Tips for visiting the Greek islands, from a travel expert on Greece
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Loading... - Chama Badawi
- 15 Sep 2022
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Of the more than 3,000 Greek islands, a good 100 are inhabited. And Klaus Botig has been to most of them.
“I know 87 islands and each one is great in its own way.
An expert on Greece, he’s written about 70 travel guides about the country in the Mediterranean, and he says he has travelled there about 270 times. So who would know better which islands are the perfect introduction for newcomers to Greece?
Because if you believe the tour operators, many holidaymakers are heading there this summer, and demand is increasing. Here are Botig’s island tips for Hellas newcomers – and an insider tip for everyone else.
Kos
Botig has an anecdote about Kos. He once flew there from Crete and then took a taxi to Kos Town, 25km from the airport.
“I started talking to the taxi driver and told him about Crete – that there were more museums and more ancient sites than in Kos, and that the mountains were higher.”
The taxi driver simply asked, “Why are you travelling around? Do you want to see museums and mountains or meet good people? You’ll find them here.”
Find is a bit of a keyword here, because Kos is a very touristy island. A ratio of 80% tourists and 20% locals can be seen here in summer, Botig estimates.
But for newcomers who have already spent their holidays in Italy or Spain and are now going to Greece for the first time, it’s a good travel destination.
It’s also great for families. “There are some very beautiful beaches and the distances are short,” meaning the kids won’t have to sit in the car for hours on end. There are plenty of places to go to, from the ancient site of Asklepieion or the Zia Natural animal park to the Aquatica water park or the sandy beaches in the south of the island with illustrious names such as Magic Beach and Exotic Beach.
Those who like to be more active while on holiday can explore Kos by bike. “This is where the best cycle paths in Greece are,” says Botig. Read More...
