Things to do in Ikaria Island

As soon as you set foot in Ikaria, you realize that this is not a place to live in a hurry. The rush of “I must see this, I must go here” does not pass you by here. Because the island imposes its own rhythm on you: slow, peaceful and sincere. But of course there are plenty of things to do. Nature, culture and lots of fun. Here is what we did, what we have done, and maybe you would like to do the same...

Not to be missed if you come across a fair

First and foremost: If you are lucky enough to come across a fair, cancel whatever plans you have and go there. Because the fair is the heart of Ikaria. Organized by each village throughout the year, the festivities include dancing until the morning, sharing the island's famous red wine, and bringing everyone together, young and old. Luckily for us, we coincided with the Monokambi fair and danced until the morning. There really is something called life energy there, it's tangible.

Calm by day, lively by night: Christos Raches Village

One of the opposite corners of Ikaria is Christos Raches. It's a mountain village, but not an ordinary one. If you go during the day, the village is dead, the shops are closed, it's quiet. But in the evening, around 9 or 10 pm, life suddenly starts. Restaurants open, small shops and handicraft stalls are set up, music starts to play. The first time we went, it was daytime and we came back saying “Oh, there was nothing”. Luckily we gave it a second chance and I'm glad we did.

Sea Pleasure Mesahti or Seychelles?

Of course, the sea is a must. There are many beautiful beaches on the island but two stand out for us:

Mesahti Beach, very close to Armenistis. It is long, wide and clean. There are plenty of waves and surfers. It is perfect for lying on the beach, reading a book, sipping your coffee.

Seychelles Beach requires a little effort. After parking the car, it takes a 10-15 minute walk. The road is stony and a bit steep, but when you land on that beach, you realize that everything is worth it. It is like another world with its turquoise water and white rocks. There are no sunbeds or kiosks. But maybe a small boat will approach and shout “Water, beer, sandwich!” (It really happens.)

Watching Sunset in Nas, Saluting Artemis

Nas is a small beach, but the setting is different. On one side is a stream running through greenery, on the other the ruins of an ancient temple of Artemis. At sunset, the colors suddenly turn golden yellow and the top of the sea turns orange. It is enough just to sit there and watch. We also discovered a nice taverna right above, the view and the food were 10/10.

Magganitis and Karkinagri: Remote but Worth it

If you're up for a bit of a drive, you can also visit the quieter and more secluded villages of the island. Magganitis is like a place between big rocks. Its small harbor is very cute. Karkinagri is almost an otherworldly village. Quiet, isolated but so real. Time seems to have stopped in these villages; you are reminded of the simplicity of life.

Interesting Facts: Stone Houses, Pirate Stories

Even if you don't have a guide at some point while traveling around Ikaria, someone will surely tell you: “There were old houses here, without chimneys, without windows...” These were houses built to protect against pirates. Structures that did not look like houses from the outside, buried in the ground, hidden under trees. Very few of them are still standing from that period, but the story is still alive. We saw a few of them and they were impressive.

There are also Healthy Hot Springs...

We haven't tried it, but let's hear about it: Ikaria's thermal waters are also very famous. There are 8 different healing springs on the island. It is believed that these waters have an effect on the longevity of the elderly population. It is definitely on the list to try next time.

Yes, you can do all these. But perhaps the best thing is not to do any of them. Sitting on the beach and watching the sea, drinking tea quietly with the old people in the village café, walking on a path and getting lost. Ikaria can do that too. Because this is a place where you live by feeling, not by plan. It doesn't rush you, it doesn't direct you. It just says “be here”. And in this way, it is like no other place.

For accommodation suggestions, you can check our Ikaria Island Hotels page.