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Karpathos

The second largest of the Dodecanese, but also one of the more isolated, Karpathos has found a wonderful balance between tourism and tradition. The vibrant capital and port, Pigadia has much to offer the visitor, with its own marina as well as hotels, shops, tavernas and bars open til 4am. Karpathos..... Read More

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The second largest of the Dodecanese, but also one of the more isolated, Karpathos has found a wonderful balance between tourism and tradition. The vibrant capital and port, Pigadia has much to offer the visitor, with its own marina as well as hotels, shops, tavernas and bars open til 4am. Karpathos also has many beautiful and un-crowded beaches, with Pigadia itself boasting 4km of sandy beach. Further south is popular Amopi, where larger Megali beach is busy with tavernas and a bar, whilst smaller Mikri beach offers a more tranquil getaway. To the north of the port are many stunning white sand beaches with crystal clear waters, some easier to get to than others, but none too busy. Highlights include Apella, Ahata, Kira Panagia and Agios Mina. The beaches in the south west, such as Argilopotamos, are generally windier and hence make a great spot for windsurfing. The island’s second largest village is Arkassa on the west coast, whose sandy but windy beach has shallow waters and waves and the nearby fishing village of Finiki is a must for its fresh seafood. Along the west coast and up into the hills are some very picturesque villages, and Menetes, Mesochori and Piles in particular are great places to watch the sunset. The rugged north of the island, away from any modern development, one can almost step back in time, with old-fashioned villages that have little foreign influence. The biggest of these is the truly charming Olympos, where centuries old traditions are preserved, from dress to musical instruments to festivals and several of the many windmills are still functional. Olympos can be reached by a long dirt road from the south or by boat into the northern port of Diafini and then a 20 minute bus ride. From Avlona, north of Olympos, one can hike to the extremely remote coastal village of Tristomo, which is not accessible by road and has no electricity or running water. An amazing insight into what life in Greece used to be like before the onset of tourism.




*Credit and thanks to Pastitio, Maesi64, Ufoncz, Frente and W. Zinke for the photos featured on this page. 

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