Kos Island
This island is located just about 4km off the coast of Turkey and it is the third-largest island in the Dodecanese. The island has a great history as it was a key administrative center from Classical Greece to Roman times and it is filled with ancient ruins. The island is filled with a wide range of activities that you can try out from lazing around on the beaches to exploring the ancient ruins. Some of the best things to do in Kos island are listed below.
Top things to do in Kos Island
Explore the Ancient Agora
The ancient agora was a commercial and social soul of ancient Kos and it is located close to the part. It is also among the largest Agoras in Greece and it was built in the 4th century BC, it has also been rebuilt repeatedly after a series of earthquakes. You are going to easily identify the ages of the ruins in the agora because of the different materials used in building them and there are information boards on every step to make them clearer. This is a great place to go if you are a history lover. Some of the best things to do here are to wander around the section of the old city wall, foundations of private homes, sanctuaries to Hercules and Aphrodite, a colonnade, and so on.
Visit the Asklepion
This is the place where Hippocrates was trained in the 5th century BC and it is not far from Kos Town. It was discovered in 1902 and it is the sanctuary of Asclepius, the god of medicine. He attends to people that suffer from maladies after they seek permission from the sanctuary’s priests. You can easily access the site by a grand stairway and the building features four huge terraces. You are going to find the foundations of the patients’ room with busts in the niche. On the level above are the spas, abaton, and the medical school. You can then head to the uppermost terrace which houses the Great Altar which is now used as a church.
Explore Agios Stefanos
This beach has a great mixture of white sand and pebbles and it has a scenic view. The beach is located on a channel of twinkling turquoise water which face Kastri which is a panoramic islet filled with tall rock. One of the best things to do here is to hire a pedal boat to cross the channel and explore the islet. You are also going to find ruins of two early Christian basilicas which dates back to 4th and 5th AD centuries on the eastern fringe of the beach. Although the churches were demolished by the earthquakes in 1932, you will also columns and a set of mosaics at the location.
Go sightseeing at the Western Archaeological Zone
This enormous archaeological site is located just opposite the Odeon. It is a perfect destination to go for history and architecture enthusiasts and the highlight is the 3rd century surface of the Cardo which is filled with grooves from ancient wagons. Some of the other things not to miss are two early Christian basilicas, stadium from the second century BC and a gymnasium with 17 white marble columns. You should also make sure you visit the western baths from the 3rd century and it features one of the largest mosaics on the island. There is also another magnificent mosaic in the ruins of House of Europe that you can also check out.
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Relax at Plaka Forest
This forest is located just west of the airport and it is a great place to go on hot summer days to cool off. Plaka Forest is a famous recreation area on the island and it features picnic tables where you will meet with peacocks and tame cats that live in the area. The highlight of the forest is the peacocks especially when male show off their tail. You can also visit the little pond which is surrounded by rhododendron bushes and it houses turtles.
Take a dip at Therma Hot Springs
This can be found in a natural reserve on the eastern part of Kos and the spring bubbles through the rock. Although the dark gravel at the beach is not enticing, lots of tourists come here for the springs. The waters were discovered in 1934 and it is walled from the sea by rocks to create a small oval-shaped pool. It is believed by many to cure arthritis, rheumatism, and so on. The hot spring is also rich in potassium, calcium, Sulphur, and magnesium.
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Have fun at Aquatica Water Park
This park is constructed on the slope close to the sea south of the airport and it is a family-friendly destination in Kos. You are going to find a wide range of thrilling rides that you can take such as single and multi-laned open slides, river tubing, water vortex, and so on. It also features a children area which features a pool and playground and it houses a lot of reclining chairs for parents to sun
Facts about Kos Island:
- Is the third-largest island of Dodecanese
- The ancient agora of Kos was considered one of the biggest in the ancient world
- Has the population of ~30.000 people
- It is 2 miles away from the coast of Turkey
- The Island has a 14th-century fortress which you can see in the entrance of the harbor
So that’s about Kos Island, share the love if you liked thearticle and let me know your experiences.
Safe travels!
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