Second largest of the Dodecanese, volcanic Kos is also the most cultivated (with grapes, almonds, figs, olives) and one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean sea, thanks to immaculate, mostly sandy beaches, which stretch around half its 112km coastline. The Italian influence is still strong from the colonial period of 1912 to 1943, most obviously in the quirky art déco and rationalist public architecture built between 1927 and 1935 in Kos Town. Don’t miss its natural hot springs, or eating in one of the local ouzerís. During summer, bicycling is actively encouraged here, with a joined-up network of cycle lanes radiating away from the town, and cycle-hire shops rent out modern bikes for a tenner a day or less.