Open the left braid menu. Not included in the standard tour itinerary. Best photos of Kos

Kos is the birthplace of Hippocrates. At least, this is what the locals and the myths of Ancient Greece, familiar to us from childhood, say. From above, the island reminded me of a sand castle surrounded by the sea. He blinked and beckoned with lights. And I already imagined how I would go around it on a bicycle. And in one day. But more on that later.

Colors and Facts of Kos Island

Kos is part of the so-called Dodecanese archipelago, which has 17 miniature Greek islands. With a coastline of just 112 km, the island has something to surprise you. Even in winter, flamingos fly here. And in summer the island is immersed in greenery and silvered with olives. The inhabitants of Kos boldly call themselves Greeks and are very proud that after 400 years of Turkish and then Italian "patronage" they have finally returned to their roots. The industry is not at all developed here, but olives and tourists provide local jobs almost all year round.

The capital of the same name to the island is truly a city of contrasts. A sort of mixture of Italian courtyards with oriental bazaars. A city within a village. A ten-minute walk from the port with its majestic fortress and bustling restaurants will take you to the outskirts where goats, sheep and cows graze peacefully. Other resorts of the island: Kefalos, Mastichari, Marmari, Psalidi, Agios Fokas are more created for a calm, beach holiday.

Short video about Kos

How to get there

There are two main ways to get to Kos: by plane or by ferry. By plane it is faster and more convenient, and by ferry you can sail along with the car. But you will not get to the island by bus or train.

By plane

The island of Kos is lucky. With an area of 290 km², he even got an international airport. Charter flights from Russia, Ukraine and CIS countries fly here from May to October 1-2 times a week. To purchase a charter, you will need to contact a travel agency. From Moscow (Vnukovo) to fly 3.5 hours, from St. Petersburg (Pulkovo) - 3 hours 17 minutes. There are no direct (not charter) flights from Moscow or St. Petersburg. When booking on your own, you will have to make a transfer in Athens. The flight to Kos from Athens takes 1 hour. The best time to fly is April/May or October. During these months, you can fly from Moscow (DME) to Kos (KGS) with a transfer in Athens for 9,000 rubles, from St. Petersburg (LED) - for 14,000 rubles. (Aegean Airlines). In the middle of the season, flight prices to Kos from both capitals grow one and a half times. You can’t avoid transfers in Düsseldorf, Munich, Athens, Thessaloniki at all. low season- from October to April. You can pick up tickets on search engine sites, for example,.

A little about Kos airport. Hippocrates Airport is located in the center of the island, about 1 km from the town of Antimachia. It has only two small terminals, signs in English and Greek are accompanied by international signs, some of the staff even speak Russian. It's hard to get lost. In the summer there are queues - count your time. The airport has duty free, but the prices there are higher than in city shops.

I will talk about how it is more convenient to get from the airport to the city of Kos or resorts in the section on urban transport.

By ferry

You can fly to Athens, get to the port of Piraeus and sail to Kos by ferry. This method is longer, but in winter or when charter flights are expensive, it can help out. In addition, the ferries are comfortable and enjoy the views to your heart's content. The most convenient way to get from Athens Airport (ATH) to the port of Piraeus is by bus X96. The trip takes 90 minutes and costs 5 euros. You can get there by metro in 1 hour 20 minutes and 8 euros. On the ferry from Piraeus to Kos, you will sail for about 12 hours (with a stop at). The most economical ticket for one will cost about 40 euros. Schedule can be viewed

Between Greek islands also established ferry service. For example, you can take a ferry in Rhodes and sail to Kos. This will take about 4 hours. However, ferries may not run every day - check in advance. All ferries land at the Port of Kos.

To moor to about. Kos on your own yacht can be used, which is a 10-minute walk from the port.

If Kosmarina is crowded, you can use the Old Port or the ports in Kardamena and Kefalos (Kefalos-Bay).

Clue:

Kos - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go

The season on the island of Kos lasts from April to October. The main flow of tourists falls on the summer months. In July-August, prices for flights and accommodation rise significantly. Thanks to the more famous neighboring islands, you will not feel the crowds on Kos even in summer. In winter, mostly European pensioners come here for sedate walks along the sea. Many hotels/shops/restaurants are closing altogether.

You can get acquainted with the prices for tours to the island of Kos in the travelask section.

Kos in summer

Summer on Kos is hot. The air temperature can rise up to +45C. The weather is calm. If you are a sightseeing hunter, you should not go in the summer. In the heat, climbing the ruins or just walking around is dubious pleasure. But fans of a beach holiday will like to plunge into the coolness after a sunbath Aegean Sea.

The sea is pleasant, it doesn’t look like a warm soup at all, because. does not heat up more than + 25C. Fragrant fruits on Kos are available all year round. Considering the heat, I advise you to lean on watermelons and peaches for lunch.

Kos in autumn

September and early October are truly velvet here. Water +20C, air +25C. This time seems to be created for walks, excursions, cycling trips. It's nice to spend the first part of the day on the beach, get covered with a light tan, and then go in search of adventure. Local almonds appear in shops. This is in addition to peaches, which do not disappear from the shelves.

But there is also bad news. From mid-October it may start to rain. Rain on Kos is like a flood. The whole sky is covered with black clouds, thunder rumbles, and the rain pours over the unfortunate tourists for two or three days in a row. The streets can only be walked in rubber boots to the knees. Also, it gets very cold. Tourists can only sit in bars and complain together about their fate. Although the bars may close due to bad weather. Umbrellas are sold on every corner, but the quality is so-so. Better take it from home. But after the rains, the island looks happy, and the sun warms so friendly that tourists forgive everything and continue to have fun until the end of October. November is out of season.

Kos in spring

In spring, the island blossoms. No wonder it is called the garden of the Aegean. Since February, everything that can bloom. Even cacti. And almonds and bougainvillea bloom especially exotic for the Russian eye.

For spring secluded walks around the island, you can fly in March-April. Air temperature +18C, water +17C. In addition, the first nectarines and cherries ripen. But in May there are more tourists. Obviously, in connection with May holidays in Russia. Like autumn, late spring in the Mediterranean is considered velvet season. You can sunbathe beautifully and explore the whole island.

Kos in winter

In winter, you can fly to Kos for only one purpose. Live as a hermit. Look at the sea in a storm, listen to the wind. Chill and warm up with almond liqueur in the nearest cafe.

Cloudy weather from December to February. The temperature is about +10C. We have not seen snow here in winter, but there is plenty of rain. Of course, the extinct resort has its own charm, but a visit in the spring will delight you with completely different colors.

Kos - monthly weather

Clue:

Kos - monthly weather

conditional areas. Descriptions and features

Tourists choose the area of the island depending on the type of holiday. The bulk settles directly in the capital, the city of Kos, or in nearby villages. I usually look for hotels on Booking - check if there are more favorable price, Can . If you prefer to rent private apartments - be like.

Kos city

The beaches here are equipped and clean. In the evening, you can walk to the city without spending money on a taxi. By the way, there is an interesting system with the beaches in the city of Kos. They belong not to hotels, but to bars. Bartenders stand at the entrance to the beach and invite vacationers to their place. Sunbeds are free, but the client always orders something: beer, ice cream, juice. However, you can make friends with the bartender: they are not averse to chatting. Then you, as a friend, can use the sunbed without ordering anything.

Kamari and Kefalos

The resort of Kamari near the city of Kefalos is also suitable for those who wish to Ancient Greece take a look and lie down on the beach. It is located 43 km west of Kos. In Kefalos, it is worth visiting the ruined castle and the ancient basilica. Active travelers will also find their energy here.Kitesurfing and windsurfing equipment can be rented on the beaches of Kamari and neighboring Kollihari. An hour of renting one set of equipment costs about 25-30 euros, it is more profitable to take equipment for a day - pay about 70 euros.

Kardamena

Food. What to try

On Kos they believe that Greek, and not Italian Cuisine rules the world. It is useless to convince - I tried, do not get involved. Nod, smack your lips, and become the favorite guest of every cafe.

There are a lot of snacks here. But the cheese fried in olive oil seemed the most unusual to me. It's called saganaki. They bring a briquette 10 by 10 cm, golden, salty and very oily. But you will never forget this taste.

Local olives are neither green nor black. They are oblong, irregular in shape and some kind of light purple or brown. Depends on lighting. I only admire them, because I do not eat. A plate of snacks usually costs 4-7 euros.

Greek salad. Without it, the kitchen cannot be described. A proper Greek salad is eaten with a fork and spoon. Just like pasta. Apparently, a spoon to draw oil with tomato juice and vinegar, which flow from vegetables to the bottom of the plate. The salad portions are large. If you are not very hungry, you can get by with them. It costs 5-8 euros depending on the level of the institution.

Fish dishes are simple, juicy and relatively expensive, despite the fact that the sea is nearby. But for some reason, their octopuses taste like rubber. Hot fish will cost 9-15 euros.

The local goulash won me over. Prepared like this: pieces of beef are stewed in a pot with feta and potatoes. They bring it hot. It smells of spices and comfort. Be sure to try. It costs about 10 euros.

Wine. Be patient until you return to Russia. Decent red wines in local stores are expensive - from 10 euros (in Moscow stores you can buy a similar wine for 6 euros). IN local restaurants You can't go wrong with wine prices. I tried homemade wine in several establishments - very weak.

I would recommend The Fish House Taverna at 25th Martiou St, Kos Harbor (see map). Place in the center, colorful, white with blue accents. It is located on a hill, and a terrace was made on the stairs. Sitting on the terrace is more pleasant, only there they often take pictures. No wonder this is the most beautiful corner in the city. The food is delicious, we even got a Russian waitress. It was possible to talk about life in exile. Hot + salad cost about 15 euros.

And if you go down the stairs and turn left, then there you can go to the most popular pub on Kos. At least among the locals. The bartender on the beach assured me that they make the best cocktails in all of Kos. I don’t remember what it was called, but there are large tables in the air, and inside the room is small, with mirrors. There are a lot of people, although this is by no means a cheap place - all cocktails are from 7 €. But take a look, see where the locals rest.

Safety. What to watch out for

Kos is pretty quiet. Serious crimes are unheard of, sensational. Just beware of petty theft. Keep track of your bags, wallets, phones. It is better to take the minimum amount of money to the beach, and keep expensive jewelry, money, passport in a safe. If there is no safe in the room, put everything in a suitcase and fasten all the zippers. Even better if you get a lock on your suitcase in advance.

Outside of Kos, there is a lot of talk about Syrian refugees. In vain - they are completely harmless here. They set up a small camp in the port and live in tents. Around the refugees, a police squad is constantly on duty, so they say something in a whisper. They are really a pity, but it is more likely to be afraid of pickpockets.

Things to do

Top 3 non-tourist activities in Kos

Go to visit the Metropolitan on a bicycle

Of course, it will not work to travel around the entire island on a bicycle. I really hoped. But try to at least go outside your resort. If you move away from the port of the city of Kos at a decent distance (about 4 km) and go through the hills, you can stumble upon the house of the local metropolitan (free entry). And there are cages with parrots, and a pebble floor, and silence.

Get to know the fauna in the vicinity of the resorts

Tours and sightseeing are useful things to do. But they are very well planned. But if you just go for a walk, you can make an unexpected acquaintance. For example, with a turtle. My new friend got stuck in the fence and could not get out for so long that she even bent her shell.

Taste Kos

What does Kos taste like? It will be great if you can answer this question upon arrival. Therefore, being on the island, try everything. The Greeks are very hospitable people, in every shop they smeared me with creams, fed me with honey, butter, nuts. When the restaurant found out that I didn't drink strong drinks, they said that I hadn't tried raki. And then they brought a glass. Raki, local grape vodka, tart and bitter, burned my throat, and the Greeks smacked their lips happily. And they didn't include it in the bill.

How to move around the region

The most convenient way to get around Kos is by bus or rented car. You can also ride a bike, but you won’t go around the island in a day, and there are a lot of hills here - you’ll have to sweat. There are many sightseeing buses on the island, but this method of transportation is more expensive and ties you to a group.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxis on Kos are usually located at special parking lots and have "TAXI" checkers. The cars are new, with air conditioning, but moving around in them is quite expensive. For example, a trip from the airport to the city center of Kos will cost about 35-40 euros. Prices are fixed, prescribed for each resort. Bargaining is not very appropriate. Booking information can be viewed

Public transport

It is convenient to move around the city of Kos and the surrounding area by city buses. Tickets can be bought at special booths on bus stops. They will also advise you on which bus to get to right place. The ticket costs 1.6 euros. In order to go to the baths or other resorts of the island, use the suburban buses. trips to long distance can cost 7-8 euros. Tickets for suburban buses are bought directly from the driver. All buses depart from the Central Bus Station (Kleopatras 7) and make a stop near Neratzia Fortress.

A bus ride from the airport to Kos town will cost 3.20 euros. Stop next to the terminal exit. You will arrive in 45 minutes. The route passes through the Mastichari resort. Buses from the airport run from 7.55 to 19.50 (or until 16.15 from November to April).

Transport rental

You can rent a bike at your hotel or in the city. Rental points usually have a large parking lot that can be seen from afar. This pleasure costs about 4 euros per day. Documents and age are not important, you will not have to draw up and sign any contracts. The bike is supposed to be returned by a certain hour to where you took it. You pay in advance. Be sure to check that the bike is on the move and ask for a lock for it. The castle is usually included in the rental price.

You can rent a car at the airport and at any of the resorts. If you plan to pick up the car at the airport, it is better to book in advance so as not to waste time comparing prices. In town, look for "Rental Car" signs. The cost of renting a car per day is from 40 euros. You can pick up and book a car in advance. To draw up a contract, you must have a driving license, a passport with a visa and about 200 euros on the card. Requirements for the age and experience of the driver: age from 21 years and driving experience from 1 year. It's great if you know English - you can study the lease agreement. There are no problems with parking on the island, but they are paid. In resort centers and near attractions, parking costs from 1.50 euros per hour. Gasoline 95 costs about 1.50-2 euros per liter.

AND . Reviews of tourists about the weather and holidays on the Island of Kos.

Kos is the third largest island in the Dodecanese archipelago, which is located in the Aegean Sea. Belongs to Greece. The island is called the "Garden of the Aegean" due to its luxurious parks and lush greenery. In addition, it is rich in sights, the detour of which will take more than one day.

Rest here is by no means boring: on the territory of the island there are many tourist centers offering vacationers a vibrant nightlife and plenty of entertainment.

The island is located near Turkey. Its area is 290 square kilometers, the length of the coastline is approximately 112 kilometers, the length of the island is 45 km, the width varies from 20 to 11 kilometers.

Time on about. Kos is one hour behind Moscow.

How to get to the island of Kos?

A direct flight to the island of Kos can be reached only from May to October, when a charter program is carried out from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Departure in this period occurs once a week, and from June to September one is added additional flight. Flight time from Moscow to Kos is approximately 3.5 hours. The rest of the time you can get to the island through Athens. The duration of the flight from Moscow to Athens is approximately 3.5 hours, domestic flight from Athens to the island has a duration of about 50 minutes.

Climate

Average monthly temperature in Kos

The beaches of Kos

The beaches of the island of Kos amaze with their diversity: with picturesque bays, small pebbles, with golden, white or black volcanic sands, long and small. In shallow water you can find a natural "jacuzzi", on the coast - thermal springs with a high sulfur content.

One of the most picturesque resorts on the island is Kefalos, which is located in the western part, 43 kilometers from the capital - the city of Kos. The sea here is colder than on other beaches, but you can admire the architecture of the island. The rental shop on the beach offers water sports equipment, including water skiing and wakeboards. Nearby located resort place called Kamari, famous for its five-kilometer sandy beach.

The second largest resort on the island of Kos is Kardamena. It is located five kilometers from the airport south coast. Kardamena is especially popular with tourists because of its vibrant nightlife and over three kilometers of sandy beach. There is a small port in Kardamena, from where boats depart daily with an excursion to the neighboring island of Nisyros, famous for being located on it. active volcano.

On the northern coast of the island there is the Lido Waterpark and the resorts of Mastichari, Marmari and Tigaki with a beach area 10 kilometers long.

Entertainment and attractions of the island of Kos

Travelers associate Kos with a sweet, homely and patriarchal place. Small villages are scattered throughout the island, tourists walk along the ruins of ruined temples and fortresses, vacationers warm themselves on the spacious beaches.

Once on about. Kos, the first thing to do is to visit Asklepion - the ruined temple of Asclepius, the healer god. You should definitely look at the Hippocratic Plane Tree - a huge ancient tree located not far from the capital, the trunk circumference of which is 12 meters. Legend has it that it was planted by Hippocrates himself.

interesting object are the ruins ancient city Pili with the Byzantine church of the XIV century and the fort, as well as Kefalos - the ruins of the ancient capital of Kos, the city of Astypalea.

The attention of tourists here is also attracted by local mosques with minarets and Italian houses.

The island has excellent conditions for yachting, surfing and windsurfing, a surf station can be found on Psalidi beach. There are certified diving centers here, but the local underwater world is not very diverse.

The island of Kos (Greece) is one of the largest and most picturesque in the country. Nowadays, it is extremely popular with vacationers. Everything here is conducive to a pleasant pastime: wonderful small-pebble and sandy beaches, historical sights, developed infrastructure comfortable hotels and bustling life of modern cities. This picturesque piece of sushi is one of the ten most inexpensive tourist destinations which makes it even more attractive.

How to get to the island?

The island of Kos (Greece), the map of which is published in this article, is located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea. It is part of the Dodecadence archipelago. Four kilometers east of the island is the coast of Ionia (now Turkey), the region resort area Bodrum.

The island has its own international airport. Kos (Greece) is connected by regular and charter flights with all countries of the world. You can get here from Moscow or St. Petersburg without transfers only in holiday season- from May to October. The flight will take approximately three hours. The rest of the year, you can only get to the island with a stopover in Athens.

Popular resorts

Greece is famous all over the world for its magnificent resorts. Kos is an island where there are also a lot of them. On the southern coast of this part of the land there are famous places for recreation - Kamari and Kardamena. There are nice sandy beaches, clean and clear water, calm, peaceful sea. Fans of an active lifestyle can go kite or windsurf at Kefalos Bay, located nearby. Kamari has a beautiful beach with the promising name of Paradis. Once having visited it, you will certainly want to return there again.

In the vicinity of the city of Kos, in the east, there is a resort Psadili. The beach here is pebbly, but this does not detract from its merits. The sea in these parts has a stunning emerald green hue, thermal springs can be found in a ten-minute drive, and a magnificent view of the Turkish health resort of Bodrum opens from afar.

In the northern part of the island there are resorts: Marmari, Mastichari, Tigaki. Beaches with sandy shores, leaving in the gentle waves of the Aegean Sea, stretched for tens of kilometers. The waters here are restless due to constant winds. However, this has its advantages. The resort of Marmari, for example, is great for water sports: waveriding and windsurfing.

The most famous youth resorts that Greece (Kos) can boast of are Tigaki, Psadili and Kardamena.

Attractions

Greece occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of the number of historical monuments. Kos, whose sights are described in this article, is also not deprived of them. The most famous objects of close attention of tourists are the temple of the god Asclepius (Asklepion), the plane tree of Hippocrates, the temple of Hercules (ancient Agora), the Hadji Hassan mosque, nature reserve, thermal source, Archaeological Museum, island of Patmos, ruins of the temple of Aphrodite, Roman villa Casa Romana, ruins ancient city Drank, etc. Let us dwell on the description of some sights in more detail.

Hippocratic plane tree

The island of Kos (Greece) is home to one of the greatest people on Earth, the great Hippocrates. The healer founded his first school of medicine here. According to legend, a tree grows on the island, which Hippocrates planted with his own hands, and then taught his students under its crown. The plane tree is really impressive with its impressive size. The diameter of its trunk is 10 meters. However, meticulous researchers have established that the tree is only 700 years old, and it can in no way be a contemporary of Hippocrates, who lived in the 5th century BC. e. Nevertheless, both the plane tree and the legend associated with it are worthy of attention.

Asklepion

Greece can be considered the birthplace of modern medicine. Kos has the most famous Asklepion of the three hundred that existed in the country. This is the place where ancient healers treated their contemporaries. It got its name in honor of the god of medicine Asclepius. Old medical complex erected in 357 BC e. It consists of those terraces connected by imposing staircases. There are temples dedicated to Asclepius and Apollo, a fountain, an anatomy museum, a medical school, baths with water from thermal springs etc. In the ancient Greek hospital they treated according to the principles founded by Hippocrates. The symbolism of the cult of Asclepius featured a snake, which is still the emblem of medicine.

Citadel of the Knights of Malta

The battlefield between representatives of two different cultures - the Islamic world and Western civilization - was sunny Greece in the Middle Ages. Kos is a place where the blood of noble knights and fearless Saracens was spilled more than once. As a reminder of those distant times, the castle of the Ionite knights and the remains of the walls of a monumental defensive fortress rise on the island. This building was built at the beginning of the 14th century on the site of an ancient Byzantine citadel. In the 16th century, a high wall was erected around the castle. In 1514, construction was completed, but nine years later the Turks managed to break through the defenses of the Knights of Malta and destroy the fortress. Since then, the castle has been in picturesque ruins, which ubiquitous tourists seek to visit. From the walls of the citadel offers a panoramic view of the city of Kos and the seaport.

Island capital

Hospitable Greece welcomes thousands of tourists every year. Kos, whose attractions include not only natural objects but also impressive cultural heritage country, always ready to receive new visitors. In the capital of the island you can find a lot of interesting things. The stay of the city for four hundred years under the rule of the Ottoman Empire left a special imprint on it. It has many well-preserved Muslim temples. One of them - the Defterdar Mosque - is located on Eleftherias Square, the other - the Hadji Hassan Mosque - is located near the Hippocrates tree. Orthodox churches on the island of Kos also deserve attention. There are over a hundred of them here. The most famous - the Church of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva - is located in the center of Kos. Its construction dates back to 1931-1932. In addition, the capital of the island is replete with evidence of the heyday of Hellenic culture. After an earthquake in 1933, the ruins of the ancient city of Kosbyl were found, the architectural splendor of which can be appreciated from the surviving fragments of the temple of Aphrodite, the gallery of the Forums and the sanctuary of Hercules.

Kalymnos island

Fifteen kilometers from the island we are describing is another one - Kalymnos. Here is of interest maritime museum, founded by Captain Stavros. This man has been catching sponges since childhood. And the museum presents a lot of treasures he got from the sea: corals, shells, plants, the remains of an ancient ship, a German machine gun, fragments combat aircraft World War II, etc.

The city of Potia is a must to visit. Here is the sponge factory - the main source of income for the small island. You will be happy to be told about the process of catching and processing these rare seafood during the tour.

Island hotels

The island of Kos (Greece), the photos of which are published in this article, boasts the most modern and comfortable hotels. One of the most rated is the four-star Kipriotis Village 4 *. It is located on the sea coast, three kilometers from the city of Kos and twenty-five from local airport. The area of the hotel is 135 thousand square meters. In that great place the perfect balance between the typical architecture of a Mediterranean village and the services of a modern four-star hotel has been struck for relaxation. The territory decorated with lush greenery and developed infrastructure allow vacationers to completely abandon their daily worries. The hotel has 651 rooms for every taste and budget.

At any time of the year, sunny Greece, the island of Kos, is a great place to relax. Hotels in this beautiful place are characterized by increased comfort and friendly staff. Resort Dimitra Beach Resort 4* is no exception. It is located eight kilometers from the capital of the island, on the cape of Agios Fokas, and two kilometers from the thermal springs. The hotel can offer 256 comfortable rooms with great view to the sea coast. This perfect place for a relaxing time.

Five-star hotel Grecotel Kos Imperial Thalasso 5* built in 2002. It consists of a main building and a complex of cozy bungalows. The resort is well located on the beach. For those who want to take a break from the scorching heat in the shade of trees, there is a wonderful garden with green lawns and fancy fountains. Three pools, with rivers and waterfalls, form a delightful water network that gives coolness on the hottest afternoon. For those who want to plunge into the sunny waves of the Aegean Sea, there is sand beach Psadili. The Grecotel Kos Imperial Thalasso 5 * resort has a lot of entertainment, but if they seem too bland to you, then you can go to the nearby city of Kos to go to night club or other entertainment venue.

Prices on the island

Accommodation prices on the island of Kos are relatively low. For accommodation in a standard room of a two-star hotel, you will need to pay from 15 euros per person. During the holiday season, this figure is approximately doubled.

You can eat in Greek taverns. Moussaka (vegetable casserole in a clay pot) will cost from 7.5 to 10 euros, Greek salad - from 4 to 6.7 euros. On the street you can buy local shawarma, gyros, for 2-3 euros. The same pleasure in a restaurant will cost 7-9 euros. The freshest grilled fish with vegetables costs from 12 euros. Saganaki mussels prepared according to a traditional recipe - from 10 to 12 euros. Sweets (baklava, frappe) will cost 2-3 euros.

You can rent a car on the island. For one day of rent (from 9.00 to 20.00) at the box office they take from 40 to 60 euros. Gasoline here costs 1.85-1.87 per liter. The island is small, so fuel costs no more than 15 euros per day.

I understand that curonian spit V Kaliningrad region- This is the most popular and one of the few natural monuments. Perhaps our journey there is not unique in itself, but the highlight of the trip will be that we will get to the Curonian Spit on our own, by hitchhiking. And also go through four of the six routes.

How to get to the Curonian Spit from Kaliningrad

From Kaliningrad to Zelenogradsk

First, it was necessary to get to Zelenogradsk, from where regular buses run to the spit.

By bus.

From the Kaliningrad bus station to Zelenogradsk there are buses under the numbers:

through Orlovka No. 114 - an interval of 2 hours.
through Sosnovka No. 140 - an interval of 30 minutes,
through Petrovo old road No. 141 - interval 30 min.

The last bus is the earliest (6:00) and the latest (22:20) of all.

Time in way - hour with little.
The fare is 68 rubles.

On the train.

It is also quite convenient to travel around the Kaliningrad region by electric trains, and the cost of a ticket for them is lower. That's just the interval of movement is largely greater than on buses. To two stations:

Southern Kaliningrad - Zelenogradsk - 53 rubles.
Northern Kaliningrad - Zelenogradsk - 46 rubles.

The relevance of the schedule of buses and trains can be checked.

From Zelenogradsk to the Curonian Spit

From the Zelenogradsk bus station there are several minibuses with a rather rare interval. The cost of the trip will depend on how far we want to go. For example, to the "height of Efa" the fare costs 85 rubles, and to the "Dancing Trees" - 74 rubles. from a person.

I give the schedule of minibuses below (click to open in large size).

I will say right away that on the Curonian Spit there are several hiking trails, to be exact, 5 main ones. But due to the fact that between the routes there are quite large distances of several kilometers and the interval of regular buses is too long, it is more convenient to move between them either with a tour or by.

Excursions

On the Curonian Spit

Individual excursions:

Other

Hitchhiking to the Curonian Spit

We personally hitchhiked. Let's dwell on this in more detail. Especially for this trip, we have chosen the best day according to the weather forecast. Already at 8 in the morning we were standing at the bus stop, waiting for trolleybus number 2, which travels outside the Kaliningrad bypass.

There are two roads to Zelenogradsk (even 3) - old and new. The last one is something like “Hai Wei”). But before we got there, I didn't know that. If you look at the map, then Ending station our trolleybus is just on the old track. I reasoned that more transport runs along the new one, which means it will be easier to leave from there to Zelenogradsk. Therefore, we got off at the Fifth Fort stop and, having passed the interchange, stood at the bypass.

After about 15 minutes, a young man slowed down next to us, who quickly rushed to the “new” highway to Zelenogradsk. He specially took us out of the interchange so that we didn’t even have to choose a place.

The next driver was a young woman who was driving only to the airport, thanks to her I learned some of the nuances of paying for a ticket at the checkpoint at the entrance to the Curonian Spit. I will write more about this below.

And here I realized that we would have to go further along the “high way”. Not that it bothered me, in China, for example, Andrei and I only moved there, periodically hiding in the bushes from the cops. It’s just that I haven’t hitchhiked for a long time, it’s not known how drivers in the Kainingrad region treat hitchhikers on the “high” road.

All my fears were in vain, we were easily picked up on any part of the path. One man stood almost in the middle of the road, raking a small van for a long time, making room for us to give us a lift of only 7 km.

The last driver dropped us off 300 meters from the Zelenogradsk bus station, where we hurried to. We were lucky, the minibus we needed was at the bus stop.

So why did we decide to take a regular bus from Zelenogradsk? As the woman driving to the airport explained to us, the entrance to the Curonian Spit for tourists is paid. 150 rub. per person (except for children under 12 and disabled people) is charged regardless of the mode of transportation, whether on foot or by other means of transport. In addition, a fee of 300 rubles is charged for a private car, including payment for the driver.

Therefore, in order not to strain the drivers, we decided to go by bus. There is also an opinion that those who travel by bus can walk along the spit for free. So we decided to take a risk.

Curonian spit. Route "Height of Efa"

Several tourists were sitting on the bus, it could be seen from appearance and on the eternal questions they asked the driver and the locals. Alright, let's take a look at them. The women rode to the Efa height route. And I, frankly, have not yet thought about how we should move better. This question began to worry me more when I found out the bus schedule and saw the narrow road of the Curonian Spit, one lane in both directions.

I decided that if it was completely bad with transport, then we'd better see the most interesting things first, and then how it goes. Therefore, we bought a ticket to the Dancing Forest route. But, the driver forgot about our request to warn about the stop, as a result, we ended up together with everyone at the "height of Efa". But I didn't have to pay for the ride.

Leaving the minibus, as soon as I thought to cross the road to go to the information stands, I heard a greeting from the right. Turning his head, 10 meters from us, two men in uniform were found. Most likely security national park. The one closest to me gestured for us to come closer.

I approached and immediately heard a brief:

- Where?
“From Kirov,” I answered without hesitation.
- 150 rubles. for entering the park.
“But…” I hesitated, “Why didn’t you ask them for anything then?” I pointed to the retreating backs of the women who had come with us.
"They're locals," he replied calmly.

I did not argue and reluctantly gave 300 rubles. for two. What kind of injustice?!

A little upset, we trudged in the direction where we originally planned.

For those who are going to visit the Curonian Spit, I highly recommend downloading (for Android and Apple) a personal official guide from the developers of the Curonian Spit National Park. If GPS is turned on, then at certain points the guide will turn on itself and tell about the history of the spit and more.

So I will not delve too deeply into the stories, just show you which routes and what you can see.

A very short path led us straight to the shore to the sea.

You can stand and admire the waves from a height, or you can go down to the sand.

However, walking on the sands in the guidebook is not recommended.

I thought that was all, when on the way back across the road I saw the sign "Efa Height" and a boardwalk into the forest.

After a while, the boards ran out and we walked up the hill along the beaten track. On the route "height of Efa" there are two heights (sorry for the tautology) or observation platforms, from where you can see the dunes, rare plants and a piece of the sea.

In fact, the entire Curonian Spit used to be covered with greenery until the forest began to be cut down. As soon as the trees disappeared, the territory of the spit began to turn into a desert. Something similar can now be observed in Vietnam.

When we returned along the familiar path to the road, the same man in uniform was standing by his car. I approached him and asked how far it was to the Dancing Forest. He said something like 4 km.

Hmmm ... walking is definitely not an option, and the regular bus will be in an hour only. There was nothing left but to cross the road and catch a car in front of the parking lot. Hitchhiking on the Curonian Spit is complicated by the fact that the roads here are narrow, and there is practically nowhere for cars to park on the side of the road. Therefore, we often caught a car directly from parking lots or parking lots.

“Efa Height” is the penultimate route, not many reach the last “Lake Swan”, so there were few cars. In 20 minutes, maybe 5 cars passed from that side, and none of them wanted to give us a lift.

Then I saw how our already familiar guardian of order on the Curonian Spit got into the car and began to turn around. I randomly raised my hand and he slowed down beside me. Smiling, I repeated my intention to get to the Dancing Forest and off we went. The resentment for the morning injustice somehow immediately quickly disappeared.

Curonian spit. dancing forest

A few minutes later we were at the right turn, where we were dropped off. He drove to the parking lot alone, probably so as not to “shine” in front of his own. The remaining 400 meters we easily covered on foot.

The Dancing Forest is so named because a few dozen strangely twisted trees have grown on a small plot of land. To be honest, I did not see anything unique in them.

On the way to Baltiysk, for example, there are a lot of such areas in the forest. Yes, and in our forests such trees are rare, but they are found.

It would be possible to attribute the uniqueness to the fact that they are all collected in one small area, but this is not entirely true, in a fenced area you can count the trees truly twisted into a ring on your fingers, and all the rest only slightly “curl”, and even then not all.

You can’t get close to the ring trees, and you can’t even take a picture normally, because now there is a small fence from vandals.

Having made a circle of honor, we set off on the return journey.

Curonian spit. Muller Height

The next point is located near the village of Rybachy. We were thrown literally before the turn to the village. We decided to walk the rest of the mile. For hikers, there is a bonus here - this is a branch to the right to the old German cemetery.

Frankly, throughout the Kaliningrad region, I have seen such marks more than once. So it's an amateur.

Before the end point, water appeared on the left - this is Lake Chaika.

First, let's look at it, especially for tourists a good wooden platform was built here, going straight into the water. Do you want photo shoots...

And if you want, feed the swans.

Across the road from the lake begins the 2-kilometer route "Muller height". Up to the highest point we went uphill through centuries-old plantations of spruces and pines of various kinds.

Near the village of Rybachy, the height of Muller is the most high point dunes Bruchberg - 44.5 meters above sea level. We climb up and look around the surroundings.

In March, the landscape is not too colorful, for sure in the summer there is a more picturesque view.

Below, under the observation deck, there is a stone erected in honor of the same Muller, the forester, thanks to whom it was possible to stop the movement of sands by a special method of forest planting.

We returned along another road, which the guidebook will tell you about.

In the parking lot, even at the entrance, we noticed a gazebo, where we decided to have a bite to eat normally. There are cafes in the parking lots on the Curonian Spit, however, do not go to a fortune teller, it is clear that food will be many times more expensive. Therefore, we took care of our lunch in advance, taking it in the morning with us in a backpack.

Curonian spit. Royal Forest

It was three o'clock in the afternoon when we again went out onto the road. I wasn't sure about the last route, Korolevskiy Bor, because we still had to get to Kaliningrad before dark. Never liked hitchhiking in the dark.

But, once again we were lucky with the car. The young man who took us as a companion traveled all the way to Zelenogradsk. That is, we could easily get to the last route without transfers, and there it was within easy reach to the city.

So they did. The guy was talkative, he kept telling how he and his family walked along the Swan Lake route, where we did not go due to time savings. He said that the views there are such, as much as the head is spinning. Of course, I always make allowances for third-party opinions, but after his admiring phrases, I even somehow regretted that we had not reached the lake.

Time for conversations flew by quickly and now we are on the last route of 3 km.

This route differs from the rest by the abundance of vegetation. The forest through which we walked can be safely called a forest. And it is royal because after the deer began to disappear due to the fault of rich hunters, King Friedrich Wilhelm I organized a reserve on the spit. So here you can see really age-old coniferous trees, especially the giant thuja. A separate path leads to it.

If the beginning of the route looks a little dull and often resembles forests in the home area, then after 1-1.5 km the situation changes.

This section of the path looks very frightening, especially now - in March, when the crowns have not yet been covered with greenery.

The guidebook says that in Korolevskiy Bor there is an opportunity to meet wild animals, more often wild boars. This is especially true of places reserved for feeders. We saw the dug up earth, but there were no animals.

Another place that I personally remember very much is the falcon wasteland, where the royal falcons were previously trained.

For some reason, the views from this low observation deck I sat down in the soul stronger than the above-described "heights".

It was about 6 km to Zelenogradsk, and in fact it didn’t matter for us what to ride on - on a ride or on a bus. Suddenly, a taxi driver stopped nearby. I waved him off with a habitual gesture that we do not need a taxi. He did not react, I repeated the gesture more insistently, again zero emotions, the car stood on the road without moving.

Fearing that something irreparable could happen because of us, I ran to the front window and told the driver that we would not take a taxi. He calmly asked where we wanted to go. I called the bus station. And he waved his hand: "Sit down." Wow, for the first time a Russian taxi driver gives a ride for free.

He did not get to the bus station itself, we, in general, did not need to. Having made an arc, I resolutely headed towards the old track on. I don’t know how far we walked, but it was already getting dark. I was afraid that before dark we would not have time to catch the car when I saw bus 141 pass by. Reassured that in any case we could get to Kaliningrad, we moved a little further away from the stop and began to catch the car again.

I had to wait longer than usual, probably at least half an hour passed, as a man with a child slowed down on a narrow road nearby. The guys went straight to Kaliningrad, in this sense we were lucky again.

Along the way, I learned a lot of interesting things. For example, that you can rent a cabin on the ship Vityaz, that you should definitely visit the Baltic Spit with an old German airfield, where the best beer in the city is, and what a fish dish you should definitely try in Kaliningrad. I had problems with the name of the last item, so we never got to do it.

And about or see ours. See you soon.

Costs for the fourth day in the Kaliningrad region

Physical costs per person:

on foot along tourist route- about 10 km.
Map of the entire route:

Financial costs for two:

transport - 222 rubles.
housing - 900 rubles. ()
food - 126 rubles.
attractions - 300 rubles.