Psérimos

Little Psérimos, wedged between Kos and Kalymnos, has one village and port, Avláki, 80 residents and beautiful beach of soft golden sand on a turquoise sea, which day in and day out in summer becomes invisible under the crowds.

Even into late September, excursion boats from Kos Town, Mastichári and Kálymnos queue up to dock, some only staying an hour. As you arrive you’ll pass a large Greek flag painted on the hill. After all, there are occasional rumblings from the Turkish government about taking the islands back.

It becomes even more crowded on 15 August, when hundreds of pilgrims attend the panegyri at its Monastery Grafiótissa.

If you are staying any length of time (there are rooms to rent and shops as well as all day tavernas, and when the day boats have gone the people become quite friendly), you’ll probably want to take a half hour walk over to one of the smaller sandy-pebbly beaches on the east coast that you can have for yourself: Váthis, Panagía Grafiótissa, or Marathóntas.

Recently rock climbers from Kálymnos have set up five routes near Avláki—for those who bring their own gear.

Some day trips from Kos now include the adjacent islet of Plati and its sandy beach, and make a day of it by stopping for lunch in Kálymnos.