On our travels in Ikaria, we decided not to rent a car for our entire trip. Instead, we relied on Ikaria taxis cabs and the local Ikarian ferry boat to get around. Though, we did rent a car in Agios Kirykos for one day at one point, but that was not planned.
Agios Kirykos is also the perfect place to take a cheap ferry ride from the capital to Magganitis and Karkinagri. The ferry boat is called Eleftherios, and you can see the sign on the side of the ship to make sure it is the right boat. Check out the complete information on the official Greek tourist website for Ikaria’s ferry.
Overall, this boat ride was incredibly scenic and very cheap at only €3/person (€5 to Karkinagri) in 2023. You can also take the ferry back at a different time, three times a week.
Ferry Experience in Ikaria, Greece
The workers on the ship were very kind and friendly. One was even the husband of a restaurant owner in Magganitis. The town of Magganitis is so small that the boat man was even related to our Airbnb host! The boat workers can speak English, so don’t be scared of asking them for more information. You can also ask for a tour of the Fournoi Islands for an additional cost.
Before boarding, we visited the Ale Café by the harbor that overlooks the arriving ferries. You can get on the ship a bit earlier than scheduled to get your things in storage and find a seat, either in the covered space or on the deck outside. Beware that the workers may have to adjust the buoys on the deck outside during the ride. So, give them some room when needed.
We paid for our tickets before the boat ride. We don’t know if the ferry accepts credit cards. That’s very unlikely. So, have some cash handy. We even chatted to the boat man a bit. He also gave us a questionnaire to fill out on where we were from and such, in order to collect tourist data. The workers helped us with our luggage on the gangplank when we stepped in and out of the boat. There are also restrooms on board if needed.
Ikarus (Icarus) Rock and Seychelles Beach of Ikaria
On the way, you will pass by the famous Icarus rock from the ancient Greek myth. It is a relatively small, discreet rock protruding from the Icarian sea. The myth says that Ikarus was a young ambitious man shooting for the stars. His craftsman father, Daedalus, created wings for himself and his son Ikarus to escape from the island of Crete.
Despite his father’s warnings not to fly too close to the sun, Ikarus did so anyways. The sun burned his wings, making Ikarus fall into Icarian sea and perish. The only “evidence” left from this mythical accident is this rock.
On the way, we also passed by the famous Seychelles beach that you can visit from the town of Magganitis. The beach has beautiful, crystal clear water with an azure color.
The Town of Magganitis, Ikaria
It took us about an hour to reach Magganitis. Magganitis was one of our favorite and most beautiful places that we visited on the island. It has great local food, many hiking trails and the most breathtaking color of water at the beach coves.
After a week in Magganitis, we took the same ferry to the town of Karkinagri, another wonderful Ikarian town. The price was only €1/person this time, due to the shorter distance.
Check out our other blog posts on Ikaria. We will be posting more about Magganitis, the ferry, Karkinagri and more in the future.
We hope you will visit Ikaria one day. It is an amazing place with beautiful nature and very kind and friendly people. Subscribe to our Blokhin Films YouTube channel to know more about our travels to off the beaten path places around the world.