Mastichari, built in 1926, is a quaint little seaside village about 22 kilometers away from Kos town and roughly 6 kilometers away from the airport  on the Northern side of the island. Its little port offers frequent ferry service to Kalymnos the sponge island,  which is just opposite, about 7.8 nautical miles away. The trip takes 30 minutes or 55 minutes depending on the type of ferry you choose. 

The village is rather small in itself and is pretty much covered on foot in a very short time. The great thing about it is that it is quiet, children friendly and basically a fantastic place to calm down and relax while enjoying the weather and the beautiful beach. There are quite a few shops around and a few mini markets that should be able to cover all of your immediate needs. There are also quite a few restaurants and café/bars mostly along the shoreline where you can eat and drink in a completely laid back atmosphere while admiring the view. The locals are themselves easy going and that kind of adds to the cool mood. The good thing about the food is that most of the restaurants grow their own vegetables and use local products (meat, fish, seafood…), so the overall result is quite delicious. The café/bars are all lounge type of establishments and allow you to get rid of any stress you might have left. Last but not least, I should point out that there is no dress code whatsoever so you head for a refreshment straight from the beach…

For those who want to wander around and explore the region there is the Basilika of Saint John from then early Christian Period,   which you can visit at the end of the little road that goes along the shoreline. You can also take a walk in the area around the village as there are quite a few roads and trails available while a good idea would be to rent a bike and go off and explore the region….
One last thing, because of the location and orientation of the village the sunset is one of the best if not the best on the island.