Ferry tickets to KarpathosKarpathos is a mountainous island of the Dodecanese with countless churches, chapels and monasteries but also amazing beaches, hospitable locals and lots of beauty. The plains as well as the mountains of Karpathos that present such a contradiction fascinate even the most demanding visitors while the beaches of the island will leave no one unsatisfied. The crystal waters, the calm sea sides and the warm Greek sun are the perfect combination for dreamy holidays. Karpathos offers its visitors the serenity and peace they seek in their holidays and at the same time it offers the most modern services and comforts. Moreover, the island has an airport, although small, with direct flights from and to Eleftherios Venizelos in Athens. If you are lucky, during your stay on the island, you might see a cultural event or some celebration and festival to see how the locals celebrate and witness that they retain all their customs and traditions unchanged over the years. It is worth visiting the village Olympos, where the locals still wear the traditional costumes of the island, and the Cave of Poseidon. If you love climbing then Karpathos is the ideal island for you. If, on the other hand, you like good food, the sea and places where time goes by slowly and pleasantly then Karpathos is definitely the ideal island for you. Karpathos lacks nothing compared to other cosmopolitan islands as it has several bars and clubs. You will spend unforgettable holidays in Karpathos and you will enjoy every minute so wait no more, book your ferry tickets now.
The Karpathos Port
There are frequent ferry departures from the Piraeus port to the Karpathos port and the journey, including stops to other islands, lasts about 15 hours. By booking your ferry tickets online via aktoploika.gr your journey will be more comfortable and carefree. There are two ports in Karpathos handling several ferry itineraries. Diafani is the small port of the island while Pigadia the big and central port. Diafani is a settlement by the sea with little houses and lots of fishing boats. At Pigadia, which is also the capital of the island, you will also see the ancient acropolis of Karpathos, located on a big rock at the port. Pigadia is a modern city with rich tourist infrastructure and all the comforts for visitors.
Connection With Other Islands
Karpathos has a ferry connection with the following ports: Piraeus (Athens), Anafi, Halki, Heraklion (Crete), Karpathos (Diafani), Kasos, Milos, Rhodes, Santorini, Sitia (Crete).
Ferry Tickets
You can now book ferry tickets online for Karpathos via Aktoploika.gr. If you plan to travel during July and August, it's best if you have booked several days or weeks earlier to avoid hitches. You should also know that round-trip/return ferry tickets come with a considerable discount.
Transportation in Karpathos
In Karpathos you can easily travel by buses, which have itineraries from Pigadia towards almost all the island, but also by taxis available on the island. You can always rent a vehicle for easier and more comfortable travelling during your stay in Karpathos. There are several rental agencies on the island but you can book the car or motorbike of your choice online before your arrival at the island.
Moving to Karpathos' mainland can be proved a special experience, especially if you choose one of the local buses, which will offer you a great, relaxed view to the island's natural beauties. Most routes are enriched with more buses during summer, while tickets cost no more than 14 euros and the service level is much beyond decent. More romantic travelers have the chance to move by small boats between seaside villages, with the tickets costing between 5 to 12 euros and with extra stops in magnificent, isolated beaches.
The windsurfers' paradise
It is located between Crete and Rhodes and it is the second largest island of the Dodecanese. A mountain range in the middle of the Aegean, with highest mountain that of Lasto, which reaches the 1,215 m., and beautiful villages hanging on the slopes. With the tradition reviving in the narrow alleys of the mountainous settlements and the melodic karpathian serenades, ''anemoessa" as it was called by Homer, has been transformed over the recent years into a paradise for windsurfers!
Pigadia is the capital and the main port of the island. In the middle of the port lies the church of Evangelistria and in the sandy beach Vronti stand the members of Saint Fotini or Afotis. It is the best preserved church among the 18 early Christian basilicas and the churches that exist on the island and are dated since the 5th and 6th centuries. On the rock that dominates above, you will see ruins of Minoan Citadel. From here you can reach Virgin Larniotissa and next to it the Saint Kiriaki. The Olympus, one of Greece's most beautiful settlements, built on an inaccessible location, because of the pirates. The picturesque fishing village of Diafani, which is located on the northwest coast of the island, is the island's second port and seaport of Olympus. The islet of Saria or Sarias, with dilapidated buildings of palaces and the church of Saint Sophia, built on the Basilica of the Holy Resurrection of the 5th century. You'll also see the abandoned settlement, Argos.
Instead of museum ... get into a Karpathian house! Many of them, especially in the hinterland, are actually folk museums, with needleworks, woodworks and unique costumes, brilliant samples of the folkloric heritage.
Eftampatousa of Saint Nikolaos is built next to the ruins of the early omonymous Christian basilica with seven doors. Saint Ioannis-Spoa: Deserted chapel built in caves with stalactites. At ancient times, it used to be used as a fortress with embrasures for protection from pirates. Saint Irini: single-aisled church, almost submerged into the sand, which you will reach either by walking on a difficult path which starts from the Village or by the sea.
Taste the handmade makarunes with fried onions sauce, kolokithopulia, local meats and roasted, patty, kopeles (triangle pies), coils, symian, prawns and the fish karpathios or skaros, from the Carpathian sea. And from sweets, karpathian baklava, triangles, sisamomeli, mizithropites, pouches and zimpilia.
Karpathos' "musts"
- You'll definitely visit Olympos village, and not only once. It's the island's "must" and the place, where most of your photos will be taken. The local women walk in their domestic multi-color dresses and the windmills, built in a row, will give you many excuses to capture them in your camera.
- Saria island is a destination, that can't be explores in just one visit. You will find small boats in Diafani and Pigadia, to take you to this small island with the magnificent beaches and the hidden ancient monuments.
- If you love scuba-diving, you've come to the right place: you won't forget Kastellia seabed's beauty, you'll be able to explore a shipwreck in Diakoftis, the Pirates' Bay in Ahata will take your breath away and the seabed scenery in Fokia will make look for a water-resistant camera.
- Karpathos offers many choices in local traditional meals, but the island's "must" is "lamp stifato" boiled on the stove with vinegar and onions.
Don't forget
The island's courses are too specific and the roads very few. In case you want to rent a vehicle be prepared for driving in dirt-roads and a lot of switches in the road's incline. If down-slopes and slopes are not familiar to you, better take the local bus.
There are too many walking courses. Some of them can be crossed by a little kid, while other demand special knowledge and endurance. Make sure you have been informed by locals about each one's conditions, especially if you have kids.
Happy Holidays in the beautiful Karpathos!!!
