Ikaria

Ikaria is an island of wild beauty in the Northeast Aegean Sea. It is famous for its relaxed vibes, as well as the longevity of its inhabitants. On this page, you will find useful information and tips about vacation in Ikaria, the best beaches, its famous villages, the local food, popular activities, the ecstatic panigiria and the available ferry schedules.

Crystal blue sea at the beach of Mesakti in Ikaria.

Vacation in Ikaria

Ikaria is an ideal destination for nature lovers. It has a variety of landscapes such as forests and rivers, sandy beaches with rolling waves as well as peaceful coves, gorges, hot springs, rare flowers and trees.

If you are looking for a peaceful break from city life, then Ikaria is definitely the place to be. The island is renowned for its relaxed vibes, as well as its delicious local products that are part of the healthy lifestyle of its inhabitants. A few years ago The Guardian named Ikaria “the island of long life” as it has the longest life expectancy in Greece.

Vacation in Ikaria can be relaxing and calm, but also ecstatic. The island is famous for its panigiria, the traditional festivals that usually mark local religious holidays and involve food, drink, folk music, and a lot of dancing until the early morning hours. 

How to get to Ikaria

You can travel by ferry to Ikaria from the port of Piraeus in Athens in about 7 hours as well as from the port of Kavala in northern Greece in about 17 hours. You can also easily get to Ikaria from the neighboring island of Samos in approximately 2 hours. 

What to do in Ikaria

Ikaria is a great destination for both summer and winter holidays. The island is ideal for outdoor activities, it has beautiful beaches and villages. We suggest that you rent a car in order to discover the nature, monuments and numerous sights of the island. Here are the best holiday tips for Ikaria: 

Beaches in Ikaria

Ikaria has a variety of beaches to choose from. The coast of the island is diverse, with endless sandy beaches, rocks and wild landscapes, coves with white sand and turquoise waters, or small bays surrounded by forests. Here are some of the most beautiful beaches in Ikaria:

• Seychelles: One of the most impressive beaches in Ikaria. A small bay with high white cliffs, white sand and turquoise waters. The access to the beach is through a trail of medium difficulty, and we recommend carrying with you all the necessary supplies as the beach is secluded. 
• Mesakti: One of the most popular beaches in Ikaria.A long beach, with fine golden sand and clear blue waters. Ideal for surfing, it also has umbrellas, sunbeds and a beach bar.
• Livadi: Busy beach with easy access, golden sand and crystal blue waters. It has umbrellas, sunbeds, canteen and several restaurants within walking distance. It’s great for families as well as for water sports.
• Nas: Beautiful small bay with sand and small pebbles. It is located at the mouth of river Halaris and you will be impressed by the dense vegetation behind the beach. The scenery on the beach of Nas is captivating, and you can also find here are the ruins of the temple of Artemis of Tavropolo. Keep in mind that when it blows a north wind the waves can be big and need extra attention. Also, the currents in Nas can be dangerous sο be careful when swimming. On the beach, you might meet campers and nudists.
• Armenistis: One of the most popular beaches of Ikaria, located next to a beautiful fishing village of the same name. It has golden sand, turquoise waters as well as amazing tavernas and traditional kafeneia within close distance. From the beach, you can also rent a canoe and explore the coast. 
• Kyparissi: Large beautiful beach with golden sand and crystal blue waters. It has quite easy access and it’s perfect for quiet time away from the crowds. 
• Prioni: A beautiful small cove with high rocks, sand and impressive turquoise waters. The beach is accessible by a relatively difficult trail and it’s ideal for those seeking seclusion.

Tip: Since many of the beaches of Ikaria are only accessible on foot (usually you can leave your vehicle nearby), it is good to have suitable shoes or hiking sandals for walking on rough terrain.

Quiet sunny day at the beach of Nas in Ikaria.

Sightseeing in Ikaria

Ikaria took its name from the myth of Icarus, the son of Daedalus, who fell into the sea after his wax wings melted from the sun. In fact, there is a rock in the sea, near the village of Chrysostomos in the area of Agios Kirykos, "The Rock of Icarus" that according to the myth, is the point where Icarus fell. Apart from the impressive natural sights and landscape, Ikaria has numerous archaeological sites, castles, lighthouses and towers that we recommend exploring. Here are our favorite sights to visit in Ikaria: 

• The ancient Thermal Springs, in the village of Therma.
• The Stone Houses in Maganitis.
• The Archaeological Museum of Kambos.
• The temple of Artemis of Tavropolo in Nas.
• The Castle of Koskina in the area of Evdilos. 
• The monoliths and megalithic monuments in Drakanos. 

Food in Ikaria

In Ikaria, you will relax, dance and eat great food! The island has a rich gastronomic tradition and delicious local products. We recommend tasting the following:

• Wine from Ikaria
• Goat stew or grilled
• Kathura cheese
• Kolokasi (sweetpotato)
• Fresh fish
• Honey
• Olive Oil 
• Spoon sweets

Villages in Ikaria

We recommend visiting the villages of Ikaria to taste the local delicacies and the wine of the area, as well as to get to know the Ikarian lifestyle. Both the coastal and the mountainous settlements of Ikaria will charm you with their beauty. Some of our favorite villages in Ikaria::

• Gialiskari
• Armenistis
• Magganitis
• Therma
• Karkinagri
• Chrysostomo
• Lagkada
• Akamatra
• Arethousa
• Kastanies
• Christos Rachon

Tip: The picturesque mountain village of Christos Rachon is famous for its working hours and perception of time. Forget the typical daily routines! Life in this village starts at night, while during the day almost everything is closed. This is also why Christos Rachon is popular for a late night out.

Activities in Ikaria

Ikaria is a great destination for outdoor activities and water-sports. Here are a few popular ways to spend your time in Ikaria: 

• Surfing
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Diving
• Mountain climbing
• Canoe kayak
• Sailing
• Thermal baths

The panigiria of Ikaria

If you choose Ikaria for your summer vacation, you should definitely go to one of the numerous panigiria! The traditional festivals of Ikaria usually take place in beautiful locations, for example in forests, in village squares, in the seaside or in the yard of small churches. The feast and live music often last until the early morning hours and the atmosphere is ecstatic. Whether you know the dance steps or not, the experience will surely be unforgettable!

The most famous panigiri in Ikaria is that of the 15th of August in the village of Lagkada, which starts in the morning and lasts almost 24 hours. It is also worth going to the festival in Magganitis, which often coincides with the August full moon and the scenery is breathtaking. 

 The fishing village of Armenistis in Ikaria. 

Useful info and travel tips for Ikaria

Ikaria has 2 ports: Agios Kirykos on the south side and Evdilos on the north side of the island. The distance between the two ports is about 1 hour by car. In both settlements, you will find ATMs, supermarkets, banks and gas stations. In Agios Kirykos there are also pharmacies as well as the General Hospital of Ikaria. In Evdilos you will also find a medical center. The island is served by a small airport, located on the northeast side of the island, at a distance of 20 minutes drive from Agios Kirikos and 1-hour drive from Evdilos.

The bus services of Ikaria serve the two ports, the airport as well as some of the large villages, such as Armenistis or Christos Rachon. 

The island has long distances and to be able to navigate easily we suggest that you bring your vehicle or rent one there. If you are in a social mood you can always try hitchhiking as it’s a very popular method of transportation in Ikaria.

Important phone numbers for your holidays in Ikaria

• Port Authority Agios Kirykos: +30 2275022207
• Port Authority Evdilos: +30 2275031007
• Ikaria General Hospital (Agios Kirykos):+30: 2275350200, +30 2275350211
• Ikaria Medical Center (Evdilos): +30 2275033038
• Municipality of Ikaria: +30 2275350401, +30 2275350420
• Ikaria Bus Services: +30 2275032745, +30 2275071451
• Ikaria National Airport: +30 2275032216

Beautiful sunrise colors at the beach of Mesakti. 

Ferry schedules and tickets to Ikaria

Ikaria is located in the northeast Aegean Sea, west of the islands of Fourni and Samos. The island is regularly connected by ferry to mainland Greece and primarily the port of Piraeus. The ferry connection of Ikaria with northern Greece is served by the port of Kavala. More specifically:

• The route Piraeus - Ikaria has frequent ferry crossings all year round. The journey takes from 6.5 to 10.5 hours depending on the vessel and the itinerary.
• The ferry connection of Kavala - Ikaria is served by 2 weekly sailings. The journey from Kavala to Ikaria lasts around 16.5 hours.

Tip: Ferries that travel from Athens or Kavala to Ikaria usually have a garage, so you can transfer your vehicle. We also suggest that you book a bed cabin for a more comfortable journey since the ferry trip to Ikaria can be long (especially if you are departing from northern Greece).

Island hopping from Ikaria

Ikaria is a great starting point for island hopping! From its 2 ports, you can travel by ferry to the islands of the North Aegean, as well as the Dodecanese and the Cyclades. 

There are direct ferry routes from Ikaria to the following ports:

• Samos
• Chios
• Fournoi
• Patmos
• Leipsoi
• Leros
• Lemnos
• Rhodes
• Symi
• Tilos
• Kalymnos
• Kastelorizo
• Kos
• Nisyros
• Mykonos
• Tinos
• Syros

If you are overwhelmed by how many islands you can travel to from Ikaria, don't worry! You can see all ferry connections from and to the ports of Ikaria on Ferryhopper's Map of ferries. Organizing your island hopping in Greece can be fast and easy!

Where to book ferry tickets to Ikaria

Book ferry tickets for Ikaria online on Ferryhopper and get the best prices for your summer vacation on the Greek islands. Find all the available ferry schedules and sailings, compare prices and choose the most convenient travel itinerary to/from Ikaria in just 4 clicks!