A Greek island in the Dodecanese, known for its traditional mountain villages, white-sand beaches, and centuries-old folk customs still practiced by local residents.
Karpathos sits between Crete and Rhodes in Greece’s Dodecanese island chain. Sharp mountain ridges rise above villages like Olympos, where women still bake bread in outdoor ovens. Clear waters surround beaches such as Apella’s pebble shore and Diakoftis’ white sands near the airport. Unlike Santorini or Mykonos, this island keeps traditions alive through handmade pasta, local festivals like August 15th’s Panagias celebration, and dialects shaped by centuries of Venetian, Ottoman, and Italian rule. Summer visitors triple the population, but daily life continues in 11 villages where farmers tend terraced fields and fishermen repair nets by the harbors.
Coastal Areas and Swimming Spots
You’ll find beaches along the 160 km coastline. Apella on the southeast side has pebbles meeting pine-covered cliffs, with the 13th-century Agios Loukas Church visible above the shore. Near the airport, Diakoftis stretches as a curve of white sand facing shallow turquoise water. On the west coast, Lefgos Beach draws windsurfers with steady waves from open sea. For sheltered swimming, Finiki Bay’s small harbor has gentle currents. Boat tours from Pigadia reach northern spots like Saria Island, where stone ruins stand near empty coves.
Mountain Villages and Local Culture
Olympos sits on a northern mountainside. Women there wear embroidered dresses and bake bread in communal ovens. Windmills line the ridge above stone houses painted in bright blues and yellows. Pigadia, the port town, blends cafes along the waterfront with fragments of ancient walls near the harbor. Inland, Aperi village hides Byzantine churches among citrus trees, once a refuge from pirates. Diafani’s harbor north of Olympos serves grilled octopus in family-run tavernas. Don’t miss Mesochori’s stone pathways or Spoa’s terraced fields clinging to hillsides.
History and Outside Influences
Venetians built fortresses here in the 14th century before Ottoman rule began in 1538. Italian occupation from 1912 to 1948 left traces in architecture and local surnames like "Macheras." After WWII, many residents moved to New York, later returning to open guesthouses. You’ll hear English widely spoken in tourist zones. Explore Arkasa’s early Christian basilica with mosaic floors or dive near Diafani to see Vrykounda’s sunken Roman columns.
Trails, Water Sports, and Island Exploration
Walk the stone-paved trail from Olympos to Avlona village, passing abandoned shepherd huts and wild thyme. Climb Profitis Ilias mountain to a white chapel overlooking Pigadia’s bay. July and August winds make Makris Gialos Beach popular for windsurfing. Rent a car to drive the steep road to Olympos, but fill your tank first—the island has one gas station near the airport. Boats from Pigadia visit Saria Island’s ruins and beaches where goats wander freely.
Seasonal Celebrations and Markets
August 15th brings the Panagias festival, with lyre music and lamb roasted on spits in Olympos and Aperi. During May’s Saint Irene event, young women parade through Olympos in colorful dresses. September’s wine festival in Spoa offers local varieties with cheese and bread. Every summer weekend, Pigadia hosts open-air markets selling thyme honey, olive oil soap, and textiles woven on wooden looms.
Getting to the Island
Fly directly from Athens, Rhodes, or Crete to Karpathos Island National Airport, 16 km southwest of Pigadia. Summer charters arrive from Amsterdam and Munich. Ferries from Piraeus take 18 hours, while faster boats reach Rhodes in 3 hours or Sitia (Crete) in 4. Buses connect Pigadia to Olympos and major beaches, but renting a car or ATV helps reach Damatria’s secluded shore or Agios Nikolaos’ rocky coves.
