The first bicycles arrived on Kos more than 100 years ago, when the island came under Italian control. Italian soldiers used bicycles as their main means of transport.
The flat terrain of the island has been instrumental in establishing and increasing the popularity of cycling. Already during the Italian rule, cycling races were held on Kos, in which the top Italian champions took part. After the Second World War came the liberation and the incorporation of the Dodecanese into Greece. While the Italians left, the bicycles stayed.
Scenes from old Greek films, such as the bicycle ride on Finikon Avenue from a 1961 comedy, have forever associated the island with two wheels.
Today in Kos there are thousands of bicycles and many shops where you can buy or rent a bicycle, cycling clubs, 14 kilometres of cycle paths running through Kos town and flat paved roads with limited traffic, which can be used for cycling and reach settlements and beaches. Locals use them to go to work, for leisure rides and shopping. Bicycles are even used as decorative elements.
To the rest of the world Kos may be the island of Hippocrates and wonderful endless beaches, but by Greek standards it is also “the island of cycling”. And there was no better place to hold the next PPC e-bike Festival.
The PPC e-bike Festival’s next stop
After the successful events in the traditional Thessalian pro-bike towns of Trikala and Larissa, Kos will be the first island stop of the PPC e-bike Festival.
The PPC e-bike Festival is taking place on the weekend of 11-12 December 2021 at Antagora Square in Kos town centre, bringing together for the first time more than 50 different models of electric bicycles for every use. Electrically assisted bicycles are a global trend that appeals to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level, and are one of the most sustainable modern transport solutions.
As part of the two-day event, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the square will host state-of-the-art bicycles, road, folding, mountain, touring, etc.
In a festive, Christmas-like atmosphere, with three purpose-built test tracks, the PPC e-bike Festival is expected to attract interest and offer a very special experience. Visitors will also be able to take part in pedal skill games and win eco-friendly and cycling souvenirs.
Visitors will have the opportunity to learn all about the bicycle model that best suits their needs, as well as to try it out. At the same time, the PPC e-bike Festival’s expert team will offer safe riding lessons for children aged 6-12 years old.
Within the framework of the festival, visitors will also be informed about the ways they can reduce their carbon footprint through PPC’s green, easy, digital products and services, such as the electricity consumption from Renewable Energy Sources GreenPass, MyHomeOnline, e-self metering, e-bill, etc.
PPC e-bike festival, 11-12 December 2021, at Antagora Square
It is the perfect opportunity to get to know a beautiful island, equally charming during the non-tourist season.
Kos town: relaxed and cosmopolitan
Despite the overwhelming tourist influx during the (long) tourist season, the largest town and administrative centre of the island manages to maintain its character. Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans, they have all left their mark. But it is the Italian-inspired imposing buildings that stand out today. Finikon Avenue is one of the most beautiful Greek streets and it is definitely worth walking or cycling along. On the south side of the harbour dominates the castle of the port of Kos, better known as the castle of Nerantzia.
Built by the battalion of the Ioannite Knights (Knights of Saint John), the castle of Nerantzia is an excellent example of the architecture of the time. In front of the castle in Platanos Square stands the plane tree of Hippocrates.
According to legend, this is where the father of medicine taught his students and where Apostle Paul spoke when he visited the island. The town of Kos is actually a living archaeological site and the best part is that you can tour it by bike.
Casa Romana: A journey to another era
Among the many important sites of archaeological interest in Kos, Casa Romana, a Roman villa built at the end of the 2nd century AD, stands out. Its discovery was preceded by a tragedy; the 1993 earthquake destroyed almost completely the town. Knowing that ancient buildings and monuments lay beneath the ruins, the Italians undertook extensive excavations. This is how this magnificent mansion was discovered. In 1940, Casa Romana was fully restored.
The exterior of the building does not predispose visitors to what they will see inside: 36 rooms with magnificent mosaics and ornate objects. Its truly impressive layout exudes an air of grandeur, as if you have been transported to the glorious days of the Roman Empire.
Zia: lush and scenic
About 20 minutes by car from Kos town, Zia is a village famous for its vegetation, its sunset and its wonderful view.
In summer, the village is cram-full of visitors, but in winter, when it is less crowded, Zia is probably way more beautiful. You may get tired walking uphill on the steep cobbled paths, but the crystal clear springs will make up for it. In Zia you will also find some of the best taverns on the island.
The Asclepeion
This ancient healing sanctuary is located only 4km from the centre of Kos – so close that you can reach it by bike. This is where the doctor-demigod Asclepius was worshipped and where Hippocrates taught and treated patients from all over Greece.
The site was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century by German archaeologist Rudolf Herzog with the assistance of local historian Iakovos Zarraftis. The remains that survive date back to the Hellenistic period. About half a kilometre away is the International Hippocrates Foundation of Kos. There is also a medical museum and a botanical garden with medicinal herbs and plants used since ancient times.
Peacocks and flamingos
On the road to the village of Kefalos there is a natural park, a beautiful pine forest in a gorge, with extremely interesting flora and fauna. Here live particularly human-friendly peacocks, as well as squirrels and turtles. It is worth spending a few hours of your stay there, especially if you are travelling with children.
In the lunar landscape of the former salt marshes in Tigaki, in a lagoon, there is a protected wetland of unique beauty. During the winter season you will see migratory birds such as flamingos and herons, as well as water turtles.
Thermes: all-year natural spa for all
You can enjoy a refreshing bathing experience at the “Embros Thermes” hot springs, located on the southeastern side of the island. Dark pebbles, rocks, steep slopes – results of tectonic and volcanic activity millions of years ago – make up a landscape of wild beauty.
The temperature of the water, which contains beneficial elements for the body such as calcium, potassium, sodium, sulphur and magnesium, ranges between 30 and 50 degrees. Here, people of all ages can enjoy the water all 12 months of the year.
Gastronomy at its best
The local cuisine is very special and rather gourmet. Try pitardia (handmade lasagna-style pasta cooked in broth), lambropites (small pies filled with myzithra cheese), possia cheese (local cheese aged in red wine for five months, thus the colour and flavour) and marmarites, namely pancakes once cooked on heated marble.
Try also the island’s famous honey, as well as the traditional tomato spoon sweet (sweet preserves). Kos has a long wine-making tradition. Do not miss the opportunity to visit one of the island’s amazing wineries and taste the local favourite PDO varieties.
A (flat) island tour by bike
Kos is flat and this means that even the moderately trained cyclist can cycle around the island relatively easily, covering about 60 kilometres. It’s the ideal time to take the plunge, as winter in the Dodecanese is generally mild.
Mountain tour for well-trained riders
If you are sufficiently trained and want to see a large part of the island by bike, start from Kos to Kefalos, via Antimahia. Return via Kardamena passing through the traditional villages of Pyli, Zia, Asfendiou, Zipari and Platani. In total you will cover 112 kilometres with a little over 1000 metres of ascent. But – in general- the gradients are gentle. A well-trained cyclist can do the route in 6 hours, but why rush? Do the tour in a few days and you will get to see the whole island, discover the local customs, experience the local culture and visit the most beautiful beaches.
The PPC e-bike Festival is implemented in collaboration with the organization “Cities for Bikes”, member of the European Cyclists Federation and mbike.gr. The event will take place with the support of the municipality of Kos.
