Day 5: Nisyros – Kos

Situated in the south-eastern part of the Aegean Sea, Kos is the third-largest island in the Southern Sporades after Rhodes and Karpathos. The two main descriptors commonly used in referring to Kos are “garden of the Aegean Sea” and “birthplace of Hippocrates.” Both are true. The island’s natural terrain is highly varied with cliffs, ravines, coniferous forests and beaches to suit any taste. Kos is filled with the springtime scent of blossoming lilies swirling into summer where it then gives way to the aroma of ripe citrus fruit.

The main attraction on Kos is its large temple complex, built in honour of Asclepius the Healer. Its three stories used to house a medical school, a museum of anatomy, thermal-water baths, and a shrine. Today, the ruins of the Asclepion serve as a theater stage. Kos’ other attractions include its Joanite fortress, Hippocrates museum, ancient Agora, and the old mosques in the capital city of Kos. The entire island is also sprinkled with numerous monuments, fortresses, and basilicas.

The island’s main cities are concentrated along the northern and southern coasts. Yachts most commonly enter the Kos marina from the north and maintain course towards the south. You can even sail around the whole island if you wish, stopping in the port of Kardamaina, the Kefalos bay, and in the northern villages of Marmari, Mastichari, and Tigaki with its 10-kilometer-long beach.