Kos is a Greek island in the Dodecanese archipelago, in the Aegean Sea, which is separate from the Gulf of Kos. It is 40 km by 8 km and is only 4 km away from the coast of Bodrum in Turkey. The island has fertile lowlands and infertile mountains.

The shores of the island of Kos are surrounded by the waters of the Carpathian Sea. It has 112 km of coasts, which are covered by immaculate beaches.

The city has a 14th-Century fortress at the entrance to its port, erected in 1315 by the Knights of Saint John of Rhodes.

Kalymnos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, northwest of the island of Rhodes. It has a population of approximately 20,000; a population density of 156 people/km2; a surface area of 111 km²; and 96 km of coastline.

Together with the islands of Leros, Telendos, Hypseremos, and Plate, it used to form a group that Homer (a pillar of the Greco-Latin period) called Calydnas. On coins it appears as Kalumna.

In the city, there is a temple to Apollo which was later turned into a church.
There were some other populated places from which there are small ruins remaining.

Leros is a Greek island which belongs to the Dodecanese archipelago in the Aegean Sea.

Its first inhabitants, the Carians, were exterminated by the Cretans and the Ionics. It was a pirate refuge until the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem and the Byzantines fought for control of it in 1319, with the victory going to the former.

The main ports are Lakki for the ferries (western coast) and Agia Marina for the hovercrafts (eastern coast). The main city, Platanos, has a magnificent and recently restored Byzantine fortress with the Church of Panagia inside.

The majority of the people in the island of Leros depend on sponge fishing to make a living.

The island is connected to the rest of Greece by means of a ferry service, as well as an airport from which two flights go to Athens every day.

The island is frequented by a group of European intellectuals. Notable members of this group include the French Bernard-Henri Lévy and the Belgian Patrick De Deken.

Patmos is another island of the Dodecanese archipelago. It is smaller than the others, with a population of approximately 2,500 and a surface area of 34.6 km². The most important towns on Patmos are Skala, which is also its only port, and Hora, on the Profitis Ilias mountain, which is home to the Monastery of Saint John.

Patmos is famous because it was mentioned in the Apocalypse of John. The introduction to the text says that the author was exiled to Patmos, where he had the visions of Jesus that were the basis for the book.
Due to this, Patmos is an important destination for Christian pilgrims, and in addition to the one in Hora, there are some other monasteries dedicated to Saint John.

Arkoi is a group of small islands also located in the Dodecanese archipelago. It has a very small population, which is why there isn’t a real capital. Most of the population lives near the main port, and the rest live scattered throughout the mountains surrounding the island.

It is characterised by dry, rocky land with poor vegetation, except for olive trees and some robust bushes. Its fauna consists mainly of livestock, such as goats and donkeys.

Above the main port, the Acropolis ruins are at the top of the hill. This is a good place to see beautiful sunsets over the Aegean Sea. Tiganakia, overlooking Lipsi, is the most beautiful beach on the island. It is small and rocky, with crystalline water and an idyllic view of the islets near the bay. In summer it is frequently visited by the inhabitants of Lipsi.

Leipsoi (also Lipsi) is a small group of islets in the north of the Dodecanese archipelago, south of the island of Samos and north of Leros. Lipsi is the biggest island of the group and it is connected by the ferries which run between Patmos and Leros, and by the main route of a weekly ferry departing from the city of Piraeus. The principal city on Lipsi is picturesque, though of little architectural interest.

The island has springs in Fountani, in the area near Koimissi, and other, smaller ones, which also flow in this area.

There are some very beautiful beaches on this island, of which Lientou is the most popular as it is very close to the town. Others include Campos, Platis Gialos (a delightful sandy strip of land along the sea), and Papandria, which is in the south, facing the island of Leros, and which offers typical views of reeds and a charming natural setting. Although further away from the towns, Chochlakoura, widely celebrated for its pebbles, flat rocks, and scenic caves; Tourkomnima and Xirokampos; and Monodendri and Kamares are all beaches with natural, wild beauty.

Return to Kos.