Zia is an enchanting little village that lies at the base of Mount Dikaios, the highest mountain of Kos island, that culminates at 846m above sea level. The village has kept its traditional feel but has become one of the major tourist attractions of the island and is therefore often overcrowded especially around its main road, where the tourist shops are concentrated. I would basically advise you to take the time to walk to the upper edge of the village as I find that it is the most untarnished, original part and well worth the visit. It’s interesting to see how nature and man have learned to coexist in a very healthy symbiosis full of mutual respect. The village is engulfed in woods and the humidity (water rushing down the mountain is plentiful) produces a cooler atmosphere and makes Zia the ideal place to take refuge from the sweltering summer heat. The best plan, in my view, would be to get there in the early afternoon and work on your appetite by going on a walk in the woods full of fir trees or for the more adventurous among you climbing up to the top of Mount Dikaios where you can visit the little church. From the top, on clear days, the all around view is breathtaking as this is clearly amongst the greatest vantage points of the island: you can see deep into Turkey, admire the islands of Pserimos, Kalymnos on the one side and Nissyros on the other, just to name a few. Don’t get too carried away though as the path is a little treacherous and I would avoid going back down in the dark. Once you have come back to the village there are quite a few tavernas available and the food is generally quite good, but I would focus on finding the restaurant with the best view as the place is famous for its incredible sunsets… You can start off with a traditional ouzo to relax/recover and take in the astonishing colours that only the mingling sun and sea can bring together. You can then move on to mezedakia (assortment of different appetizers) have a main course if you so wish and finish off with a classic desert (ravani, galaktoboureko, kataifi, yoghurt with sweet fruit or tomato… depending on availability). I think you will end up agreeing that this was time well spent…
