GREECE: Bodrum to KOS, Greece

November 14, 2022November 18, 20222022, TRAVELS, TURKEY Catie

Bit of background:

Having moved out of our apartment in July, we opted to spend a month near(er) to the beach as we waited to depart. So in August 2022, we spent our time in the in BODRUM area of TURKEY! We were trying to soak up all the sun and beach time we could before we move to a landlocked state in the USA! (*spoiler* As this is published, we have yet to make that big move to the USA…)

If you are interested in the Bodrum Peninsula, check out our COMPLETE GUIDE to SUMMERING IN BODRUM, TURKEY! As well, I have a whole post dedicated to our first time we visited Bodrum! Most things are still the same (I did updated it a bit since visiting this summer). Check it out for all the BODRUM CITY GUIDE.

Now on to the island of

KOS, GREECE!

If you have never been to Greece then Kos, one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, is a great ‘taster’ island. This harbor town gives you your choice of sandy beaches, Greek and Roman landmarks, 15th-century Neratzia Castle, Ancient Agora ruins, and 3rd-century Casa Romana villa has lavish mosaics.

Kos in Greece is the second most popular island of Dodecanese, after Rhodes, drawing in almost 1 million tourists every year! And just like all the others vacationers to Bodrum, we had to take a day trip over to the Greek Island of Kos!

By the way, this isn’t our first our first Greek island visit from the coast of Turkey! Check out our other articles and videos of our Greek Island visits:

8 Tips for Traveling to the Greek Islands/Countries from Turkey – where I explain more about the ferry system from Turkey to the Greek Islands.
BLOG ARTICLE: Lesvos
BLOG ARTICLE: Rhodos
VIDEO LINK: Tour Rhodos with us!

Where is Kos?

Located on the South West coast of Turkey, Bodrum is a province(or state) in Turkey. As well, within the province of Bodrum there is also a city named Bodrum.` `And another quick 30 minute ferry boat ride from Bodrum city gets you to the Greek island of Kos!

The third largest of the Dodecanese islands, after Rhodes (READ OUR GUIDE, Kos island is fairly small – only 11 km wide and 40 km long, highest point of 843m (2,766 ft) with a mere population 34,000 (2011).

Little bit of history

Now that you have learned the location Kos, Greece just off the coast of Turkey, let’s chat about its history.

Kos island has a 5,000 years long history, but archaeological findings prove that the history of Kos starts from the prehistoric times. The Minoans settled on the island around the 14th century BC, followed by the Achaeans and, a few centuries later, the Dorians came and built the ancient city of Kos.

According to Greek mythology, Kos is the sacred land of Asclepius, the god of healing. 460 BC is the year during which Hippocrates, the father of Medicine and founder of the first School of Medicine, was born.

It has been influenced by many cultures, such as the Ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Venetians, the medieval Knights, and the Ottomans. It actually follows a bit of ancient history similar to Bodrum’s. The Byzantine period brought prosperity and wealth on Kos which also brought on constant pirate raids. The Persians conquered the island of Kos during the 5th century BC but were defeated by the Athenians who took control of the island later.

The same Knights of Saint John, who established on Rhodes, also took the control of Kos in 1315 AD and built the fortress that stands today at the entrance of the harbor of Kos. In 1522, the Turks took the island and held it until 1912. Then the Italian troupes invaded Kos and kicked them out. The Germans replaced the Italians in 1943 during the World Wars and was a very dark period for the inhabitants of Kos like most during this time. Thankfully, the nightmare ended in 1945 when Kos came under British rule. Finally, in 1948, Kos got united to the rest of Greece!

A huge part of this island history is the massive earthquake in 1933, destroying many of the island’s traditional buildings, but also, at the same time, revealed various archaeological sites. Some of the ancient sites have ongoing excavations taking place and are well kept. But other have become hidden and almost ‘abandoned’ like the Agora in Kos City.

I’ll share more about WHAT TO SEE and DO in a few sections below!

Top 7 sites to see in Kos, Greece!

Supposively there is a historic trail around Kos Town that you can take on foot, but we didn’t find any info on it. This town area is flat which makes rental bikes an enjoyable way to explore the sites. Another option is supposively a train that makes its way around the city, but we didn’t see one! No matter, we were able to walk and explore as we went long without any issues. It was all so close!

You can also watch our day tour of Kos here:

1. See the Neratizia Castle!

Ironically, I’m tell you to check out these first couple of sites you should see that we did unfortunately did not get a chance to see! Perhaps the umimpressive, not so imposing height of the Castle of Neratizia deterred us a bit too (compared to the towers of Bodrum’s castle!). Oh, and you need to walk around the Bay Area to get to it! Regardless, it seems that this 14th century castle, sibling to the crusaders Bodrum Castle, went for surface area when being constructed.

2. Plane Tree of Hippocrates.

Interesting fact – Kos is the island of Hippocrates, aka. the Father of Medicine. Hippocrates who was born in 460 B.C. supposively would, as ‘legend has it’ sit under the shade of the tree, teaching his students. I can’t promise that this tree is truly that old but the plane tree of Hippocrates is most certainly ancient, needing help of scaffolding frames supporting its gnarled branches. Over the years, these branches have climbed and twisted out of so many different angles, the trunk can we hard to locate!

3. Shop your way through Kos Old Town!

This habour town is small, walkable, easy to navigate with just enough nooks and alleys lined with shops to keep you wandering the streets for the whole day if you like. In the tips section below, I mentioned some items popular to get here.

Eleftherias Square is a great place to sit for lunch or coffee and people watch. After the 1933 earthquake, the Italian fascist party started to rebuild this area in traditional Italian layout.

WATCH our day tour of Kos below.

4. Casa Romana

Our first main stop after walking inland through Kos Old town was the Casa Romana. In total, it probably 15 minutes from the ferry port.

Similar to the buildings found in Pompeii, the Casa Romana, which means the Roman House, is a beautiful 2nd century mansion that shows the architectural style that dominated on the island in the Hellenistic and the Roman Times.

The partially restored 2 floor Roman villa with its 36 rooms and a group of 3 atriums, shows off a collection of art, including mosaics, frescoes & sculptures. Thankfully the museum does a wonderful job explaining the findings and the excavations they have done. A walkthrough takes roughly 30 minutes to an hour.

5. Ancient Roman Odeon of Kos

Just a 5 minute walk east from the Casa Romana and the entry is free!

Romans built the ancient open-air Roman Odeon of Kos in the 2nd-3rd century, with restored marble seating & galleries. Found in the early 20th century, this theater along with the Gymnasium and the Roman baths, all are in generally good condition. After scaling this smaller 18-row theater, make sure you check out the walkway underneath it and see a couple of pathways used in the past.

6. Western Archeological Zone city Ruins

Walking across the street from the theater back towards Kos Old Town, you will find yourself wandering through the western Archeological Zone. One of the main advantages of this complex is its proximity of many important places like the gymnasium, old market, homes, and church – so much to the point that they can be comfortably visited during just one walk, without having to travel across distant points. Best part? It’s also free and you don’t waste any extra time traveling to see it.

If you do have a bit more time, I suggest checking out the Archeological Museum in Old Town which hold all the islands ancient treasure found here!

7. Spend time at a nearby beach!

Let’s be honest, some of you would rather do just a bit of shopping then move on to the beach to relax! Our other friends did just that.

There are lots a beaches to go to on the island of Kos, but there are even a few beach clubs in Kos town that you can pay a fee for the day and get a chair and umbrella. Our friends when to one of the closest locations, Sophie’s Restaurant & Beach but they said, ‘Beware of the loud music!’ cause they can be loud! (Maybe we are just too old I guess!)

Another option is to rent an ATV and drive up the coast to another, possibly more serene beach for your swimming and relaxation needs.

Our other tips for this area:

Couple of extra notes:

Euros are accepted here. Either grab them before you leave Turkey or upon arrival. I thought we would need it more, but most people were happy to take our credit cards thankfully.
Museums are closed on Monday (same in Turkey!).
What to buy? There are lots of Kos tea towels, trinkets and other souvenirs galore. Leather is a popular trade too – shoes, purses , and belts. I am still regretting not buying that leather purse! Oh, don’t forget the olive wood items.

Getting There:

For our road trip, we drove in our own car from Izmir to Bodrum. See more about how to get to Bodrum via our GUIDE to BODRUM.
From Turkey, we booked tickets online via the Turkish Sealines website. Just make sure you are on the first fast ferry of the day (8:45 am) so you can be in the front of the 2 (YES ONLY 2) passport lines! We were on the first one and we still waited FOREVER! (Check out our video!) You will need to arrive at leave 45 minutes early with all the lines (and multiple ferries), checking in and getting your ticket, and especially passport control! The lines for all the ferry merge at passport control and it’s madness!
- (Don’t forget to check out our 8 Tips for Traveling to Greek Islands from Turkey!)

Going elsewhere from Kos? I learned that Kos actually has 2 ports! Kos is also connected by ferry with the other nearby islands of Rhodes, Patmos, Leros, and Kalymnos. Patmos is the closest island to Kos and the ferry route between those two destinations takes 2 to 3 hours. There are also some ferry routes that link Kos with Bodrum in Turkey.
- You can also travel to Athens from here by boat (but I would probably take a flight!) Kos by ferry from Piraeus port in Athens, run about 4 times per week but take approximately 11 hours!
- Want to fly? Just 24 km from Kos Town, Kos International Airport “Hippocrates” runs domestic flights all year round mainly to and from Athens. Less frequent (perhaps more seasonal as well) flights from Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Heraklion and Astypalea can be found, too.

Lodging:

Since we only went over for the day, we unfortunately have no personal recommendations! But I can recommend using Hotels.com for ease of check-in/check-out and Airbnb for more unique stays. I would suggest looking near Diagora Square.

When to go to Bodrum:

Since it’s just off the coast, Kos is like Bodrum, which has a Mediterranean climate, is actually a town that can be visited in all seasons. Winters are warm and rainy, and summers are very hot. And perhaps a bit windier in all season just do to the sea breezes! In short, it may be more accurate to determine the season according to your needs and when you are able to travel.

In fact, the first time we ever visited Bodrum was in the wintery off-season. And even in off-season, it was still a wonderful place to visit (you can read out here).

Cute shops:

Not a shop but don’t forget to take your pic in front of the I LOVE KOS sign by the Bay Area!
Olive Wood S hop – All the handmade olive wood items you could ever want. Gosh I wanted to buy so many things. I did come away with a small puzzle for Sofia and few salad serving utensils (one for me and a couple for gifts!

What to eat:

Greek Frappe – Enjoy this traditional cold drink made from whipped Nescafe and sugar until it’s frothy – add water and ice and wallah! What differentiates a Greek frappe from a simple iced coffee is the thick, creamy froth that forms as you make it.
Feta Saganaki – “Saganaki” refers to various Greek appetizers, which are prepared in a small, two handled heavy bottomed frying pan, itself called a saganaki or sagani. The most common traditional Greek recipes cooked in that kind of pan include cheese saganaki, mussels saganaki and shrimp saganaki. So of course we went with the cheese one. Imagine this delicious cheese in a crispy fried crust all soft and melting on the inside. Drooling just thinking about it now.
Pork Gyros – Basically the Greek version of a Turkish Döner but with pork. Why pork? Because we live in Turkey, and it’s not an option.

Restaurants we enjoyed:

Since we were only here during the day, I don’t have too many recs. I will put the *** by the ones we personally went to. All others were on my list of potentials!

***Bianco Nero – This is one of the first places after the long walk from the ferry. It did not disappoint! We loved our omelets with bacon and delicious cappuccinos. After breakfast (or brunch) we were ready to take on the rest of the day! (See our video for the food and atmosphere!)

*** Ambrosia Meze Restaurant – Of course, eating some local food (especially pork) was on our list! This little place is located in the cute Diagora Square. The flowers were all in full bloom, climbing over every inch of arches providing shade for customers. It was truly delightful to just chill and eat in the shade!

***Gelateria Carino – yummy gelato! You just can’t go wrong here!
The Cup – Definitely wanted to stop here, but we had just had breakfast and we didn’t make it back after our exploring. Our friends did stop here when they came before us an enjoy the coffee here!
Fresh Yogurt & More – really wanted to try this! Looked so good!
Παραδοσιακό Μεζεδοπωλείο Πατρικό, Patriko – I have no idea was the English name is. It’s got great reviews and it’s closer to the ferry port.

This website could be a good guide if you have a few more days to spare or have a very empty belly!

If you have more time:

Man, I wish we could have stayed the night! It’s always fun to see how a place is on the edges of the day- the evenings and mornings. But alas, we just were not able! There is so much more to explore on the rest of the island too! Check out this website for more sites to see on the island!

Overall, Kos is a fun day trip and a bonus country for those visiting Turkey! I loved seeing some similarities and differences from Turkey to Greece even though they are so close!

Don’t forget to check out our KOS TOUR via video and BODRUM PLAYLIST on YOUTUBE!

Comment below and let me know about some of the questions below:

Do you want to travel to Kos, Greece now?
Have you traveled to Kos before?
If so, what did you love? What did we miss?!

Don’t forget, you can explore all of Bodrum, Turkey with us over on our Following The Funks YouTube Channel via our Bodrum Playlist videos.

As, well check out some of our other Greek Island Guides!

8 Tips for Traveling to the Greek Islands/Countries from Turkey – where I explain more about the ferry system from Turkey to the Greek Islands.
BLOG ARTICLE: Lesvos
BLOG ARTICLE: Rhodos
VIDEO LINK: Tour Rhodos with us!

TRAVEL: 2 Day Itinerary for Lesvos, Greece

September 4, 2018September 4, 20182018, TRAVELS, TURKEY, WEEKENDS Catie

For a less touristy feel, Lesvos, or Mytilini, is your best choice to experience real Greece. This lush, green island has been virtually unaffected by the mass tourism. For the do-it-all traveler who likes to stay busy, Lesvos is the perfect destination with fantastic food, beautiful beaches, pine and hardwood forests, and rivers and over a million olive trees.

(Don’t forget to check out our 8 Tips for Traveling to Greek Islands from Turkey!)

From Ayvalik, take the 1 hour and 15-minute ferry ride to the port city of Mytilini. Similarly to Chios, visitors can find enough to do in Mytilini by touring the massive castle and several museums, breaking for lunch, coffee, and ice cream.

However, our road-trip took us in one large loop Northwest across the island over (VERY FULL) two days with a rental car. Here is your 2 Day Itinerary for Lesvos, Greece:

The incredible Chios Mastic Museum pressed us to see other PIOP museums such as the Olive Oil Museum on Lesvos. After renting your car near the harbor, an hour drive west from the port city of Mytilini will take you to the Olive Oil Museum situated in the middle of the island. While it does explain olive oil production, this museum is more about the exemplary restored communal olive press of Aghia Paraskevi, which you can see in action daily at noon except on Tuesdays. The exhibits share the history of the community property and the effect it had on the region’s social fabric and economic structures.

Fifteen minutes from the Olive Oil Museum, the bay city of Skala Kallonis won’t make it on anyone’s tourist list, but stopping here is our favorite memory. Sitting at the shaded beachfront restaurant of Dionysos Fish and Meat Restaurant, we took our time eating our weight in Greek salad, fried cheese balls, and grilled meat plate, while our friend’s kid played in the sand and water.

The next stops on our journey took us to 2 seaside towns on the north side of the island, Petra and Molyvos (also: Mithymna).

Petra’s cliff-top church can be seen from miles away. Stop here for ice cream and stretch your legs from the 35-minute drive with the 114 stairs climb to look at the Orthodox church and panoramic view of the red, clay top roofs lining the north shore.

Molyvos Castle sits on the top of a weaving hillside town and claims first place for city’s attractions. For families, this venture requires steep uphill walks that are not kid stroller friendly. Although it was built by the Byzantines, apparently there are stones here from a previous castle during the Trojan War. From the Venetians to the Catalans, to the Genovese and the Ottoman Turks, this castle has seen it all.

A close second is the winding, narrow walking streets of the town. Springtime means all the hundred-year-old vines draping over the passageways were blooming fragrant, purple wisteria, providing shade for the owners and visitors.

From our morning tour Molyvos, we started our 1.5-hour drive back to Mytilini. Sundays on the Greek islands usually mean many shops and businesses close, but near the still active Moni Agios Taxiarchis Monastery, a small separate cafe sets outs around 100 tables and chairs under the shade of trees. You must order their specialty of fried doughnut-like sweets, called lukumas, dipped in a simple syrup, similar to the lokma you can find on the streets of Izmir. For a little extra flavor, ask for a drizzle of white or plain chocolate with nuts sprinkles.

On days other than Sunday, the port of Mytilini is a thriving city to visit. The castle of Mytilene, one of the biggest in the Mediterranean is located on the top of a hill in the northern part of the town. Visitors can walk around the castle and visit, the cistern, the Ottoman baths, the Crypts and the Queen’s Tower among others. The view of Mytilini town from the castle is magnificent.

From the castle, head towards the main shopping street, Ermou. Start from the Yeni Tzami, a 19th-century Turkish Mosque and walk down Ermou towards the Agios Therapon Church. Take your time window shopping along Ermou street lined with lovely buildings, shops selling souvenirs and traditional products of the island. If time, take some time to learn about the island’s history at the Archeological Museum.

Sundays put a general damper on most of the city for tourists. Outside of the seaside cafes and restaurants, most shops close. However, we made the most of our day by walking and enjoying sweets from multiple little pastry shops we found along the way.

Where to stay:

Our group of six (four adults and two kids) opted for an apartment style rental in Mylos via booking.com. Apartment style rentals are prevalent in this area for more extended vacation stays by the beach.

What to buy:

Near the Moni Agios Taxiarchis Monastery is a small handicrafts town, Mantamados is known for its pottery. Even though its popularity, the handmade ceramics workshop, Stelios Stamatis, remains a small shop packed from floor to ceiling with pottery. Bright flower designs or olive branches adorn all types of dishes to plant holders. All reasonable prices, you need to bring cash as credit cards are not accepted. While photos are allowed of the shop, ask before taking pictures of the ceramic painters.

Olive oil products. The island not only offers olive oil, but also olive oil products such as natural soaps, lotions, bowls and other items made from olive oil wood, and souvenirs with hand-painted olive branches.

I hope you found my 2 Day Itinerary for Lesvos, Greece helpful! We will definitely return for another weekend and explore other parts of the islands! There is so much more to see!

We want to hear from you!

Did you enjoy this 2 Day Itinerary for Lesvos, Greece?

Have you been to Lesvos, Greece?

What did you love when you traveled to Lesvos?

Like it? Share it or pin it for later!

TRAVEL: 3 Day Itinerary for Chios, Greece – Sakız Adası

August 21, 2018October 31, 20222018, ANNIVERSARY, TRAVELS, TURKEY, WEEKENDS Catie

Chios is the first choice for both expats and Turks in the Izmir area when considering which Greek island to visit first. A quick 20-minute catamaran ferry ride in the morning and returning in the evening makes Chios the most popular choice from the beach town of Çeşme.

Located in the Aegean Sea, the island went through many names such as Pitioussa for its pines, Makris for its long shape, Aethalea for its volcano and Ofioussa for the many snakes. However, the name of Chios comes from the daughter of Inopion, Chiona rooted from the word hioni meaning too much snow fell on the island.

Chios’s Turkish name, Sakiz or Mastic, hails from the local island tree that produces a sappy, natural gum. Mastic is the leading local product. Gums, liqueurs, varieties of sweets, natural soaps and candles are just a few mastic products solely on the island.

I recently made a day trip over with a friend – Thanks for the birthday gift, Jason! So I made a video about what all we did for our day trip from Turkey to Greece. You can watch it here!

While most people make Chios a day trip, a 3-day getaway was the perfect amount of time to explore most of the island while having time to relax. In the morning and evening, we enjoyed the beach near our apartment rental. During the day, we travel via rental car to see other parts of the island.

Catie FunkTravels Chios Greece Greek Island

Enjoy our 3 Day Itinerary for Chios, Greece:

Day 1:

Arriving by the AM ferry, the 10-minute walk from the ferry to the car rental is easy and quick. If you want, you can just pop into one of the many car rentals as you walk from the ferry to town and ask for a daily rental. (You may need an international drivers license for this.)

By making one big loop by car, you can see most of what South Chios has to offer.

From the Chios city center, head west to the 11th century Nea Moni Monastery and explore the renovated church and the now overgrown former quarter of monks. The 1881 earthquake had devastating effects on Chios, and almost every village has some remnants. The monastery closes at 1 PM for the day, so make sure to visit it first.

From the Monastery, head another 20 minutes west to explore the deserted hilltop of Avantas. There is not much there besides a couple of cafes, an art studio and lots of old homes. After working up an appetite from exploring, we enjoyed a late lunch, ordering the traditional Mosak, at the restaurant and guesthouse which boast panoramic views of the opposite side of the island.

Because Chios’s Turkish name, Sakiz (Mastic), you cannot go to Chios without making it to the Mastic Museum, a 30-minute drive south of the Nea Moni Monastery located in Mastichochoria region (literally meaning mastic villages).

The Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP) created the Mastic Museum as part of 9 cultural heritage museums throughout Greece, affordable to all for only 3 euros a person. The museum is an architectural beauty with its tall glass walls mixed with natural wood and concrete features. The story of traditional mastic cultivations and the economic value throughout history is creatively explained through multimedia applications, excellent video documentaries, models, and original machinery in functioning order.

Day 2:

Spend a day at the beach. Our favorite beach was the Volcanic Rock Beach, Emporio. The secluded little cove is famous for its black round lava stones and is perfect for enjoying the water and sun without the hassle of sand. Pack a lunch or enjoy lunch at Porto Emporios in the little town nearby.

Day 3:

If time, the medieval sister cities of Mesta, Olympi, and Pyrgi all have their claim to fame. Go inside Mesta’s castle walls to the center to explore the small streets. The main square has cafes, coffee or ice cream. Olympi has nothing too spectacular except in season (April 1 to October 1) when the caves tours provide an escape from the summer heat. Prygri’s homes are all engraved with the black and white motifs. The cities of Mesta and Olympi have a 1-hour long, well-marked walking trail, 1 of 8 on the island.

Spend this day in Chios town before departing back to Ceşme, Turkey. Our return was on Sunday AND Greek Independence day and quite a few places were closed (Check out our 8 Tips for Traveling to Greek Islands from Turkey for this information). However, you can always walk through the unimpressive Chios Castle and all the museums: the Chios Archeological Museum, Maritime Museum, and Byzantine Museum.

If you are like us, we prefer to eat our way through a city. Below I referenced some places we enjoyed eating at in Chios City!

How to get there:

Check out our 8 Tips for Traveling to Greek Islands from Turkey where I explain more about the ferry system from Turkey to the Greek Islands.

Where to eat:

Updated 2022:

Coming in on an early ferry, we were ready for some greek pastries! Make sure you stop at this corner shop, Perres Περρής (use to be a car rental place we use when we first visited Chios!). We suggest the savory ham(pork) and cheese and the honey pastry!

Unfortunately, our favorite gyro place, 3 Little Pigs in Chios city has closed. But we grab a yummy gyro on our way to the ferry from Armenistis – on the same corner as Perres. Think about your favorite Turkish ‘et döner’ but replaced with pork meat. At 3-5 Euros a sandwich, the price is just as favorable.

For an afternoon coffee or cocktail, you must check out No. 44 where a crowd enjoys iced coffees. Make sure to ask for the complimentary chocolate covered donut that comes with your drink order.

For ice-cream lovers, Kronos is sure to please with it’s white, diner-like appeal and creamy, gelato flavors.

Where to stay:

Kafas is a smaller beach town that is just a 15-minute drive south of Chios city center. Our Airbnb rental was right on the beach (sign up via our referral code for $20 credit!). If we wanted, we could have skipped the rental car and stayed in this self-sufficient little town which is complete with a market and a few restaurants and cafes.

What to buy:

Mastic products! Whatever you desire, you can most likely find a product made with mastic. The natural, mastic gum is a tourist favorite choice. The natural gum has an irregular shape because it is unprocessed! Lotions, soaps, food flavorings, and even liquors are all available as well. The Mastihashop is a favorite shop to purchase quality mastic items.

I hope you found my 3 Day Itinerary for Chios, Greece helpful! We will definitely return for another weekend! There is so much more to see!

Read more information about other islands of the coast of Turkey we have visited:

8 Tips for Traveling to the Greek Islands/Countries from Turkey
BLOG ARTICLE: 4 Day itinerary to Cyprus – Flying from Turkey to North Cyprus
BLOG ARTICLE: Lesvos
BLOG ARTICLE: Rhodos
VIDEO LINK: Tour Rhodos with us!
Coming soon: Kos, Greece!

We want to hear from you!

Did you enjoy this 3 Day Itinerary for Chios, Greece?

Have you been to Chios, Greece?

What did you love when you traveled to Chios?

Pin it for later or share it via Pinterest with a friend!

Listen to our 3 day Chios getaway via our podcast!

http://funktravels.com/podcast/episode050/

TRAVEL: 2 Day Itinerary for Rhodes, Greece

August 14, 2018August 14, 20182018, TRAVELS, TURKEY, WEEKENDS Catie

Just slightly smaller than Lesvos and 4th largest of all Greek islands, Rhodes is a hub for cruise ships pouring 1,000s of travelers into the city for short land-side excursions. Fortunately for us, our travels did not overlap with the hordes of cruises.

Only 20 mi/30 km from the Turkish coast, Rhodes Island is popular for its lively nightlife, excellent beaches, flowers, hills and historical sites. The island has a fairly active artists’ colony, and it’s not uncommon to come across a painter at work.

Rhodes island offers its visitors a history that goes back in time thousands of years, to the ages of mythology.

The beautiful myth of Rhodes says that after Zeus’s victory against the Giants, he decided to divide the earth among the Olympian gods; The only god who received nothing was Helios, the god of the Sun.

He, according to the myth, was absent and “No one remembered to include him in the draw”! When he came back he demanded his share, but Zeus told him that he was not able to make the cast again because the rest of the gods would not agree. Helios was disappointed but asked Zeus and the other gods to promise that the land that was to rise out of the sea could be his.

As he spoke, a beautiful island slowly emerged from the bottom of the blue sea, Rhodes. Helios bathed Rhodes with his own radiance and made it the most beautiful island in the Aegean Sea.

The visitor can find monuments and evidence of Rhode’s long history and myth to explore scattered all over the island. Some of the most important historical sights and monuments on the island are:

In Rodos City:

The Acropolis of Rhodes
The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
The Medieval City of Rhodes and the Palace of the Grand Masters

Outside of Rodos City:

The Acropolis of Lindos
The castle of Monolithos
The castle of Kritinia
The castle of Feraklos in Haraki
Ancient Lalysos
Ancient Kamiros

Here is my 2 Day Itinerary to Rodes, Greece:

Spend Day 1 in Old Town

Much of its flavor and architecture arrived with the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who occupied it 1310-1522. In the capital, Rodos, see the medieval quarter of Old Town.

Old Town is surrounded by the most impressive, well-maintained pair of medieval walls which easily could take hours to see all the towers and former moats. A UNESCO site since 1988, the parallel walls are separated by a dry moat and is in outstanding condition. The 3.2 mi/5 km long and 12 meters wide walls distinguish Old Town from the rest of the city.

Inside the walls, each street and turn compelled us further into the maze of streets taking time to meander through the Greek, Turkish and Jewish neighborhood. Along the way, we stopped for lunch and shopping at little pockets of shops. (see below for a list of our favorite restaurants)

Your tour must include time at the 14th century Grand Master’s Palace, the most prominent historical and architectural landmark and once the residence of the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller. The Palace holds two permanent archaeological exhibitions: “Ancient Rhodes – 2400 years” celebrating 2400 years since the founding of the city of Rhodes (408/7 BC) and “Rhodes from the Early Christian period to the Turkish conquest (1522)” covers the city from the 4th century AD until the beginning of the Ottoman period.

For €10, a 3-day ticket includes entrances into the Grand Masters’ Palace, Archaeological Museum, the church of Our Lady of the Castle and the Decorative Arts Collection.

Spend Day 2 in New Town and outside the city.

New Town is north of Old Town. Mandilara Street is home to some of the best restaurants and shopping in New Town. The long-standing Koykos Restaurant serves traditional Rhodian recipes such as Koulouria, a hand-made local pasta topped with fresh crumbly cheese and spices is beloved by both locals and tourist. Rhodes Greece Rodos Greek Island

The Agios Nikolas Tower (at the harbor entrance), marks where one of the legendary 7 Wonders of World, Colossus of Rhodes, once stood. The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek titan-god of the sun Helios, and once straddled the harbor which boats had to enter through. Now, unimpressive columns are set in place of the feet as a remembrance and are considered an island ‘must’ see.

How to get there: From the Old town’s East wall, you walk the jetty with the three, well-preserved Wiatraki Rhodes Windmills toward the Fort of St. Nicolas. The jetty makes a turn to close in the harbor, and at the end is the ancient Colossus. Now you can take the best picture of the two Colossus with Rodos in the background.

As you walk the outskirts of new town along the coast, take a quick look at the painted walls of the Eklisia Church to see the walls that are covered from floor to ceiling in paintings of scenes from the Bible and of the saints.

Lastly, even if you don’t get in the water, spend an hour resting your feet from the walking and enjoy another view of the Mediterranean Sea at the beaches before heading back to Turkey.

If time:

Most travelers are only staying in Rhodes 1 day. I would suggest spending most of the time in the Old Town, but make sure to walk along the outside of the Old Town by the water so you enjoy the sea as well!

During the high season, between April-October, a double-decker sightseeing bus waits for travelers and cruise passengers at the port. While the bus could use some work on the sound system, the 12 Euro day pass gives you access to 2 buses making an hour-long loop around the city of Rodes; a quick way to get your bearing of where you may want to spend your day.

The route also passes by the unimpressive Acropolis of Rhodes to see a theater, stadium and two temples. The buses pass by every hour which gives you chances to stop and look through the ruins before catching the next bus. If time permits in your busy schedule and the buses aren’t in season, you can hike or take a taxi.

How to travel from Turkey to Rhodes:

The 1-hour fast ferry takes passengers from the Marmaris port in Turkey to the entrance of the Old Town, Rodos of Greece. Rodos splits into ‘new town’ and ‘old town.’ If you have two days, spend one day exploring each. See my articles 8 Tips for Traveling to the Greek Islands from Turkey to explain the one-way and round-trip tickets from Turkey.

Where to eat:

In New Town, the long-standing Koykos Restaurant served traditional Rhodian recipes. “Koulouria” with fresh local pasta and crumbly cheese and spices is beloved by both locals and tourist. In Old Town, the Odyssey Restaurant offers up delicious traditional Greek dishes at a reasonable price for the touristy part of town. I suggest the mixed meze plate for 2 and a mug of the local Alpha beer.

Our nontraditional restaurant choice would be the George & Maria Art of Falafel, located near the Koykos Restaurant on Mandilara Street. For dessert, we enjoyed yummy, single serving lemon pies from PURE Sweets & More in New Town.

Where to stay:

For budget travelers, we recommend the Lydia Hotel in New Town (50 Euros per night) or the Medieval Rose Inn guesthouse in Old Town (25-30 Euros per night). In New Town, the fore-mentioned Koykos Restaurant is also a beloved 8-room guesthouse. If you like a little luxury, Rhodes Park, and Suites Hotel near Old Town (180 Euros per night). This island is so small that it would be easy to stay in the central city and take day trips to other areas of the island.

What to buy:

When your sandals break in Greece, buy another pair! I heard Chios was the place for leather shopping, but Rodos has way more options. Real soft leather sandals in the latest fashion cost around 35 to 45 Euros.

I hope you found my 2 Day Itinerary for Rodos, Greece helpful! We will definitely return for another weekend and explore other parts of the islands! There is so much more to see!

Watch our video about our travels to Rhodes Greek Island HERE.

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Read more information about other islands we have visited:

8 Tips for Traveling to the Greek Islands from Turkey

Chios (coming soon)

Lesvos (coming soon)

TRAVEL: 8 Tips for Traveling to the Greek Islands from Turkey

July 31, 2018September 4, 20182018, TRAVELS, TURKEY, WEEKENDS Catie

When you look at a map, the islands just off the Aegean coastline look like they belong to Turkey. But they are actually part of the Greek islands. Travelers in Turkey can access the EU with a quick ferry ride.

Once belonging to the same ancient empires and rulers, the Greek islands have a messy mix of overlapping Greek and Turkish history. While you could say that the citizens living in either country are entirely native, you will find that most Greeks and Turks in the southwest of Turkey have a jumbled heritage of Greek and Turkish ancestors.

Today, the Greek laid-back Islanders and relaxed warm Turkish people of Izmir have a comfortable relationship that politicians could learn a thing or two about.

Alongside the history, travelers like to visit the Greek Islands for the ease of island life. Big cities like Rome and London also come with traffic and crowds of people. While we saw a few people from the ferry, tourist lines were never a problem on the Greek Islands.

When traveling to the gorgeously sunny areas of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, the Greek Islands of Chios (click here to listen to our podcast about Chios), Lesvos, and Rhodos, are the perfect international day trips from the Turkish coast.

CatieFunkTravels Lesvos Island Greece Greek Islands — Lesvos, Greece – Greek Islands

But before you go, here are 8 tips for traveling to the Greek Islands from Turkey:

Check your visa requirements! Rules still apply for entering the EU. Some islands have daily visa pass, but make sure your nationality can purchase them.
Traveling to the island is best in the summer: May to September. The island comes to life with other travelers, and all the shops are ready to greet you. But if you are like us and want a more relaxed, getaway, consider coming in the off-months: October- April.
Chios and Lesvos are relatively protected from the masses of cruise lines and craziness that comes with the hordes of tourists being dumped onto the island all at once. Rhodos, however, is another story. For a more enjoyable experience, consider checking out this island during the off-season or the edges of the summer season.
Booking your ferry tickets online is easy. From the several websites I have used, I suggest www.marmarisferry.com provided the most diverse selection of routes and online payment.
- Chios’ daily departures in both on and off-season. Tickets are a flat one-way fee of 20 Euros (40 Euros round trip).
- Lesvos’ schedule is irregular in the off-season but picks up around the summer months. Tickets are a flat one-way fee of 25 Euros (50 Euros round trip).
- Rhodos charges 30 Euro extra per roundtrip (40 Euros for same day round trip) if you arrive and depart on different days.
  Chios, Greece – Greek Islands
Rental cars are easy and cheap to rent for your desired amount of time. Even if you have a car, you will find that renting a car for a day or 2 will be cheaper than paying for your car ferry fee and the extra required international insurance on the island. Only if you plan to stay for longer than four days should you consider taking your vehicle.
While I thought it was just a Spanish tradition, Greeks also honor a similar afternoon siesta from 1-3 PM. Most shops besides restaurants and cafes will take a break mid-day for lunch and rest. At 3 PM the shops reopen for shoppers until 6 PM or if in a shopping district, 8-9 PM. Also, if you want to travel around the island, make sure to see the big city when you first arrive.
On Sundays, most non-food shops close, and the shopping areas become a ghost town. Thankfully, most shops near the water stay open for locals and the random tourists waiting for their ferry boats back to Turkey. If you are looking to grab some European products to take back to Turkey, Lidl and other supermarkets have a large, affordable selection of goods. However, they close on Sundays.
While the refugee crisis has potentially affected some of the Greek Islands, we never saw any disruptive events or services during our visits. Besides the occasional beggar near the port areas, which is common in most cities, we saw none in the other regions of Greece.

CatieFunkTravels Rhodes Rodes Island Greece Greek Islands — Rhodes, Greece – Greek Islands

I hope you enjoyed these 8 tips for traveling to the Greek Islands from Turkey. Have you traveled to the island? What tips do you have from your travels to the islands?

Now to you:

What Greek Islands have you traveled too?

What did you love about your travels there?

What are your tips for traveling to the Greek Islands?

Read more information about other islands we have visited: (coming soon!)

Chios

Lesvos

Rhodos

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