Visiting Ólymbos in Karpathos - mountain village with traditions

If you find yourself on the Greek island of Karpathos, don't miss Ólymbos. This mountain village is incredibly picturesque, with cosy alleys, shopping and restaurants. It has also preserved an intriguing cultural heritage, with traditional clothing and festive celebrations still alive.

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Ólymbos on Karpathos

Ólymbos is perhaps one of the most interesting places on Karpathos Island. Here you can get an insight into ancient traditions, while the village offers beautiful views and tourist life.

Ólymbos is located at the northern end of Karpathos Island, about 43 kilometres north of the main town of Pigadia.

By car to Ólymbos

We travelled by rental car from the main town of Pigadia. According to Google Maps, the journey takes about an hour and ten minutes, but in reality it probably takes longer. The roads wind along dramatic mountainsides, and as well as having to drive slowly, you'll often want to stop to admire the views and maybe take some photos. We have written even more about driving a car on Karpathos here.

Ólymbos on Karpathos - a village full of traditions

Ólymbos is a small village - today no more than 200 people live here permanently - but it has been careful to preserve its traditions. The village is known for its traditional dress, which for women is very colourful, and for its celebrations. Easter, for example, is a very special and celebrated holiday here.

Women's traditional dress includes shiny red boots, which are handmade by artisans. Today, the cobbler Yiannis Prearis, who has his workshop in the centre of Ólymbos, is the only one who still masters the craft.

If you follow the winding central streets of Ólymbos, past the shops and cobbler's shops, sooner or later you will come to a beautiful yellow church named "Church of Assumption of Virgin Mary", the oldest parts of which date back to the time of the Byzantine Empire.

There is also a small museum in the village. Opening hours are limited, but the village is small and everyone knows everyone. When we asked around, we found a person who opened it, and who enthusiastically told us more about the village and its history.

Cosy alleys in Ólymbos

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about Ólymbos is its charming alleyways. Narrow cobbled streets wind their way, with views of the sea and the mountains.

Shopping in Ólymbos

Tourists are important to the village and there are many small shops along the central streets. Here you can buy crafts, clothes, fabrics, accessories and paintings. For our part, a bracelet and a necklace went home with us.

Restaurants in Ólymbos

There are also plenty of restaurants and small cafés. Most of them serve Greek food, of course, and you often sit in a wonderfully charming setting.

We ate at a restaurant called Blue Garden, where we ordered a plate of mixed Greek and local specialities. Both good and nice!

Sunset in Ólymbos

Another thing Ólymbos is known for is its beautiful sunsets. When we went to check it out, there was a thick rim of fog over the horizon, which may have prevented the best view, but it was still beautiful.

The whole village is bathed in a beautiful light as the sun dips behind the mountains, so it is incredibly beautiful to be here at this time of day.

Where can you live?

There are a few small hotels in Ólymbos, but most tourists only seem to visit for the day. We stayed two nights in the village of Diafani, which is a 15-minute drive from Ólymbos.

We can definitely recommend staying in this town, which is very nice. Hotel Glaros, where we stayed, is certainly in a good location, but we have to say that we found everything in this simple hotel a bit messy.

In any case, Diafani serves as a good starting point for boat trips to the beautiful island of Saria.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

In addition to visiting Ólymbos, Diafani and Saria Island, there is of course more to experience around Karpathos. We can recommend in particular to visit Karpathos beaches and to enjoy good food at Karpathos restaurants. Near the main town of Pigadia you can also experience the mountain village of Menetes, where there is, among other things, a nice vineyard.

Have you visited Ólymbos in Karpathos?

Have you visited Ólymbos in Karpathos? Or maybe a similar place elsewhere in Greece? Please tell us!

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