Kos Town

Kos is known as the “island of cycling” and quite understandably too, since its flat morphology makes the bicycle an ultimate means of transportation for going from A to B at ease and with ounces of style! Along the same lines, walking around the island becomes very interesting too.

Having ensured your stay at Alice Springs Resort which is located in Lambi beach at close proximity to the main city and the harbor, all you have to do is pick and choose your walks in the most interesting parts of the island as listed below!

– The Old Town via a promenade that will have Eleftherias square as its starting point and Apellou street as a finishing point. On your way back, head towards the Ancient Agora and the island’s port.

– The exact spot where Hippocrates –the father of medicine- began to teach his pupils the art of medicine. Nowadays called the Tree of Hippocrates, it is the largest platane tree in Europe. At walking distance, you will also come across the Hippocrates Botanical Garden where you will discover the rich flora of pharmaceutical herbs that the father of medicine used in his practice. At 4 km southwest from Kos town you will find the ancient monument of Asklipio which depicts the considerably important ancient Medical School of Hippocrates dating back to 2nd century BC.

– The beach of Thermes, situated at 10 km south of Kos town. It is a pebbly beach with characteristic dark volcanic pebbles and warm seawater due to the hot mineral water springs nearby. The beach is so beautiful that walking along the shore will seem very appealing as far as the sun is shining regardless of the time of year you are visiting.

– For tourists and visitors keen to explore the ancient Greek monuments, Kos island is indeed one of the best destinations where the parallel strong influences from Italy and Minor Asia will be equally noticeable and intriguing. The areas of Asklipio and Old Pili, as well as the Castles of Nerantzia and Antimachia are worthy of your visit. – Platani village or Kermetes – as it is otherwise called – constitutes the old Turkish settlement where you should head to for an acquaintance with Turkish and Asia Minor gastronomy in any of its numerous tavernas. Combine with a long walk and admire buildings and housing.

Apart from being the birthplace of the father of medicine, Hippocrates, Kos island is also known as the “island of cycling” justifiably earning this title during the Italian occupation of the island between 1912 and 1943 when numerous cycling races were organised with the participation of several Italian champions. This tradition in cycling continued during the 60s where we actually see the shooting of major Greek films on the island that depict clearly the use of the bicycle as a means of transportation with ounces of style and joy. The bicycle lane of Kos island starts at Faros beach and ends at the beach of Psalidi, covering a distance of about 13 km with many cross-lanes passing through the beautiful Town of Kos.

A great number of locals and tourists select to take the bicycle to work or for going for a swim and, of course, for an endless ride full of joy along the Palm-tree Boulevard (Leoforos Foinikon). It is a fact that the expansion of the existing network of bicycle lanes in conjunction with the numerous cultural monuments, the freshness of the environment and the locally sourced organic food products, can contribute greatly to the overall increase of quality tourism on the island.