most popular destinations in the Dodecanese.
HOW TO GET TO KOS
FLIGHTS: The island of Kos is served by an airport located in the central-southern part of the island. Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air flights from Athens land here. In addition to flights with a stopover and plane change in Athens, during the summer the island is connected to the major European airports by numerous direct seasonal flights.
FERRIES: Kos is connected by regular ferries with the port of Piraeus (a few km west of Athens). The time taken for the crossing is around 10 hours. The island is also connected by ferries with the main islands of the Dodecanese including Rhodes, Leros, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Symi. There are also ferries that connect the island with Thessaloniki (21 hours crossing) and Samos (5 hours and 30 minutes by ferry).
The climate of Kos.
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