Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Archeological Museum
Platía Eleftherías • April-Oct Tues-Sun 8am-8pm; Nov-March Tues-Sun 8.30am-2.30pm • €3
Kos Town's Italian-built
archeological museum
has a predictable Latin bias. Centred on
an atrium that holds a mosaic of Hippocrates welcoming Asklepios to Kos, it's almost
entirely devoted to statuary, of which the best preserved and most prominently
displayed are Roman rather than Greek. That said, the single most famous item, said to
be a statue of Hippocrates, is indeed Hellenistic. With no captions to put the displays
in historical context, the whole thing takes around fifteen minutes to explore.
The agora
Unrestricted access in daylight hours
The largest single relic of ancient Kos, the
agora
, occupies a huge open site just back
from the harbour. The man who laid it out in 366 BC, Hippodamus, was credited by
Aristotle as having “invented the division of cities into blocks”. Thanks to earthquakes
between the second and sixth centuries AD, it's now a confusing jumble of ruins.
Scattered through a delightful public park, however, abounding in bougainvillea and
palmettos, it's a lovely area in which to stroll, admiring the crumbling walls, standing
columns, and exposed mosaics.
The western excavations
Unrestricted access in daylight hours
Set in pit-like gardens up to 4m below the street level of modern Kos Town, the
so-called
western excavations
consist of two intersecting marble-paved streets as well as
the Xystos or colonnade of a covered running track. Crumbling plastic canopies at
either end of the L-shaped complex shelter
floor mosaics
.
Across Grigoríou toú Pémptou to the south, a small, restored Roman-era
odeion
,
capable of seating 750 spectators in 14 rows, was built on the site of a similar
Greek theatre.
ACCOMMODATION
8
KOS TOWN
Ì
Afendoulis
Evrypýlou 1
T
22420 25321,
W
afendoulishotel.com.
Large, balconied en-suite rooms
- including a few family quads - with fridges, a/c and
wi-fi, all at excellent prices. Alexis Zikas, brother Ippokrates
and wife Dionysia really look after their guests, winning a
loyal repeat clientele; top-quality breakfast at any
reasonable
hour
. Credit cards accepted. Closed mid-Nov to
mid-March.
€50
Aktis Art
Vassiléos Yeoryíou 7
T
22420 47200,
W
kosaktis.gr.
Designer hotel whose futuristic standard
doubles or suites, in brown, grey and beige, all face the
water. Bathrooms are naturally lit and have butler sinks.
There's wi-fi, gym, confere
nce
area, seaside bar and
affiliated restaurant. All year.
€200
Hotel Sonia
Irodhótou 9, cnr
Omírou
T
22420
25594.
Popular, friendly little hotel, across from the agora and
formerly known as
Pension Alexis
. Its eleven wood-floored
rooms have been thoroughly renovated with en-suite
bathrooms, a/c and wi-fi; there's also a pleasant courtyard
and bar. Run by the sister and ni
ece
of Alexis of the
Afendoulis
. Closed early Nov to April.
€60
Theodhorou Beach
1200m from the centre, towards
Psalídhi
T
22420 22280,
W
theodorouhotel.com.
Generous-sized units with disabled access, including
suites and a wing of self-catering studios. A leafy
environment includes a lawn-pool at the back and a
small “p
rivat
e” beach with the
Nostos
day-and-night
café-bar.
€80
Triton
Vassiléos Yeoryíou 4
T
22420 20040,
W
maritina.gr.
Moderately upmarket, town-centre
seafront hotel, part of a small local chain, with veneered
floored rooms (not all with sea view) in a neutral decor.
Bathrooms somewhat small; the ground-l
oor
Avanti
Italian restaurant and breakfast café is popular.
€80
EATING AND DRINKING
also serve a range of teas and flavoured hot chocolates.
Daily 9am-late.
Law-Court Café
Finikon.
Some of the cheapest and best-
brewed coffees in Kos are available (along with cold drinks)
under the arches at the rear of the courthouse, a few paces
CAFÉS
Aenaos
Platía Eleftherías
T
22420 26044.
Join the
largely local crowd at this café under the Defterdar
mosque, and people-watch while refilling your Greek
coffee from the traditional
bríki
used to brew it. They
