Sightseeing in Karpathos Island - what to see. Complete travel guide

The Greek island of Karpathos situated next to Crete is well-known to modern tourists. This is an amazing island that has experienced a lot of important historical stages for hundreds of years. Minoans were first to settle in these places; subsequently the island has belonged to Turkey for several hundred years, and then was captured by the Italian invaders. Its union with Greece happened relatively recently, in 1948. Today the beautiful island is very popular among fans of excursions and beach holidays.

The capital of Karpathos Island is the picturesque port city of the same name. Despite the fact is that it’s the largest town on the island, there are not so many attractions here; Karpathos is largely redeveloped. Some historical monuments are situated nearby, and that’s not difficult to get there.

One of the most unusual sights of the island is the Basilica of St. Fotini. It was discovered by archaeologists in 1972; according to scientists, the Basilica is about 1,500 years old; the amazing building was restored by efforts of modern architects. Its snow-white building is one of the most beautiful on the island. Fans of natural attractions will be fond of walking around Aperi, the old capital of Karpathos. It’s located in a picturesque mountain terrain; these beautiful places are literally made for hiking and admiring nature. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

No less interesting is the mountain village of Volada. Besides amazing natural sites, you can see lots of unique architectural attractions there. Houses of local residents erected more than a hundred years ago can be seen in the ancient mountain site. The highest village on the island is Othos, where one of the oldest buildings is occupied by the amazing Ethnographic Museum. After admiring priceless exhibits of the museum, it’s worth to visit the ancient Church of the Virgin. Its construction took place in the 17th century; today the church walls house many unique religious artifacts.

In the immediate vicinity of the mountain village there is the picturesque Stes countryside, a paradise for hikers. Here in a small mountain area, you can admire a huge number of rapid streams, as well as lots of rare plants and animals. The old town of Piles is the best fit to explore the way of life of the indigenous population. It seems that life here hasn’t changed for hundreds of years. Like many years ago, winding streets of the city are full of old stone houses with terraces decorated with twining flowers. The town has some interesting craft shops and souvenir shops that will make the walk more interesting.

Trophies of ancient times can be seen near the town of Arkasa, where scientists have discovered the ruins of the ancient Arkassia city. There is an important site, the ruins of the temple of St. Anastasia, nearby. Locals consider these amazing places to be sacred. Of course, the most important attraction of the island is the town of Olympus. This unique place is a vast open-air museum, and each element can be considered a priceless artifact. You can admire everything from ancient architecture and way of life to the language spoken by the locals. Walk through this wonderful town will be a real journey into the past. It’s worth to note that locals treat tourists very friendly.

The best beaches of the island are located in its southwestern part. They are safely protected from the wind by a mountain chain and are an incredibly calm and peaceful place. This part of the island has mostly sandy beaches with quite shallow coastal waters. These picturesque beaches are equally popular with tourists with children and divers. Fans of diving and snorkeling who are not experienced yet will find local beaches particularly comfortable. The longest beaches are located near the capital city of the island, Pigadia. Beaches near this city have a well-developed infrastructure. Vacationers will easily find modern sports centers, restaurants, countless interesting shops, and entertainment centers. There is a magnificent promenade along the main beach of the capital. Needless to say, tourists love walking there.

Kyra Panagia is, without a doubt, the most beautiful beach on the island. This beach has wonderful soft and white sand. Magnificent rocks surround the beach, creating a striking contrast with the white sand. Fans of surfing also have a suitable beach on the island – Afiartis. There are strong waves almost all year round there, so no wonder that sportsmen love to spend their time there. The large beach has training areas suitable for both beginner and experienced surfers.