Beaches

Ikaria is one of the few Greek islands that combines so many different types of beaches with sandy long ones, stone little beaches and isolated rock destinations by the sea. The colours of the sea changes from beach to beach covering all the different levels of blue. All the tastes can be met and the best way to discover them is through the sea.

Nature

Unlike the Cycladic islands, the flora and fauna are very rich in Ikaria with many beautiful green landscapes. The island has beautiful and impressive mountains, lakes and waterfalls.

Monuments

Although there are not monuments remaining intact till this day in Ikaria, we may fund monuments that had been built in Ikaria throughout the Greek history.

The Temple of Artemis can still be found in the so-called temple beach ‘Nas’, where sacrifices were made to the name of the Goddess of Hunt.

The Fylakion is a fortress built by Alexander the Great in Drakano –a likely birthplace of the God Dionysus- before leaving for the Persian expedition.

The second fortress of the island was built during the Byzantine times at 11 century A.C. Nowadays a church of Saint George is found at the place of the fortress.

A very impressive monastery is found in between the big rocks of Ikaria, which was built at 15 century A.C. The monaster is called the one covered by God ‘Theoskepasti’.

The lighthouse “Faros” of the island is situated in the North-Eastern part of the island and is said to be the oldest ones in Greece and the whole Balkan region (built in 1890).

Thermal Springs

Ikaria’s abundant therapeutic spring sources have been identified as amongst the best in the world in terms of healing qualities, radioenergy and water supply. Since the fourth century B.C. Ikaria has been a known center for hydrotherapy as evidenced by numerous references in historical texts and by the presence of archeological remains of ancient baths and facilities such as the first century B.C. remains of Roman baths in ancient Therma pictured left.

Village Festivals

Ikaria is famous throughout the Greek islands for its Village Festivals “Panagiria”, which are traditional feast days that celebrate the Saints’ name days that are dedicated in each village. These villages are said to resemble to the Donysiac Feasts in Ancient Greece, bringing many people celebrating together. These Village Festivals are also very important to the island because the money raised helps funding the local communities.

Picturesque villages

All the villages in Ikaria are traditional and untouched by tourism. With stone houses and paved streets, they either spread around a small bay or perch from the slopes of mountainsides. A particular village of Ikaria is famous around the world, as till these days the inhabitants of Christos Rachon work during the night and sleep during the day. There are many urban legends that try to explain the origin of this peculiarity while the modern reality has not affected their lifestyle.

Unique Sunsets

Ikaria has some of the most beautiful sunsets in Greece as each sunset can differs from the previous ones,

with a variety of sky colours.