Things to see and do Iles grecques

Platanas beach is 7 km from the city and 10 minutes from the port. Nearby Stomio is a clear water river where you can also swim.

The beach is close to the city centre, taverns and other shops. Eretria is a popular destination with the Greeks who often spend their summer holidays. Despite this, the beach is never overcrowded. The palm trees add to the slightly changing atmosphere of this urban beach.

A succession of small coves with beautiful sandy beaches, close to the town Kymi. The place is spectacular. And there are taverns…

The hotel is located near the port. Sandy beaches in Neorion, where you will also find rooms to rent and two reasonably cheap hotels: the most beautiful beach is Kanali.

The monastery of St. George is a 2.5 hour walk from Arvanitochori, a charming flowery village nestled in a beautiful valley of fig trees, bougainvillea and jasmine. Take a small path to the left, heading south, on the road to Aghia Marina. If you are lucky, or if you come across him in the village before your visit, the caretaker of the monastery will not only give you a tour, but he can accommodate you for a night or two. A unique experience, with a dinner based onofto , a dish of lamb roasted for several hours.

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.

You will find all sorts of useful information, including maps of the island and bus schedules. If you're not there, you can contact the tourist agencies at the port or the tourist police, who will take over from the harbour office for ferry schedules. To help you find a room, a car or a ferry ticket, you can turn to Astoria Travel (+30 22470 31205 - www.astoriatravel.com) or Apollon Travel (+30 22470 31356 - www.apollontravel.gr), two reliable travel agencies that are almost next door.

From the village of Lipsi, you can reach this part of the island on foot in about 30 minutes. Before arriving, you will see on your right the 16th century church of Panaghia Harou, famous for the icon of the Virgin celebrated on August 23rd (see box). A little further away, you can taste and buy organic products from Kostas Makris, who has taken over the family farm a few years ago, and further away, Kohlakura is a pleasant pebble beach. Shaded in the morning, it offers little shade during the day but the waters are crystal clear.

This islet is now uninhabited and can only be reached by boat from the port of Nimborios, but offers some superb and deserted beaches... Indeed, the islet was abandoned after having served as a naval base during the Second World War. Since then, there has been an almost strange atmosphere. The church of the abandoned village, the Saint-Georges church, is still in working order: it is used for a few rare local celebrations. On the heights of the village, a ruined fortress offers magnificent views of Halki and the surrounding area.

To the west of Lakki Bay, the road continues between pine and eucalyptus forests planted by the Italians. You will find beautiful coves with emerald waters and almost deserted beaches. Beyond the Lime Bar, the beach of Merikia is very pleasant with its small old-fashioned cafes but we advise you to continue on the road to Cape Katsouni: you will discover on the way small lonely creeks and the beach of Kokkina, perhaps the most beautiful in Leros. You will be able to get there on foot: it takes about an hour.

From Megalo Horio, you will have easy access to two main beaches, on foot or by bus.

Eristos is a large sandy bay on the south coast, at the end of a large fertile valley. Almond trees grow there and the island's inhabitants grow all kinds of cereals, fruits and vegetables. This green flow is known as Kampos, which means the fields, and you can cross it on foot from Megalo Horio (count 30 minutes to the beach) or by bus by road (5 minutes from Megalo Horio). Eristos beach is surely the most beautiful beach in Tilos and you will inevitably find a place to isolate yourself from the campers who settle under the gigantic tamaris every summer. Taverns nearby allow you to have a snack during a sunny day. Nudists are welcome to the left of the bay.

Skafi is a large pebble cove located on the north coast and only accessible by foot from Megalo Horio. The trail is very well laid out and easy: count about 45 minutes from the village through a valley surrounded by hills that looks like Afghanistan in places, when the light dims at the end of the day. Quiet and very often deserted, there is a good chance that you will find yourself alone on this bay without shade. At the beginning of the season, sea urchins are legion: perfect to fill up with iodine and satisfy small appetites. Another, smaller creek is located on the right of the main bay. Nudism is practiced there.