Ikaria
Ikaria is an island in the North Aegean Sea and one of the East Aegean Islands. Ikaria is west of Samos and south of Chios. Its capital is the town of Agios Kirikos. Tourism on Ikaria is unimposing for all and reflects an "Ikarian Balance" between nature, freedom, time, and development.
The island is world famous for being one of the five Blue Zones, places where people reach extraordinary high ages. The island has the highest population of people 90 years and older in the world.
Understand
The Hybrid Hydro-Electric Plant, an electricity generating plant combining wind and hydraulic power, was inaugurated in 2019. It will provide 50% of the island's electricity needs.
The population is about 8,400 (2010), with an area of 660 km².
Villages and small towns include:
- 🌍 Agios Kyrikos, the capital town, built on a hillside
- 🌍 Evdilos, the 2nd-biggest settlement, an intensely traditional village, also a main port town
- 🌍 Armenistis has pleasant beaches and the majority of accommodations
- 🌍 Magganitis
- 🌍 Karkinagri
- 🌍 Kato Raches
- Yaliskari
- Christos Raches, the village that comes alive at 20:00 when all the shops open.
Get in
By plane
Ikaria can be reached year round by air and has an airport, located on the south eastern part of the island, 12 km from Agios Kirikos village. There are flights directly from Athens by Olympic Air (c. 35 minutes) or Thessaloniki (with one stop at Lemnos), and from Crete during the summer via SkyExpress.
By boat
Ikaria has 2 harbours, Evdilos and Agios Kirikos. There are daily ferry rides from the island of Samos (c. 2½ hours). A weekly ferry via Nel Lines also runs in the summer connecting Ikaria to Limnos, Lesvos and Kavala. There are also ferries to Kos running several times per week.
Get around
You can bring a car using the boats, or you can rent one there. Bus services are infrequent. For example, services to Armenistis from Evdilos only run on alternate days. To explore the island, car or motorbike rental is necessary - although hitchhiking is really common for younger people to get around. There are several car rental companies in Armenistis, but in peak season you may have to reserve a hire car a few days in advance.
See
Beaches
For swimming, head to the beaches of:
- Faros. This sandy-pebble beach is a popular weekend getaway with ideal swimming waters. Along the beach are various tavernas, bars/cafes and a small pier. Windsurfing and kayak rentals are sometimes available on the beach.
- Xylosyrtis
- Seychelles
- Karkinagri
- Nas
Other beaches
- Agios Giorgis Beach, a remote sandy beach protected by a cove located at the extreme northern tip of the island. Access is via an unpaved road from Faros that ends in a footpath where beachgoers must then hike about 20 minutes to the beach.
- Evdilos Beach (Kiparissi), just before the city of Evdilos, is a small, quiet sandy beach with clear water and no facilities. This beach is often visited by locals.
Museums
Ikaria has multiple museums which house objects from Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine time periods. The museums are free to the public and vary in open hours. The museums include:
- Archeological Museum of Kampos
- Archeological Museum of Agios Kikirkos
- Folklore Museum of Perdiki
- Folklore Museum of Vrakades
Do
- Hot Mineral Springs, Therma. Approximately 10 minutes east along the coast from Therma is a cove where hot springs can be found in the sea. This can be accessed by a marked path. The start of the path is tricky to find - it can be found by heading up steps which appear to lead to a house. However, "trailblazing" in the direction of the springs will almost certainly lead to the path, which is clearly marked.
Sleep
- Kirki's Rooms, Armenistis. Several rooms which all overlook the sea in Armenistis. Rooms are very pleasant and with a friendly owner. €40 per room per night.