Traveling in Russia: Curonian Spit. Settlements of the Curonian Spit. Curonian spit. dancing forest

Tourists come to Kos mainly for a quiet contemplative holiday, since there is something to see. There are many attractions - natural and historical - on this Greek island. There are two ways to get to Kos - by ferry or by plane. And only in the second way, up to 1.5 million passengers annually arrive on the island of Kos.

international Airport Kos (code - KGS) is located near the village of Antimachia, 27 km southwest of the town of the same name and 5 km southeast of the popular resort of Mastichari. Height above sea level - 216 m. Another name is Hippocrates Airport. The choice of name is obvious: as you know, Kos is the birthplace of the famous ancient healer.

A bit of airport history

The airport on the island of Kos opened in April 1964. Initially, it specialized only in domestic flights. Since October 1980, after the reconstruction of the runway, the length of which was increased to 2400 m, the airport was able to receive and international flights. The second terminal was built in 1997.

According to tourists, Kos airport resembles a medium-sized Russian

According to tourists, the Kos airport resembles an average Russian one. The only difference is that at the height of the season, a number of people can simultaneously be on its territory, almost comparable to the population of a provincial town.

Perhaps, if not for the crisis, 2 airport terminals - old and new - would have been expanded. But while the management company's plans for reconstruction and redevelopment remain mostly on paper, passengers have to be content with 3,000 sq. m. m of total area.

During the season, there are often queues at check-in counters, customs checkpoints and baggage claim points. Meanwhile, the airport of the island of Kos is the 6th in terms of passenger traffic in Greece.

Flights to Kos

It is best to search for flights to the island through metasearch engines so as not to overpay and not waste time on connecting routes.

One of the popular options is the Aviasales metasearch engine, which compares offers from over 700 airlines, offering up-to-date information on flight availability, connections, and the ability to customize a flexible filter to suit your needs.

Grekoblog has already written in more detail about this search method in articles and.

Scheme and scoreboard

Even the most demanding traveler is unlikely to need a map of the airport: it is difficult to get lost in 2 small terminals. Kos is already quite popular among Russian-speaking travelers, so it is quite possible to communicate in Russian with the staff.

In addition, both the map of the Kos airport, which is easy to find on the territory of the terminals, and the signs in English and Greek are generously equipped with the usual pictograms.

But you can get acquainted with the schedule of departure and arrival of flights to the airport of Kos on our page - the scoreboard works online:

Kos airport on the map:

Buses to the city and resorts

Buses from Kos airport to the capital of the island and to some other settlements go from a stop at the terminal. The first departs at 7.55, the last at 19.50 (at 16.15 at low season). In total, 10-11 flights are operated during the day on weekdays and 7 on Sunday.

Buses to the capital of the island go through the Mastichari resort, the journey takes about 45 minutes

It is worth noting that all buses to the capital of Kos go through the Mastichari resort. The fare is €3.20 (2018). Travel time is about 45 minutes. Buses stop in the city on the embankment near the fortress of the Knights of St. John and at the bus station.

At the stop, which is located on a round square near the airport, you can transfer to a bus to the city, following from other parts of Kos. From the bus station in Kos (Cleopatra street, 7) routes depart to all more or less significant settlements on the island: Mastichari, Kardamena, Pili, Marmari, etc.

The first flights depart at 7.30-9.00, the last - at 21.00-23.00. The interval of movement is 1-2 hours. The cost is up to €5 (2018).

Taxi from Kos airport

Buses are buses, but situations are not uncommon when it makes more sense to take a taxi: not all hotels are located along regular routes, and movement public transport having a bunch of suitcases on your shoulders is not a pleasant pleasure.

To the capital of the island - the city of Kos - a taxi ride will cost about €35, and since the airport is located almost in the center of the island, a trip to any other resort will not cost much more. Luggage is usually paid separately.

In the high season on the island, there may be problems with free taxis from Kos airport, and a checkered car will either have to be ordered by phone (for a fee) or booked in advance.

The disadvantages of booking with the first available operator are obvious. Firstly, both ordering and booking may require at least a superficial knowledge, if not Greek, then at least English.

Not all hotels on Kos are located along bus routes

Secondly, in case of a late flight or a delay in the passage of passport and customs control, the taxi driver will require an additional fee for the waiting time.

You can profitably solve the problem with the car by contacting the online taxi ordering service in Greece. Moreover, since recently its interface is also available in Russian.

The main convenience of the service is that it can be used to independently calculate the fare in advance, and that the cost of the reservation will be fixed regardless of the time the plane is late or the delay in the terminal.

Knowledge of the language to search for a booked car is also not required: the driver, as a rule, is waiting for passengers with a sign with their names at the exit from the baggage claim area, but detailed instructions to this account come immediately after booking confirmation by email.

Other beneficial features service is an opportunity to pre-order a car for your individual needs, whether it be large luggage or pre-installed child seats. Grekoblog wrote more about this useful service in the article.

Another taxi service

Not so long ago, another fairly serious service for ordering a taxi in Greece online appeared in Runet - KiwiTaxi, more specialized in delivering cars to / from the airport. And, although KiwiTaxi is younger than its predecessor, the service has already gained popularity among travelers.

It is difficult to say which of these two Internet services is better, each has its pros and cons, but we all know when there is a choice and you can compare rates, preference is for the carrier whose cost is more profitable.

Although, we must pay tribute to the younger "brother" - its design is more modern, the version is convenient and understandable for each user, and, importantly, there is Russian-language technical support. If you want to see for yourself - go to the service at this link.

Car rental at the airport

The airport of the island of Kos does not provide car rental services, but international and local companies vying with each other offer their services, as soon as tourists pass through the customs control zone.

Choose the best option, especially in the high season, it is not easy on the spot: both the prices and the choice of available cars leave much to be desired, because already starting from May, the demand for the local car fleet begins to go off scale, staying in the “red zone” until mid-September.

And this, in turn, allows car rental companies to raise prices to a very immodest level.

Demand for car rental on Kos during the high season is off the charts

Another trick that Greek car rentals often resort to is not to announce all the booking conditions to the tourist at once. For example, report a limited allowable mileage or some nuances of auto insurance.

Excursions to the Curonian Spit 2019 - the best routes and attractions of the reserve. How to get to the Curonian Spit on your own.

An excursion to the Curonian Spit is the best thing that can happen to you in Kaliningrad region. It's even cooler than Kaliningrad itself. It will especially appeal to those to whom the Baltic (cold sea, snow-white, as if sifted, sand, dunes) is a curiosity. Territory curonian spit divide between Lithuania and. The border lies approximately in the middle, or to be more precise - 49 kilometers from Zelenogradsk (total length - about 98 km).

For more than 15 years, this natural landmark of the Baltic has been on the UNESCO lists. The reason for the reverent attitude to this piece of land is simple: the territory is an aesthetic value, similar to which is not found anywhere else in the world. The Curonian Spit, along with the Hel and Baltic Spit, forms a complex of dunes Baltic coast. Biodiversity and several types of landscapes make this area a treasure trove for research in the field of geology.

On the territory of the Curonian Spit there are several unique areas where you can see rare and even endangered species of birds, plants and animals.

Every year, in spring and autumn, up to 20 million birds flock to the national park, most of which linger here to recuperate: before returning home or before rushing south.

Favorable climatic conditions and picturesque landscapes make the Curonian Spit popular place and for beach holiday. True, it is worth making allowances for the temperatures of the Baltic water and air - the "bathing season" sometimes lasts a couple of weeks. But the beaches are gorgeous: spacious, clean, snow-white. Most of them are practically not equipped.

Excursions to the Curonian Spit 2019

There are three options to get to the spit: on your own, with a guided tour and with an individual tour. The first method is mainly for those who have their own car, and even then with restrictions. The other two are in stable demand:

• The most popular option is a regular tour. The only thing that overshadows it: a large number of people in the group and a lack of free time - not just for lunch, at least to look at everything closer and take pictures. As always, gallop. But, despite the confusion of the organization, the tour guides were great. Prices from 1300 rubles. for a person.
• Upon returning, it turned out that there is a more comfortable option - a trip with individual guide. On Tripster, which I now actively use, there is a choice of routes to the spit. The only downside to them is that they are not cheap. The cost is from 5500 rubles. for the tour, in a group of 1 to 4 people - according to the number of seats in the car. Some guides have cars with 7 seats.

Most popular route- (7.5 hours from Kaliningrad to the national park and back). If there are no free dates, look at others - they are no worse. By the way, for new excursions that have not yet received enough reviews, guides make discounts, often up to 50%.

Sights of the Curonian Spit

On the Russian part of the spit, you can visit the national park, leading (!) In terms of attendance among a huge number of reserves in the country. To preserve the delicate ecosystem of the park and protect the spit from destruction, free access to this land area is limited. However, excursions to the Curonian Spit National Park are held: the entrance to the territory is paid, but it is superbly equipped for walking. For excursion groups a route was developed that passes through picturesque places, but does not affect the most vulnerable areas.

1. Fringilla Station (Curonian Spit)

Communication with ornithologists on the Curonian Spit allows you to learn more about the bird world, as well as get acquainted with more than a century of cooperation between European and Russian scientists. On the territory of Fringilla, the highest traps of all that can be seen at similar stations are installed.

"Fringilla" is catching and studying a huge number of birds. The process is proceeding very successfully, because the ancient bird migration route runs through the station, along which several million birds fly every year. At Fringill, such species of birds as willow warbler, robin, siskin, yellow-headed kinglet, brambling, great tit, song thrush, moskovka, blue tit and, of course, the chaffinch, whose Latin name (lat. Eringilla coelebs) and the name of the station.

Tourists are met by experienced guides with deep knowledge of ornithology. They tell interesting stories from the life of the research center and birds, along the way answering questions that have arisen. If tourist groups lucky, you can see how the process of catching and ringing birds.

2. "Royal Forest" (Curonian Spit)

Route "Royal Forest" on the Curonian Spit

Another popular forest route is called "Royal Forest" and runs along the initial section of the spit - 5-6 km from Zelenogradsk. This route, the distance of which is 2.8 kilometers, runs through the ancient forest, represented by coniferous trees, many of which are over a hundred years old. Picturesque forest landscapes and nearby water meadows were part of the royal reserve in the old days, where the best falcons in all of Prussia were caught and trained.

The forest growing here has never been cut down. Also interesting fact is that not far from the forest there is one of the most popular tourist centers of the Curonian Spit - "Dunes".

3. "Dancing Forest" (Curonian Spit)

dancing forest- visiting card of the Curonian Spit

The Dancing Forest route, which is only 800 meters long, is notable for the fact that along its course you can see a unique section of a pine forest with picturesquely curved trees planted to strengthen the Kruglaya dune. This phenomenon is being studied by scientists, but popular rumor finds its explanation for it. Some are sure that somewhere here, in the Curonian Spit reserve, there was that same pagan Sacred Grove. Others talk about space-time distortions and other anomalies of this kind.

Be that as it may, the Dancing Forest is one of the most beautiful places Curonian Spit. And it attracts not only mystics and lovers of "devilry".

4. "Muller height" (Curonian Spit)

Tour impressions: 9 out of 10 points

The route, laid on the 32nd kilometer, is called the "Muller Height", has a length of 3.5 km. Passes through the territory of the most ancient part of the Curonian Spit - Rasite Island, which has glacial origin and being the historical beginning of the sandy body of the spit. Like the height of Efa (more on that below), the route was named after a scientist who fought against the movement of sand. Along the route, you can get acquainted with the richness of local nature, see how work is being done to strengthen the dune, visit the village of Rybachy. And, of course, to explore the surroundings from the observation deck, located at a height of 44.5 meters.

5. "Height of Efa" (Curonian Spit)

Tour impressions: 10 out of 10 points

Observation deck "Height of Efa"

Another "high-altitude" route of the national park is named "Efa Height". Its length is 2.8 km, it passes on the 42nd kilometer of the spit, near the village of Morskoy. The height of Efa is the most high point Dunes Petsh (Orekhovaya), and it is named after the scientist and activist Franz Efa, who worked on the problem of fixing moving sands. The main part of the route passes along the southwestern slope, overgrown with forest, which is the same “safety belt” that prevents the dune from moving towards settlements.

Along the route, you can visit two observation platforms, each offering views of the village, the forest and the water surface of the Curonian Lagoon. The height of Efa is an excellent place for lovers of landscape photography.

6. Lake Swan (Curonian Spit)

Not included in the standard tour itinerary

Panorama of Lake Swan on the Curonian Spit

The "Lake Swan" route is the longest route on the Curonian Spit, its length is more than 4 km. It is located closest to Lithuania, on the 47th kilometer of the spit. This route allows you to get acquainted with the geological beauties of the spit and admire the surrounding landscapes from a height of 55 meters.

Of course, there are other attractions in the national park, because along its length there are many settlements with a rich history. But you will learn more about them from the guide who will accompany you throughout the tour of the Curonian Spit.

It is important to know that the entrance (and at the same time the entrance) to the park is carried out with passes, you can only walk along special paths, walking on sand can be fraught not only with a fine and expulsion from the park, but also with shedding a large number sand into the bay water.

How is the excursion to the Curonian Spit

Now you know everything about the routes of the reserve and even more. But keep in mind: the standard tour includes only a visit to the "Dancing Forest", "Ef Heights" and the Fringilla ornithological station. Sometimes a miracle happens, and tourists are led first to the “Efa Height”, and then to the “Muller Height”.

To see more and adjust the trip to your taste, you need an individual route. You already have a list.

By the way, after returning home, we figured out what to order private tour for 6000-8000 rubles. for four (and our company just consisted of four participants), it would be profitable. This is 1500-2000 rubles. per person against 1300 rubles. for a group tour, where there were exactly 42 of those same participants. But now it’s too late to think, I will tell you about the trip on a big bus, since we visited it. By the way, you can buy it on the spot, already in Kaliningrad itself.

The first stop on the way to the Curonian Spit is in the village of Morskoy. There is a fish shop where you can buy local products (the hit of the program is smoked eel). At each stop of the route you will also see shops with amber. If you have not yet purchased any of the products, you should know that the prices are lower than in Kaliningrad.

Well, then the Curonian Spit - solid vivid impressions. It is difficult to single out which is more picturesque: viewing platforms, the Dancing Forest or the ornithological station, where the first owl of the season was caught a couple of hours before our arrival.

Only a catastrophically small amount of free time at each object upsets. We ran at a gallop through the Dancing Forest, on the observation deck of Efa everyone was very nervous while 42 people were photographed, and we were given 35 minutes to rest and have lunch on the Baltic coast.

Not even so: either on vacation or for lunch, since it is unrealistic to manage both in such a period of time. We chose a vacation: no one had seen the coast and snow-white sand before, and the film " Long road in the Dunes” was watched by everyone as a child. And I also love the detective series “Bay of Fear”, which was filmed in Morskoye and right in the middle of the Dancing Forest ... But if I start to tell, the article will be endless.

Tourists on the banks of the Curonian Spit

Thus, 15 minutes (considering that you need to get from the bus and back) on the shore Baltic Sea I managed to do it - and it's a real thrill.

And in order not to exaggerate, in conclusion I will say: the rest of the tour was friendly and in some places very fun. We even became friends with guys from Yekaterinburg and a girl from Khabarovsk and then traveled together.

Route of the Curonian Spit on the map

Theoretically, you can walk the distance from Korolevskoy Bor to Lebed Lake in 12 hours. In practice, this is almost impossible. There are few places where you can walk around the national park with impunity, and moving around without a car is quite difficult.

How to get to the Curonian Spit. This post contains all possible options. I mean the Lithuanian part, because it is much easier to get to the Russian part, and there is much more information on the network in this regard.

Option 1. Allegedly the cheapest. By train to Kaliningrad, then by bus.

Train number 147 runs from Moscow to Kaliningrad. A reserved seat ticket costs 2155 rubles. compartment 3800. From St. Petersburg No. 79. A reserved seat ticket costs 2283 rubles one way. It is better to buy these tickets 45 days in advance, because they are in short supply. These trains travel for about a day. Unfortunately, the only bus to the spit leaves from the bus station in Kaliningrad at 16.30, and trains from Moscow and St. Petersburg arrive later: at 19.40 and 16.50, respectively. From Moscow there is another, branded, train number 29, it arrives in Kaliningrad around noon, but a reserved seat ticket costs 3,175 rubles for it.

For those who are very mobile, there is also a bus to the village of Morskoye, located just 10 km away. from Nida. It leaves at 17.50 from the Kaliningrad bus station, and you can catch it at least from the St. Petersburg train. But it is forbidden to cross the border on foot.

My recommendation: if you come to Kaliningrad by train, get to Zelenogradsk (last bus at 21.30). Spend the night there, take a walk for a day, and then take the same Kaliningrad-Nida bus, in Zelenogradsk it is at 17.30. The road will cost 400 rubles. An alternative is a taxi from Kaliningrad to Nida, the cost is 2500-3000 rubles.

Option 2. By car. 1600 rubles for " green card"plus 220 liters of gasoline (from an average calculation of 9 liters per hundred). For simplicity, let's calculate 60 liters at 1.34 euros (prices in the Baltic states) and 160 liters at 33 rubles. The total is 10600 rubles. If you are not a fan of sleepless driving on bad roads, then on the way to Kosa it is better to spend the night. On the way from St. Petersburg, the best place to stay in terms of price-quality-location ratio is the hotel complex Jaunsetas in Latvian city Aluksne near Russian border. It is checked up on own experience.

If you are traveling from Moscow, it is reasonable to spend the night in the city of Rezekne. You can compare prices for hotels in Rezekne by clicking on this link

Option 3. The fastest and most comfortable. But dear.

Fly to Vilnius by plane, and then rent a car. A ticket to Vilnius from Moscow with a convenient connection in Minsk costs about 8 thousand rubles. Renting a car in Vilnius will cost about 1,000 rubles per day. We think we are going for a week. In total, for two for a week, the road with the car turns out to be 23 thousand rubles. I agree, not budget. But very easy and pleasant. From Vilnius to Klaipeda and to Kosa, it takes 3 or 4 hours to drive along an excellent highway.

Option 4. Bus

On the Ecolines website, you can buy a ticket from Moscow to Klaipeda for 2400 rubles.

On the way the bus 19 hours. you need to make a transfer in the city of Maryanpol. A local bus runs from Klaipeda to the spit and along the spit. Almost a day on the bus is an amateur, but cheap.

• Tours for May to Greece
• Hot tours to Greece

Kos, the third largest island in the Dodecanese after Rhodes and Karpathos, is located in the Aegean Sea. For lush greenery and luxurious parks, it is called the "Garden Aegean Sea". Therefore, tourists are primarily attracted here unique nature and ecology. However, the island is famous not only for its vegetation - it will take more than one day for a detailed inspection of all local attractions. And a considerable number of tourist centers with lots of entertainment and vibrant nightlife will completely take away from them last hope for a boring holiday.

Among the sights of the island, perhaps the most famous is Asklepion, a well-preserved temple complex dedicated to the healer god Asclepius, the son of Apollo, for a monument of ancient times. Hippocrates once founded his medical school on Kos.

How to get to Kos

By plane

In June-September, direct charters are allowed from Russia to Kos, departing from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, and other millionaires. The price range is significant - from 200-260 EUR for a round-trip flight. Travel time from Moscow Vnukovo - 3 hours 30 minutes, from St. Petersburg Pulkovo - about 4 hours.

Regardless of the time of year, there are flights to Kos with transfers in Athens or Thessaloniki (how to fly to one of the two largest cities Greece, read on this page). The flight from the continent to the island takes less than an hour, the cost is from 160 EUR in both directions. Main carriers are local Aegean airlines Airlines and Olympic Air. From Russia to Kos with one or two transfers fly and through Western Europe(Vienna, Dusseldorf, Munich) - from 290 EUR for a round-trip ticket.

On flights to Greece, in particular to Kos, the Rynair low-cost airline specializes. During the sales period, fly to the island from Kaunas, Riga, Frankfurt, Tallinn with one transfer - from 50 EUR one way.

All flights on Kos are received by its only airport, Hippocrates, located in the heart of the island. From here it is convenient to get to each of the resorts, a bus ticket costs from 3 to 7 EUR, a taxi - from 18 to 40 EUR.

Find flights to Kos

Ferry to Kos

There is a ferry service from the capital of Greece and Thessaloniki. Ferries of the largest local carrier Blue Star Ferries go to Kos on two routes: from Athens via the islands of Astypalea - Patmos - Lipsi - Leros - Kalymnos or via Syros - Santorini - Patmos - Leros. Travel time - from 8.5 to 10 hours, cost - from 45 EUR.

The international port of Piraeus is 10 km away from Athens. A taxi to it costs from 20 EUR; buses No. 40 and 49 connect the port and the city center, depart at intervals of 15-20 minutes, the ticket price is 1.20 EUR. Travel by metro along the "green" line - the same 1.20 EUR.

All the islands of the Dodecanese are connected by another carrier, Dodekanisos Seaways. Not only ferries, but also small boats run between Kos and Rhodes. Travel time - about 2 hours, cost - from 25 EUR. The ferry takes less than an hour to Turkish Bodrum, the cost is from 20 EUR in both directions + 5 EUR for crossing the border.

Most of the ferries arrive at the central port of the island, i.e. its capital city of Kos.

Kos Resorts

A small island (with an area of ​​about 290 km) is stretched from west to east - a little over 45 km long and no more than 11 km wide in the central part. The entire tourist infrastructure is concentrated on the northern and southern coasts. In the central part there is an airport (near the village of Antimachia) and villages, many of which are loved by tourists: Zia, Pili, Asfendiou, Kefalovrisi.

north coast

Kos. Port and administrative center(capital). Although the most famous monuments of the island have been preserved here, the city was raised from the ruins after the earthquake of 1933. There are almost no residential buildings higher than two floors, and more than half of the island's population lives here. Shops, souvenir shops, markets, restaurants and even discos - this is all of Kos. Close to the city adjoins the Lambi resort, the center of the tourist and party life of the capital.

Psalidi is a resort area stretching east from Kos. In fact, this is a series of hotels, sandwiched between a long pebble beach and a highway. Hotels attract lovers of comfort here, and strong winds attract windsurfers.

Tigaki is a multi-kilometer (more than 10 km) beach area to the west of Kos. Hotels are not so crowded, so it is considered a sparsely populated area. Zone of shallow sandy beaches.

Deeper to the west are resorts formed around the villages of the same name, with a developed hotel network - Marmari and Mastichari. The first is a fishing village, the second is a small port.

South coast

Kefalos - arose on the spot ancient capital islands. The village has many Greco-Roman and medieval monuments. To the east of it begins a series of untouched beaches.

Kardamena is another picturesque port town, the second largest tourist center after Kos (this is especially true nightlife). In addition to the medieval castle, here you can see the ruins of ancient temples and the Kos amphitheater.

Agios Fokas is an actively developing resort in the southeastern part. It is interesting not only for new hotels, but also for its proximity to Therme beach with its hot spring.

Transport

Public transport on Kos is buses. Timetables and routes are posted at each stop. They may be 10-15 minutes late, or even more significant; flights themselves are almost never cancelled. On the suburbs you can get from the capital to any resort and to every village in the center of the island.

This means that tourists can reach most of the sights on their own. bus stops unexpectedly found in the most deserted parts of the island. City buses run in the capital of the island - from 1.2 EUR. In suburban fares depend on the distance - from 1.5-4.4 EUR. Payment in cash to the driver or controller. It is customary to warn about a stop by pressing a button at the exit.

Taxis are perhaps even the more common transportation option. You can stop the car on the road, go to the parking lot or call by phone, ordering for a certain time (this will add about 2-4 EUR to the fare). A trip between neighboring resorts (distance less than 10 km) - from 7-10 EUR, for 20 km - 22-25 EUR. From the airport to the main resorts - from 34 EUR.

The most popular transport on the coast is a bicycle. Many hotels give bikes to guests for free as a bonus. In numerous rental offices, 2-3 hours will cost from 2-3 EUR, a day - from 5 EUR.

Tourist trains go from the capital - without rails, for 2-3 open trailers. There are 4 routes in total: to Asklepion, to Tigaki, through the city center, through the surrounding villages. The fare is from 5 EUR in both directions.

Rent a Car

Renting a car on Kos Renting a car on Kos is a great opportunity to explore the island, visit all the beaches. There are convenient road interchanges, good roads, with the exception of unpaved ones, leading to wild beaches.

The traffic is lively thanks to tourists who move along the highway in all types of transport: mopeds, quad bikes, even on their own right-hand drive cars. You should be as careful as possible, because the rules traffic they are not always observed. There are no traffic jams on Kos.

Most of the international network distributors operate on the island (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Budget, etc.); the car can be booked online and picked up at the airport. There are also numerous rental offices.

At all resorts, tourists are served by dozens of local firms; their offices are also open outside the city, in hotel areas on the coast. As a rule, such companies do not require the "freezing" of the deposit on the card, they do not take the data of the card itself. They check documents less carefully, and the cost of services is somewhat lower than that of "networkers". However, they may offer reduced coverage or no coverage at all.

The cost of renting a five-door economy class car is from 35-40 EUR per day, excluding insurance. Discounts start from the second day of rental. You won’t have to spend money on parking on Kos. At the sights, parking is free, but in the cities of places for parking zone may or may not be in season. Most hotels have free parking. The cost of gasoline is about 2 EUR per liter.

Communication and Wi-Fi

Steady reception on the island is demonstrated by the main cellular operators in Greece: Cosmote, Wind, Vodafone. It is believed that the latter has the best coverage and does not lose signal even in the mountains. It is with Vodafone that all Russian operators have roaming contracts. To connect, the tourist must show an identity document; You can only purchase prepaid tariffs (without a subscription fee) by crediting a certain amount to your account (from 5-10 EUR).

Voice communication rates will not be cheaper than when you connect roaming options with your operator - from 0.13-0.15 EUR per minute of conversation with Russia. If you manage to find a package of minutes for calls abroad from a local operator - from 0.8-0.9 EUR per minute. Many people buy a Greek "sim card" to get mobile Internet "out of roaming". So, in the Wind network 1 GB costs 5 EUR, 5 GB - from 15 EUR.

The situation with free Wi-Fi in Kos is slightly worse than in Rhodes or Crete. Most cafes and restaurants provide it, but there are simply no large shopping centers or international chain stores with Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi has not yet taken root in the buses of Kos (but there is at the airport), in public places. But hotels are moving away from the practice of paid distribution. If in large complexes free Wi-Fi can only be at the reception, then guest houses, like apartments, provide the service throughout the territory and for free.

The beaches of Kos

The beaches of the island are striking in variety: long and very small, with white, gold or black volcanic sand, small-pebble, with picturesque bays. So, in some places in shallow water you can find a natural "jacuzzi", where countless bubbles rise from the bottom. And on the coast near Psalidi there are thermal springs, which contain a lot of sulfur.

Kefalos is one of the most picturesque resorts on the island. The famous beaches of Kos stretch from here: "Kamari", "Agios Stefanos" (a textbook landscape with the ruins of a Byzantine basilica and a coastal island with a church), "Paradise Beach". The purest water and soft sand.

Kefalos is located 43 km from the capital in the western part of the island. On the local sandy beach, due to the current, the sea is colder than on others, but the authentic architecture of the island has been preserved here, including the ancient windmill. There is a well-equipped equipment rental for aquatic species sports. Thanks to the favorable location of the bay, this is one of the main windsurfing centers, but the wind here is not as strong as on the northern beaches.

On all the beaches of the southern coast it blows less than in the north, the sea is calmer. In addition, most of them are sandy. This makes the resorts in the south of the island a popular destination for families with children.

Kardamena is also on the south coast. Approximately 70% of nearby beaches are wild: sand alternates with rocky areas, there may be boulders in the sea. Part of the coastal territory is occupied by the port. Vacationers who prefer beach comfort walk 1.5-3 km to the fully equipped beaches "Atlantis" and "Banana Beach".

On the northern coast are the resorts of Marmari, Mastichari and Tigaki with a 10-kilometer beach. chic sand, shallow, but there are strong waves. On such days, vacationers sunbathe, shielding themselves from the wind blowing from the sea with special awnings. In the eastern part of the island begin pebble beaches- from the capital to Psalidi on the north coast, including Agios Fokas in the southeast.

There are quite a lot of entertainment on the main beaches of all resorts: boats, catamarans, bananas, diving and surfing equipment rental centers.

On public beaches you have to pay for sunbeds. The beach is shared between the owners of taverns - sometimes a drink or snack is included in the price. The price for using two sun loungers and an umbrella is from 3 to 15 EUR. If you order food, then you can use the sunbeds for free. In order not to pay rent, you can leave the "territory of sunbeds" and stay in the "uncivilized" part of the beach.

Surfing on Kos

The northern wind of the Aegean, Meltemi, blows on Kos all summer, from June to the end of September. European windsurfers owe him excellent conditions for skiing. The wind is notable for its constancy: it blows in the morning, intensifying towards the afternoon, and subsides after 18:00. However, breaks of several days are possible.

For windsurfing, as well as kitesurfing (surfing with a kite), almost all the beaches of the island are suitable: public and wild, on the southern and northern shores. On civilized beaches, you can rent equipment or work with an instructor at a surf station. There are several of them on the island: in Psalidi, Marmari, Mastichari, Kefalos, Kardamena. 2 hours with an instructor cost from 70 EUR, group lessons - from 60 EUR. Kitesurfing is more expensive: from 120 EUR for 2 hours.

On the western tip of the island (wild beaches) and on the eastern tip (resorts of Psalidi and Agios Fokas), the wind is stronger. But only in the bays is the accelerating effect of the wind tunnel created, for which professionals come here. So, in Psalidi it is achieved due to several factors - the angular position of the bay and the coast of Turkey located opposite. At the same time, the first 50-70 meters near the coast are relatively calm - here, as well as on the coast of Marmari, beginners study. On the northern coast, on the beaches of Kefalos (Kamari, Agios Stefanos), popular with Russian surfers, a neighboring island and mountains in the west form a "pipe" in the bay.

Kos Hotels

When choosing accommodation, you should start not from the hotel, but from the coast, or rather, from the beach where you would like to spend most time. Hotels in the northeast, in Psalidi, have pebbly beaches; from the capital of Kos towards Tigaki - fine sand, further to the west - more and more wild beaches. If civilization is needed, then we choose between northern part islands (the capital and Lambi, the villages of Marmari, Mastichari) and the south (primarily Kardamena and Kefalos).

There are more than 350 hotels, guest houses, apartment complexes on the island - not counting the owners who rent out rooms and houses. Economy class (the simplest apartments and hotels of the 2 * level) - from 23 EUR for a double room in season, improved apartments and 3 * hotels - from 40-50 EUR for two. A hotel room from 4 "stars" and above, with half board or an all-inclusive system - from 110-120 EUR for two.

There are many high-level chain hotels on Kos, with a huge territory, which includes pools with water slides (and even a whole water park), children's and sports grounds. The cost of living is higher - from 160-180 EUR per room.

Most hotels have their own car parks; Increasingly, free Wi-Fi is available not only at the reception, but also in the rooms. In addition, as a bonus, guests can be offered free bike rental for a few days.

What to bring

From the island of Kos, tourists bring the same “Greek” set: feta and halloumi cheeses, honey and halva, canned olives, olive oil, wine, cosmetic creams and soap with oil, souvenirs. Only a small part is produced on Kos, but you can still find local oil or wine here.

Wine produced on the island costs from 3 EUR. Many hotels treat their guests to their own branded wine. As a rule, it is bottled in the continental part of the country, but the grape itself may be local. If you want to try local oil, then you should not limit yourself to the assortment of shops - many farms sell it cheaper, from 15 EUR for 1.5 liters.

Something is brought to Kos with neighboring islands. So, there are many wines from the island of Rhodes (from 5 EUR per bottle), natural sponges that are caught in Kalymnos (from 2-3 to 200 EUR for large specimens).

An unspoken rule is observed on Kos: small private shops and shops are more expensive than chain stores. Food and even souvenirs are cheaper to buy in chains (Spar, Konstantinos, etc.). Most of the things that are littered with mini-markets are brought from Turkey - after all, Bodrum is just over 20 km away. The low price is fully consistent with their controversial quality.

Cafes and Restaurants in Kos

There are enough establishments of various formats on Kos: not only cafes and restaurants, but also pubs, wine glasses, coffee houses, including “Uzeri”, where coffee is mixed with ouzo. But the so-called "home" restaurants prevail on the island, the owner meets guests right at the entrance.

There are such cafes all over the island: on central streets, in mountain (but tourist) villages, in ports, in markets. The cheapest hot dish is a homemade burger (from 8-10 EUR), served with french fries. As a rule, the garnish is already included in the price. The menu has a lot of fish and seafood - from 15 EUR for a hot dish (more often vegetables as a side dish). An abundance of vegetable salads (Greek - from 8 EUR, with seafood - from 10 EUR). Water and even homemade lemonade in some establishments are served for free along with the order. Thus, you can have a snack for 10-15 EUR per person, a full meal with wine - from 30 EUR. In establishments with a claim to restaurant cuisine - from 50 EUR.

The famous "huge" portions can already be classified as Greek myths. Even in home restaurants they are replaced with medium ones.

The second most popular format of institutions is a bistro. A "complex lunch", a burger or a sandwich, will be served with a soda for 10 EUR. Approximately the same range of food in beach bars. Beer - from 2-3 EUR per can.

Pubs with local beer and coffee houses where Greek coffee is brewed can only be found in large tourist centers(Kos, Kardamena, Lambi). In the capital, the tourist "street of bars" stretches for almost a kilometer. Classic English pubs coexist with party venues where cocktails and shots get in the way.

Best photos of Kos

Entertainment and attractions

For travelers, this island leaves the impression of a very sweet, patriarchal and homely. The usual landscape of Kos - small villages scattered here and there, goats grazing near them, the ruins of destroyed fortresses.

Many attractions are concentrated in the capital and its environs. The fortress of the Knights of St. John of the 15th century, built from the dismantled buildings of the ancient agora, is located in the old part of the city of Kos. The castle is destroyed, you should walk carefully along its territory overgrown with weeds, a busy port life is in full swing under the walls.

Opposite the fortress, across the bridge, stands in props Hippocrates Plane Tree. This tree is no more than 500 years old, and is considered a descendant of the one under which the "father of medicine" had conversations with his students about 2500 years ago. Here you can see the ruins of the Roman agora and go to central square Eleftherias (and the market) with its main decoration, the Gazi-Hasan Mosque, and many pretty cafes. In the city center is another Greco-Roman monument, the Villa Casa Romana. 2nd century building e. recreated from the ruins, including sculptures, dishes, pools, fragments of bas-reliefs.

The main monument of the island, Asklepion (dated to the 3rd century BC), just a few kilometers from the city of Kos, is one of the first hospitals in world history. Asklepion consists of several terraces: doctors were trained on the lower one, on the middle one they were treated and prayed (temples and a hospital, to which pipes connected to local sources were connected), another temple crowned the upper terrace. According to legend, Hippocrates was trained here (on the territory of Greece there were several hundred such complexes in honor of the god of medicine Asclepius).

The only sulfur-hydrogen source on the island goes directly to the sea, about 12 km to the east. Therme beach is wild, without any infrastructure. The source is fenced from the sea by boulders, which forms a pool. The water is hot (the temperature is above +40-50 °C), there are a lot of people during the season. To obtain a therapeutic effect, regular procedures are recommended.

Throughout the island there are monuments from different eras. In Kefalos, in the town of Agios Stefanos, right on the beach - the remains of a Christian basilica of the 5th century. In the depths of the island, in the mountains, rises the mysterious Paleo Pili - a ruined Byzantine fortress, which until the middle of the 19th century played the role of a local capital. From here, the island is visible in all directions, to the strip of sea on the northern coast. On south coast well-preserved Italian fortress Antimachia rises above Kardamena, rebuilt in the 15th century by the Johnites.

10 things to do in Kos

1. Find your favorite beach by exploring the length and breadth of the coast.
2. To visit the outlying cape in the west, to feel lost in the ocean.
3. Find, finally, these Kossky coffee houses. And what, ouzo is added to coffee?
4. In the city of Kos, walk along the overgrown bridge from the fortress to the Plane Tree of Hippocrates.
5. Take a bike and ride around the night capital and the night port.
6. Unexpectedly end the night walk with a swim in deserted beaches Tigaki.
7. "Go out in public": plunge into international fun in the pubs of Kardamena or Kos.
8. Devote a day to panoramic photos: Asklepion and Paleo Pili mountain fortress.
9. Take pictures and swim on the beach in Agios Stefanos! Without a photo of the famous basilica and an island off the coast, consider that you have not been to Kos.

Holidays on the island of Kos 2019: attractions for tourists, features of hotels and beaches of Kos, entertainment and attractions.

Kos Island is one of the pioneers of the tourism industry. Mass tourism here began to develop a long time ago, and now about 1 million tourists visit the island every year! The reason for the popularity of Kos is its favorable location near the main tourist routes of the Aegean Sea, gorgeous beaches and rich nature, thanks to which Kos was nicknamed the "floating garden of the Mediterranean."

Tours to Greece from Level.Travel

The cost of last-minute tours to Greece from the largest online service Level Travel. Prices are from the minimum for the next four months of the 2019 season.

Kos Island - how to get there

The compact territory of Kos (just over 260 km) allows you to avoid many problems with the transfer. The international airport of Kos called Hippocrates is located in the center of the island, 25 kilometers from its capital. Therefore, tourists who have arrived on vacation can quickly and easily get to their hotel anywhere in the island in 20-30 minutes. Several daily flights link Kos with nearest island Rhodes. Kos is also connected by air to Athens. You can see approximate prices for flights Athens - Kos in our calendar:

Another popular mode of transport is ferries, which also run regularly between Kos, the largest islands in the Aegean and other destinations. From Athens, the ferry to Kos takes about 10 hours, the boat trip to Rhodes will last 2 hours.

The best resorts in Kos 2019

Kos is not the best large island in Greece. However, even on a small piece of land, the variety of recreation areas can confuse those who travel for the first time:

• Resort Kefalos is the hallmark of the island of Kos. Here you will see the most picturesque bay, the most beautiful beach strewn with golden sand, as well as the ruins of the ancient capital of the island - the city of Astypalea.
• Tigaki resort — quiet place for families with children. Large selection of hotels of all categories, including large five-star hotels. The visiting card of the resort is a wide sandy ten-kilometer beach with a gentle entry into the sea.
• Resort Lambi is a resort area in the suburbs of Kos (the administrative capital of the island of Kos). On the spacious beaches of Lambi, there are many young people and tourists who want to stay close to the main attractions.
• Mastichari Resort- a town known as one of the largest centers of surfing on the island. Calm and relatively inexpensive resort with wide sandy beaches.
• Resort Kardamena- the most famous youth resort on the Greek island of Kos. Kardamena provides tourists with an excellent choice of hotels of any star rating, chic sandy beaches, an abundance of water activities and an active nightlife;

Where to stay in Kos - hotels

In total, there are about three hundred hotels on Kos, many of them are large hotel complexes with a large territory. Kos hotels are fairly evenly distributed along the wide coastline, mainly in the northern and southern parts of the island. Most hotels are well equipped to receive tourists with children: a children's menu, strollers, playpens, playgrounds, slides and pools are present in almost every big hotel. However, this does not mean at all that Kos positions itself as an exclusively family resort.

The infrastructure is designed for all categories of tourists: these are students, and young people, and vacationers of venerable age, and married couples. This also explains the wide range of prices, and a wide choice of class of hotels. On the island of Kos, you can find both modest apartments and chic five-star hotels of large chains.

Where to stay on Kos in the 2019 season:

Kos beaches - review and photo

Kos Island without exaggeration can be called one of the main centers of beach holidays in the Aegean Sea. His coastline stretched for 110 kilometers. The beaches on Kos are mostly sandy and very wide, almost every corner of the coast is marked with the Blue Flag of the EU. On the coast you can find sand of any color - white, golden, and dark volcanic. For lovers clear water the island also has a selection of excellent pebble beaches - for example, in resort area Psalidi.

Tigaki resort (northern coast) is great for a family holiday: gently sloping sandy beaches here stretch for 10 km. The area is calm, hotel complexes are scattered around large area. Tourists who are going to spend holidays on Kos with children are more often advised to resorts on the south coast, as there are more sandy beaches.

Paradise beach (Kos, Greece)

On the South Coast the most big interest causes tourists Agios Fokas beach because healing thermal springs are located here. The south is also home to the second largest youth Kardamena resort with numerous bars, clubs and discos. Lovers of scenic views should definitely visit Kefalos resort area (West Side islands). Photos of this section of the coast are most often used in tourist guides to Kos, one of the most beautiful beaches of Kos is also located here - Paradise .

It is worth noting that Kos is a rather windy island, more strong winds they blow it from the north, so the waves here will be a little more than on southern resorts. All beaches of Kos are municipal, sunbeds and umbrellas on public beaches are paid. Sometimes a free sunbed is provided to guests of a tavern or bar when buying drinks or food.

Entertainment and recreation on Kos

The administrative center of the island is the city of Kos, located on the northern coast. Here are the main historical monuments, the largest shops and markets of the island, on the central streets you can find many cafes, taverns and bars for tourists. The nearest resort of Lambi is the main party center of Kos, where many young people have a rest.

The most famous sights of the island of Kos are associated with medicine, because it is here in ancient times there was the largest temple dedicated to the god of healing Asclepius - Asklepion . Its ruins are well preserved to this day. Kos is also the birthplace of the father of medicine, Hippocrates. According to legend, the ancient plane tree in the central square of the city of Kos is the same tree in the shade of which Hippocrates lectured to his students.

Kos - real paradise for lovers of water (and not only) sports. On the windiest parts of the coast, you can observe a large concentration of surfers and kite fans. Scuba diving, boat trips, fishing and water activities(like bananas and water skiing) is also held in high esteem here. Special place cycling takes over Kos: there are excellent bike paths that connect many beaches and picturesque coastlines.