Ikaria Greece | tourist holiday travel guide

   

IKARIA lies at the very southern tip of the Aegean group of Greek islands just south west of Samos and off the Turkish coast. Since ancient times, Ikaria has been known for it's dark red wine, its thermal springs, and the legend of Icarus. It is a relatively large Greek island and recently unfairly neglected by both the Greek government and the tourist industry.
Ikaria is not immediately appealing to many visitors. A long mountain mass projects out into the Aegean towards Mykonos and catches the full force of the scouring meltemi wind in the summer. Steep mountain slope plunge into the sea and the long coastline has few sheltered bays or good harbours.
For the general tourist it holds only a minority interest. The landscape is rugged and the villages unkempt and there are only a handful of good beaches. But the island has its adherents, particularly those who prefer not to join the mainstream and the best beaches compare with any in the Greek islands. If you are looking for somewhere off the beaten track and a taste of authentic old world Greece with few concessions to tourism then Ikaria could well be worth a visit.

Overview

Thasos Ikaria is known for its health spas to the east and west of the main port of Agios Kirikos. These attract Greeks in their thousands but very few foreigners.
Thasos Ikaria had a reputation as a 'hippie' island some years ago with most colonising the area around Armenistis, no doubt attracted by the island's relative isolation.
Thasos Ikaria has been used on several occasions as a place of exile, most recently under the military Junta which banished 13,000 communists there.
Thasos The sheer, rugged, and sparsely vegetated southern half of Ikaria is separated from the flatter north by the narrow Atheras mountain range. There is an abundance of fine quality slate used construct traditional terraces of many villages.
Thasos The development of the harbour at Agios Kirikos and an airport link to Athens have done much to open up the island to visitors in recent years.

 

 

 

Aegean map

     
       
    Blue Flag beach icon
Kirikis Ikaria   Agios Kirikos  

 

Archaeological Museum - Free
Daily 10am-3pm
except Mon, Thu

  Agios Kirikos is the island's main port and administrative centre in the south east. Though pleasant enough town and well provided with trees and gardens it is not what the visitor would call picturesque. Many of the the buildings are relatively new and have a drab utilitarian air. Most visitors are here to book ferry tickets or catch the island bus. To the east of the ferry quay is a small strip of stone and pebbles used more for beaching fishing boats than for sunbathing or relaxing. In the summer water taxis shuttle visitors to the island's mineral hot springs at Therma.
About 1km west, just past a couple of night clubs is Tsoukala beach, popular with the local youngsters. Its a pebble and rock beach with plenty of shade and a cafe bar. A little further west if Xilosirtis beach, a strip of rock and pebble with a small cantinas during the summer. About 1km east of Agios Kirkos on the coastal road to Therma is the secluded sand and pebble cove at Prioni. Access to Prioni is down a very steep pebble path.
Ag Kirikos
Agios Kirikos
     
Therma Ikaria   Therma  
    The resort at Therma is much prettier than its neighbour Agios Kirikos. The resort is set in a narrow rock cove with a row of cafes along the shore shaded by attractive tamarisk trees. They look out over a small, quiet beach of sand and pebble which stretches out from a small quay. There are half a dozen or so hotels in the compact village which appears totally deserted out of season but overrun in the summer by visitors to the local hot mineral springs. A 10 minute walk east from the beach leads to the ruins of ancient Therma. the path is way marked from the hilltop Agriolykos Pension. The natural hot mineral spring runs into the sea forming a small pool where you can enjoy the thermal waters while bathing. Therma
Therma
     
Faros ikaria   Faros  
    The coastal resort of Faros lies at the eastern tip of the island and, as a result of a new road having been built to the nearby airport has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, particularly with those living in Agios Kirikos who enjoy it as a weekend retreat. The sand and pebble beach runs the full length of the village and curves around the headland at the eastern tip of the island. The resort now has several tavernas and a cafes. Windsurfing is very popular here and there are rooms to for rent behind the beach. A track north from Faros leads tother remote Iero beach. The deep cove has some interesting rock formations making it ideal for snorkelling. There are no facilities there Faros
Faros
     
Evlidos Ikaria   Evlidos  
    Evlidos is the main north coast port of Ikaria. It can be reached from Agios Kirikos along the island's one main road that climbs steeply over the scrub covered mountain ridge to the more attractive terraced slopes of the north coast. Evlidos is a pleasant enough little port with cafes around the harbour. There is a small and quiet sand and stone beach near the port but it is seldom visited except by the locals. There are no facilities on the beach. Better beaches can be found within walking distance both east and west. The better beaches are to the west with a series of good sandy stretches but visitors are warned of dangerous currents along this stretch of coast and care must be taken when swimming.

Evdilos
Evlidos

Evdilos

     
Kampos Ikaria   Kampos  

 

Kampos Museum - Free
Daily 10am - 3pm

  Just west of Evlidos is the village and beach at Kampos. Theis was once the ancient capital of Ikaria when it was known as Oino. There are ruins nearby of a Roman Odeon of Ancient Oenoe which was once used to stage musical and theatrical productions. The beach itself is a long and solitary sandy beach. Bamboo grows right up to the water's edge fed by the fresh water river that runs through the plain at the back of the beach. There is a snack-bar here in the summer and a popular bar and club above the sands. The nearby village has an excellent museum with more than 250 exhibits from Neolithic tools to carved headstones. There are rooms for rent, restaurants, a village mini-market and a cafe. Kampos
Kampos
     
Messakti   Gialiskaris & Messakti  
    On the coast road west of Evidos and just before the resort at Armentistis are a could of god beach settlements. The village of Gialiskaris is also home to a huge white sand beach with waters as clear and blue as the Caribbean. At the end of the beach, a traditional Greek Orthodox church sits at the end of an outcrop of rock, its whitewashed walls a perfect contrast to the blue backdrop of the ocean. There is a small lagoon at the eastern end of the beach, a cantina and sun beds.
On the other side of the headland is another excellent sand beach at Messakti. Like its neighbour there is a huge swathe of golden sand and clear water, though signs warn swimmers of dangerous currents out to sea. There are umbrellas and loungers for hire and a several waterfront cantinas serving refreshments and light meals. Informal volleyball games are often in the afternoons and body surfing on the waves is usually possible.

Gialiskari
Gialiskari

Messakti beach
Messakti

     
Livadi Ikaria   Livadi  
    Livadi beach is just east of Messakti and another stretch of beautiful golden sand. The setting is made even more attractive by a freshwater lagoon behind the beach which adds lush vegetation to the scene. On the beach there are umbrellas and loungers for hire, as well as a waterfront cantina. Above the beach along the main road are a variety of restaurants and rooms to rent.

Livadi
Livadi


     
Amrenistis Ikaria   Armenistis  
    Armenistis is one of the more popular resort on Ikaria for tourists thanks to the necklace of good nearby beaches described above. The village consists of clusters of newish and well restored old houses overlooking fishing boats and a small patch of beach. Some hotels have grown up recently and the resort is a pleasant mix of traditional Greek village and modern tourist resort. There is a small museum of Ikarian art in the village.

Armentisis
Armenistis


     
Nas Ikaria   Nas  
    One of the most popular beach's on this island is known as Nas. The beach can be reached from Armenistis by a very attractive coastal walk. The small bay is enclosed by outcrops of rock that serves as natural protection from the open sea. The water in the area can still be affected by heavy swells though and a rope has been strung out for swimmers to grab if waves get too big. A small stream runs down to the sea where a small pebble bank has enough room for about 20 bathers. Nas is a favourite for nudists. Nas beach
Nas
     
Seychelles Ikaria   Seychelles  
    Seychelles beach is one of Ikaria's best kept secrets. The pebble, rock and sand beach huddles in a picturesque cove. It is rarely visited as it is far from other resorts on the south west coast about 25km from Agios Kirikos Access is down a steep path from the village of Manganitis. There are no facilities on the beach. Seychelles
Seychelles
     



   

Ikaria sights

     
Drakonos Ikaria   Drakanos watchtower  
    Drakanos tower is one of the best preserved examples of a military watchtowers from the Hellenistic period. The 44 ft high tower was built in the 4th century BC to watch sea traffic in the channel between Ikaria and Samos. In 1827 the Greek Navy used it for target practice and parts were damaged. Nearby is the chapel to Agios Giorgios and below the church is the remote sandy cove of the same name. Access to Drakano is along a dirt road out of Faros. It is a walk of about 15 minutes from where the road peters out. Drakanos
Drakanos watchtower
     
Koskina Ikaria   Koskina fortress  
    The fortress at Koskina was built in the 11th century on a mountain peak overlooking the village of Kosikia in the centre of Ikaria, about 30km from Evdilos. You can get there along a dirt road near Kosikia which forks from the main road from Agios Kikiros to Evdilos as it winds through a mountain pass. Inside the fortress is a chapel to Agios Giogios Dorganas. Koskina
Koskina fortress
     
Ikaria   Mountain villages  
    The wooded hills above Evlidos and Armenistis, like most of the island are dotted with hamlets and small villages. The main one and the one most easily reached by a rough road is Christons Rachon where there are splendid views. Ruins are present near some beaches of the island including Kambos. This sandy beach is next to the Roman Odeon of Ancient Oenoe which was once used to stage musical and theatrical productions. Other mountain villages worth a visit are Arethousa and Theokepasti where a small church has been hewn into the rock.

Arethousa
Arethousa mountain village

Theoskepasti
Theokepasti

     
Hot springs Ikaria   Hot springs  
    Ikaria has many hot mineral springs that are considered some of the best in the worlds for healing qualities. The island has been renowned since the 4th century BC as a centre for hydrotherapy. Therma is the main resort for organized hydrotherapy but there are several places along the islands's coastline where hot mineral springs flow into the sea and where it is possible for one to bathe. The main minerals of the springs are saline radium and radonium.
   



Map Ikaria  

IKARIA MAP

  Ikaria map
   



Weather Ikaria  

IKARIA WEATHER

 

 
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TEMP (C)
13 13 16 20 24 29 32 32 28 23 18 15 High
   
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC RAIN (ins
6 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 4 6 Avg
     
   
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC SUN (hrs)
4 6 7 7 9 10 11 11 10 9 7 5 Avg
   



Ikiaria Facts  

IKARIA FACTS

  Telephone +30 2275  
  Agios Kirikos
  • Police 022222
  • Pharmacy 022212
  • Doctor 031228
  • Port 022125
Evdilos
  • Police 031222
  • Pharmacy 041352
  • Doctor 031228
  • Port 031007
  
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Ikaria photos 

IKARIA PHOTO GALLERIES

  
  



 

IKARIA SITES

  A personal pick of websites on Ikaria
 
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A tourist survival guide to the Greek island of Ikaria