Zia Sunset

  congratulations Fiona Zia is beautiful the views are breathtaking, lovely shops with something a bit different to sell, i bought a hand painted scene for a friend now it is in a frame its stunning, it cost me £15.00 bargin. If you have a hire car DONT go through Kardemena to get to Zia, FRIGHTENING the sheer drop is to much when you look out side the passenger side. Go straight up the main road going to kos town and you will see sign posts to turn right. A much wider road and safer way have fun

this place will always be special to me as my now fiancee proposed to me there last week. the view was lovely and really romantic

Zia sunset was the most beautiful thing me and my family have ever seen we so the sun set on our way to the greek night bet iv your thinking  of going to see the sun set you'll love it

Went to see the sunset whilst we were in Kardamena in May this year. We found a lovely restaurant called Olympia - Pass the shops as you get off the bus and as you get past turn up the sharp right and up the little hill only one restauant which is on left hand side. The man who runs it is really friendly and the food was lovely. I had a greek plate starter which was more like a main meal in some of the other places and was really lovely. Next I had goat with rice and there was such a lot I could not finish it, unfortunately. My partner, who was not feeling too good that day, had a special omelette which came with real chips and salad. We had 2 carafes of wine each and the bill came to 34 euros which we thought was extremely good for what we had. Before we left the owner insisted we had a complimentary Metaxa which I would never turn down - Thankyou.

The most exciting place in Kos island is Zia. I found the village as an incredible experience . I really enjoyed my dinner at Taverna Oromedon (recommendation by locals) and I bought my souvenirs , all Greek hand made staff from Delfis shop  the first tourist shop at your right hand side near by Oromedon. This shop is an artistic studio since  the lady who is the owner of Defis is making a lot of nice ceramic or wooden stuff  in front of you , signed by Delfis !!!!!. This shop was really different . All the other shops were full of Chinesse stuff with Greek motives, sold as "made in Greece".

We had a really nice evening in Zia. The restraunt was wonderful family run plce really freindly staff, great food, lovely roof terrace ( can not remember name but is on right hand side just before the end of town). Zia itself was charming bought spices, honey, and bath mat. The sunset was not spectacular but you can not order mother nature! Had a wonderful evening.

We went during the day and it was fairly quiet. We found it very pleasant wandering around and buying spices etc. The views were beautiful and great for photos. I don't think I would be too keen on it in the high season. We didn't stay for the sunset and as it turned out, it failed to materialise anyway.

Just to be different ... Zia over-developed and over-crowded ... too many souvenir shops with the same stuff. Better views/sunsets if you hire a jeep and go to the south west corner of the island towards Agios Iannis. Or go 'off road' down hill from Zia towards Asklepeion ...

We arrived by hire car quite late and found all the parking gone and coaches double parked on the main street. We drove to the far end of the village and mistook the Ayli Taverna for the recommended Aveli Taverna., but they did have reserved car parking. They were turning people away if they weren’t eating there, so we agreed to come back to eat to secure our parking place.
We then wandered through the village and pottered among the various stalls that were set out in the street creating a special kind of atmosphere. We returned to the Ayli and took up a table on their roof terrace. The view from the roof has to be the best bit of the Taverna – the food and service was certainly a let down. The waiter placed a paper table cloth over a dirty table for us. Our daughter spilled her drink of lemonade on the paper table cloth, but they did not do anything to help and when the food arrived they put it down on top of the wet table. The food was adequate, but nothing special. A short time later a coach party arrived and filled the place up, and confirmed in my mind that they were trading on their location rather than their food or service. Nevertheless, fantastic views, but the dramatic sunset failed to materialise and instead we had just a very average one. If we were to return we would try to arrive earlier and eat at the first taverna on the right into the village.

The sunset is not to be missed - a truly spectacular and moving sight.
We visited Zia three times during our two weeks. The Greek night excursion fills the place up for a short while most evenings up to around 8 o'clock, which spoils the atmosphere a bit. If you arrive at around 8 the place starts to get a bit quieter and you can get a real feel for the place. The restaurant first on the right as you enter the village is excellent, and very cheap. Its favoured by greek people as we visited on a Saturday evening and it felt like everyone was greek ther except us. It has stunning views over the north side of the island too ( go to the highest terrace).
Highly recommended!!

Zia was one of the nicest places we visited during our stay in Kos town. We hired a car and drove here one night. Very scary mountain roads to drive up to get there, but well worth it. Everyone stood along a big wall on the edge of the mountain and looked out at the sunset across the sea. You could also sit and watch it from the roof terraces in the restaurants. All seemed to have the tables set out so that you can see the view. One of the best meals we had was in a restaurant in Zia. Lots of nice little shops to look around as well. Not very many places to park though if you are driving so best to get there fairly early. A Greek wedding was taking place the night that we went, which may of made it slightly busier.

Well worth a visit. Only a few resteraunts get a good view of the sunset, so go early to get a good seat.

Nice village, sunset is good but comes and goes so quick we saw it when we went on the greek night.

Have to go here! beautiful sunset and an enchanting village. Have a quiet meal in a rooftop garden and watch the sunset,Pure bliss!

Really lovely, went for a greek night here with greek dancing music and food. Really wonderful night!

Zia is lovely and it's only about 10 mins in a taxi from Tingaki. I
was there last week and went up to Zia for dinner. The best
restaurant, in my opinion, is the one with the terrace right at the
edge of Zia so you have an uninterrupted view of the sunset.
Plus the food is pretty good and not expensive. You have to ask
the restaurant to book you a taxi back and it sometimes takes a
while which is good because you can have a look around the
shops. The little jewellry shop is my favourite and I've bought
something in there everytime I've been to Zia. Long comment but
Zia is my favourite place in Kos!

i took my boyfriend there on the night of his birthday. we shopped around for a bit and had dinner in one of the wonderful resturants up on the top of the island. the sunset was beautiful and i would most definalty recommend it to anyone visiting the island.

Resplendant..... a true work of art!

a lovely village, very pituresque and typically greek. unfortunately the sunset cant always be relied on and on the evening we went it never materialised. would not advising booking with reps for this reason, however good gift shops and nice restaurants

beautiful villiage, beautiful sunset

Is Zia easy to get to from Psalidi, by bus? Approx how long does it take, and do the buses run late coming back?

Everyone talked about the Zia sunset and how beautiful it was, you expect some things to be overated but this was not. We watched what can only be described as a spectacular sight whilst eating the best meal we had on our holiday at the Aveli Taverna. Well worth a trip into the hills

How long does it take to get too zia from kefalos?is it too far to travel?are there buses that can take you there?

Went to Zia late morning, absolutely crammed with coaches so we could hardly move. Went back next morning at about 0900 hrs and much nicer and quieter. As for the sunset, as an alternative try going over to Ayios Theologlu (if staying near Kefalos) and watch the sunset from there - we did and it was superb.

i recommend everyone to go up to Zia,the 39 hair needles curves is outastanding and to see the sunset over there is something just amazing.
I can also recommend you to visit Maria that is an old very nice woman that sell spices,this is a must when you go to Zia.
And watch the local dance in the restaurant.The service is great,food is too delicious,and dancer is professional and dont let you sit still,they take you with them in their dance so enjoy and feel the generosity of the very friendly hellenics.When you went there once you always want to go back.
so from us i can only say euxaristo para poli,file

IF YOU GO TO ZIA YOU MUST VISIT THE AVELI TAVERNA THE FOOD IS VERY GOOD AND ITS THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE FOUND WHO OFFER A TRADITIONAL MEZE. MICHAEL WILL MEET AND GREET YOU WITH ENTHUSIASM AND YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPPOINTED. THE VIEWS FROM THE ROOF GARDEN ARE SPECTACULAR AND THE SUNSET IS AMAZING YOU WILL BE OFFERED BINOLCULARS TO VIEW THE SURROUNDING AREA AND THE ROAD LEADING INTO TINGAKI. ITS A MUST FOR ANY VISITOR TO ZIA, ENJOY.

we are thinking of going to kos next year in july maybe to tingaki but heard it can be a breezy island is it true. has anyone stayed at the irini II studios and apartments in tingaki might stay there. many thanks.

IF YOU ARE LUCKY TO SEE THE SUNSET ON THE SALT LAKES ITS AMAZEING IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THE SALT CRYSTALS ARE ON FIRE ITS WICKED IF YOU GO TO THE GREEK NIGHT UP THERE TRY AND TAKE YOUR OWN WINE THE WINE UP THERE IS NOT VERY NICE ITS SO CHEAP THAT THEY GIVE IT TO YA FOR FREE AND YOU CAN DRINK AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE SO DONT DRINK IT IT NASTY

Zia was great, Great views and great little Shops! also liked Tigaki beach...very quiet and Kardamena Beach was nice and clean!

ZIA is a nice place to visit, whilst you are there try the OROMEDON TRADITIONAL TAVERNA with a roof top terrace which has panoramic views of KOS. ( Apart from the electricty wires ) in front of you. On Sundays they serve their specialty - Roast GOAT - it is served the traditional way with wild rice. The put it in the clay oven on Saturday evening and it cooks over night and is ready from about 11.30.am. It is mainly local people, but I enjoed it. Goat is similar to Lamb in texture but a lot less fatty.

Zia is supossed to be a Traditional Greek Village, but if you look on it as a giant souvenir shop, you won't be dissapointd. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my visits to ZIA, and then on over the mountain to PYLI and then to KARDAMENA and KEFELOS. ( If you have a 4 wheel drive you can take the off road dirt track from KOS town to PLATANI and then on to ZIA, you will get some great views.

ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS & MYSELF WHERE IN KEFALOS AT THE END OF AUGUST-BEGINING SEPTEMBER 2002 WE BOOKED THE ORGANISED GREEK NIGHT FROM OUR REP. IT WAS FANTASTIC, I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO GO ON IT, BUT DID COZ MY FRIEND WANTED TO. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS WE HAD IN KOZ. WE WHERE IN ZIA FOR THE SUNSET AND TOOK SOME GR8 PICS OF IT THE VIEW IS AMAZING. WE DID ONLY GET ABOUT 45MINS TO WALK AROUND ZIA BUT TO BE HONEST THERE'S ONLY SOME SMALL SHOPS AND RESTRAUNTS ANYWAY AND AS WE WHERE EATING AT THE GREEK NIGHT WE DIDNT NEED TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE FIRST. DEFINATELY WORTH GOING ID RECOMENT IT TO ALL.

ADAM 21 LIVERPOOL

Apart from Kefalos Zia is my favorite place on Kos. It's worth going too, it's like stepping back in time. The sunset is nice, but just get the sunset trip where you go and have a few hours there...although I have heard that the Greek Night is very good.

Sunset is worth seeing, and the views accross the island are spectacular. However, avoid the organised "Greek nights", it's much more fun to go there by car, or bus, spend as much time as you like in Zia, and choose your own place to eat. We saw three tour buses arrive up the mountain at great speed, their customers arrived too late for the sunset, and were given no more than 30 minutes in Zia before being herded into an industrial-sized taverna half way down the road with poor views! Most Tavernas in Zia offfered better value than expected, I can't remember the name of ours, but it was the first one on the left past the cattle grid as you enter the village. It was one of two or three with unobstructed views of the sunset.

We visit every year. The views are magnificent.

a friend who lives in kos took us to a lovely rooftop resteraunt we had a lovely meal and the sunset was nice but it went down quite quickly so we missed a lot of it

Don't bother paying £10 pound each to go on the evening tour to see the sunset in Zia. For 75p you can get a local bus and do the same thing!