Driving from Kardamena to Kos Town: what to see, where the ferries leave for Bodrum and the islands, and why a small car or a scooter is the smart choice.
Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese, only a few miles off the Turkish coast, and Kos Town is where almost everything on it begins: the main harbour, the ferries, the evening walk along the waterfront.
Start at the Neratzia Castle, built by the Knights of St John right on the harbour. Next to it stands the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, where the father of medicine is said to have taught. A few streets inland, the ruins of the Ancient Agora sit in the middle of the modern town, free to walk through.
Four kilometres up the hill is the Asklepieion, the healing sanctuary on three terraces with a view all the way to Turkey. Go early in the morning, before the tour buses.
From the harbour, boats leave for Bodrum in Turkey, for Kalymnos, Pserimos and Nisyros, and the big ferries for Rhodes and Piraeus. Kos Town is also flat and full of cycle lanes, so leave the car at the edge of the centre and walk.
The drive from Kardamena takes about 35 minutes on the main road that crosses the island. Past the airport turn, follow the signs for Kos and you can't get lost.
