Holidays to Kassos

The capital is called Fry (pronounced 'free'). It is a little scruffy but overwhelmingly friendly, and has a most attractive fishing harbour called Bouka, overlooked by the church of Aghios Spiridon. Above Bouka is a pair of good local tavernas, and you will find a half dozen others in the village as well as the usual cafes and small shops, but some are only open in the peak season.

Kassos is not really the island for beaches but you can swim from a small strip of sand and shingle a 5-10 minute walk to the east of the port. However, in season (end-June to early September) taxi boats run the short distance to the uninhabited off-shore islets of Armathia and Makronisi which boast some fine sand and turquoise waters.

There are five villages on Kassos linked by a circular road - they are close enough together to be able to tour on foot in a day. Outside this area you will mainly encounter only sheep, goats and shepherds.

Kassos has two old monasteries to explore - Ayios Mamas has a particularly remote and dramatic location, perched vertiginously on the mountain above the sea.

Foreign tourism has made little impact on Kassos. For those who recall visiting the smaller Greek islands 30 years ago, this welcoming traditional island will bring back memories of how things used to be!