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In this Ikaria travel guide, we share what you need to know before visiting this beautiful North Aegean island located on the Icarian sea. Among the things we will talk about in this Ikaria travel guide are food, restaurants, transportation, accommodations, places to visit and more.

Why Visit the Ikaria Blue Zone

Ikaria is famous for two things. First is the ancient Greek myth of Icarus. There is even a formation called Icarus rock off the southern coast of Ikaria.

But, the second most intriguing thing about Ikaria is that it is a documented longevity blue zone. There is a large concentration of centenarians living on the island. Its relaxed culture, homemade food and fresh air have a lot to do with it. But, more on Ikarian longevity later.

We stayed on Ikaria island for two months from May to June, which is a bit off-season. Many places we went to had practically zero tourists. We had all these beautiful, amazing views to ourselves. Accommodation prices were a bit lower too.

Unlike Santorini or Mykonos, Ikaria is less known among tourists. And, there is a reason for that. Electricity came to the island only 40-50 years ago. Many modern day roads did not exist until the 1980s. People had to walk between villages either along the coast or via rocky terrain. Maybe all that walking is what’s behind Ikarian longevity too.

How to Get to Ikaria, Greece

But first, how do you get to Ikaria island? There are two ways. The most convenient and fastest one is by airplane. Flights leave Athens airport several times a week at an affordable price. That’s what we did. Unlike other Aegean islands, Ikaria does have an airport, although a small one. You will arrive near the village of Faros, a bit further away from the main tourist attractions.

The second option is to take the ferry. Ferries leave Piraeus port in Athens. They can take you to either Agios Kirikos, the capital of Ikaria or Evdilos, another coastal town. But, note that the trip by sea takes about 8 hours. And, ferries may arrive late at night.

Car Rentals and Transportation in Ikaria Blue Zone

The next important question is if it is worth renting a car. If you are going to explore Ikaria for a week or so, renting a car makes total sense. They may cost a little more than in Athens. It is an island after all. Gas prices are also a bit higher. The roads on Ikaria were surprisingly good. Although, they could be narrow and winding, especially in the mountains.

Car rentals are available throughout the island. If you arrive at the airport, there are car rental offices right there. Other major cities also have car rentals like Agios Kirikos.

Because we stayed in Ikaria for two months, it was not economical for us to rent a car. Instead, we chose to hop from one city to another and stay there for a week or so without a car.

Unfortunately, there is no ground public transportation in Ikaria. Our local Airbnb host told us that there were plans to have a bus running. But, it is limited to where and when it can go. So instead, we used a combination of taxi cabs and a ferry. Taxi prices were reasonable. Our hosts helped us book rides since we don’t speak Greek.

There is also a local Ikaria ferry. It goes from Agios Kirikos to a few coastal towns like Magganitis, Trapalou and Karkinagri. The ferry ride prices were very low, around a few euros per person.

Accommodations and Food in Ikaria, Greece

How about accommodations? We used Airbnb to book all of our places. Prices varied. In some cities, a room can cost you upward to $100 per night. Others were much lower, depending on the season and place.

If you are planning to visit Ikaria in the summer, I would start booking at least several months ahead. Some cities have a limited number of hosts that get booked quickly.

As for food, many cities have tavernas and grocery shops. We used both. Some of these restaurants are off someone’s home kitchen. Restaurant owners use seasonal ingredients from local farms and fish from the Icarian sea. It feels like you are a guest in someone’s home and Ikarian mom and dad are cooking for you. That was a pretty cool experience.

But, for the most part, we cooked food at home. Compared to Athens, grocery prices on Ikaria were about 20% higher on average. And of course, the selection was not comparable. Most places were small grocery shops catering to locals. Many Ikarians have their own veggie gardens and animal farms. So, the variety in stores was understandably low. Still, it was good enough for a pair of hungry tourists.

Ikaria Travel Guide Map of Things to To Do

Before we begin covering things to do in Ikaria, here is a complete maps of places to visit and see on the island:

While we visited the majority of the places above, there were a few we missed. More on this later.

Things to Do In Faros, Ikaria

First, we arrived at Ikaria’s airport. We decided not to get a taxi. Instead, we walked along the road to Faros, like what some locals do. It was spring and the air was permeated with the scent of wildflowers. On the way, we stumbled on this funny graffiti that sums up the Ikarian outlook on life. Have a problem? Can you solve it? If yes, don’t worry. If no, don’t worry either.

Faros is a small coastal town with a few guest houses, a grocery shop and restaurants. When we ambled around Faros, it felt as if time stopped. There was complete peace and quiet. One of our hosts even left this funny postcard with clocks. Note the Ikarian clock.

Faros felt a bit empty though. Our impression was that many Greeks have summer homes on Ikaria and live on the mainland for the rest of the year. We actually rented a house from a host who does exactly that. We asked him if he was concerned about his house getting robbed when he was away. He chuckled and told us something like this: “Oh don’t worry, there is zero criminality on Ikaria”.

1. Drakano Tower (Faros)

There are three reasons to stay in Faros. First is the famous Drakano tower nearby. It is one of the best preserved military watchtowers in Greece. The tower was built in the 4th century BC during Alexander the Great’s reign.

You can take a car to Drakano tower. But, you can also take a hike from Faros. It is about a 5-mile loop with moderate elevation gain. It was such a peaceful experience. There was only the wind, mountains and turquoise water of the Icarian sea in the distance.

Famous Ikarian Wild Raw Honey

Many wild plants were in bloom like oregano, heather and lavender. Ikarians are known to produce some of the highest quality raw honey with many health benefits. It is crafted from wild mountain herbs. Ikarians are known to drink wild herb tea with honey for breakfast. If you would like to try authentic honey from Ikaria, check out Klio. They are one of the few companies that bring Ikarian honey to the US customers.

Besides the tower itself, there are many other fortification ruins to explore. Excavations are still underway there. There was also an altar base for a fertility Goddess from the early Classical period. After you are done with the tower, head to see the small Saint George church and the namesake beach nearby. That whole hike was like taking a history walk in ancient Greece.

2. Dionysius Cave in Faros, Ikaria

The other place to see in Faros is Dionysius cave at Iero beach. It is also a relatively short and fun hike. Ikarians believe that this cave is the birthplace of Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and joy. The rocky beach of Iero is also very beautiful.

3. Agia Kiriaki Hot Springs in Faros, Ikaria

And the third reason to stay in Faros is a hidden gem that mostly locals know about. It is Agia Kiriaki hot springs, which is a short hike from Faros. If you don’t know, Ikaria is home to some of the most radioactive radon hot springs in Europe. Most of them are located along the southern coast at the hot springs resort of Therma.

But, there is one at the northern part of the island called Agia Kiriaki. It may not be the strongest one. But, you definitely won’t encounter crowds of people here. And, there are beautiful nature views along the way.

Radon hot springs can provide many health benefits. They can reduce inflammation and relieve pain in cases of arthritis. We heard from the locals that there is a tradition in Ikaria to go and bathe at the radon hot springs at least once a year. These hot springs were known since antiquity. This is likely another factor behind the longevity of Ikarians.

Therma: Radon Hot Springs of Ikaria

After Faros, we headed to the hot springs resort of Therma.

Therma has the largest concentration of radon hot springs on the island. Depending on the source, the radioactivity can be small or astronomical. There are several spas in town that cost around 5 to 10 euros. They are open in the summer months only though.

Conversely, there is a natural outdoor communal enclave/cave in Therma, Ikaria. This is where anyone can bathe for free. There, the mineral water mixes with the sea water. For this reason, you get at least 5-10x less exposure to radon compared to dedicated spas. This cave can get crowded, especially during summers. But, there is a secret, hidden place that we discovered in the cave at Therma, Ikaria.

It is recommended to take radon baths for up to 20 minutes on an empty stomach at least 3 hours after your last meal. At first, we thought it was like any other hot spring. But, we started feeling strong fatigue symptoms after several days. Radon is very powerful. There is medical research that documented its effect on health.

Agios Kyrikos (Ikaria’s Capital)

After Therma, we headed to Agios Kyrikos, the capital of Ikaria. We chose to stay there for a few nights only.

Agios Kirykos has probably the largest number of stores, grocery supermarkets and other artisan shops on the island. But, besides retail and restaurants, there was nothing else that caught our interest there. And, so we headed to the small fishing village of Magganitis.

Magganitis: Seychelles Beach, St. Elijah Church

To get to Magganitis, we used that local ferry that was incredibly cheap. It was a relatively short ride at around an hour. On the way, we passed by the famous Icarus rock.

Legend has it that Icarus and his father plotted a prison escape from Crete. They made wax wings and flew away. But, in his excitement, Icarus got too close to the sun despite his father’s warnings. The wings melted and he fell to the earth only to turn into this rock. Some interpret this myth as Icarus choosing a short, but glorious life over a safe and confined one, but there are other morals of the story told.

Magganitis is located right at the foothills of Atheras mountain range. It is incredibly picturesque and very quiet. There is a church, as well as restaurants and a small cafe shop. One cafe is a lively gathering spot for locals to get their government pensions and share rumors.

Unlike some other villages, there are many full time Ikarians who live there. We befriended Kostas and Bubu, an elderly couple who speak a little English. They sell groceries and serve food to guests off their home (or maybe it was just us,) and offer rides to Seychelles beach.

We had many lovely conversations on longevity and life on the island. They told us that many young people are leaving the island for more exciting things. Plus, there are not that many jobs on Ikaria. Most people either cater to tourism or do farming.

1. Firodi and Seychelles Beach in Magganitis

There are a few places to see around Magganitis. First is Firodi beach located right in the village. It is a quiet and rocky beach that we loved very much.

But, the most famous attraction is, of course, Seychelles beach. It is a short distance from Magganitis and has some of the most amazing crystal clear water we have ever seen. While you can hike down to it, there are seasonal boat taxis that can take you there from nearby towns.

2. Mountain Hike to St. Elijah Church

The other place that we saw was the old St. Elijah church. It is nestled in the mountains overlooking Seychelles beach. It is a bit of a hike with meaningful elevation gain. But, it was totally worth it.

On the way, you will see terraced gardens and anti-pirate stone houses. These are the trails that Ikarians traversed to escape hostile pirate raids.

Piracy was a big issue in the Mediterranean. It existed up until the early 1800s. Pillaging was common and no joke. Many Ikarians fled to the mountains and stayed away from the coast. That’s why you can find these huge hollow boulders. Old timers used them as temporary shelters and hiding places.

St. Elijah church was built off of what was available, mostly rocks from nearby cliffs. The craftsmanship is amazing. You also get to see the old ruins of a house where someone likely used to live. There is a nearby olive orchard too. If you continue on the trail, you will reach Christos Raches.

Karkinagri & Trapalou Beach

After Magganitis, we took the ferry again to the seaside village of Karkinagri.

There, we had fun jumping off the pier into Icarian sea. We also did a few short hikes to the mountains. One path will lead you to the abandoned farm with stone houses and an olive orchard.

But, the main reason we stayed in Karkinagri was to see the nearby Trapalou beach. To get to Trapalou beach, you can either hike or drive a car.

If you decide to drive, you will experience first-hand how old dirt roads in Ikaria looked like. That road to Trapalou is drivable. But, the amount of potholes is something to watch out for.

Trapalou beach is amazing. You get this high angle view of it from the mountains. The water is also crystal clear. The village has a restaurant, but we don’t know much about the accommodations, though. Either way, it was a very picturesque beach with amazing cliff views nearby.

Christos Raches: Longevity Insights, Monastery, Trails

After Karkinagri, we took a taxi cab to Christos Raches. Christos Raches is a mountain village where many centenarians live. It is very different from other coastal towns. We felt like the climate there was different too. It was probably due to the higher elevation and abundant forests surrounding it.

Raches is a relatively large town. It has many grocery stores, artisan shops and restaurants. On one day, we took a long mountain hike to the Monastery of Evaggelismos Mounde. As we walked along the way, we could not help but notice one thing. Almost all Ikarians living there had vegetable gardens and kept animals, such as sheep and goats.

Why Ikarians Live So Long?

There are reasons why Ikarians are healthy and enjoy longevity till 100 or more. And, we don’t think it is due to one reason only. Some factors are more important than others, though. For one, the quality of food ingredients is beyond the standard supermarket food, even organic.

For instance, take meat and dairy. Ikarians mostly eat goat and sheep products, especially back in the day. Their animals munch on mountain herbs all day. They don’t eat corn, soy and hay hauled from who knows where.

We also noticed that plants and olive oil play a very big role in the Ikarian diet too. And, some of their salads prominently feature wild herbs. They also make teas from them.

One thing that we noted was that seafood does not take a center stage on Ikarian tables. That’s unlike what many promoters of the Mediterranean diet want you to think. When you realize why this is the case, it makes perfect sense.

Catching fish is dangerous business. Not only do you have to contend with the stormy Icarian sea, but there was a risk of running into pirates back in the day. Many Ikarians chose to live in the mountains. And while the fish is deep down in the sea, the goats and sheep are right next to you. We were told that fishing is done mostly in the summer.

And of course, the air quality and time out in the sun are other big factors behind longevity. As Ikarians walk and take care of their gardens, they are active and get plenty of sunshine.

But, there was another big factor behind the longevity that a local Ikarian woman told us. It is a simple, but very profound observation. Keep reading, we will come back to it shortly.

Monastery of Evaggelismos Mounde

When we got to the monastery, it was actually closed.

I believe there are people who live and tend to the nearby gardens and buildings. It was a very peaceful place. For us, it was not only the monastery itself that was worth the hike there. But, rather it was the walk, views and pondering on the Ikarian way of life that we valued most from that day.

Chalares River Canyon Hike

While in Christos Raches, there are few other things that you can do. One, you can take a hike to Chalares river canyon. It is a strenuous 10-mile loop that will take you to the coastal village of Nas. You will also experience some amazing nature views along the way. Unfortunately, we did not do this hike. The weather was not cooperating with us when we were there. But, if you have the time and stamina, it is totally worth it.

Ranti (Radis) Forest of Ikaria, Greece

But, another thing that we did do was to go and see Ranti or Radis forest. It is located in the middle of the island with breathtaking rolling hills views.

The oak tree forest is one of the oldest in the Balkans. But, there is a catch. Sometimes, the trails are not marked well. Many times, we were second guessing ourselves as to where we were going.

If you hike long enough, one of the trails will take you to Magganitis. That’s where we ended up after almost an entire day of hiking. Some of the mountain passages on the way were very steep. Luckily, our Airbnb host picked us up in Magganitis and took us back to Raches.

Karavostamo: Aris Watermill, Hidden Mountain Settlements

After Raches, we took a taxi cab to the seaside village of Karavostamo. Karavostamo was our best experience in Ikaria, hands down, as well as the best Airbnb experience that we had ever had. And, it was all thanks to our Airbnb host.

Karavostamo has a few interesting places to offer for visitors. First, there is the abandoned Aris watermill located on the Aris river. The Aris watermill used to be a communal place where Ikarians gathered to mill their grain crops.

Although, to be honest with you, I don’t think that barley, wheat or other grains are grown on a large scale in Ikaria. Its rocky terrain is not very suitable for that. But, either way, we really enjoyed walking around the abandoned building. We got to see how things were done back in the day.

We also went to the nearby Aris beach. It is a rugged, rocky beach with beautiful azure water.

When we went there, there was a strong wind that day. And, the water was not exactly warm in early June. So, we didn’t swim there.

Karavostamo’s Abandoned Mountain Settlement

Besides that, on a foggy day, our Airbnb host took us to the mountainous part of Karavostamo. This is where Ikarians used to live during the pirate age. There, we got to see full-fledged built stone houses up close.

They are very far from the coast and completely invisible from the water. The craftsmanship was mesmerizing. Interestingly, there were no chimneys. Chimneys were dangerous back then. If pirates saw the rising smoke, they would know where to find you.

How Ikarians Survived and Lived So Long There?

As we walked around that hidden mountain settlement, we had many questions. How did Ikarians manage to survive and thrive till old age in that harsh environment? And, this is where our Airbnb host let us in on a little secret behind Ikaria’s longevity. And, that is community.

We noticed that Ikarians were some of the kindest and most relaxed people we have ever met. And, they were very sociable, curious and willing to help each other. When you live deep in the mountains, getting food is no simple business. That’s why working together was so important.

We observed that Ikarians value their family and friendships more than anything else. It is said that Ikarians continue to be sexually active well into their nineties too. Is this the cause or an effect of their incredible longevity? Probably, it is a bit of both.

Things are, of course, changing as modern amenities are coming to the island. But, make no mistake, the old ways of life are well and alive in Ikaria. This is especially true if you stray away from the well-trodden paths. People still live in close knit communities where you can count on your neighbor for help in a time of need.

When we came and spent time at the home of our Airbnb host, it looked like a revolving door. Many other Ikarians came by to say hello, share a rumor or tell an interesting story with a cup of tea. We only wished we could understand Greek and partake in those captivating conversations.

Arethousa Village Near Karavostamo

Another place we saw while in Karavostamo is Arethusa. It is a small mountain village with a unique church.

The thing about this church is that it’s missing half of the cross, which has an interesting story behind it. During the Greek civil war in the 1940s, a local militia did target practice on the cross. While that man is long gone, Ikarians left the cross half destroyed as a reminder of their violent past.

Perdiki: Reflections and Small Village Charm

After Karavostamo, we headed to our final destination. It was another small village called Perdiki, nestled in the mountains.

There was an old military watchtower that looked half destroyed. We stayed in Perdiki for a few days, taking long strolls and reflecting on our almost two-month odyssey in Ikaria.

There was definitely a lot that we learned. Among the main lessons was to stay relaxed and not worry about little things much. We think that too much stress, mental or physical, is one of the biggest causes behind health disorders.

Remembering this lesson from the Ikarians helps us a lot in daily lives. Whenever there is stress in our lives, we take a stroll down memory lane to Ikaria. We remember its peace and quiet, amazing nature and kind people. That immediately shaves off our stress levels right off the bat.

Other Things to Do in Ikaria, Greece

Before we conclude this Ikaria travel guide, I want to make a few honorable mentions of the things we did not do. One of them is attending a Panigiri. Panigiri is a local feast and a festival. There, Ikarians gather together, share food, dance and have fun till late at night.

Before, it was for locals only. But, as Ikaria opened up to tourism, outside visitors are welcome too. Panigiri celebrations start in May and end in October. The events are staggered across the island in different villages. The most popular Panigiria festivals happen in July and August. Search online and you will find a calendar of panigiri events.

Other places that we could have gone to but did not were Nas and Armenistis. Both are seaside towns with beautiful beaches in the northern part of Ikaria. Also, there is the famous Theoktistis Monastery. It has a renowned chapel of Theoskepasti built inside a cave with a rock as a roof. The monastery is a bit far from other places and you need a car to get there.

Ikaria, Greece Final Takeaways

We hope that you will have fun in Ikaria. Just remember that many towns don’t have many shops. So, pack your bags well with swimsuits, phone chargers and more. Also, we have many YouTube videos on Ikaria blue zone. Check them out for more details.

Related Content: All Our Ikaria YouTube Videos