Spending a week in Kardamena - Things to do

This blog has been created in order to help all the visitors of  Kardamena and Kos to find  useful and off the beaten track tips, encouraging all visitors to explore the magnificent corners of our Island. Our goal is to suggest some activities that we know will make your stay on Kos Island a great experience. We have thus created a fictional, seven-day program where you will find some inspiration for your holidays on the beautiful island of Kos.

Day 1

If you are planning to spend only one day on Kos we would recommend you to take it easy. Probably you are on your way to another destination (i.e. Nisyros, Kalymnos or Bodrum) so we would suggest to unwind, have a swim in our pool and later on, take a walk by the scenic harbor of Kardamena and stroll along the seafront. Stop for a refreshing frappé or a cocktail at some of the bars (Aroma café and Velvet will not let you down). Spend some time at the shops of Kardamena, which have a good variety of things to buy.

Day 2

Now you are probably in the mood to move around the hotel area and finally see where all the nice beaches which you have seen in brochures and on postcard are. Well, the good news is that Kardamena has excellent beaches all along the seafront and you only need to walk a bit further along to get away from the crowded and busy beach. From the Nissia Kamares, if you head west for approximately 3 minutes you will soon come across a typically Greek taverna called Poseidonia (yes, that comes from the Greek god of the sea) in front of which a beach lies all the way to Kefalos with some really amazing spots where you can enjoy crystal clear water and a generous sun. Try to stop by the Poseidonia restaurant we are pretty sure that you will fall in love with the quality of the food as well as the view. In case you like fish or more upgraded cuisine, Liotrivi which is next to Poseidonia serves first quality fish and seafood.

Day 3

By now you probably have a good idea on what is going on in Kardamena and you are starting to wonder for other interesting sights on the island. Kos Island has so many nice places to visit, which makes renting a car really worth while. We could help you get in contact with rent a car shops. Lucas Rent a car has well-maintained cars at very reasonable prices, starting from 30 Euros a day. Furthermore, he can drop your car off at Nissia Kamares, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. It is wise to organize this during the morning, so you will have the entire day to move around. And which could be a better place to start exploring the island than a nice beach? The best beaches on Kos are located at Kefalos, so head towards the village and the Lagada beach. Lagada beach is a white, sandy and seriously quiet beach.On your way back to Kardamena you can stop over at Yannis restaurant and select any of his Greek or international dishes. Pop up for a cocktail at Nissia Kamares pool bar before you go to bed, concluding this busy day.

Day 4

After waking up and enjoying your strong Lavvazza espresso with your breakfast at the snack bar of our hotel, you could consider visiting Tingaki or Marmari; two villages towards the north of Kos with very nice and buzzing beaches. The beach bars you will find there will be able to make you some refreshing cocktails while the sports fanatics can try playing beach volleyball or beach soccer. After chilling out for a couple of hours, just before the sun sets, we would recommend you to visit Zia village. Zia is a typical Greek village located on slopes of Dikaios (that’s the one and only mountain on Kos), which is full of Tavernas and shops. You can try the some of the food at Avli or the Sunset, as these two tavernas have great food and offer one of the best sunsets you will ever see in your life. Take it easy with alcohol as there is still a 15 minute drive back to Kardamena ahead of you.

Day5

Seven days a week, at 9:00 a.m, there is a boat leaving from the harbor of Kardamena going to Nisyros. We think this is an excursion not to be missed. Nisyros is a typical Greek Island that has a charm you will not find on any other Greek Islands. The simplicity of the inhabitants, the spectacular views of the Aegean and the volcano will definitely make your visit to the island memorable. You can explore the Island with a scooter or for the ones who feel fit enough KosMountainBike  http://www.kosmountainbike.gr/ organizes visits to the Island every Sunday (boat tickets included) with quality mountain bikes in order to explore the island and the volcano by bike. This activity comes highly recommended for the ones who feel active enough to undertake this trip. The scenery and all the exploring will definitely create an appetite by the time you reach Kardamena again around 19.00 pm. Try the excellent food of Avli restaurant located on the main square of Kardamena. You can also visit the Petrino café on your way back to Nissia Kamares and enjoy a nice drink far away from the buzzing bar street.

Day 6

For the ones that are already familiar with the rich history of Kos, you might know that Hippocrates -considered as being the father of modern medicine- was born and lived on Kos Island. We definitely encourage you to visit Kos town and the platanos tree of Hippocrates, located next to the ancient ruins of the city, right in the center of Kos Town. The myth claims that Hippocrates used to teach and heal people under this tree and it is a place that has a symbolic, yet important role for our island. After your walk around the ancient ruins and the Hippocrates tree you may easily visit the castle of the town which is only a 2 minutes walk away from these attractions. When you will have completed your visit at the castle it would be a good idea to head towards the Asklipion, which is located very close to Kos Town near the Turkish neighborhood of Kermetes. Asklipion is certainly the most important cultural and historical monument of Kos as it is considered to be one of the first ancient healing sanctuaries of the past. The architecture of the monument, as well as its location, is rewarding and you will definitely be impressed with the Asklipion. On your way back you can easily stop at the main square of Kermetes and stop over at “Arap” which serves excellent Turkish cuisine. On the square of Kermetes there are a number of restaurants serving very good Turkish food that, as you might have guessed, is very similar to the Greek cuisine.

Day7

One of the things that Kardamena is well known for is its diverse activities that are available for you. Try not to miss the water park located at Mastichari http://www.lidowaterpark.com/. You may also spend your day shopping in the center of Kardamena, where you will definitely find shops of your own interest. Another option is to visit the go-karts and see how fast you can drive or you can even try to horse ride along Palaio Pyli and Kardamena. Palaio Pyli is by far the less developed touristic village and has maintained its charm from the past ages. Finally another option is to try one of the plenty different watersports which are placed along the seaside. In other word if you have the time and the desire to do activities, you have come to the right place.