Things to see and do Kos

The beaches around Kefalos are the most beautiful of the island: quieter, less crowded and clearer than in the north of Kos, they offer miles of sand and a serenity that is rarely found elsewhere. The ones closest to the village are also the most developed, with tavernas and deckchairs, but the further away you go, the more you will feel like you are alone in the world.

In the bay of Kefalos itself, you will have to leave the village beach and go eastwards to find the pretty beach of Aghios Stefanos and the ruins of its Byzantine church (5th-6th centuries) overlooking the islet of Kastri. Further on, the small bay of Camel Beach can quickly fill up. Beyond, a wide sandy bay links the beaches of Paradise Beach, Lagada, Psilos Gremos and Magic Beach. They are also busy, with sunbeds and tavernas, but remain relatively unspoilt. Finally, Exotic Beach, at the eastern end of the bay, is less visited.

The beaches on the west coast of the peninsula are much less accessible and therefore much less crowded. Agios Theologou, where there is a beach tavern, has a particularly clear sea but the waves can be impressive depending on the wind. As you head south along the coast, you will discover a succession of small, isolated and quiet coves. There are no facilities so bring water and a picnic. The sandy beach of Paradiso and its small hut are a true paradise, preserved and solitary, at the end of the chaotic road.

The Kos synagogue has finally been renovated: closed for almost 40 years, it was consecrated and inaugurated in July 2023. It will soon be reopened to the public to tell the story of the Jewish community of Kos, almost entirely murdered by the Nazis after their deportation on July 22, 1944. The story of this synagogue begins in 1747, when a member of the local Sephardic community decided to build a first temple. The establishment of the Jewish community in Kos dates back to the Second Temple period, but it was expelled by the Knights in 1502, before being able to return thanks to the more tolerant laws of the Ottoman Empire. The community fluctuated in size over the course of the ^19th century, and was mainly involved in commercial activities, particularly wine. It was integrated into the wider Kos community, speaking Greek and Turkish, as well as Ladino, a Judeo-Spanish language. The local community expanded in the early ^20th century, following the arrival of refugees from Asia Minor after the Great Catastrophe of 1922. The great earthquake of 1933 did not spare the synagogue, which was rebuilt the following year in the Art Deco style still admired today. On the eve of the Nazi occupation, the synagogue housed around 140 members of the community. They were all arrested on the same day by the Nazis and sent to their deaths in the Auschwitz camp, along with the Rhodes Jewish community. Only one survivor returned to Kos after the liberation of the camps, and the synagogue has been abandoned to this day.

The road leaving Kefalos to the south winds through a totally unspoilt and wild area. At a fork in the road, you can continue towards Agios Theologos beach or the chapel of St. John the Baptist. The panoramic views that open up change at every turn, and are enchanting. The chapel overlooks the endless Aegean, shaded by centuries-old plane trees. Here, a small café offers shade, refreshments and mezzedes.