Activities & Sightseeing
Festivals a.k.a Panigiria
Ikaria is famous all over Greece for its “panigiria.” A “panigiri” is a feast day celebration in honor of a saint. They are huge communal parties where the entire village (and surrounding villagers) converge in the churchyard or square to dance, eat, sing and make merry, from sundown until sunrise. Often the festivals will gather thousands of people at a time, and everyone is welcome! Food and drink flow freely – a typical menu features roasted goat, Greek salads, French fries, tzatziki and homemade wine. Everyone feels part of the community when the music gets going and the vibe transcends language. Make sure you are rested as the nights go long and the music, dancing and wine are non-stop.
Ask in reception for the upcoming feast days.
Cooking Lessons:
Cooking Class at Karimalis Farmhouse
Phone: +30 2275031945; +30 6975748490
Miss Eleni teaches three to four plant-based Ikarian recipes which on the island’s Blue Zone longevity lifestyle. At the end of the lesson, the food cooked by guests is served family style along with the family’s wines. Lessons should be planned in advance. Call for availability and pricing.
A Night in Christos
Christos is also known as the village that never sleeps. Nestled within a lush, verdant forest with very particular, iconic traditional stone architecture, Christos has a peculiar schedule. During the day, most shops and restaurants are shut down and villagers tend to relax or sleep. It’s only after sundown that the village begins to wake, with night turning into day. The shops open, families pour into the town square and children play well past midnight. Throughout the summer musicians visiting the island will throw impromptu concerts in the square where all the bars and cafes are situated.
A 15th Century Village
Just 5 km from Evdilos, built on a rolling green slope lush with trees and nature, you will find the village of Akamatra. Its name means “lazy one” and was given to the village because in its square reclined all the “lazies” and old people. The village dates at least from the 15th century, and at the center of its square there reigns a 500-year-old oak tree. Great little cafes and bakeries have now opened in the village, breathing a bit more energy into the “lazy place.”
Full Moon Parties
Sto Gialo Kanei Fourtouna (Manganitis)
Phone: +30 2275032636
It’s not by chance our hotel is named after the goddess of the moon, Selene. The moon rise on Ikaria is breathtaking, especially during the summer full moons. Various full moon parties pop up around the island, especially at the beach bars. But for the best vibe, travel 50 minutes over the mountain range to the small village of Manganitis. Down by the sea is this groovy spot that opens for the summer and hosts the best full moon parties. It serves food throughout the day and on these special nights, the music and party start at 10 pm. Plan on leaving when the sun rises, because driving back in the dark can be harrowing.
Surfing & SUP
Ikaria Surf School
Phone: +30 6974591674
Located on Messakti Beach, the school offers surfing and stand-up paddle board lessons, as well as equipment rentals and yoga lessons on the beach. The school also sponsors various seminars and events throughout the season. Over the past few years Ikaria's north side has become popular with young surfers who typically visit in July and August when the periodic strong winds or meltemia bring up to 1-meter-high waves.
Mountain Hiking and Walking Tours
Ikarian Footprints
Phone: +30 6974042417
Island Ikaria Activity Tours
Website: www.Ikariatours.com
Email: info@IkariaTours.com
Ikaria is of special interest to nature loving hikers & walkers of all ages and abilities. For thousands of years, people have been traversing the myriad mountain paths of Ikaria. In former times these paths or "monopatia," made up a transportation web that connected Ikaria's scattered villages with the people's farming and commercial activities in the mountains and at the sea.
Most trails are highlighted by red hand-painted signs along the roads. But a great way to experience the hikes is with a guide.
Gym, Yoga, Massage
Fitness Hall (Christos)
Phone: +30 6977440091
Email: fitnesshallikaria@gmail.com
Call or email to get updated gym hours, class schedules or book private training.
Massage Therapy Studio (Gialiskari)
Phone: +30 694 7758030
Himalaya Yoga Ikaria (Evdilos)
Phone: +30 6986219309
The Egg (Kalomorida)
Phone: +30 6948295497; +30 2275071295
Massage therapists and yoga instructors on the island change with the seasons, but this is a list a current list to contact: Contact for updated schedules of classes and therapist availability.
Boat Charters
Ikaria Boats Rental
Phone: +30 6977007313
A great way to see the southern beaches of the island, especially if the north side beaches are windy. If you’re one for hiking up and down a rocky cliff in the sun to get to Seychelles or Trapalou beaches, opt for this charter or private excursion. The fleet is small and consists mostly of small craft boats, but the skippers are knowledgeable and can find good locations for snorkeling. Boats leave from the town of Manganitis.
Sightseeing & Points of Interest
Temple of Artemis
This shrine to Artemis is one of the oldest ones dedicated to the goddess of the hunt, sailors, and wild animals. Situated at Nas, in a natural bay that was probably the first place used by the dwellers for communication and trade with Asia Minor, the temple’s ruins offer a view of the gorgeous sandy beach.
Ikaria Archaeological Museum
Housed in a beautiful, iconic neoclassical house that used to be the town’s old high school in Agios Kirikos, you will find Ikaria’s Archaeological Museum. The building itself is a gem to enjoy. Within, you will also be able to admire collections of findings from the Archaic and Classical periods of the island.
Ikarian Museum of Folklore
The museum can be found in the village of Vrakades and features exhibits of the medieval and early modern history of Ikaria, from everyday items to tools for rope making and fabric to unique documents from the short period in the 19th century when Ikaria was a Free State before joining Greece.
Monastery of Theoktisti
Near the village of Pigi, you go through a lush pine forest to find the monastery of Theoktisti. It was likely founded in the late 14th or early 15th century and was active until the 1980s. The church has beautiful frescoes and an ornate iconostasis. The little chapel of Theoskepasti is virtually within a cave, and you need to stoop to walk in it and admire its iconostasis.
Mounte Monastery
Near the village of Kastanies is Moni Mounte, dedicated to the Annunciation. It was built in the 1460s, and legend has it that an Ikarian child had a vision of the Virgin Mary noting where the monastery should be built. Visit it for the gorgeous frescoes and beautiful, detailed iconostasis and its history of serving as a hospital during the Greek Civil War.
Fortess of Drakanou
A 4th-century BC fortress dedicated to religious rites devited to the fertility deity Eilythia. A 13 meter high lookout anchors the site and a path from the small chapel leads to the tiny Agios Georgios beach.