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Karpathos
Have you ever thought of packing your bags and taking a vacation to one of the most beautiful and authentic islands in the Aegean Sea? Surely, you have, because there are hundreds of them. While most people head to Rhodes or Kos in the Dodecanese Island chain, there is one special place you might not have heard about. Karpathos Island is a magical place with pristine natural beauty and traditional ways of life that make it one of the most interesting Greek islands to visit. Nestled halfway between the larger and more popular islands of Rhodes and Crete, Karpathos is more exposed to the meltemi winds in summer but much less to the tourist hordes. Celebrated for its wild mountains and blue coves, this long craggy island can be the best place in Greece, if you are looking for a relaxing holiday.
Karpathos Island is home to stunning and colorfoul beaches, quaint villages, ancient churches, and unique trekking paths that allow visitors to discover hidden beaches undiscovered by the tourist industry. But, one of the top attractions is the unspoilt mountain village of Olympos in the far north. Because is it so remote, its traditions remained untouched by the modern age, and even today many women, and some men, still wear traditional costumes. You can’t leave Karpathos without swimming at Apella, Achata and Kyra Panagia, meandering along the west coast, checking the ancient acropolis of Arkasa, and sailing to Saria islet on the northern part of Karpathos. Here is a complete travel guide with the best tips for an unforgettable vacation on this unique island.
Karpathos is a Greek island in the Dodecanese. It is the second largest of the Dodecanese Islands, located halfway between Rhodes and Crete.
The island of Karpathos has two ports: Pigadia and Diafani. The distance between Karpathos Island and the port of Piraeus in Athens is 227 nautical miles.
Homer calls the island Krapathos, with metathesis of two letters in the first syllable. Other names of the island include Tetrapolis and Anemoessa.
According to mythology, Karpathos is the mythological homeland of the Titan Iapetus, the birthplace of Proteus, and the childhood home of Athena.
Facts and numbers about the place. Get a quick view of the number of beaches, sights, footpaths and events.
Wondering what to do and what to see? The team of ALLOVERGREECE put together a list of must-see destinations and top-rated tourist attractions to help you make the most of your travel itinerary, so be sure to refer often to our list of the top tourist attractions.
Find local recipes and local products. Try the local cuisine, discover the greek food and find local products to buy.
HOW TO GET AROUND KARPATHOS | Car Rental, Bus. Taxi, Boats, Scooter / ATV
Karpathos is one of those islands you will need a car to fully explore. There is really no other way to see the island as there is very limited or no buses at all. Driving in Karpathos is moderately difficult. For the most part, roads are nicely paved, but once you get into the mountains and more secluded parts of the island, you will need to navigate narrow and winding mountainous roads, where the available space is not even enough for two cars wide in many places. Also, some of the roads down to some of the most remote beaches are unpaved and steep. The hairiest is definitely the route from Pigadia to Olympos, where you have to pay extra attention in order to stay safe. We recommend, driving in Karpathos only if you have sufficient experience driving on mountain roads, and self-confidence. To be able to legally drive in Greece, you need to have an international driver’s license, if you are not an EU citizen.
If you are not keen on driving, there is no problem, as Karpathos has a local bus line. All buses head to Pigadia, the capital town of the island, but buses are very infrequent in Karpathos. In low season, there is usually one bus per day, and only to some of the villages on the island. To travel more comfortable, you could take advantage of the local taxis. They are rather expensive, so you’ d better check the cost first. If you stay in Pigadia, you can take a boat to get to some of the most stunning beaches around the island island as well as to some of the neighboring islands.
Tips: Travel always with the full tank; in the small towns, you will not find any fuel pumps. If you rent a scooter, choose one that has a good fuel range, and higher to 100cc, as the island is rocky and mountainous. Bear in mind, that many mountain roads do not have any kind of barriers, so make sure that you pay extra attention when driving on these roads.
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