Hello fellow travellers! My name is Francesca Zuccotti from the Instagram profile @serentripidy. I’m a travel blogger and content creator. Thanks for stopping by my guest blog on the gorgeous Dodecanese island of Kos.
I was born in a small town in Northern Italy and grew up in the “Bel Paese”. My parents always pushed me to be independent ever since I was a kid. The first trip I took ‘alone’ was at the age of 11 when I spent three weeks improving my English in a summer school near London.
Learning languages is something that I am passionate about and I consider myself to be a social person (I love talking to people). I studied tourism management because I have always wanted to travel. I’ve always thought that life is too short to speak one language or stay in one place.
So I moved to Germany in 2005 for my Erasmus year. I’ve been working and living abroad ever since. Now, I’m a digital marketer and take every chance I get to jet off to a sunny island or weekend city break. During my trips, I like to gather stories and photos to share on my blog SerenTripidy.
Living in Kos, Greece for Six Months
Years ago I got a job as a sales rep with Alpitour, a tour operator. Kos was the destination I was sent to for the summer. I didn’t know much about Kos before moving but I grew fond of the island during my 6-month stay.
As part of my job I sold tours to holidaymakers and, of course, to do that I went on the tours myself. Kos is not the blue-domed churches and white houses Greek Island you see on postcards. Those are the Cyclades.
Kos is part of the Dodecanese and has a more rugged vegetation in comparison to the islands up north. Nevertheless, it’s a strikingly beautiful island – full of history and with 114 kms of coastline, more than half of which has beaches with crystal-clear waters. Kos is absolutely worth visiting!
A Typical Day on the Beautiful Kos Island
I was based in Kardamena, a resort town in the southwest of the island but I would recommend staying in Kos Town for anyone visiting Kos for a short period. Anyhow, Kos is not a big island and it’s easy to get around.
As I was working there in the middle of summer, I had one day off every week and would enjoy my days off in a lovely chilled way. I planned to visit a different beach every time or go on a boat trip to a nearby island.
My free days would start by drinking a Greek frappe in the morning – if you don’t know what a Greek frappe is, well, you are definitely missing out! This delicious drink is basically coffee blended with milk, water and sugar. It gets really foamy and it’s a great option for those hot summer days.
Usually I would eat at a local tavern as they offer the best value for money and have so many tasty options. I loved to end the day admiring the sunset in Zia – a traditional village in the hills not far from Kos Town. Here you can enjoy authentic Greek food while watching people dance “sirtaki”.
Favourite Places and Experiences in Kos
My favourite place in Kos was the westernmost town of Kefalos. The cute little rocky and barren islet of Kastri stands in front of the beach of Kefalos making this place perfect for amazing postcard looking pictures.
I also loved having lunch by the beach every day. There was this family-run tavern in Kardamena called Chrisopoulos Taverna. A lovely couple runs this place. Fonda, the owner, is Greek and his wife, Sarah is British.
They treated me like family and would always give me a free sunbed to rest in during my lunch break. I miss those simple yet special lunches. That’s an experience and memory of Kos that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I found the locals to be lovely, not only at Chrisopoulos but all over the island. The people are friendly and welcoming. During my stay, I made a few friends which gives me a great excuse to keep visiting in the future.
Most Beautiful Beaches on the Island
Another highlight of Kos were the beautiful beaches. If I had to pick the best one I would go for Paradise Beach near Kefalos which is a large cove with clear water surrounded by lush greenery. The beach is fully organised and gets busy in summer. There’s a fantastic beach bar and restaurant too.
Agios Stefanos is another beach I would highly recommend. You can swim near the remains of two paleo-Christian churches built in the 5th – 6th century AD overlooking the picturesque islet of Kastri. Here you can admire the foundations, arches and original mosaic floors of the churches.
Glorious Greek Food of Kos Island
Kos is famous for quality food. Wherever you find yourself on this Dodecanese island, you’ll find plenty of ‘tavernas’ and restaurants serving local delicacies. I recommend eating at tavernas rather than at restaurants.
Tavernas are casual, offer good value for money (portions are huge) and are often family-run businesses, hence providing a more authentic experience. My favourites were: Family Zorbas and the Fish House Taverna in Kos Town, Oromedon in Zia, and Chrisopoulos in Kardamena.
And Kos is also famous for its thyme honey. You can buy a jar to take home at Kos Market. For more information on where and what to eat, check out my blog post on my website: What & Where to Eat & Drink.
What you Need to Know Before you Go
I recommend renting a car for your entire stay. Public transport is not very frequent nor reliable. Also, people should know that Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates – the father of medicine. You should absolutely visit the Asklepion which is a famous healing temple filled with history and ruins.
Finally, please don’t stay at your hotel by the pool all the time. Head out and explore the island. If you have time, see the nearby islands of Nisyros, Kalymnos and Pserimos. They are all worth visiting! For more information about Kos, check out my blog post: Top 8 Things To Do.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your stay in the beautiful Kos!
