General information about the island of Kassos
Strengths:
Points of interest.
Average:
Sea and beaches, connections, prices, crowding, nightlife.
Weaknesses:
Excursions, not very suitable for families with children.
- Capital: Fri
- Population: 1000
- Area: 69 km²
- Port: Fri
- Airport: yes
- Public transportation: yes
- Car and motorcycle rental: yes
- Campsites: no
Kassos (from Greek Κάσος) is the southernmost island of the Dodecanese, located between Karpathos (3 nautical miles) and Crete (26 nautical miles). It can be reached both by sea from the Greek port of Piraeus (225 nautical miles) and by air (national airport "Aghia Marina").
It has an area of 69 km² and a population of about 1000 inhabitants.
The island is mountainous, arid, and windy. Numerous caves are present on its territory. The coasts are steep, rocky, and almost devoid of beaches. The highest peak of the island is Mount Pionas (550 meters).
The capital of Kassos is Fri, where the main port is also located.
In the past, the inhabitants were skilled shipowners and possessed a considerable fleet. Today, many islanders are still sailors, shipowners, or captains, while all others are engaged in agriculture, livestock, and fishing. During the struggle for independence from the Turks, the island was completely burned, and almost all the inhabitants were killed (Holocaust), so there are not many traces of past architecture, and the territory is completely barren. The sea, however, is very rich in fish.
The island is not touristy, so it is still very quiet and authentic. In summer, it is populated for holidays by the children of islanders who emigrated abroad in the past.
Kassos is small and can be explored on foot. A winding asphalt road connects the main places and is also served by a bus line. It is also possible to get around by taxi or rent a scooter.
