A.J Griffiths-Jones

With the new increased ferry services from Turkish ports, it is now easier than ever to take a day trip to the Greek Islands, and Kos is one of the most popular destinations for shopping and sightseeing.

The third largest island of the Dodecanese by area, after Rhodes and Karpathos, Kos is a great choice for those who don’t wish to stay overnight, as the journey by ferry takes just one hour from Bodrum.

Tourism is the primary industry of this scenic destination, with the main town of Kos including many hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, but the beaches here are well worth a visit.

In recent months it has been reported that efficiency has improved at border patrol, with passport checks being performed more quickly, although at peak times you may find yourself queuing in the sun as large groups of tourists disembark at the same time.

As Greece is part of the European Union, you will often find that duty-free prices on alcohol, tobacco and perfumes are a lot less, but be sure to do a comparison check before you go as premium brands are still sometimes sold at high prices.

After arriving at the port, the centre of Kos town is just a few minutes easy stroll away, where you will find cafes, boutiques and tavernas in abundance. In general, goods are very reasonably priced and many of the smaller shops sell items that you may not find in Turkiye.

A ten-minute walk uphill takes you to the main square, where an indoor bazaar is filled with herbs, spices and souvenirs. Mastika is also a popular and unique product found here. A thick resin gathered from the mastic tree, it is used to produce a sweet liqueur that tastes of pine and herbs and is often used to flavour everything from candy to ice cream.

The many side streets surrounding this area are packed with souvenir shops and fashion brands, with everything you could possibly need from cheap fridge magnets to designer sunglasses.

Lunch is a pleasure in Kos, with an abundance of seafood restaurants but also pretty family-run tavernas that sell traditional Greek gyros (rotisserie cooked meat) and moussaka (minced lamb in a tomato sauce, layered with aubergine). Many places have outside seating areas where you can enjoy a meal while people watching or looking out over the majestic castle ruins.

For many expat visitors, a day trip to Kos also means an obligatory visit to a supermarket or one of the island’s many delicatessen stores, where you can often find cooking ingredients that are hard to come by in Turkiye.

However, do be sensible when taking meat and dairy products onto the ferry, as border control often check the quantity. It is also essential to take a cooler bag with you as a day trip to Kos can be very long and summer temperatures are just as hot as in Turkiye.

Also check that you have local currency (Euros) or an appropriate bank card to use at an ATM, especially if you need to take a taxi on the island, as most drivers prefer cash.

When returning to the port after your day out, give yourself plenty of time to board the ferry home and expect to have your duty-free purchases scanned on arrival back in Turkiye. It is always best to keep proof of purchase, such as receipts, together with the goods to make navigating security a breeze.

All in all, a day trip to Kos is a fun and interesting way to explore Greek culture and cuisine. Ferries between the two countries are generally modern and serve drinks, with many having open top seating areas where you can enjoy the scenery and fresh sea breeze. Happy travels!