Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Camel Beach
6
Markos Beach
7
Sunny Beach
8
Magic Beach
History
So many people lived in fertile Kos by Mycenaean times that it was rich enough to send
30 ships to the Trojan War. In 477 BC, after suffering an earthquake and subjugation to
the Persians, it joined the Delian League and again flourished.
Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the Ancient Greek physician known as the founder of
medicine, was born and lived on the island. After his death, the Sanctuary of Asclepius
and a medical school were built, which perpetuated his teachings and made Kos famous
throughout the Greek world.
Ptolemy II of Egypt was born on Kos, thus securing it the protection of Egypt, under
which it became a prosperous trading centre. In 130 BC Kos fell under Roman domina-
tion and in the 1st century AD it was administered by Rhodes, with which it has since
shared the same ups and downs of fortune, including the influential tourist trade of the
present day.
Getting There & Away
AIR
Olympic Air has two daily flights to Athens (€84, 55 minutes) and three weekly to
Rhodes (€61, 20 minutes), Leros (€61, 15 minutes) and Astypalea (€68, one hour). Buy
tickets from
Kos Travel
(
22420 22359;
kostravel@otenet.gr
;
Akti Koundourioti, Kos Town)
on
the harbour.
BOAT
Kos has services to Piraeus and all islands in the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, Samos and
Thessaloniki, run by three ferry companies:
Blue Star Ferries
(
22420 28914)
,
Anek
