Karpathos
Pigadia, the beaches of the east coast, Olympos village in the mountains, and the kitesurfing bays of the south.
Karpathos is the second-largest Dodecanese island, sitting between Rhodes and Crete — remote enough that it has escaped mass tourism and retained a genuinely traditional character. The northern village of Olympos is the most authentic in Greece: women still wear traditional dress daily, and locals speak a dialect closer to ancient Greek than modern Greek. The beaches — Apella, Kyra Panagia, Diakoftis — are among the most beautiful in the Aegean, and far less crowded than equivalents on more famous islands.
Getting there
Domestic airport with summer international charters — Olympic, Sky Express. Ferries from Piraeus take 17–20h overnight (2–3× weekly) — most travellers fly via Athens or Rhodes.
Read full route
Tip: Direct charter flights from Europe in summer — skip Athens entirely.
When to Visit
Karpathos is the long mountain island between Rhodes and Crete — Olympos village preserves traditional dress, embroidery and dialect from before the modern Greek state existed. The Olympos panigiri on August 15 is among the most authentic in Greece. Best general: June and September. October is ideal for hiking the mountain spine.
4-day itinerary for Karpathos
Day 1: Pigadia & the Near Beaches
- 09:00 · Pigadia
The capital and main port — a modern working town on a natural harbour. Not beautiful in a Cycladic sense but authentic and welcoming. Rent a car at the port — essential on Karpathos. - 10:00 · Archaeological Museum
Small but excellent museum with finds from the island's long Minoan, Mycenaean and Classical history. - 12:30 · Amopi Beach
Series of small sandy coves south of Pigadia — calm, shallow, family-friendly. The closest good beach to the airport and the town. - 15:30 · Kyra Panagia
One of the most beautiful beaches in the Aegean — fine white pebble and electric turquoise water beneath steep green cliffs. A 5-minute walk from the small car park. Worth the drive. - 20:30 · Return to Pigadia
Drive back to Pigadia from the east coast (about 25 minutes from Kyra Panagia). The waterfront tavernas in town are the social hub in the evening — fresh fish off the boats, shaded tables.
Day 2: Apella & the East Coast
- 10:00 · Apella Beach
The finest beach in the Aegean according to many rankings — white pebbles, electric turquoise water, pine forest sloping down to the sea. The view from the road above, before you descend, is extraordinary. Arrive before 11am. - 13:00 · Achata Beach
Another exceptional east-coast beach — white pebbles and emerald water in a sheltered cove. Small snack bar, sunbeds. Combines well with Apella and Kyra Panagia for an east-coast beach tour. - 15:30 · Othos Village
Highest village on the island — traditional mountain settlement with the best wine on Karpathos (sweet, dark red). Several tavernas offer wine tastings. - 20:00 · Return to Pigadia
Drive back down from the mountain villages to Pigadia (about 30 minutes from Othos). The cobbled descent through the pine forest is part of the experience.
Day 3: Olympos — The Traditional North
- 09:00 · Drive to Olympos
The drive to Olympos is one of the most dramatic in Greece — a winding mountain road crossing the spine of the island. Allow 2 hours from Pigadia. The scenery is extraordinary. - 11:00 · Olympos Village
The most authentic traditional village in Greece — women wear traditional dress daily, locals speak an ancient Doric dialect, and the village architecture is unchanged since medieval times. Extraordinary and unmissable. - 13:30 · Lunch — Olympos Taverna
Try the village food — makarounes (homemade pasta with cheese and onions), local goat and the excellent Olympos bread. The oven bakery in the village is the last of its kind. - 16:00 · Diafani Harbour
The port below Olympos — a small harbour village that serves as the base for boat trips to Saria island. Quiet, atmospheric, with good tavernas. Stay overnight here. - 17:30 · Apella Beach (east-coast swim)
On the drive back from Diafani to Pigadia, Apella is the unmissable stop — repeatedly named among the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Pine-backed cove, crystalline turquoise water, white pebbles and fine sand. The hour spent here is the headline image of any Karpathos trip; bring water and a sunshade since facilities are minimal. - 21:30 · Return to Pigadia
Long drive back from the north (about 1.5 hours from Diafani). The road winds through Spoa and the coastal villages — late afternoon light is spectacular over the Aegean. Most people stop at Apella viewpoint on the way down.
Day 4: Kitesurfing Bays & Departure
- 09:30 · Saria Island Boat Trip
The uninhabited island north of Karpathos — boat trips from Diafani include beautiful beaches, an abandoned medieval village and Byzantine church ruins. Half-day trip. - 14:00 · Arkassa Beach
Sandy beach on the southwest coast — consistent winds make it one of the best windsurfing beaches in Europe. The PWA World Cup is held here. Good for non-surfers in the morning before the wind picks up. - 17:30 · Karpathos Airport/Port — Departure
Ferry to Piraeus, Rhodes, or Crete. Karpathos has an airport with flights from Athens and Rhodes.
Top beaches of Karpathos
Apella Beach
Consistently ranked among the finest beaches in the Aegean — white pebbles and electric turquoise water in a sheltered cove below pine-covered cliffs. The view from the road above before descending is as dramatic as Myrtos on Kefalonia. Quieter than any comparable beach in the Cyclades.
- Type
- White pebble
- Length
- 300 m
- Depth
- Medium — deep, crystal clear turquoise water
- Wind protection
- East-facing — mostly sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); can be choppy on the strongest NE days
- Facilities
- Basic: one small taverna, limited sunbeds. Short walk from the road.
Kyra Panagia Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in the Aegean — a small sandy-pebble cove beneath sheer green-covered cliffs, with a whitewashed chapel on the rocks. The water colour is extraordinary. Accessible by a steep drive or by boat from Pigadia.
- Type
- Fine white pebble
- Length
- 200 m
- Depth
- Medium — deep, clear water
- Wind protection
- East-facing — mostly sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); can be choppy on the strongest NE days
- Facilities
- Basic: one small taverna, chapel above the beach.
Achata Beach
A beautiful sheltered cove on the east coast with white pebbles and remarkably green-tinted water. Combines perfectly with Apella and Kyra Panagia for a day's east-coast beach tour. Much quieter than the more famous beaches.
- Type
- White pebble and sand
- Length
- 250 m
- Depth
- Medium — emerald-green water
- Wind protection
- East-facing — mostly sheltered from the meltemi (the summer N/NE wind); can be choppy on the strongest NE days
- Facilities
- Basic: small snack bar, limited sunbeds.