What to see and do on Karpathos in Greece? This Greek island, which you'll find between Rhodes and Crete, offers stunning beaches, dramatic mountains and cosy villages. Here are our top tips for things to see and do in Karpathos.
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Karpathos in Greece
Karpathos is a really nice island for a holiday in Greece. The island is considerably less touristy than neighbouring Rhodes, while there is a good selection of hotels, restaurants and experiences. Above all, you are offered scenic views and holiday fun.
Karpathos is located in the Aegean Sea, midway between Rhodes and Crete.
How to travel to Karpathos in Greece?
It is possible to travel with charter operators to Karpathos, and then fly directly to the airport on the island. Another option is to do as we did and fly to Rhodes, and then take a ferry to Karpathos. The boat trip, with Blue Star Ferries, took about 4 hours. The ferry is large, with lounge areas and several different restaurants where you can buy something simple to eat.
What can you do on Karpathos in Greece?
So what can you see and do on Karpathos? We visited this island for a lovely week in September, and we've put together our top tips for the island.
1. familiarise yourself with the main town of Pigadia
When you arrive in Karpathos, you'll probably want to familiarise yourself with the main town of Pigadia, or Karpathos Town, as it's also known. Here you'll find a harbour, where ferries dock, as well as lots of nice restaurants located next to each other overlooking the water. There are also many shops selling clothes, accessories and souvenirs.
2. experience the beaches of Karpathos
Karpathos beaches are amazing. Sometimes you have to drive a relatively long distance on winding roads, along mountain walls, but it's worth it! When you arrive, you may be greeted by the most magical beach. Some favourites include Achata Beach, Kira Panagia, Apela Beach, Lefkos Beach and Teodoros Beach.
3. surfing
Surfers can enjoy either windsurfing or kite-surfing on Karpathos. In particular, windsurfing is popular on the beaches of the south-eastern part of the island and kite-surfing on the beaches of the south-western part.
4. Holidays in Lefkos
Lefkos is a quiet and pleasant holiday resort located on the western side of Karpathos Island. There are several different beaches to choose from - both an inner windless beach with many tourists and outer slightly windier beaches where you can find more privacy. Lefkos also has plenty of cosy outdoor cafés, where you can eat, drink and enjoy the scenery.
5. Visit the village of Mesochori
The quiet little village of Mesochori is not far from the more touristy Lefkos. There's not really much to do here, but if you want to experience a picturesque village with few tourists, this is a good place. The whole village is on a steep slope, and you can park your car just outside. In the village you can admire the beautiful views, and if you're lucky you can peek into the colourful church. There are also a few cafés and eateries where you can sit down for a while.
6. Enjoy Greek food on Karpathos
One thing you'll want to do on Karpathos is, of course, enjoy Greek food. There are plenty of cosy restaurants and tavernas, many with lovely views over the water. Indulge in things like Greek salad, moussaka, vine leaf dumplings and tzatziki. Local specialities on the island include Carpathian salad, makarounes and Carpathian baklava, among others.
7. see Greek Orthodox churches
There are many Greek Orthodox churches on Karpathos. Most are small, and many are beautifully situated, often high up overlooking mountains or the sea. There are both older and newer churches, and it is interesting to visit them to see beautiful paintings and to learn more about the Greek Orthodox traditions. If you want to see an older church, you can visit the Church of Agios Georgios, just outside Lefkos.
8. Fascinated by the mountain village of Menetes
Menetes is a wonderfully picturesque mountain village located relatively close to the main town of Pigadia. Here you can admire the views, check out the church, wander the narrow and steep alleyways and perhaps settle down in a cosy tavern. You'll also find a bakery and a winery in the village.
9. Wine tasting at the Scarpanto winery
Scarpanto Wines is located in the village of Menetes and since the summer of 2024 has been welcoming visitors who want to do a wine tasting. Currently, three white wines, two reds and one rosé are made. If you like wine, we can highly recommend a visit here!
10. Drive a car on Karpathos
One of the things we found most fascinating to do on Karpathos - was to drive around the island. We drove around pretty much the whole island in a hire car and it was an amazing experience. The roads wind their way, sometimes along steep mountainsides, and the views are incredible, especially in the northern part of the island.
11. Discover the mountain village of Ólymbos
When in Karpathos, you won't want to miss visiting the mountain village of Ólymbos. This picturesque little village, located in the remote north, has preserved its peculiar traditions, with colourful costumes and famous festivals. In the village you can also stroll the charming streets, shop for handicrafts or souvenirs and, of course, eat good food in all the cosy outdoor cafés.
12. shopping for crafts
Shopping while travelling is always fun. On Karpathos you can shop in small shops in the tourist resorts, where you can find things like clothes, accessories, souvenirs, paintings and handicrafts. In Ólymbos, for example, you can buy handmade shoes from the shoemaker Prearis.
13. Hiking
Do you like hiking? Then you can definitely do it on Karpathos! There are several different hiking trails on the island, which are marked with signs. We never had time to walk any hiking trails ourselves, but we talked to Swedish tourists who love the trails there, and we heard, among other things, that they should be nice to hike at Avlona, in the northern part of the island.
14. Take a boat trip to Saria Island
One thing you won't want to miss doing in Karpathos is joining a boat trip to the beautiful island of Saria. Here you can sunbathe and swim on beautiful beaches, and snorkel in amazing caves. The island is also steeped in history, and you can wander around the ruins of an ancient pirate village.
More to do on Karpathos in Greece
Want even more tips on things to see and do in Karpathos? Here are some more suggestions.
- Boat trips can be done at various locations, such as Pegasus high speed boat trips to private beaches, from Agios Nikalaos.
- Dyka you can do in different places, and of course, snorkelling.
- Finiki is a cosy little fishing village on the west coast, with tavernas and a small beach.
- Caves with remnants of ancient settlements can be found just outside Lefkos (not easy to find without a guide though).
Things to do in Karpathos - on film
Peter has put together a film from our stay in Karpathos.
Where to stay in Karpathos?
You can choose different locations for accommodation on Karpathos. The charter companies have accommodation in Pigadia (Karpathos town), Arkassa, Lefkos and Amoopi. We stayed most of the time at Oceanis Hotel in Pigadia. This is a relatively simple, but at the same time nice, hotel with a good location. If you want to stay at a charter hotel with its own beach, there are other options.
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
Do you have time and opportunity to see more of Greece? Four hours by boat from Karpathos is the popular island of Rhodes, where you can visit the castle in Rhodes Town and Rhodes beaches.
More tips on things to do in Karpathos?
Have you visited this beautiful island in Greece? If so, what are your top tips on what to see and do on Karpathos?
Facts about Karpathos in Greece
- Country: Greece
- Region: South Aegean Islands
- Location: Karpathos is located between Rhodes and Crete, in the Aegean Sea.
- Population: More than 6 200 (2011)
- Capital city: Pigadia (May also be called Karpathos or Karpathos Town)
Things to do in Karpathos - good to know
- Language: Greek. You can also get by just fine in English.
- Time difference: Swedish time +1 hour.
- Currency: Euro
- Religion: Greek Orthodox Christianity.
- Security: Greece is generally a safe country to travel in.
TRAVEL TO Karpathos
- Flight: There is one airport on Karpathos, and at the moment it is mainly charter companies that fly directly here.
- Boat: You can take a boat from Rhodes, with Blue Star Ferries, which takes about 4 hours.
History of Karpathos
- Antiquity: Karpathos was already colonised during this period. Four ancient cities were founded: Poseidon (Pigadia), Arkesia (Arkassa), Vrykos (Wurgunda) and Nisyros (Ta Palatia, Nisída Sariá).
- 431 before Christ: Residents of Karpathos fought with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.
- 400 BC: Karpathos lost its independence to Rhodes.
- 42 before Christ: The island fell into the hands of Rome.
- The following centuries: The island was ruled by Arabs, the Genoese pirate Moresco, Venetians and the Ottoman Empire.
- 1306: Karpathos was held by Venetian noble families like the Cornari.
- 1540: The island came to belong to the Turks and the Ottoman Empire.
- The First World War: Italy conquered the island under the name 'Scarpanto'.
- The Second World War: The Germans ruled during the end of this war.
- 1944: During the famine that year, seven fishermen from Finiki sailed all the way to Egypt, without light or compass, to get help. A week later, they returned on a British ship with provisions and medicine.
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